AI Producer Workflow: Really American Media
Version: 1.0
Created: December 29, 2025
Purpose: Transform news articles into production-ready video script outlines for Really American Media
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Deep Research Prompts
- Outline Template Structure
- Complete Worked Example
- Best Practices
- Web App UI Specifications
Overview
What This Workflow Does
The AI Producer workflow transforms a news article into a production-ready 10-minute video outline. It handles:
- Plan Generation - Quick proposal of angle/beats for user approval via chat
- Deep Research - Gathering context, expert reactions, social media responses, and counter-evidence
- Outline Generation - Sparse bullet points with expandable annotations + citations
Human-in-the-Loop Philosophy
The AI suggests what media to include but does NOT automatically find or embed clips. This keeps humans in creative control and avoids complex API/scraping costs.
AI provides:
[EDITOR: Find clip of Trump at Helsinki saying "I see no reason why it would be"][EDITOR: Screenshot @AdamKinzinger tweet about "dumbest man"]
Human provides:
- Actually locating and downloading the media
- Final editorial judgment on what makes the cut
Target Output
- Length: 10-minute video
- Tone: Sarcastic, fact-driven, calls out hypocrisy, uses humor to make serious points
- Style: Sparse bullet outline with expandable annotations (NOT a script to read from)
Deep Research Prompts
Before generating any script, run these six research prompts using Perplexity Deep Research or similar tool.
Prompt 1: Historical Context Research
Research [SUBJECT]'s history with [TOPIC]:
1. What previous statements has [SUBJECT] made about [TOPIC]?
2. What actions has [SUBJECT] taken regarding [TOPIC]?
3. What is the timeline of key events?
4. What contradictions exist between past statements and current claims?
5. What context does the audience need to understand the significance?
6. What are the key facts that contradict the current claim being made?
Example for Trump/Russia/Ukraine:
Research Trump's history with Putin and Russia-Ukraine conflict:
1. What did Trump say at the 2018 Helsinki summit about trusting Putin over US intelligence?
2. What previous statements has Trump made praising Putin or defending Russia?
3. What has Trump said about Ukraine/Zelenskyy before (positive and negative)?
4. What were Trump's actions regarding Ukraine military aid during his first term? (Include the impeachment context)
5. What has Putin actually DONE to Ukraine since 2022? (cities bombed, civilian casualties, infrastructure destroyed)
6. What has Putin publicly stated about Ukraine's right to exist as a nation?
Prompt 2: Expert/Analyst Reactions
Find credible voices responding to [CLAIM/EVENT]:
1. Foreign policy experts/former diplomats
2. Military analysts
3. Journalists covering the topic on the ground
4. Former [SUBJECT] administration officials who have broken with them
5. International allies' reactions (if any)
6. Officials from affected parties beyond the main figures
Example:
Find credible voices responding to Trump's "Russia wants Ukraine to succeed" claim:
1. Foreign policy experts/former diplomats
2. Military analysts
3. Ukraine conflict reporters/journalists on the ground
4. Former Trump administration officials who have broken with him
5. European allies' reactions (if any)
6. Ukrainian officials beyond Zelenskyy
Prompt 3: MAGA Defense Pattern Prediction
Anticipate how [SUPPORTER BASE] will defend this statement:
1. What spin will they use? ("He's playing 4D chess", "Out of context", etc.)
2. What whataboutisms will they deploy?
3. Find examples of supporters already defending this specific statement
4. What cognitive dissonance is required to believe the claim?
5. What logical fallacies are being employed?
Example:
Anticipate how MAGA supporters will defend Trump's "Russia wants Ukraine to succeed" statement:
1. What spin will they use? ("He's playing 4D chess", "Out of context", etc.)
2. What whataboutisms will they deploy? (Biden, Obama, etc.)
3. Find examples of MAGA accounts already defending this specific statement
4. What cognitive dissonance is required to believe Russia "wants Ukraine to succeed" while Russia is actively bombing Ukraine?
Prompt 4: Contradiction Evidence
Compile hard evidence that contradicts [CLAIM]:
1. Recent actions (last 30 days) that contradict the claim
2. Direct quotes from [SUBJECT OF CLAIM] that contradict it
3. Documented facts and statistics
4. Visual evidence (attacks, destruction, etc.)
5. Official reports from credible organizations
6. Timeline of events that disprove the claim
Example:
Compile hard evidence that contradicts "Russia wants Ukraine to succeed":
1. Recent Russian military actions (last 30 days)
2. Putin's own words about Ukraine (denying its legitimacy as a nation)
3. Documented war crimes and civilian targeting
4. Infrastructure attacks (power grid, hospitals, schools)
5. Occupied territory statistics
6. Refugee/displacement numbers
Prompt 5: Social Media Reaction Mining
Find viral social reactions to [EVENT/CLAIM]:
1. Liberal/progressive commentators (journalists, analysts)
2. [SUPPORTER BASE] defenders (to mock their cognitive dissonance)
3. Viral quote tweets or memes
4. Notable political figures weighing in
5. Particularly funny or incisive responses
6. Any responses that went viral
Example:
Find viral social reactions to Trump's "Russia wants Ukraine to succeed" claim:
1. Liberal/progressive commentators (journalists, analysts)
2. MAGA defenders (to mock their cognitive dissonance)
3. Viral quote tweets or memes
4. Notable figures weighing in
5. Any particularly funny memes or quote tweets
6. Any MAGA defenders saying something mockable
Prompt 6: Callback/Connection Research
What other [CHANNEL NAME] stories does this connect to?
