I think a grim reality is that there might not even be a political gain from some of these bots. Political engagement makes money, plenty of accounts on Twitter who run multiple “platforms” like some “AVMRICA FVRST” while having a page like “The Lefty Critic” or even a leftist page. It all makes money from advertisements and engagement.

I’ve quite literally seen leftist pages that will be hardcore communist and then do a sudden u-turn on Ukraine and then keep posting on like it never happened because those “edgy takes” can make money, especially when they have no interest in engaging or arguing back with anyone other than snappy comebacks and marketable quips.