Trust is what holds everything together in a democracy. When people don’t trust the government, or even basic facts, everything starts to fall apart. Think about the deep cynicism many of us have about politicians in India and other South Asian countries. We just assume that everyone is lying and in politics to enrich themselves. However, America has a long and proud history of public service; it is one of the things that attracted us to this country, along with the rule of law, and consequences for bad acts. But now we have two politicians in Donald Trump and JD Vance who have taken lying and shamelessness to new heights.
Take Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was “stolen.” This has been debunked over and over again by courts, election officials (many of them Republicans!), and even Trump’s own Attorney General. Yet, a shocking number of people still believe it. According to a CNN poll, 69% of Republicans think the election was rigged, despite zero evidence to back it up. This falsehood even led to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. When people no longer trust elections, one of the cornerstones of democracy crumbles.
JD Vance has followed Trump’s lead. He promoted a wild and false story about Haitian immigrants eating pet cats and dogs, and stuck to it even when he was called out on television. This wasn’t just an attack on Haitians—it was part of a broader strategy to dehumanize immigrants, and it has ripple effects. And his willingness to stick to the lie even when debunked shows how little he cares about his reputation, knowing that his pet media institutions like Fox News and Newsmax will back him up. As a South Asian, I know that lies like these only make us more vulnerable to hate.
Traditional media simply can’t keep up with this level of lying. Besides, very few people read newspapers or watch CNN these days. Most of us get our news from social media, which can be a breeding ground for misinformation. False claims spread six times faster than the truth online.
The impact of all this misinformation is massive. When lies dominate public discussion, we are not able to make informed decisions and we lose trust in our democratic institutions. If people don’t know what to believe, how can we come together to solve the big issues—like climate change, healthcare, or economic inequality?
To protect democracy, we need to hold leaders like Trump and Vance accountable for their lies. We have to publicly shame lying and keep blatant liars like these away from public office. The future of our democracy depends on it. Otherwise we will devolve into tribalism, where we just assume that everyone is bad and vote for the person who is like us, not the person who will do the best for us.
How to Access Reliable Information:
- Check Multiple Sources: Look at several reputable news outlets to get a well-rounded perspective on issues. Don’t rely on just one source for your news.
- Verify Before Sharing: Before sharing information on social media, fact-check the claims. Websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact are great resources for verifying news stories and viral claims.
- Follow Trusted Journalists and Experts: Look for those who prioritize accuracy and transparency in their reporting.
- Read Beyond Headlines: Headlines can be misleading. Always read the full article to understand the context and details behind the headline.
- Be Cautious with Social Media: Understand that social media platforms can spread misinformation quickly. Be critical of what you see and prioritize information from verified accounts and organizations.
Seek Out Local News: Local news outlets often cover issues more closely related to your community and may provide more accurate, in-depth reporting than national outlets.
By Vidya Pradhan
