Who cares about a TV “drama” like “24”? It’s just entertainment, right?

I would argue that a hugely popular, relentlessly marketed, well-produced show like 24 has more influence over the US population’s opinion on issues like torture, terrorism, civil liberties, and presidential authority than any kind of News Media.

Besides it’s “reach” - 24 is seen by more viewers than any TV news program - as a slick Hollywood action series, 24 is very persuasive. It creates an immersive alternate reality built up over months in weekly reinforcements.

How does it work? In the words of Harold Pinter, it’s a “a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis.”

Of course, people who watch 24 don’t believe Jack Bauer is a real Counter Terrorism Unit agent, but they might believe that Americans fighting the War on Terra are *like* Jack Bauer. They might believe the situations in which the US engages in torture are similar to the ones played out in the show. They might believe the Ticking Time Bomb scenario is reasonably possible.

It’s all about meme transmission. Right-Wing ideology is a structure, a template that can be transmitted, learned and then applied to explain reality.

The world is complicated. Right-Wing ideology provides a set of glasses, a framework, through which everything makes sense and is actually quite rosy.

Let’s examine one episode that inculcates Right-Wing Memes regarding torture and presidential authority. And yes, there is a ticking timebomb: a terrorist cell on US soil has stolen a nuclear warhead and it’s set to go off by the end of Sweeps Month.

These events take place between 12:00 A.M. and 1:00 A.M. of 24’s Season 4.

Tick Tock. The clock is ticking. Look at the clock. You’re feeling sleepy…

12:23 A.M.
Marwan [Terror Cell Mastermind] wants to contain Prado [Recently captured Terror Cell flunky/contractor] so that he doesn’t talk to the police. He calls someone and asks them to contact an attorney at Amnesty Global. Marwan wants it reported that an innocent man is being tortured at CTU in Los Angeles.

Memes Transmitted:

- Human and Civil Rights croups like Amnesty International and the ACLU are unwitting pawns of the Terrorists.

- The primary tool of these nefarious groups is to claim (falsely, of course) that innocent people are being tortured.

12:32 A.M.
Tony briefs Curtis that Prado is an ex-Marine who has no record of employment for the last five years. Prado must be a criminal or mercenary.

- No trial is necessary to determine whether a detainee is in fact a terrorist.

- Agents in the field have to make snap decisions based on limited information, and those decisions are almost always correct.

- Most detainees are guilty.

- Ticking Timebomb Fallacy #1: US agents know that the potential torture subject is a terrorist.

12:35 A.M.
Michelle and Curtis meet with Buchanan who is accompanied by a lawyer from Amnesty Global. The attorney has a signed court order protecting Prado.

12:43 A.M.
Jack [Special Agent, Counter Terrorism Unit] enters the interrogation room and pulls the attorney aside. He points out that millions of lives are at stake, but the lawyer won’t budge. Jack asks how he found out about the prisoner so quickly. The lawyer refuses to say who told him about the arrest.

- The US legal system is an impediment to US Agents who protect us.

- Ticking Timebomb Fallacy #2: US Agents know there is a ticking timebomb that will kill millions of people.

- Ticking Timebomb Fallacy #3: US Agents know when the bomb is set to go off.

12:48 A.M.
[POTUS] Logan surveys his aides. Novick wants to let CTU do whatever is necessary, but Walt Cummings is worried that this will taint Logan’s Presidency. Logan compromises by calling for a special session of the Justice Department. He tells CTU that it will take at least twenty minutes. Jack begs for the chance to do their jobs properly without intervention.

- Only a quisling, spineless pussy of a President would consult his aides.

- Only a quisling, spineless pussy of a President would consult the Judicial Branch about the application of torture.

- Again, the US legal system is an impediment.

Conversely:

- A strong, decisive President will authorize US Agents to do “whatever is necessary” to prevent a terra attack.

Also:

- The President requires the Authority to override the US Justice System in order to Protect US Citizens

12:49 A.M.
Jack wants to resign and let Prado go free. He plans to take him on as a private citizen, and then no agency will be held liable.

- US Agents know that any form of torture is illegal.

12:57 A.M.
Outside CTU, the lawyer leaves Prado and tells him he will be fine. A U.S. Marshall accompanies Prado to a government car.

12:58 A.M.
After the attorney pulls out of the lot, Jack tasers the Marshall and slaps handcuffs on Prado. “Now we’re gonna talk,” Jack says as he slams the door of the car.

- Illegal detention and kidnapping are sometimes necessary.

12:59 A.M.
When Prado claims that he doesn’t know Marwan, Jack breaks the man’s fingers one by one. Prado finally relents, and confesses that Marwan will be at a place just east of downtown. “This will help you with the pain,” Jack says as he knocks Prado out with a punch.

- Torture is sometimes necessary to obtain information.

- The forms of torture US agents engage in are fairly clean, only last a short time and don’t cause major bodily harm.

- Ticking Timebomb Fallacy #4: Torture produces useful information that ultimately leads to the prevention of a Massive Attack.

- Who cares about the pain of Terrorists? Definitely not a frazzled, pushed-to-the-limits White American Warrior who is willing to do Whatever It Takes. Showing mercy and compassion (and respect for human rights, US and International law) would lead to millions of deaths.

- US Agents and Policymakers have the best interests of American Citizens at heart when they advocate/engage in torture.