At the end of 2017, one year into the Trump presidency, the familiar begins to escape us.
The Autocrat's Language
"Using words to lie destroys language. Using words to cover up lies, however subtly, destroys language. Validating incomprehensible drivel with polite reaction also destroys language. This isn’t merely a question of the prestige of the writing art or the credibility of the journalistic trade: it is about the basic survival of the public sphere.
In Russia, first they came for the words of politics, value, and passion. Then they came for the words of action, the words that describe buildings, the numbers that denote dates. And then there were no words left to speak. Not that this is a Russian phenomenon.
Here is what Confucius had to say on the topic:
If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. This matters above everything."
-- Masha Gessen, The Autocrat's Language, NYRDaily
What Donald Trump Says
- American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers - A fuel trade group is running false ads saying the EPA banned new gasoline cars May 1, 2024"EPA regulators just banned most new gas-powered cars."
- Did South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem break the law by shooting her dog? What legal experts say May 1, 2024Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who’s considered a possible running mate for presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, shared a 20-year-old story about shooting her poorly behaved hunting dog, Cricket. Did she break the law? Here's what experts say.
- Viral image - The devil’s in the details: Viral Donald Trump Time cover is edited May 1, 2024Time magazine "gave President Trump devil horns" on the cover.
- Ron DeSantis - No, a Florida ballot measure wouldn’t ‘mandate abortion up to birth,’ as Gov. Ron DeSantis said April 30, 2024Florida’s Amendment 4 "will mandate abortion until the moment of birth.”
- DeSantis said public schools were religious when U.S. began. Is he right? April 30, 2024Education historians said the notion that the founders intended for a religion-based public schooling system is an increasingly common misconception. The reality isn’t so simple, they said.
- X posts - Photo doesn’t show pro-Palestine protesters blocking Jewish students from entering Columbia April 30, 2024Photo shows “Palestinian activists” blocking “Jewish students from entering Columbia University.”
- Viral image - Judge in Trump’s criminal trial didn’t threaten to arrest Trump specifically over son’s graduation April 29, 2024“Judge Merchan says Trump will be arrested if he misses any day of the trial, even for Barron’s graduation.”
- Joe Biden - Joe Biden repeats False tale that he got arrested during Civil Rights era April 29, 2024Says he “got arrested” while protesting in favor of desegregation.
- Mike Johnson - Amid Columbia protests, safety concerns, Speaker Mike Johnson is off base on hybrid classes plan April 29, 2024Said Columbia University has told students, “Well, if you’re Jewish, maybe you do want to stay home.”
- Are there really Chinese sleeper cells operating in the U.S.? April 29, 2024Is the Chinese Communist Party operating “sleeper cells” on American soil? That’s what Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said in a recent social media post. Whether she’s right depends on how you define “sleeper cell.”
- Facebook posts - Dr. Mehmet Oz did not say singer Adele used a ‘coffee trick’ to lose weight April 26, 2024Dr. Mehmet Oz said singer Adele used a “coffee trick” to lose weight.
- Megyn Kelly - Fact-checking claim that a Utah Middle school allows students to be ‘terrorized’ by ‘furries’ April 26, 2024“School allows students to be terrorized by colleagues who identify as ‘furries’”
- Facebook posts - Debt relief offer is from private UK company, not US government program April 26, 2024"The administration (has) passed a new bill to help Americans with $15,000+ in credit card debt to write off their balance by 50%."
- Here’s how new Title IX regulations could affect LGBTQ+ students April 26, 2024New Title IX regulations that expand protections for LGBTQ+ students are causing a stir as some states refuse to “comply.” Why were these changes made and what could the fallout be? Read more at PolitiFact.
- Sean Hannity - No, President Biden was not ignored by people at a Pittsburgh-area gas station April 26, 2024President Joe Biden was “ignored by virtually everyone” at a Pittsburgh-area gas station.
- Threads posts - No, CNN didn’t report that ‘Trump soils himself in court.’ This headline is fabricated April 26, 2024CNN reported “Trump soils himself in court.”
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - Was last year's US job growth all from part-time jobs? Why RFK Jr.’s claim is Half True April 26, 2024"The much-trumpeted job growth in the last year was ENTIRELY part-time jobs."
- Facebook posts - No, this photo doesn’t show Hillary Clinton posing with an anti-Donald Trump T-shirt April 26, 2024Photo shows Hillary Clinton holding an anti-Donald Trump T-shirt.
- Facebook posts - Deepfake video falsely pitches dietary supplement as diabetes remedy April 26, 2024Video shows Tucker Carlson discussing a diabetes cure created with Pfizer and certified by the FDA.
- Viral image - No, Lauren Boebert didn’t imply she’s committed a crime in an X post April 26, 2024Lauren Boebert posted, “If they charge President Trump for his crimes, they could charge any of us for our crimes. The rule of law means nothing to these people.”