Topic: Alternative Facts

MSNBC's Katie Tur observed that Donald Trump's supporters are often indifferent to his policy inconsistencies, focusing instead on his overall decision-making. The hosts analyze the linguistic fallout of Kellyanne Conway's "alternative facts" phrase. They argue that Conway meant "alternative sets of facts" rather than falsehoods, comparing the divide in American perception to the "blue or gold dress" internet phenomenon.

The Office of Government Ethics recommended disciplinary action against Kellyanne Conway for promoting Ivanka Trump's clothing line during a television interview. Conway is criticized by media figures for her use of the phrase "alternative facts" and her reference to the non-existent "Bowling Green massacre."

George Orwell's "1984" reached the top of the Amazon bestseller list following the inauguration of Donald Trump and the use of the phrase "alternative facts." Other titles seeing a resurgence include Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here." The hosts mock CNN's Poppy Harlow for her analysis of the trend and question if Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" is also climbing the charts.

The concept of "alternate universes" is introduced to describe the diverging realities presented by the Trump administration and the mainstream media. This theme is highlighted by Kellyanne Conway's controversial use of the phrase "alternative facts" during a press briefing. The hosts suggest these controversies, such as the debate over inauguration crowd sizes, may serve as a distraction to keep the media focused on trivialities while policy changes occur elsewhere.