1. Previous coverage of [SUBJECT]
2. Related scandals or controversies
3. Recurring themes in content
4. Opportunities for callbacks to previous videos
5. Connections to ongoing storylines
Example:
What other Really American stories does this connect to?
1. Previous Trump dementia/cognitive decline coverage
2. Epstein file coverage (for potential callbacks)
3. Previous "Trump loves dictators" content
4. Any prior Zelenskyy coverage
Script Template Structure
Section Breakdown with Timing
| Section | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Hook | 0:00-0:45 | Grab attention, set up the absurdity |
| Backstory | 0:45-2:30 | Historical context, establish pattern |
| Main Event | 2:30-5:00 | The actual news with commentary |
| Expert Reactions | 5:00-6:30 | Credible voices pushing back |
| Social Media | 6:30-7:30 | Viral reactions, memes, tweets |
| MAGA Cope | 7:30-8:30 | Mock predictable defenses |
| Reality Check | 8:30-9:30 | Hard facts, raise the stakes |
| Wrap & CTA | 9:30-10:00 | Sign-off, call to action |
Output Format: Annotated Outline Data Structure
The AI Producer outputs a structured format where each outline bullet links to its supporting research and citations:
{
"section": "HOOK",
"duration": "0:00-0:45",
"bullets": [
{
"id": "hook-1",
"text": "Trump said 'Russia wants Ukraine to succeed'",
"annotation": {
"full_quote": "Russia is going to be helping. Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. It sounds a little strange, but I was explaining to the president that President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding.",
"context": "Said during joint press conference with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, December 28, 2025",
"citations": [
{
"source": "Reuters",
"url": "https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/...",
"accessed": "2025-12-29"
}
]
}
},
{
"id": "hook-2",
"text": "Zelenskyy laughed at the claim",
"annotation": {
"detail": "Zelenskyy visibly laughed and mouthed 'yes' sarcastically when Trump made the statement",
"citations": [
{
"source": "Video footage from press conference",
"url": "https://youtube.com/..."
}
]
}
}
]
}
This data structure powers the RapGenius-style UI where:
- LEFT panel shows clean bullet points
- RIGHT panel shows annotations + citations for selected bullet
Complete Worked Example
Story Information
Headline: "He's completely gone": Internet erupts after Trump's latest "absolutely unhinged" claim
Date: December 28, 2025
Summary: Trump claims "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed" during Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelenskyy
Research Results
Prompt 1 Results: Historical Context
Trump at Helsinki (2018):
- Stood beside Putin and rejected US intelligence assessment of Russian election interference
- Stated: "I have great trust in my intelligence personnel, but I must say that President Putin was exceptionally firm and convincing in his denial today"
- Declared: "My people came to me... I have President Putin saying it wasn't Russia. I see no reason why it would be"
- Called Putin's proposal for Russian law enforcement to interrogate indicted Russian intelligence officers "incredible"
Trump Praising Putin (Pattern):
- October 2007: "Look at Putin—what he's accomplishing with Russia. Regardless of personal opinions about him, he is doing an impressive job"
- 2011 book: "I hold respect for Putin and the Russians"
- December 2015: After Putin called Trump "talented," Trump said "It is always a tremendous honor to receive such kind words from a figure so highly regarded"
- November 2017: "He said he didn't meddle... I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it"
February 2022 (During Invasion):
- Called Putin's invasion strategy "genius" and "very savvy"
- Said: "Putin is now saying, 'It's independent,' a large section of Ukraine. I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That's the strongest peace force I've ever seen"
- At CPAC while Russian forces bombed Ukrainian cities: "The problem is not that Putin is smart, which, of course, he's smart. The problem is that our leaders are dumb"
Ukraine Military Aid Scandal (First Impeachment):
- July 3, 2019: Trump ordered hold on nearly $400 million in congressionally approved military aid
- July 25, 2019: "I would like you to do us a favor though" phone call with Zelenskyy
- 91 minutes after call ended, White House official emailed Pentagon to "hold off" on aid
- Aid withheld for 55 days until whistleblower complaint surfaced
- December 18, 2019: Impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress
- February 5, 2020: Acquitted by Republican-controlled Senate
What Putin Has Actually Done to Ukraine:
- 14,534 civilians killed (including 745 children)
- 38,472 civilians injured (including 2,318 children)
- Mariupol: 95% destroyed, approximately 25,000 civilians killed
- Bucha massacre: 561 civilians killed during 33-day occupation
- Bakhmut: "wiped completely off the map," compared to Hiroshima
- 9 GW of power generation destroyed (half of peak winter demand)
- 775 schools/kindergartens/universities damaged or destroyed
- Nearly 300 hospitals/clinics damaged or destroyed
Putin's Denial of Ukraine's Right to Exist:
- February 21, 2022: "Ukraine has never had its own authentic statehood"
- July 2021 essay: Argued Ukrainians and Russians are "one people"
- June 20, 2025: "The whole of Ukraine is ours. Wherever a Russian soldier's foot treads, that territory becomes ours"
- November 3, 2023: "There was no Ukraine in the Russian Empire"
Prompt 2 Results: Expert Reactions
Michael McFaul (Former US Ambassador to Russia, 2012-2014):
"Contrary to what Trump said today, Putin doesn't want Ukraine to succeed. Putin wants Ukraine to become a part of Russia."
