Cringe theories—yeah, I made that up—are basically those over-the-top, dramatic political narratives that try to grab attention but never really gain serious credibility. They're often conspiratorial, performative, or just straight-up exaggerated.
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A fringe theory in politics is something different. It’s an idea that sits on the extreme edges of the political spectrum, far from mainstream beliefs. These theories challenge how governments operate, rewrite historical narratives, or push for radical changes.
In recent years, political discourse has changed dramatically. And I am a keen observer!
The days of quiet, behind-the-scenes diplomacy are fading, replaced by media-driven, high-conflict political theatrics. Thanks to 24/7 news cycles and social media, political leaders now act more like reality show contestants than diplomats, turning international relations into public drama.
The Erosion of Traditional Diplomacy
Once upon a time, diplomacy was all about subtle negotiations. Leaders met privately, talked things out, and made careful compromises. It wasn’t about winning headlines—it was about finding solutions. But now? That approach is nearly extinct. With social media and constant news coverage, politicians feel pressured to put on a show. The result? Diplomacy that looks more like a Twitter fight than an actual negotiation. Power plays and public confrontations have replaced careful discussions. Bullying, gaslighting, and power plays—once confined to personal relationships—have become commonplace in international relations.
The Trump-Zelensky Meeting: A Case Study in Cringe Politics
Take what happened on February 28, 2025, when Trump met with Zelensky at the White House. The meeting was supposed to strengthen U.S.-Ukraine relations and finalize a minerals deal. Instead, it turned into a political brawl. Trump, alongside Vice President JD Vance, accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War III” by refusing to negotiate with Russia. Things got so heated that the meeting ended abruptly, and the planned press conference was scrapped. A literal BIG BOSS episode! This kind of political theater used to be unthinkable in diplomatic circles. Now, it’s just another day in the news cycle.
Global Reactions & Media Hype
The fallout was immediate. European leaders like Macron rallied behind Zelensky, reinforcing their support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian officials took the opportunity to mock the entire situation, celebrating the cracks in U.S.-Ukraine relations. This is the world we live in—where political tensions are amplified not just by actual policies but by how they play out on camera.And now that they are back to negotiation tables, US and Ukraine will probably find common grounds and sign the deal to end this war during their meeting this week in Saudi Arabia.
The Media’s Role in the Chaos
Media today thrives on confrontation. The more dramatic the story, the better it sells. So naturally, politicians have adapted. Instead of thoughtful diplomacy, we now get leaders who perform for the cameras, delivering viral moments instead of meaningful solutions.
Social media makes it even worse. Politicians no longer need traditional media to reach people—they just tweet, post, or go live. The downside? This incentivizes extreme, attention-grabbing statements rather than real, nuanced discussions. And we have become addicted to these political spectacles, consuming them like episodes of House of Cards or West Wing, eagerly awaiting the next twist. Diplomacy today isn’t about closed-door deals anymore. It’s about crafting moments that trend, shaping public opinion in real time.
How Political Narratives Are Manufactured
This is when narratives are carefully built over time to make a future event seem inevitable. For example, Hollywood spent decades portraying the Middle East as a terrorist breeding ground long before actual conflicts exploded. Now, the same kind of pre-framing is happening with China. Meanwhile, sci-fi movies like Minority Report introduced predictive policing before governments even announced AI-driven surveillance.
Not just in politics and governance, even in rocket science: Decades before SpaceX made reusable rockets a reality, Hollywood had already framed the idea of interplanetary travel. First, the vision is planted through books and movies. Then, reality catches up. This is not framing up in a bad way, just how things work. Speaking of space, barely anyone is talking about the two NASA astronauts stranded in space since June last year. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were supposed to be on an eight-day mission, yet their Boeing Starliner spacecraft was deemed unsafe for the journey home.
Is this purely a technical issue? Or is there a political game at play? Musk has openly claimed that his SpaceX could have easily brought them back which he mentioned it on The Joe Rogan Podcast—which, ironically, is how I even remembered this was happening. If the delay has been purely political, it’s a cruel one. Wonder why no one is bothered?
