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
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says a worm ate part of his brain. Experts said that’s unlikely May 10, 2024Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said a worm ate a part of his brain. Experts say it’s not likely.
- Instagram posts - Do all Starbucks cups hold the same amount of liquid? No, that’s Pants on Fire! May 10, 2024Video proves all sizes of Starbucks’ paper drink cups hold the same amount of liquid.
- South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s new book contains 3 questionable anecdotes May 10, 2024Twitter: After an anecdote about a dog shooting from South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s new book, “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward” drew national headlines, three other anecdotes were reported as false and drew more criticism.
- Facebook posts - Hold up: This isn't Beyoncé at the 2024 Met Gala. These images are AI-generated May 10, 2024Images show Beyoncé at the 2024 Met Gala.
- Paul Renner - Florida abortion amendment wouldn’t let tattoo artists, receptionists decide health risk exceptions May 10, 2024For health risk exceptions in Florida’s abortion amendment, “You're not even talking to a doctor to make that determination.”
- Viral image - Stormy Daniels has said a lot, but she didn’t say this about former President Donald Trump May 10, 2024Stormy Daniels said former President Donald Trump yelled, “I’m yuge! I’m the greatest,” before falling asleep.
- The Antisemitism Awareness Act: What to know May 10, 2024As pro-Palestinian protests spread on university campuses, the House passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act. But some members of both parties voted against it. Here’s a rundown of what the bill would do, and why some lawmakers oppose it.
- Facebook posts - Is orangutan ‘stretching out his hand to help a geologist who fell into a mud pool’? Not exactly May 10, 2024Image shows orangutan “stretching out his hand to help a geologist who fell into a mud pool.”
- Facebook posts - Perfect illusion: Viral images don’t show Lady Gaga at 2024 Met Gala May 10, 2024Viral images show Lady Gaga at the 2024 Met Gala.
- Here’s a look back at Wisconsin absentee voting trends May 10, 2024Will early voting reach 50% this fall? Here’s a look back at Wisconsin absentee trends.
- Fact-checking Joe Biden on the economy in CNN interview May 9, 2024President Joe Biden repeated several claims about the economy during a May 8 interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett. Some were right, some were wrong, and many needed added context. Here’s a rundown.
- MAGA Inc - No, the Biden administration isn’t paying rent for immigrants in the country illegally May 9, 2024President Joe Biden is paying rent for immigrants illegally in the country.
- Rick Scott - Biden isn’t flying migrants to Florida. People pay for their own flights, legally enter the US May 9, 2024“Joe Biden flew hundreds of thousands of illegals into Florida last year.”
- Facebook posts - Is this the ‘clearest image’ of planet Venus? No, that photo was altered multiple times May 9, 2024Photo shows “clearest image ever taken of Venus.”
- Facebook posts - Post about singer Kelly Clarkson suing over keto scams is another scam May 9, 2024“In an interview with People magazine,” Kelly Clarkson “said she will file a lawsuit over keto ads on Facebook.”
- Facebook posts - No, Karine Jean-Pierre didn’t say the US and Ukraine won World War II May 9, 2024White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the United States and Ukraine won World War II.
- Trump says the FEC saw no merit in Stormy Daniels-related case. Here’s why that’s misleading. May 8, 2024Former President Donald Trump misleadingly said the Federal Elections Commission said complaints against him lacked merit. The case died after commissioners split on their vote; none of the FEC commissioners said it lacked merit.
- Viral image - Houston, we have no problem: This video doesn’t prove the moon landing was a hoax May 8, 2024Video proves the moon landing was a hoax.
- Facebook posts - Boeing whistleblowers died of infection, gunshot wound May 8, 2024Second Boeing Whistleblower Killed In 2 Months!
- Donald Trump repeats inaccurate claims on economy in local news interview in Pennsylvania May 8, 2024Former President Donald Trump repeated a bevy of inaccurate economic claims during an interview with WGAL-TV, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania television station. Here’s a rundown.