Fiona Hill (Trump's Former NSC Senior Director for Europe/Russia, 2017-2019):
"Putin's got his number. Putin realizes he is a man with a very fragile ego, and that he is somebody that can be manipulated."
"A successful Ukraine provides a model of democratic governance to the Russian people that Putin cannot tolerate."
"Putin does not want peace."
John Bolton (Trump's Former National Security Adviser, 2018-2019):
"The Russians couldn't have devised a better agreement themselves. I believe this compromises Ukraine. If Trump manages to compel Ukraine to endorse this, it would be reminiscent of a Neville Chamberlain moment. This is akin to Munich."
"Trump wants to make any deal he can, and claim a Nobel Peace Prize."
H.R. McMaster (Trump's Former National Security Adviser, 2017-2018):
"Vladimir Putin couldn't be happier because what he sees is all of the pressure on Zelenskyy, all of the pressure on Ukraine and no pressure on him."
"He appeals to President Trump's sense of aggrievement... 'Donald, you know, like me, you know, you've been treated so unfairly'... And he's been very successful at it because he's a master manipulator and one of the best liars in the world."
Mick Ryan (Retired Australian Major General, CSIS Fellow):
"Putin, in multiple speeches in the past four years has described exactly the opposite. He does not believe Ukraine is a real country, and he very much does not want Ukraine to succeed."
Evelyn Farkas (Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine):
Putin "has not shown any sign... that he's changed his objective, which is to completely control Ukraine and wipe it as an independent political entity off the map."
Kaja Kallas (EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs):
"Pressure must be on the aggressor, not on the victim. Rewarding aggression will only invite more of it."
Ukrainian Officials:
Andriy Yermak (Zelenskyy's Chief of Staff):
"Not a single rational individual would agree to a document that entails giving up territory... The constitution forbids this action."
Dmytro Kuleba (Former Foreign Minister):
"As long as Putin believes that he can win this war on the battlefield, he's going to escape and avoid any agreements and arrangements."
Prompt 3 Results: MAGA Defense Patterns
Predicted Spins:
-
"4D Chess/Golden Bridge": Trump is offering Putin a face-saving off-ramp. "He's not stating a fact; he's creating a psychological off-ramp for Putin."
-
"Redefining Success": Russia DOES want a successful neighbor—they just don't want a NATO missile base. "Trump understands this nuance; the media doesn't."
-
"Economic Benevolence": Trump mentioned cheap energy. "He's the only one talking about rebuilding while Democrats just want to send more bombs."
Whataboutisms:
- "Biden/Harris wanted endless war. Would you rather have mean tweets or nuclear war?"
- "Obama let Putin take Crimea and did nothing. Trump is actually negotiating."
- "Ungrateful Zelensky laughing while Americans pay his salary."
Cognitive Dissonance Required:
- Must believe destroying Ukraine's energy grid is compatible with "wanting them to succeed"
- Must accept the nation erasing Ukraine's borders is the primary advocate for its success
- Must believe Trump has special access to Putin's "true soul" that contradicts visible actions
- Must accept that nations sending air defense (the West) want Ukraine to fail, while the nation bombing it wants it to succeed
Prompt 4 Results: Contradiction Evidence
December 2024 Military Actions:
- Christmas Day (Dec 25): Over 70 missiles and 100+ drones targeting energy infrastructure. Kharkiv lost power for 520,000 households. 13th major energy attack of 2024.
- December 13: 93 missiles (including North Korean-supplied), nearly 200 drones. Kyiv outages extended to 11 hours.
- November 28: ~100 drones and 90+ missiles, nearly one million without power.
- November 17: 120+ missiles and 90 drones. 7 killed including 2 children.
Infrastructure Destruction:
- Ukraine's grid generating only 1/3 of pre-invasion level
- 80% of thermal power plants destroyed
- 50% of hydroelectric plants destroyed
- 5,967 attacks on energy infrastructure Jan-Aug 2024 (double from 2023)
- $20.5 billion in energy system damage
War Crimes Documentation:
- ICC arrest warrant issued for Putin (March 2023) for child deportation
- Almost 20,000 Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia
- Bucha massacre: 458 bodies recovered, summary executions with hands bound
- Multiple torture sites discovered in liberated territories
- 27 executions of POWs documented after August 2024 alone
Occupation Statistics:
- Russia controls ~117,000 km² (19-20% of Ukraine)
- Gained 4,000-4,700 km² in 2024 at cost of 28-36 soldiers killed per km²
- September 2022: Illegally annexed 4 oblasts (largest forcible takeover since WWII)
Displacement:
- 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees globally
- 3.5-3.7 million internally displaced
- 10.6 million total displaced (25% of population)
- 12.7 million require humanitarian assistance
Prompt 5 Results: Social Media Reactions
Adam Kinzinger (Former Republican Congressman):
"'Russia wants Ukraine to succeed.' Donald J Trump, December 28, the year of our Lord 2025. Actual real quote from the dumbest man."
