My democracy book club group and I met yesterday and we were discussing that under Trump the word truth has changed to mean lies. I think we need to develop a new word that means what truth used to mean. Right now "Truth Social" means "Lies Social." When Trump or Musk send out their disinformation to the world, as does Putin, and Xi and a whole list of our enemies, including most of the Republican party, they spread lies not truth. So, we should develop a new word that means truth, and just as in popular vernacular the word "Bad" came to mean "Good." "Truth" has come to mean "lies" I think we need a new word for truth and it must rove and change as it too becomes co-opted by those who do not understand how to tell factual information. Or we must develop a sense of which people saying their "truth" really are lying. I have another word for truth because I also speak German. In German the truth is "die Wahrheit."
Would love to know "the truth" in other languages. I know the saying In Vino Veritas. So Veritas is truth. Maybe we can use that too. Veritas. So, Truth Social does not tell the Veritas.
The day Kellyanne Conway said “alternative facts” for the first time, it was the whipped topping over the pile of sh!t that Trump had already been dumping on the public. To this day, I still can’t believe how many fall for his blatant lies hook, line & sinker.
Each time, I recognize how privileged I am that I am surrounded by people who are skeptical and check their sources most of the time, and do not fall for these alternative facts type of "truths." My truths are more likely to be veritas.
Yes but small consolation if you are living in an enclave outside of which lies are being pushed as truth. We are not there yet.. we do have our enclaves, our media. The divisions continue and those that are full of lies get set as the truth keeps trying to keep its head above water. Lies build. The truth is complicated and needs fair minds and thoughtfulness. This is what Smith was up against.
Language and its' meaning changes. It is important to recognize when it does. I am saying that it is changing, just as in 1984 the alliances change constantly. Moving ahead of it is important too. Smith is not in a position to change language, but we are. Smith's truth is reaching an audience who knows that it is true. However, those who do not know this, will have it either not presented at all, or presented on right wing media which twists it and hides it. Prof. Donovan in this talk linked below has said in the right wing media scape there is no paywall.
In a series of talks at the University of Chicago on Misinformation and the Erosion of Democracy, Profs. Kathleen Belew and Joan Donovan talk about Misinformation and White Supremacy. Donovan particularly talks a lot about how media works in the Right wing media scape. https://youtu.be/tMEnvIQokQg?si=JYSiCY9mbYrqHXCr
So, who is getting this information? Those who already are mostly informed on it, and hopefully the history books when this period in US history is hopefully examined with greater insight than those of us living in it are able to have.
This gives verity to the saying that the lie travels halfway around the world while the truth is just getting its pants on. Language/meaning changes but how does it change, how fast and who is changing it and who is buying it. It's a means of resistance (by both sides) too and is being used this way these days. Did Kelly Conway's "alternative truths" explanation really change the truth? Stephen Colbert used humor to make fun lies by coining "truthiness" (2005). So pushback is needed on the media, more than a change of language. Language will evolve over time. I don't think "truth" will evolve to become its opposite though.
We need major pushback using the language that is now in use.
I will check out your link..thanks. George Lakoff is excellent on language.
By the way I notice how it is being related from Jack Smith's report that there was stress over using the word "insurrection" in pressing the case.
It's, to me, outrageous that the use of this word was problematic vis a vis 2021 ( and even prior). Once it is used in a legal way, the problem begins and it can be tortured to death by lawyers.
The Republicans have been changing the meanings of words all along and fairly quickly. For example, calling Democrats "Socialists," or "The Left" so that even many Democrats accept these terms without being either of these things. The media uses these terms now interchangably with Democrats and it further obfuscates the truth. But the term truth is being used for lies, which means its meaning is changed. When lies can be truths, then truth is not what it was.
Examples? Who accepts this? what media uses socialist interchangeably with Democrats? Lies masquerading as truth… where? On blatantly right wing media yes. Elsewhere?
