I actually was there. I was born there. And, no, it was not a beacon of freedom you imagine. The secession was done through propaganda and media lies. Not trying to defend Soviet Union here (it was dying regardless), but it still doesn't excuse tactics that were used. Let's just say that Russian-speaking population in Estonia back then felt like you may feel tomorrow being a Trump supporter under Biden's administration.
"Soccorsi, 78, was being treated for cancer on Dec. 26 at the Roman hospital Agostino Gemelli when he contracted COVID-19, according to a report by the Vatican Newspaper L’Osservatore Romano published Saturday (Jan. 9)."
Brainwashed for years, locked at home, scared, bored, and angry with nothing but TV and social media left. And MSM courteously supplies them some scapegoats. I see even those who normally couldn't care less about politics getting radicalized. Sad.
Normally, yes, using an opportunity is more effective - Jan. 6 is a prime example. However, we know Trump supporters are not planning armed protests in all capitals, so why do they need to create an illusion we are? What better way is there to convince the public MAGA movement is terrorism?
Watch this documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3RbgFp38Iw and, if you want details, read this book: https://archive.org/details/riotmakers0000unse. Both are from the early 70s and techniques described have been modernized since then, but are still recognizable. When you understand history and science behind riot making, you are way better prepared to deal with it.
It was a tweet by their spokesperson from a personal account. The information in it was fake. https://www.businessinsider.com/olive-garden-did-not-revoke-sean-hannitys-lifetime-pasta-pass-2021-1
Anyone who thinks there is such thing as a trusted news source is delusional. No, it doesn't mean you should stop watching/reading them all, but it means learning to recognize their bias, and being aware of your own as well. Ideally, one should listen to a variety of sources and doubt everything since only the ones you trust can full you. Ignore headlines, scan through, ignore opinions and framing, and extract the facts. If something is all doom-and-gloom - question it, if something is exactly what you wanted to hear - question it as well. No, it's not a guarantee you'll never get things wrong, but you'll be wrong less often, and it will save you a ton of disappointments.
In California, anyone can get a Driver's license. Since few years ago while you are getting a Driver's license, they automatically register you to vote, and, in order not to, you need to opt-out. I bet bunch of people don't because they simply don't realize they need to. The system is designed to dupe people into registering.
The first time, the word appeared in writing was in 1930 in “The History of Russian Revolution” by Leon Trotsky which is just 90 years ago. https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Racism#Origin_of_the_term
Kind of hard to be a "beacon of freedom" when you have actual SS veterans having organized gathering with Estonian government officials present, when the government moves graves of fallen SS officers of Estonian origin back to Estonia with all military honors, and when you treat half of your population as second-class citizens. You are incorrect that no one expected Soviet Union to fall - anyone who studied economics did, long before it happened (including my father). I doubt it would have reformed into Vietnam - I'd think it would be more similar to modern Russia. Soviet Union, with all its' faults, used to give a bit of a special treatment to the Baltic states. When they seceded, they were expecting similar treatment from the EU, and were quite disappointed when they didn't get it.