"The dumbest man to ever sit in the White House. Not even as president just the dumbest human to ever take a seat anywhere in the White House."
John Harwood (Journalist):
"Trump has always wanted Russia, his financial and political benefactor, to win - at the expense of America's interests."
Adam Parkhomenko (Democratic Strategist):
"This is an absolutely unhinged thing to say about a country that was invaded, bombed, and terrorized by Russia. Calling Putin 'generous' while Ukraine is fighting for its survival tells you everything about where Trump's loyalties actually lie."
Sarah Longwell (The Bulwark):
"Whenever I genuinely wish for my neighbor's success, I break into his home, harm his family, abduct his children, and set his house ablaze while shouting 'bro I'm trying to!'"
@OAlexanderDK:
"Sauron wants to see Frodo succeed"
Viral Moment: Zelenskyy's visible laugh/reaction when Trump said the quote went massively viral across all platforms.
Generated Output: Annotated Outline
The AI Producer generates a sparse outline where each bullet links to its supporting research. This is what powers the RapGenius-style UI.
HOOK (0:00-0:45)
Outline bullets:
- Trump said "Russia wants Ukraine to succeed"
- Zelenskyy laughed at the statement
- Trump admitted it "sounds a little strange"
📚 Annotation: Trump's full quote
Full quote: "Russia is going to be helping. Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. It sounds a little strange, but I was explaining to the president that President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity, and other things at very low prices."
Context: Joint press conference with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, December 28, 2025
Citations:
📚 Annotation: Zelenskyy's reaction
BACKSTORY (0:45-2:30)
Outline bullets:
- Helsinki 2018: Trump trusted Putin over US intelligence
- February 2022: Called Putin "genius" as invasion started
- First impeachment: Withheld $400M Ukraine aid for political favor
📚 Annotation: Helsinki Summit (2018)
What happened: Trump stood beside Putin and rejected US intelligence assessment of Russian election interference.
Key quote: "I have great trust in my intelligence personnel, but I must say that President Putin was exceptionally firm and convincing in his denial today... My people came to me... I have President Putin saying it wasn't Russia. I see no reason why it would be."
Why it matters: A sitting US president publicly rejected his own intelligence community's unanimous conclusions in favor of a foreign adversary's denials.
Citations:
📚 Annotation: "Genius" comment (Feb 2022)
What happened: As Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Trump called Putin's strategy "genius" and "very savvy."
Key quote: "Putin is now saying, 'It's independent,' a large section of Ukraine. I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That's the strongest peace force I've ever seen. There were more army tanks than I've ever seen. They're gonna keep peace all right."
Date: February 22, 2022, on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show
Citations:
📚 Annotation: First impeachment / Ukraine aid
Timeline:
- July 3, 2019: Trump ordered hold on ~$400M in congressionally approved military aid
- July 25, 2019: "I would like you to do us a favor though" phone call
- 91 minutes after call: Pentagon told to "hold off" on aid
- Aid withheld 55 days until whistleblower complaint surfaced
- December 18, 2019: Impeached for abuse of power
Why it matters: Trump held Ukraine's military aid hostage to pressure Zelenskyy to announce an investigation into Joe Biden.
Citations:
MAIN EVENT (2:30-5:00)
Outline bullets:
- 14,534 civilians killed (745 children)
- 95% of Mariupol destroyed
- Bucha massacre: 458 bodies, hands bound
- Half of power generation destroyed
- 775 schools damaged/destroyed
- Christmas 2025: 70 missiles, 520K households lost power
📚 Annotation: Civilian casualty statistics
UN-verified figures (as of October 2025):
- 14,534 civilians killed (including 745 children)
- 38,472 civilians injured (including 2,318 children)
- Real numbers likely much higher (many cases unverified)
2025 escalation: Civilian casualties in 2025 are 31% higher than 2024. September 2025 alone: 214 civilians killed, nearly 1,000 injured.
Citations:
📚 Annotation: Mariupol destruction
Siege dates: February 24 - May 20, 2022
Casualties: Ukrainian officials reported ~25,000 civilians killed; UN confirmed at least 1,348 (actual toll likely thousands higher)
Destruction: 95% of city destroyed, 90% of residential buildings damaged or completely destroyed. City of 430,000 "rendered unrecognizable, reduced to rubble."
Red Cross assessment: "Apocalyptic"
Citations:
📚 Annotation: Bucha massacre
Occupation period: February 27 - March 31, 2022 (33 days)
Death toll: 561 civilians killed (including 12 children). 358 killed in Bucha proper.
Evidence of war crimes:
- Bodies found with hands tied behind backs (summary executions)
- Sexual violence: Girls as young as 14 raped
- Ukrainian woman kidnapped, held in cellar, repeatedly raped, executed
- 9 women/girls became pregnant after being locked in basement for a month
Investigation: German intelligence intercepted radio linking Russian 234th Air Assault Regiment to atrocities. Ukraine's parliament recognized Russia's actions as genocide.