Also I will say there is confusion about "liberal" and "left" and "far left" and the first two are, it seems used interchangeably. The last is often used as a pejorative.
As I look at your links, they seem to be about name calling. This may be an attempt to change the definition of words but to me it seems aimed at misinforming to those who are vulnerable and or it becomes jargon: ie call Democrats socialists. We call them fascists and defend it more and more. But we need to stick to regular definitions before having to really change or add to them. Now the Right are calling us communists. It’s a taunt.
New right-leaning media outlets, including Breitbart News, NewsMax, and WorldNetDaily have instead a core mission to promote a conservative or right-wing agenda, often (unlike The Wall Street Journal and other mainstream conservative journals) supporting a hierarchy based on race, religion, nationality, or gender."
I have one problem of understanding, in this whole mess, why there is a "policy" not to prosecute a prospective president when crimes are committed by him. Where did this "policy" come from? Who wrote it? Or did someone, one day say"Hey I think it would be good policy not to convict a potential or sitting president if he commits crimes." The Supreme Court has overturned standing precedent without so much as a blink of the law when they are dealing with actual law, not policy. Why do we cling so steadfastly to this ridiculous policy when we now have a convicted felon as a president-elect and one who should be sitting in jail rather than the white house.
It was actually a simple DOJ memo. I’d have to look up the details, but criminal politicians have been holding it up like a get out of jail card ever since.
Let’s face it, sadly the only way we could have avoided our current problem is if Pence, Pelosi or any lawmaker had been killed by the pigs scum people on Jan 6th. That would have made a huge difference. Even turtle boy wouldn’t have capitulated in the 2nd impeachment trial then.
This shoed in Supreme Court is not smart, nor wise in the majority. It is suspiciously partisan. The "Trump majority" on it are, despite what they say, ruling not for the future (which they are changing by this ruling) but for a partisan result today while claiming otherwise. This result does not give them horror at all. This is the futility; the power grab is extensive. I don't know what we can do about it other than through massive response.
I would suggest that people check out @muellershewrote.bsky.social and her Substack. She recently wrote on why it took so long for Merrick Garland to appoint Jack Smith and to get the ball rolling. She points out how witnesses fought subpoenas, and how long it takes to break into cell phones. How he had to go to the Post Office to get someone to serve the subpoenas because the FBI wouldn't cooperate. Following the rule of law also means following it for everyone, even the people who are trying to tear it all down. She doesn't excuse Garland, she's just trying to provide a fuller picture.
This is an important point. There is significantly more evidence for Garland's diligence than for suggesting he dilly-dallied. Marcy Wheeler over at Emptywheel has laid out this evidence in detail. (Emptywheel and this blog are my top 2 go-to's.) One can of course fault Garland for carefully sticking to the rules in an environment where in practice that amounted to self-obstruction, but that is no more than the entire Democratic party chose to do. Obviously that approach failed for all concerned, but it's equally obvious there are no easy answers to the dilemma they faced.
Your suggestion here that the FBI wouldn't cooperate in 2021 under Wray is similar to the reports that they didn't fully investigate Hegseth, or Kauvenaugh, etc. Either out of lack of resources, time, or corruption, this is a bad sign that the investigative function of our federal government has been fully compromised to the point of being useless. And now it's going to get a whole lot worse.
I listened to oral args yesterday at The Court discussing the difference between ‘lies in context,’ ‘misleading statements,’ and ‘intentional lying;’ and if juries can reasonably make the distinction. There is so much more coming.
I'm afraid you're right. Once I read the book AntiDemocratic by David Daley about how Chief Justice John Roberts started trying to undermine the Voting Rights Act all the way back in 1981 (as White House counsel for Reagan) when I was just a freshman in college, I understood why we are where we are at in 2025. There's no way for Americans to be able to keep up with all the behind the scenes chicanery that's been going on for the last 40 years. Heck 76 million Americans didn't pay attention to what was happening right in front of them in plain sight. The pretzels of legalese lawyers and judges can tie their brains into is mind-numbing for most of us. That's what they've depended on--the rest of us tuning it all out while they play their games and chicanery and destruction. We're in for a major conflagration and collapse.
