Bret Baier's body language when speaking with VP Harris - from twitter

[irisblue]

Link to tweet

"Bret Baier's repeatedly extending his arm in a palm-toward-and-down dynamic is a nonverbal effort to tell VP Harris to 'shut-up', 'you've said enough about this topic', and 'I have the floor now'.

This particular moment was captured immediately after the Vice President corrected Baier with regard to Trump's true intent and his desire to punish who he perceives to be "the enemy within".

This body language display is commonly exhibited by misogynists and manipulative individuals who are not interested in dialog, discourse, or others' opinions. Their minds are closed. Many find this a triggering behavior to witness – even if it's displayed toward others.

Although not a required component of this emotional display cluster, Baier's close eyelids simultaneous with an elevated forehead amplify his underlying message."


Every woman I know has had that gesture made towards us.

[Walleye]

1. I seen Trump do the same thing with female reporters

[irisblue]

4. Yep.. the classic "settle down there Missy" gesture

[Walleye]

6. I certainly get a visceral reaction from it

[ms liberty]

2. Yea, in the clips Ive seen, his body language was really off-putting to me

[duncang]

3. Closing his eyes

Was a I don’t even want to hear anymore from you. If he could have gotten away with it he would have covered his ears. I don’t want an interview. I want to make you listen to me.

[Cha]

5. Yes It Is.. gosh he's Ugly. TY!

[yellowcanine]

7. Also closing his eyes - basically trying to shut her out. The opposite of active listening. This guy is no journalist.

[Think. Again.]

8. He's creepy as hell.

[democratsruletheday]

13. He's as SLIMEY as they come...

and she shut his ass down toot sweet. ATTAGIRL!!!!!!!!!

[spooky3]

9. Had a junior colleague repeatedly "shhhhh" me during a conversation

as if he were talking with his 9 year old. Infuriating.

It’s the same thing, expressed by Baier with his hand instead.

[AZ8theist]

16. "One more "shush" outa you and I'm taking you to HR for harrassment".......

That should shut up the asshole.

[spooky3]

18. You'd think so, but this was years ago, in a very sexist environment.

The reaction I would have gotten was “you are overreacting.” And HR would have backed him up.

[AZ8theist]

19. Yeah.....face facts: Some companies and organizations just suck.

Hopefully you found a way out of there.....

[spooky3]

20. Got another job elsewhere within a year. Several other women

There and I tried for years to get changes made but were met with denial and hostility. Years after I left a women subsequently hired called me (I didn’t know her but obviously someone had told her to call) and her stories were awful.

[AZ8theist]

26. Isn't it amazing some companies think treating employees like shit is a good motivator?

When the exact opposite is true.

As far as despicable bosses are concerned, Elon Musk comes to mind. He's cheap and treats his employees like crap. But I guess we shouldn't expect much from a fascist and a Nazi.

I suppose we should be grateful we can find decent employers in America. Some other countries are much, much worse.

[Ocelot II]

10. Every woman who has ever walked the earth, beginning when she could walk at all,

has been subjected to that gesture. "You don't know what you're talking about, sweetheart, so just be quiet now." It's infuriating just to see the photo of that supercilious dick.

[surfered]

11. Look here L'il Lady, let me mansplain it to ya.

[littlemissmartypants]

21. It's the upper body, upper extremity (arms)...

Version of manspreading. He's attempting to physically push her out of the frame, to dominate her by suggesting that physical violence could be next if he doesn't get his way.

Such an insecure, puny man baby. No doubt he hates his mother and dreams of hurting other women as a result.

[regnaD kciN]

12. I notice she gave the same gesture right back at him...

…when he tried to interrupt her when she was pointing out that they showed the “wrong” clip.

[littlemissmartypants]

27. A technique known as mirroring. ...

By using mirroring one is attempting to appear as in sync therefore in agreement with the individual that they will "mirror" (not mimick) the gestures of the individual that they want to influence.

It's a technique used to bring someone to a mutual understanding or convince them to take the other's point of view, possibly one held in opposition but also close enough to attempt to convert it to one of mutual benefit.

It's a persuasive nonverbal communication technique often taught to individuals employed as face to face sales representatives. It can be used by anyone who is trying to persuade another to their point of view.

The trick with mirroring is for it to be effective one must initiate the copied gesture with a brief delay in order to avoid the gesture becoming a mimick which is often perceived as mocking and produces the opposite of the desired effect.

There's a fine line between communicating mutual benefit and mutual exclusion with this technique.

[ms liberty]

14. I just saw it again on Lawrence and have to add. Anyone else notice how red his cheeks got

When she was talking about the convicted felon and rapist and the enemy within crap? Another sign of how badly he was handling this interview. Happened a couple of other times, too.

[misanthrope]

15. Trump uses that gesture often

when he is being questioned. The first that comes to mind was when he made his disgusting remarks about John McCain's hero status.

[UTUSN]

17. Darth RUMSFELD taught him that

[lindysalsagal]

22. Because slapping her on air probably wouldn't be good for his career.

[irisblue]

23. VP Harris sure slapped him around.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

25. Lawrence on The Last Word called Brett Baier out as a partisan hack

Link to tweet

[Bayard]

28. And yet, she persisted

I've only seen the clips on MSNBC tonight, and need to find the whole thing.

[k55f5r]

29. "Talk to the hand" used to be a black woman's meme.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell slams Bret Baier following catastrophic interview.

Link to tweet