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
- Markwayne Mullin - Hillary Clinton sent emails ‘stamped’ Top Secret? No, government reviews paint a different picture March 28, 2025“Hillary Clinton was sending classified documents that were stamped TS or TSSCI.”
- Social Media - Image of a person dressed as Pikachu in Turkey protests is AI-generated March 28, 2025Image shows a “person dressed up as Pikachu to resist police violence” in Turkey.
- Sydney Batch - Democrat wrongly says NC ‘always had nonpartisan judicial races’ until Republicans took over March 28, 2025North Carolina “always had nonpartisan judicial races, and when the Republicans took over several years ago they changed it.”
- TikTok posts - Videos don’t show Seattle tornadoes; no twisters touched down there March 26 or 27 March 28, 2025Videos show tornadoes hitting Seattle on March 26 and 27.
- Donald Trump - Fact-checking Donald Trump on whether automobile plants are ‘being built at levels we’ve never seen’ March 28, 2025“We have automobile plants being built at levels we've never seen … and they're going up fast.”
- Elon Musk’s PAC is paying Wisconsin petition signers before Supreme Court election. Is it legal? March 28, 2025Wisconsin election law experts said Elon Musk’s plan to pay voters $1 million could violate state law. Musk then walked it back and said he would pay them to sign a petition.
- Facebook posts - Phoenix’s wildfire risk linked to climate change and invasive plants, not Bill Gates March 28, 2025Phoenix’s increased wildfire risk is linked to Bill Gates’ “smart city” plans.
- Facebook posts - Beep, beep: Teslas and other American cars are still sold in Canada March 28, 2025“Canada makes bold decision to shut down Tesla and the US auto industry.”
- Facebook posts - There’s no $20,000 hidden grant program for roof repairs; video of Musk is AI-generated March 28, 2025“Elon Musk exposes hidden $20K roof grant. Congress approved it."
- Susan Crawford - In Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Crawford claims Schimel wants to be part of Trump support network March 28, 2025"Brad Schimel said that he wanted to be part of Donald Trump's support network."
- Facebook posts - Trump showed the Declaration of Independence, not the Bitcoin whitepaper, at the White House March 27, 2025Video shows the Bitcoin whitepaper “was spotted at the White House.”
- TikTok posts - Don’t trust videos saying you can erase your student loans by filing a student privacy law complaint March 27, 2025People can get student debt “erased” by filing Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act complaints because the Department of Government Efficiency accessed federal student loan databases.
- Facebook posts - No, Elon Musk didn’t say Tesla is ‘doomed’ March 26, 2025Elon Musk said “Tesla is finished” and needs “drastic changes immediately.”
- Ask PolitiFact: What evidence does the government need to deport green card, visa holders? March 26, 2025The Trump administration has moved to deport green card and visa holders, including a pro-Palestinian activist, a Georgetown University academic and a Brown University doctor. What evidence do government officials need in these cases?
- Pete Hegseth - Hegseth says leaked Signal group text didn’t have ‘war plans’. But screenshots show attack details March 26, 2025"Nobody was texting war plans" in the Trump administration Signal group text about bombing Yemen.
- NOAA firings came just before a U.S. tornado outbreak. Did public warning systems work? March 26, 2025Mid-March’s severe U.S. storms killed dozens of people. The National Weather Service reported warning systems were operational, except for a Kansas City outage. After federal staffing cuts, however, experts worry about the long term.
- X posts - Gen. Colin Powell appeared on Arlington National Cemetery’s notable graves list as of March 25 March 25, 2025Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “removed Colin Powell’s name from a list of notable Americans buried at Arlington National Cemetery.”
- Nick LaLota - LaLota says he was voting to protect Medicaid, other programs. The budget resolution doesn’t do that March 25, 2025“On Feb. 25, I voted yes on a budget resolution that protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid while cutting some spending elsewhere."
- X posts - Why you should be skeptical of that ‘leaked’ audio of JD Vance criticizing Elon Musk March 24, 2025Video shows “leaked audio” of Vice President JD Vance criticizing Elon Musk and saying “he's making us look bad.”
- Fact-check: Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s ‘fighting oligarchy tour’ March 21, 2025Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders embarked on a “fighting oligarchy tour,” drawing thousands to their speeches about income inequality. We checked their statements about Social Security, health care spending and CEO-to-worker salaries.





