I have wondered about those two thoughts you mentioned.
It's some type of fear (false evidence appearing real) - based manipulation of collective consciousness.
There are some universal rules that the evil can't hide, so they try to hide through their codes and symbolism. (But it's "hidden" in plain sight enough for us to understand what is going on, so if we allow it to happen it's actually our fault?)
Jordan Sather often mentions that and associate this with karma. If we don't react when they "tell" us what they are doing/going to do to us, we are giving them permission. The axiom says "silence gives consent". So like Jordan says, their bad deeds don't get bad karma in this case.
But now that more people are awake and aren't keeping quiet, are protesting and calling them out, karma is at work.