It never ends, and it’s getting worse.

Misinformation has become something that defines our time. The current era of misinformation started with Russian chicanery during the 2016 election. The prior year, a hoax about a chemical plant explosion caused a panic in Louisiana. It was soon discovered that the hoax originated in Russia, which makes me wonder if this was a test run for the 2016 election.

Then COVID hit and instead of a country uniting, the far right went right to work creating a torrent of bullshit. Very early on in the pandemic, the delusional ones decided that the empty parking lots at hospitals were not due to visitors not being allowed at hospitals, but proof that nothing was going on in them. So, they started shooting videos at hospitals. Because both COVID patients and overworked hospital staff were experiencing a nightmare of almost unimaginable proportions, the hospitals begged these idiots to stop. Instead, they encouraged other weirdos to go shoot their own videos.

Fast forward to last month, when the Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and JD Vance falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants were involved in extreme acts, such as eating dogs and cats, contributing to a climate of fear and hostility. These claims, widely debunked, have resulted in increased threats and violence in the community, with bomb threats and hate groups like the Proud Boys descending on the small Ohio city.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, along with local officials and media, has consistently denounced these falsehoods, highlighting the harm they’ve caused both to the Haitian community and Springfield residents at large. Governor DeWine expressed frustration with the misinformation, noting that Haitian immigrants have significantly contributed to the city’s economy and culture, not chaos. Despite this, far-right figures continue to amplify these lies for political gain.

Then an horrifying natural disaster hit in the form of Hurricane Helene. We pulled together as a nation, including both major parties’ presidential candidates, to help people suffering in Florida, Georgia, and the Appalachians, right? Nope.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, far-right groups in North Carolina have been spreading several false claims that both Republican and Democratic officials have debunked. Some of these lies include the accusation that federal troops authorized to help with recovery efforts are being deliberately held back due to inaction by Governor Roy Cooper, which is untrue. Others suggest that FEMA funds are being diverted to undocumented migrants, or that bodies are being left unburied during the cleanup, fueling mistrust and confusion in hard-hit areas​(

Additionally, conspiracy theories have emerged, such as the claim that Hurricane Helene was engineered to allow corporations to exploit local lithium deposits. These narratives distract from recovery efforts and have been condemned by local leaders, including Republicans who want to focus on rebuilding rather than political gamesmanship​,

Of course, there is also the 2024 election. We knew that misinformation was going to be a problem. Could see it a mile away.

Far-right groups are using misinformation during the election season to influence voters and sow distrust in the electoral process. These efforts are part of a larger strategy to undermine confidence in the election system and create confusion around key issues, often leveraging social media platforms. One tactic is amplifying false claims of voter fraud, a continuation of narratives from the 2020 election, where baseless accusations about election integrity were widely circulated. Organizations like the Election Integrity Network, which are connected to prominent election deniers, encourage individuals to act as poll watchers and challenge voter eligibility, further fueling misinformation.

Other loony conspiracies include claiming that Kamala Harris isn’t really Black, didn’t work at McDonald’s, and something many women in power are familiar with, rumors that she slept her way to the top.

These lies and conspiracy theories are spread on right-wing media and on TwitterX. In fact, Elon himself has become one of the top bullshit spreaders on the Interwebs. Then there is this:

Yes they can control the weather.

It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.

— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) October 4, 2024

There is so much bullshit flying around right now it is probably very difficult for a casual political observer to understand what is happening. And that is not good. A functioning society cannot be having debates about what is reality and a populace confused about what is real and what is not.

The last word goes to Eric Bachmann.