Citations:
📚 Annotation: Infrastructure destruction
Power grid:
- 9 GW of generation capacity destroyed in 2024 (half of peak winter demand)
- 80% of thermal power plants destroyed
- 50% of hydroelectric plants destroyed
- Grid generating only 1/3 of pre-invasion level
- $20.5 billion in damage to energy system
Education: 775 schools, kindergartens, universities damaged/destroyed
Healthcare: Nearly 300 hospitals/clinics damaged or destroyed
Citations:
📚 Annotation: Christmas 2025 attack
Date: December 25, 2025
Scale: Over 70 missiles and 100+ combat drones targeting energy infrastructure. 13th major attack on energy sector in 2024.
Impact: Kharkiv lost power for 520,000 households in 3°C (37°F) temperatures. Rolling blackouts affected millions nationwide.
Zelenskyy's assessment: Called it an "inhumane" assault and a "conscious decision" to inflict terror.
Citations:
📚 Annotation: Putin denying Ukraine's right to exist
Key quotes:
February 21, 2022: "Ukraine has never had its own authentic statehood... Modern Ukraine was entirely and fully created by Russia."
June 20, 2025: "The whole of Ukraine is ours. Wherever a Russian soldier's foot treads, that territory becomes ours."
November 3, 2023: "There was no Ukraine in the Russian Empire."
Expert analysis: Atlantic Council notes Putin's denial of Ukrainian identity meets UN indicators of genocide: "denial of the existence of protected groups or of recognition of elements of their identity."
Citations:
EXPERT REACTIONS (5:00-6:30)
Outline bullets:
- McFaul: "Putin wants Ukraine to become part of Russia"
- Fiona Hill: "Putin's got his number... fragile ego"
- Bolton: Compared to "Neville Chamberlain moment"
- McMaster: "Putin couldn't be happier... Trump is being played"
📚 Annotation: Michael McFaul (Former US Ambassador to Russia)
Credentials: US Ambassador to Russia 2012-2014, now Stanford professor. Negotiated face-to-face with Putin.
Quote: "Contrary to what Trump said today, Putin doesn't want Ukraine to succeed. Putin wants Ukraine to become a part of Russia."
Additional context: McFaul said on MSNBC he doesn't know "if President Trump really believes what he just said."
Citations:
- NJ.com [1]
📚 Annotation: Fiona Hill (Trump's Former NSC Director)
Credentials: Senior director for European and Russian affairs on Trump's NSC, 2017-2019. Now senior fellow at Brookings Institution.
Key quotes:
- "Putin's got his number. Putin realizes he is a man with a very fragile ego, and that he is somebody that can be manipulated."
- "A successful Ukraine provides a model of democratic governance to the Russian people that Putin cannot tolerate."
- "Putin does not want peace."
Why this matters: This is Trump's own former official saying he's being manipulated.
Citations:
📚 Annotation: John Bolton (Trump's Former NSA)
Credentials: National Security Adviser 2018-2019
Quote: "The Russians couldn't have devised a better agreement themselves. I believe this compromises Ukraine. If Trump manages to compel Ukraine to endorse this, it would be reminiscent of a Neville Chamberlain moment. This is akin to Munich."
Additional: "Trump wants to make any deal he can, and claim a Nobel Peace Prize."
Citations:
- The Hill [1]
📚 Annotation: H.R. McMaster (Trump's Former NSA)
Credentials: National Security Adviser 2017-2018, retired lieutenant general, CBS News contributor
Key quotes:
- "Vladimir Putin couldn't be happier because what he sees is all of the pressure on Zelenskyy, all of the pressure on Ukraine and no pressure on him."
- Putin appeals to Trump's "sense of aggrievement... 'Donald, you know, like me, you know, you've been treated so unfairly'... he's a master manipulator and one of the best liars in the world."
- Trump "is being played like other presidents have been played."
Citations:
- CBS News [1]
SOCIAL MEDIA (6:30-7:30)
Outline bullets:
- Kinzinger: "Dumbest man to ever sit in the White House"
- Harwood: "Russia, his financial and political benefactor"
- Parkhomenko: "Absolutely unhinged"
- Best meme: "Sauron wants to see Frodo succeed"
📚 Annotation: Adam Kinzinger tweets
Who: Former Republican Congressman, Air Force veteran
Tweets:
-
"'Russia wants Ukraine to succeed.' Donald J Trump, December 28, the year of our Lord 2025. Actual real quote from the dumbest man."
-
"The dumbest man to ever sit in the White House. Not even as president just the dumbest human to ever take a seat anywhere in the White House."
Why it matters: This is a Republican saying this.
Citations:
📚 Annotation: Other viral reactions
John Harwood (Journalist):
"Trump has always wanted Russia, his financial and political benefactor, to win - at the expense of America's interests."
Adam Parkhomenko (Democratic strategist):
"This is an absolutely unhinged thing to say about a country that was invaded, bombed, and terrorized by Russia. Calling Putin 'generous' while Ukraine is fighting for its survival tells you everything about where Trump's loyalties actually lie."
Sarah Longwell (The Bulwark):
"Whenever I genuinely wish for my neighbor's success, I break into his home, harm his family, abduct his children, and set his house ablaze while shouting 'bro I'm trying to!'"
@OAlexanderDK:
"Sauron wants to see Frodo succeed"
Citations:
MAGA COPE (7:30-8:30)
Outline bullets:
- Predicted spin: "4D chess / face-saving off-ramp for Putin"
- Predicted spin: "Out of context"
- Predicted pivot: "Biden wanted endless war"
- Predicted attack: "Ungrateful Zelensky"
- The cognitive dissonance: Bombing = wanting success?
