Unfortunately, this particular derangement, likely fed by right-wing propaganda, reflects a large portion of our country, specifically the people (white and rural) that our political system overly rewards with representation at the federal level.
pushing aside for the moment the political aspect for the moment, and looking on the bright side, it happens that this same group is also very under-represented among NYC tourists and even more so NY theatre. I have a friend from a small rural county in a blood red state. Her parents come to visit once a year. Her mother told me several years ago that her friends and family are aghast that they would go to NYC (even more so that their daughter lives here!) and that she literally does not know another person who has ever been to New York. So the bottom line is that we don't need them or want them, which of course does not alter the pernicious effect of the fake news apparatus.
