Understanding the Occupy Democrats Post on Facebook about the Kennedy Center – Perplexity & DrWeb – DWD Editorial
Editor’s Note: I had been following the Facebook group called “Occupy Democrats,” for some time. A post today in my timeline was surprising. I did read it. It was on point in many ways, but feels over the top, dramatized, inflamatory? Not a slam on the group; I was (my bad) unaware of its background (duh).
So I asked Perplexity to bring me up-to-speed, and this is the analysis of their post on the Kennedy Center. It notes they often post unsigned material, and no cited sources. I am not opposed to left wing political groups; nor am I opposed to progressive Democrats. I know now to remember: these posts have a “slant” and strong POV. That’s what free speech is all about. Good wishes to Occupy Democrats!
A lesson even for an old whizbanger from the old days like me. Verify. Verify. Verify. –DrWeb
Screenshot of the Occupy Democrats recent post, captured today (Nov 8, 2025).
Understanding the Occupy Democrats Post on the Kennedy Center
The above message circulating from Occupy Democrats appears to be written in the editorial style typical of the organization, which is known for publishing unsigned, inflammatory content without individual bylines.1 This explains why there’s no signature or author name on the post.2
About Occupy Democrats
Occupy Democrats is a left-wing Facebook page and media outlet founded in 2012 by twin brothers Rafael and Omar Rivero.1 The organization is designed to operate as a “counterbalance to the Republican Tea Party” and has grown to become one of the largest progressive political pages on Facebook with over 10 million followers.1 Their content is characterized by hyperpartisan messaging, clickbait headlines, and highly emotional language that frequently uses terms like “BREAKING” and emphasizes outrage.3
The Rivero brothers manage the page collectively and rarely sign individual posts, treating Occupy Democrats as a brand voice rather than attributing content to specific authors.2 This is standard practice for their operation—they publish unsigned content that represents the organization’s collective perspective rather than individual authorship.1
The Kennedy Center Situation
The substance of what Occupy Democrats posted is largely accurate based on reporting from legitimate news sources. The Washington National Opera is indeed considering leaving the Kennedy Center due to Trump’s February 2025 takeover of the institution.45 Key facts include:
- Trump appointed himself chair of the Kennedy Center and installed Richard Grenell as president65
- Ticket sales have plummeted by approximately 40%, with performances now at 60% capacity compared to 80-90% before Trump’s takeover45
- Artistic Director Francesca Zambello did describe the building as “tainted” in interviews47
- Donors have fled and sent angry messages to the opera company, with some comparing the situation to 1930s authoritarianism57
The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and other mainstream outlets have all reported extensively on this crisis at the Kennedy Center.68 The Occupy Democrats post appears to be a highly dramatized synthesis of these legitimate news reports, repackaged in their signature inflammatory style.13
Works Cited
1. “Occupy Democrats.” Wikipedia, 20 Aug. 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_Democrats.
2. “Rafael Rivero.” Democracy Partners, https://democracypartners.com.
3. “Occupy Democrats Bias and Reliability.” Ad Fontes Media, 12 Aug. 2024, https://adfontesmedia.com.
4. “Washington National Opera Considers Exiting the Kennedy Center.” OperaWire, 7 Nov. 2025, https://operawire.com.
5. “Washington National Opera Considers Leaving Kennedy Center.” Evrim Ağacı, 8 Nov. 2025, https://evrimagaci.org.
6. “The Kennedy Center Crackup.” The New York Times, 7 Nov. 2025, https://nytimes.com.
7. “Washington National Opera Eyes Abandoning Kennedy Center amid Trump Takeover.” Raw Story, 8 Nov. 2025, https://rawstory.com.
8. “Kennedy Center Plagued with Dismal Ticket Sales as Patrons Stay Away.” Yahoo! News, 31 Oct. 2025, https://yahoo.com.
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