📚 Annotation: Predicted MAGA defenses
"4D Chess" spin: Trump is offering Putin a "golden bridge" to retreat. By publicly stating Putin wants Ukraine to succeed, he's creating a face-saving off-ramp.
"Redefining success" spin: Russia DOES want a successful neighbor—just not a NATO missile base. "Trump understands this nuance."
"Economic benevolence" pivot: Trump mentioned cheap energy. "He's the only one talking about rebuilding."
Whataboutisms:
- "Biden/Harris wanted endless war. Would you rather have nuclear war?"
- "Obama let Putin take Crimea and did nothing."
"Ungrateful Zelensky": Already calling Zelensky ungrateful for laughing.
Cognitive dissonance required:
- Must believe destroying Ukraine's power grid is compatible with wanting them to succeed
- Must accept nation erasing Ukraine's borders is primary advocate for its success
- Must believe Trump has special access to Putin's "true soul" that contradicts visible actions
Citations:
REALITY CHECK (8:30-9:30)
Outline bullets:
- 10.6 million displaced (25% of population)
- 20,000 children forcibly deported to Russia
- ICC arrest warrant for Putin (child deportation = genocide)
- Either Trump is gullible or he knows what he's doing
📚 Annotation: Displacement statistics
International refugees: 6.8 million globally (5.7M in Europe)
- Germany: 1.2 million
- Poland: 1.0 million
- 90% are women and children
Internally displaced: 3.5-3.7 million within Ukraine
Total displaced: 10.6 million (25% of Ukraine's population)
Humanitarian need: 12.7 million require assistance
Citations:
📚 Annotation: Child deportations / ICC warrant
Scale: Almost 20,000 Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia (Ukrainian authorities verified 19,456+ identities). Russia claims 700,000 children "relocated."
What happens to them:
- Assigned Russian citizenship
- Placed in "re-education" programs at 210+ facilities
- 62.9% of facilities involve re-education
- 18% involve militarization
- Obstacles created for reunification with families
Only ~1,300-1,600 children returned.
ICC arrest warrant: March 17, 2023 - Putin charged with "war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and unlawful transfer of population (children)."
Legal classification: Under Genocide Convention, forcibly transferring children of a group to another group constitutes genocide if done with intent to destroy the group.
Citations:
WRAP & CTA (9:30-10:00)
Outline bullets:
- Subscribe to Really American
- Almost 1 million subscribers
- Drop a comment
- Sign-off: "For Really American, I'm [NAME]"
Best Practices
Voice and Tone
Do:
- Use sarcasm to highlight absurdity, not to be mean-spirited
- Ground humor in facts (the joke is the reality, not the exaggeration)
- Address the audience directly ("you know how this works")
- Acknowledge when you're being serious vs. joking
- Use callbacks to previous Really American content
- End on an empowering note (we can fight back)
Don't:
- Make jokes about victims or casualties
- Use sarcasm without underlying facts
- Punch down
- Be nihilistic (maintain that action matters)
- Assume the audience knows all the context
Structure Patterns
The Absurdity Sandwich:
- Present the absurd claim
- Show the reaction (Zelenskyy's laugh)
- Explain why it's absurd with facts
- Return to the absurdity with new context
The Expert Stack:
- Lead with the most credible voice
- Build with additional voices
- End with the most damning quote
- Emphasize when critics are from the subject's own side
The MAGA Prediction:
- Predict their defenses before they happen
- This inoculates the audience against them
- Use humor to deflate the arguments
- Show the cognitive dissonance required
Timing Guidelines
| Section | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | 30s | 60s | Get to the point fast |
| Backstory | 90s | 120s | Don't overload |
| Main Event | 120s | 180s | This is the meat |
| Experts | 60s | 90s | 3-4 quotes max |
| Social | 45s | 60s | Quick hits |
| MAGA Cope | 45s | 60s | Don't dwell |
| Reality | 45s | 60s | Land the plane |
| CTA | 20s | 30s | Don't drag |
When to Use What
Use direct facts when:
- Discussing casualties, war crimes, humanitarian impact
- Quoting experts
- Establishing the historical record
Use sarcasm when:
- Highlighting hypocrisy
- Mocking predictable defenses
- Pointing out obvious absurdities
- Making the medicine go down easier
Use personal commentary when:
- Transitioning between sections
- Offering analysis
- Connecting to broader themes
- The soapbox moment before the CTA
Web App UI Specifications
Overview
The AI Producer web app uses a RapGenius-style two-column layout where the host sees a clean outline on the left, and can click any bullet to see supporting research + citations on the right.