I would say that a Trump Presidency historically will be an era equivalent to "The Dark Ages", "The Crusades", "Spanish Flu Epidemic", "Stalin's Purges": but I fear those comparisons pale in light of what may come....Repugnant Party is aghast that they didn't propose MOE,LARRY, and CURLY (EY), for Cabinet positions but there's still time.............
That Biden didn't replace Garland after the first 12 months of his Presidency for doing nothing about the attempted coup on 1/6/21; and that Biden broke his promise to be an "interim" president, and make way for a younger candidate back in January, 2024 -- has erased EVERY good feeling I have about the positive things he did during his four years. I hold HIM (and Jill, apparently, re holding on to power) responsible for what has happened in our nation: the impending utter destruction of our democracy. His actions/inaction are what have allowed the orange sadist's return to power, but with ten times the force for evil as he had in 2021. Biden is a failure in my eyes. Never thought I'd feel this way.
The future? Dark indeed. Trump will try to do whatever his last “thought” was; Patel to git them enemies; the FBI, already predisposed to defend the red; SCOTUS, the smug visage of white supremacy (after buying Thomas for millions).
Trump is a singularly unique and dangerous figure and it is telling that everyone else in his orbit is being tried or sent away but he remains standing. It’s like James Earl Jones in Conan when he proclaims that “flesh is stronger than steel.”
We're in for a very rough ride. A lot will change.
My democracy book club group and I met yesterday and we were discussing that under Trump the word truth has changed to mean lies. I think we need to develop a new word that means what truth used to mean. Right now "Truth Social" means "Lies Social." When Trump or Musk send out their disinformation to the world, as does Putin, and Xi and a whole list of our enemies, including most of the Republican party, they spread lies not truth. So, we should develop a new word that means truth, and just as in popular vernacular the word "Bad" came to mean "Good." "Truth" has come to mean "lies" I think we need a new word for truth and it must rove and change as it too becomes co-opted by those who do not understand how to tell factual information. Or we must develop a sense of which people saying their "truth" really are lying. I have another word for truth because I also speak German. In German the truth is "die Wahrheit."
Would love to know "the truth" in other languages. I know the saying In Vino Veritas. So Veritas is truth. Maybe we can use that too. Veritas. So, Truth Social does not tell the Veritas.
That's a fascinating point, Linda, and it strikes me as true
The day Kellyanne Conway said “alternative facts” for the first time, it was the whipped topping over the pile of sh!t that Trump had already been dumping on the public. To this day, I still can’t believe how many fall for his blatant lies hook, line & sinker.
Each time, I recognize how privileged I am that I am surrounded by people who are skeptical and check their sources most of the time, and do not fall for these alternative facts type of "truths." My truths are more likely to be veritas.
Yes but small consolation if you are living in an enclave outside of which lies are being pushed as truth. We are not there yet.. we do have our enclaves, our media. The divisions continue and those that are full of lies get set as the truth keeps trying to keep its head above water. Lies build. The truth is complicated and needs fair minds and thoughtfulness. This is what Smith was up against.
Language and its' meaning changes. It is important to recognize when it does. I am saying that it is changing, just as in 1984 the alliances change constantly. Moving ahead of it is important too. Smith is not in a position to change language, but we are. Smith's truth is reaching an audience who knows that it is true. However, those who do not know this, will have it either not presented at all, or presented on right wing media which twists it and hides it. Prof. Donovan in this talk linked below has said in the right wing media scape there is no paywall.
In a series of talks at the University of Chicago on Misinformation and the Erosion of Democracy, Profs. Kathleen Belew and Joan Donovan talk about Misinformation and White Supremacy. Donovan particularly talks a lot about how media works in the Right wing media scape. https://youtu.be/tMEnvIQokQg?si=JYSiCY9mbYrqHXCr
So, who is getting this information? Those who already are mostly informed on it, and hopefully the history books when this period in US history is hopefully examined with greater insight than those of us living in it are able to have.