Yesterday’s press briefing where Trump made some colorful remarks on the astronauts situation in space and how they will be bought back by Musk, maybe that’s intentionally colorful, as that will go viral and get more people to pay attention to that issue. Like how influencers post something viral able to get more views, politics have also taken a cue from this and serious topics are made first viral through colorful rhetorics, memes and then finally a deal is made.
Cutting Through the Noise: The 3 Probabilities
So how does one separate real political moves from scripted drama; assuming we want to. Without playing the role of a preacher, what has worked for me (again assuming the algorithms aren’t playing me here!)
1) Spot the Obvious
Your first reaction to any big political event is probably shaped by what you already believe. If you’re in the MAGA crowd, your feed will tell you Zelensky is corrupt, siphoning off U.S. aid, and that Trump was right to be tough on Ukraine. If you lean left, you’ll see posts about Trump being a reckless authoritarian, threatening democracy, and destabilizing the world. But here’s the question: are you seeing the truth, or just the version that’s been curated for you? The news cycle moves so fast that we rarely stop to fact-check before we’re onto the next crisis.
2) Check the Other Side
One of the best ways to break out of an echo chamber is to explore the opposing perspective—not to switch sides, but to understand the full picture. If you think Trump is dangerous, listen to conservative voices explaining why they see him as an anti-corruption crusader. If you believe Zelensky is a hero, look at sources critical of his leadership. The goal isn’t to agree—it’s to avoid being trapped in just one version of reality.
3) Look for the Hidden Story
Here’s where things get really interesting: sometimes, the biggest political event isn’t actually the most important thing happening. It’s just the loudest. While people are busy arguing about Trump vs. Zelensky, did you notice Macron warning Europe to prepare for war? Or Trump making threats toward Hamas? And what happened to all the buzz around the Epstein files? Or was it bringing your attention to the deal that’s going to happen and Trump wanted to show his power equation. Are U.S. officials negotiating a mineral trade deal in secret? Is a Gaza Strip proposal being pushed under the radar? What bigger moves are happening while we’re distracted by politics.
Big political moments often serve as distractions or framing devices. The challenge isn’t just to understand the story—it’s to recognize when the story is being used to steer your attention. I wonder what is that we don’t see.
While the world watches Trump and Zelensky argue in theatrical style, what’s happening behind the scenes?
If you ask conspiracy theorists, they will say this is all a build-up to global war. My personal bias? I don’t think war is coming. But I do know that the constant drumbeat of conflict creates a mindset where we passively accept militarization, defense spending, and deeper geopolitical tensions.
War is inflationary; markets hate it They prefer that US gets out of Europe and they build their own multipolar financial and political strength not pushing the NATO strategy. And that’s probably the narrative that Trump is pushing.
Or maybe all these are just built up or cover-up another big story coming up and markets want US to get involved in that. Shifting focus and finances from the Ukraine war, China's advancement in AI as well as thorium technology reflects the evolving intersection of energy security priorities and nuclear dynamics in a complex geopolitical global landscape.
These implications extend far beyond politics. The global financial and political architecture is transforming. BRICS nations are already creating parallel systems. Oil trades are shifting away from dollars and new era of transition from oil to thorium would reshape another international power dynamics. Oil rich nations would face declining influence, necessitating economic diversification. Countries with substantial thorium reserves could gain new strategic significance. Similarly, a tech dominant US will face huge challenges from China and other countries mastering AI at a faster pace than its US counterparts. So, energy as well as AI adaptations and implementations will determine the next superpowers.
Such transformation will reshape everything. Global trade flows, military alliances and financial markets. Maybe that’s the real story and that’s were deals, alliances and wars are being prepared and not some silly cringe rhetorics that are used to smoke screen us. Maybe that’s the core of the meeting in the Saudi Arabia this week and not just Ukraine war. Everything is a probability; we just have to ensure that we are aware of these possibilities and not just swayed by one narrative that’s fed to us.
The Fringe vs. The Cringe
Cringe politics is what the majority follow—the outrageous, the dramatic, the theatrical. But fringe thinkers escape the narrative trap. They don’t just consume, they observe. They analyze. They wait. They don’t fall for every smoke screen.
Maybe this whole circus is necessary. Maybe we need the cringe for the masses, while the fringe escapes into reality. And maybe, just maybe, those who refuse to conform to either side will find themselves in the ranks of the insane—because in a world lost in chaos, clarity is the true rebellion.
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