Primary Layout: Annotated Outline View
┌──────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┐
│ OUTLINE │ ANNOTATION PANEL │
│ (what host glances at) │ (context for selected bullet) │
├──────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ │ │
│ HOOK (0:00-0:45) │ 📚 Trump's full quote │
│ │ │
│ • Trump said "Russia wants │ "Russia is going to be helping. │
│ Ukraine to succeed" ← [sel] │ Russia wants to see Ukraine │
│ • Zelenskyy laughed │ succeed. It sounds a little │
│ • Trump admitted it "sounds │ strange, but I was explaining │
│ strange" │ to the president that President │
│ │ Putin was very generous..." │
│ BACKSTORY (0:45-2:30) │ │
│ │ Context: Joint press conference │
│ • Helsinki 2018: trusted Putin │ at Mar-a-Lago, Dec 28, 2025 │
│ over US intelligence │ │
│ • Feb 2022: Called Putin │ ───────────────────────────── │
│ "genius" │ 📎 Citations │
│ • First impeachment: withheld │ │
│ $400M Ukraine aid │ [1] Reuters, Dec 28, 2025 │
│ │ reuters.com/world/europe... │
│ MAIN EVENT (2:30-5:00) │ [2] CBS News │
│ │ cbsnews.com/news/russia... │
│ • 14,534 civilians killed │ │
│ • 95% of Mariupol destroyed │ │
│ • Bucha: 458 bodies, hands │ │
│ bound │ │
│ ... │ │
│ │ │
└──────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┘
Interaction Model
-
Click any bullet → Right panel shows annotation with:
- Full context/detail
- Key quotes
- Why it matters
- Clickable citation links
-
Keyboard navigation:
- ↑/↓ to move between bullets
- Enter to expand/collapse annotation panel
- Cmd+1-6 to jump to sections
-
Mobile/Teleprompter mode:
- Single column, bullets only
- Tap to peek at annotation (slides up from bottom)
Data Structure
The output is structured JSON that powers this UI:
{
"title": "Trump: Russia Wants Ukraine to Succeed",
"date": "2025-12-28",
"target_length": "10:00",
"sections": [
{
"id": "hook",
"name": "HOOK",
"timing": "0:00-0:45",
"bullets": [
{
"id": "hook-1",
"text": "Trump said 'Russia wants Ukraine to succeed'",
"annotation": {
"full_quote": "Russia is going to be helping...",
"context": "Joint press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Dec 28, 2025",
"why_it_matters": null,
"citations": [
{
"id": 1,
"source": "Reuters",
"title": "Trump claims peace progress...",
"url": "https://reuters.com/...",
"accessed": "2025-12-29"
}
]
}
}
]
}
]
}
Additional Views
Research Brief (Pre-Filming)
A separate document the host reads BEFORE filming to get educated on the topic.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 📚 RESEARCH BRIEF │
│ Read this before filming to understand the full context│
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ▼ Historical Context │
│ [Full research text organized by topic...] │
│ │
│ ▼ Expert Reactions │
│ [All expert quotes with credentials...] │
│ │
│ ▼ Key Statistics │
│ [All numbers, dates, facts...] │
│ │
│ ▼ Social Media Reactions │
│ [Viral tweets and responses...] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Editor Checklist
For the production team to track media that needs to be found:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🎬 EDITOR CHECKLIST │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ VIDEO │
│ [ ] Trump "Russia wants Ukraine to succeed" clip │
│ [ ] Zelenskyy reaction/laugh │
│ [ ] Helsinki 2018 clip │
│ [ ] Trump "genius" Feb 2022 audio │
│ │
│ SCREENSHOTS │
│ [ ] @AdamKinzinger tweet │
│ [ ] @JohnJHarwood tweet │
│ [ ] @AdamParkhomenko tweet │
│ │
│ B-ROLL │
│ [ ] Destroyed Ukrainian cities footage │
│ [ ] Mariupol aerial │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Workflow Flow
┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ Paste URL │────▶│ Generate │────▶│ Run Deep │────▶│ Generate │
│ or Article │ │ PLAN │ │ Research │ │ Outline │
│ │ │ (fast) │ │ (slow) │ │ │
└─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ 📋 PLAN REVIEW (User Approval) │
│ │
│ "Here's the angle I'm planning. │
│ Want to change it?" │
│ │
│ [Approve] [Edit Plan] [Try Again] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
Plan Generation (Intermediate Step)
Before running expensive deep research, the system generates a quick Plan/Angle proposal for user approval.
Plan Generation Prompt:
Given this news article, propose a 10-minute Really American video:
ARTICLE:
[paste article text]
Generate a PLAN that includes:
1. MAIN ANGLE: What's the core argument/take? (1-2 sentences)
2. HOOK STRATEGY: How do we grab attention in the first 30 seconds?
- Option A: [approach]
- Option B: [approach]
- Option C: [approach]
3. KEY BEATS: What are the 4-5 main points we need to hit?
4. RESEARCH NEEDED: What context/history should we dig into?
5. EXPERT VOICES: Who would be credible critics to cite?
6. MAGA ANGLE: How will supporters spin this? How do we preempt?
7. EMOTIONAL LANDING: What's the serious "reality check" before the CTA?
Be concise. This is a proposal for the host to approve or modify.
