The Daily Populous Thursday September 26th, 2024 morning edition
Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by Forward-Answer-4407

Mike Lindell has hit back against the claims that his new MyPillow price is inadvertently linked to neo-Nazi propaganda.

Lindell spoke to the New York Post following Newsweek's report on Lindell's MyPillow advertisement that prices his Standard Classic Pillow at a number that is affiliated with neo-Nazi slogans.

Lindell told The Post: "I have no idea what this is all about."

On September 20, MyPillow posted an advertisement that marked down the pillows from its sale price of $29.99 to an even lower price of $14.88.

This price came to the attention of both historians and online neo-Nazis as the numbers 14 and 88 are dog-whistles in white supremacist circles.

The number 88 is used as shorthand for Heil Hitler, as "H" is the eight letter of the alphabet. The number 14 refers to the "14-word-slogan" by David Lane, a member of white supremacist group The Order. Lane, who died in prison serving 190 years for racketeering and violation of civil rights, said: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children."

Lindell told The Post that the 88 cents price point is a common price used by companies such as Walmart.

Mike Lindell speaking at a Trump rally on July 27, 2024 in St Cloud, Minnesota. He has denied his price point has anything to do with white supremacist propaganda. Mike Lindell speaking at a Trump rally on July 27, 2024 in St Cloud, Minnesota. He has denied his price point has anything to do with white supremacist propaganda. Stephen Maturen/Getty images

He added: "[The price point] had nothing to do with whatever you guys are trying to make it out to be." He then insisted that attacks on his price point were retribution for his election claims.

"This whole thing is another attack on Mike Lindell and MyPillow because I want to go to paper ballots, hand-counted in our country."

Mike Lindell has been contacted by Newsweek via email for comment.

Lindell has frequently denied the results of the 2020 election to the point that he lost $5 million after saying he would pay that sum to anyone who could disprove his claims that the election was "rigged" in favor of Joe Biden.

Computer forensics expert Robert Ziedman successfully proved that Lindell's account of the election being "rigged" was incorrect and Lindell was forced to hand over the money in 2024.

Lindell is also currently involved in a suit led by Dominion Voting Systems for allegedly libeling their company. He denies any wrongdoing.

The numbers 1488 tattooed on the hand of a far right protester at the U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, D.C., April 1, 2023. The exact same numbers feature in a MyPillow advert. The numbers 1488 tattooed on the hand of a far right protester at the U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, D.C., April 1, 2023. The exact same numbers feature in a MyPillow advert. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty images

When the MyPillow price was listed, history professor Seth Cotlar at Willamette University in Oregon wrote on his Bluesky account: "I doubt Lindell is behind this or would even get the reference, but that doesn't really matter."

Despite Lindell insisting that he knew nothing about the price point's links to white supremacy, the ad has been liked and reposted by a number of neo-Nazi accounts online, meaning that even if it was a complete accident it has been picked up by white supremacist circles.

One neo-Nazi account by the name of Balknomic reposted the ad, saying: "14.88? How could you pass up such a great deal?"

Another account called Chud Posting that frequently posts neo-Nazi and Alt-Right memes, reposted the ad saying: "Pillows at an Aryan price. Billions must buy. Totally nice dreams."

The phrase "billions must buy" is a play on words of the alt-right meme "billions must die," which is a mainstay of neo-Nazi forums.

The sale advertisement is still listed on MyPillow's social media accounts. It has been posted twice on their X and Facebook accounts.

The second ad on Facebook appeared 20 hours ago, the second ad on X appeared at 9:27 a.m. EDT on September 23, 20 minutes after Newsweek published the initial article detailing the price affiliation with white supremacist groups.

Renovatio_ on September 25th, 2024 at 22:09 UTC »

That is a pretty clear reference.

Lindell may not be a neoNazi but someone in his company definitely is.

citznfish on September 25th, 2024 at 21:40 UTC »

He may not know the reference. He is dumb as fuck.

But someone who did the pricing definitely knew.

There are no other sale/clearance prices ending in .88 on his website. They end in .99, .98, and.97

https://www.mypillow.com/clearance-page

This 14.88 is an anomaly. It is on purpose.

Craico13 on September 25th, 2024 at 21:15 UTC »

> On September 20, MyPillow posted an advertisement that marked down the pillows from its sale price of $29.99 to an even lower price of $14.88.

> This price came to the attention of both historians and online neo-Nazis as the numbers 14 and 88 are dog-whistles in white supremacist circles.

> The number 88 is used as shorthand for Heil Hitler, as “H” is the eight letter of the alphabet. The number 14 refers to the “14-word-slogan” by David Lane, a member of white supremacist group The Order. Lane, who died in prison serving 190 years for racketeering and violation of civil rights, said: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.”

Geee, Mike, I wonder why people think it’s a Nazi dog-whistle…