Example Plan Output:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 📋 PROPOSED PLAN │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ MAIN ANGLE: │
│ Trump claiming "Russia wants Ukraine to succeed" is │
│ absurd given the documented destruction. We'll prove │
│ it with facts and expert reactions. │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ HOOK OPTIONS: │
│ ○ A: Lead with Zelenskyy's laugh/reaction │
│ ○ B: Open with Kinzinger "dumbest man" quote │
│ ○ C: Start with destruction stats, then reveal quote │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ KEY BEATS: │
│ 1. The absurd quote + Zelenskyy's reaction │
│ 2. Trump's history of siding with Putin (Helsinki, │
│ "genius" comment, first impeachment) │
│ 3. What Russia has ACTUALLY done to Ukraine (stats) │
│ 4. Expert reactions (Trump's own former officials) │
│ 5. MAGA cope / cognitive dissonance │
│ 6. Reality check: displacement, child deportations │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ RESEARCH NEEDED: │
│ • Trump-Putin history (Helsinki, 2022 comments) │
│ • Ukraine destruction stats (recent) │
│ • Putin's statements denying Ukraine's right to exist │
│ • Expert/analyst reactions to this specific statement │
│ • Social media reactions │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ EXPERT VOICES TO FIND: │
│ • Former Trump officials (Bolton, McMaster, Hill) │
│ • Former ambassadors (McFaul) │
│ • Military analysts │
│ • Ukrainian officials │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ MAGA SPIN TO PREEMPT: │
│ • "4D chess / face-saving off-ramp" │
│ • "Out of context" │
│ • "Biden wanted endless war" │
│ • "Ungrateful Zelensky" │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ EMOTIONAL LANDING: │
│ Child deportations + ICC warrant. Either Trump is │
│ gullible or he knows what he's doing. │
│ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ [✓ Approve & Run Research] [✎ Edit Plan] [↻ Retry] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Why this step matters:
- Deep research is expensive/slow (Perplexity API costs)
- The angle/framing determines what research to run
- Host might want a different take than the obvious one
- Allows creative input before committing to a direction
- Can iterate on the plan cheaply before expensive research
Plan Refinement: Chat Interface
Instead of a static form, the plan step is a chat window where the user can have a back-and-forth conversation to refine the plan.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 💬 PLAN CHAT │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ 🤖 Here's my proposed plan for this video: │
│ │
│ ANGLE: Trump claiming "Russia wants Ukraine to │
│ succeed" is absurd. We prove it with destruction │
│ stats and expert reactions. │
│ │
│ HOOK: Lead with Zelenskyy's laugh │
│ BEATS: Helsinki → "genius" → impeachment → stats → │
│ experts → MAGA cope → reality check │
│ │
│ What do you think? Want to change anything? │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ 👤 Less MAGA cope. Go harder on the expert reactions. │
│ Can we get more of his own people turning on him? │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ 🤖 Got it. I'll trim MAGA cope to 30 seconds and │
│ expand the expert section. I'll specifically look for: │
│ │
│ - Bolton, McMaster, Fiona Hill (former Trump NSAs) │
│ - McFaul (former ambassador) │
│ - Any Republican congress members criticizing │
│ │
│ Updated beats: │
│ Helsinki → "genius" → impeachment → stats → │
│ EXPERTS (expanded, 2 min) → MAGA cope (brief) → │
│ reality check │
│ │
│ Anything else? │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ 👤 Can we tie this to the Epstein stuff somehow? │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ 🤖 We could work in a callback during the social │
│ media section - there are memes connecting Trump's │
│ defense of Putin to his Epstein connections. Light │
│ touch, not the main focus. Want me to include that? │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ 👤 Yeah, just a light touch. This looks good. Lock it. │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ 🤖 Plan locked. Running deep research now... │
│ ████████████░░░░░░░░ 45% │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Type a message... [🔒 Lock Plan] │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Chat Commands:
- Natural language to refine the plan
- "Lock it" / "Run research" / "Let's go" → triggers deep research
- "Start over" → generates fresh plan
- "Show me the full plan" → expands all sections
Why chat is better than a form:
- More natural interaction
- Can ask questions ("What else could we tie this to?")
- Explore different angles before committing
- Feels like working with a producer
- Keeps revision history in the chat
Core Features
-
Input:
- Paste article URL (auto-extract text)
- Paste article body text
- Upload document
-
Research Phase:
- Run all 6 research prompts via Perplexity API
- Show progress indicator per prompt
-
Script Generation:
- Generate script from research
- Edit script directly
-
View Toggle:
- Instant switch between views
- Persist last-used view preference
- Keyboard shortcuts (1=Performance, 2=Production, 3=Research)
-
Export:
- Plain text copy
-
Editor Workflow:
- Checklist of all annotations
- Mark as "found" with link/file
- Filter by pending vs. complete
- Export annotation list separately
Technical Notes
- Use Perplexity API for deep research (requires API key)
- Store research results for regeneration
- Support offline access to generated scripts
- Auto-save drafts
- Version history for edits
Appendix: Example Video Transcripts
These transcripts from existing Really American content were analyzed to derive the voice, structure, and tone guidelines in this document.
Patterns Observed
- Hook patterns: Lead with the absurd/funny moment, or with the strongest critic quote
- Backstory approach: Don't overload; 2-3 key historical points max
- Expert stacking: 3-4 credible voices, end with the most damning
- Social media segment: Quick hits, 3-5 reactions, save best for last
- MAGA mockery: Predict defenses, show cognitive dissonance
- Reality check: Get serious before the close, raise the stakes
- Sign-off: Empowering, community-focused, call to action
Signature Phrases
- "Welcome back to Really American"
- "Let's talk about it"
- "For those keeping score at home"
- "You know how this works"
- "Let me get on my soapbox"
- "For Really American, I'm [NAME]"
- "I'll see you guys in the next one"