This gives verity to the saying that the lie travels halfway around the world while the truth is just getting its pants on. Language/meaning changes but how does it change, how fast and who is changing it and who is buying it. It's a means of resistance (by both sides) too and is being used this way these days. Did Kelly Conway's "alternative truths" explanation really change the truth? Stephen Colbert used humor to make fun lies by coining "truthiness" (2005). So pushback is needed on the media, more than a change of language. Language will evolve over time. I don't think "truth" will evolve to become its opposite though.
We need major pushback using the language that is now in use.
I will check out your link..thanks. George Lakoff is excellent on language.
By the way I notice how it is being related from Jack Smith's report that there was stress over using the word "insurrection" in pressing the case.
It's, to me, outrageous that the use of this word was problematic vis a vis 2021 ( and even prior). Once it is used in a legal way, the problem begins and it can be tortured to death by lawyers.
The Republicans have been changing the meanings of words all along and fairly quickly. For example, calling Democrats "Socialists," or "The Left" so that even many Democrats accept these terms without being either of these things. The media uses these terms now interchangably with Democrats and it further obfuscates the truth. But the term truth is being used for lies, which means its meaning is changed. When lies can be truths, then truth is not what it was.
Lies hook people.. you are right.
Is this not the essence of "Animal Farm"?
There's a problem with Veritas.
"Project Veritas is an American far-right[14] activist[15] group"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Veritas
Good point. Then, another word needs to be found.
words... but what to do about lies, untruths themselves. That is the work.
Examples? Who accepts this? what media uses socialist interchangeably with Democrats? Lies masquerading as truth… where? On blatantly right wing media yes. Elsewhere?
Define "blatantly right wing media."
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/09/19/modest-declines-in-positive-views-of-socialism-and-capitalism-in-u-s/
https://gettysburgian.com/2023/01/opinion-lets-end-the-conflation-of-liberal-and-leftist/
https://freebeacon.com/politics/mainstream-media-how-dare-the-gop-call-democrats-socialist/
https://www.npr.org/2020/08/25/905895428/republicans-blast-democrats-as-socialists-heres-what-socialism-is
https://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/article/2024/sep/05/communism-meaning-republicans
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/retread-scare-trump-and-other-republicans-evoke-another-era-by-calling-democrats-communists
https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/13/politics/democratic-socialists-whats-in-a-name/index.html
https://www.foxnews.com/media/washington-post-columnist-media-spun-democrats-under-threat-blowback-left
https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2021/02/22/about-a-quarter-of-republicans-democrats-consistently-turned-only-to-news-outlets-whose-audiences-aligned-with-them-politically-in-2020/
https://www.cjr.org/covering_the_election/democrats-left-new-partisan-media-entrepreneurs.php
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/have-democrats-become-a-party-of-the-left/
Also I will say there is confusion about "liberal" and "left" and "far left" and the first two are, it seems used interchangeably. The last is often used as a pejorative.
Yeah, we used to call Republicans communists.....
As I look at your links, they seem to be about name calling. This may be an attempt to change the definition of words but to me it seems aimed at misinforming to those who are vulnerable and or it becomes jargon: ie call Democrats socialists. We call them fascists and defend it more and more. But we need to stick to regular definitions before having to really change or add to them. Now the Right are calling us communists. It’s a taunt.
blatant: openly and unashamedly.
"What is the right leaning media in the US?
New right-leaning media outlets, including Breitbart News, NewsMax, and WorldNetDaily have instead a core mission to promote a conservative or right-wing agenda, often (unlike The Wall Street Journal and other mainstream conservative journals) supporting a hierarchy based on race, religion, nationality, or gender."
I have one problem of understanding, in this whole mess, why there is a "policy" not to prosecute a prospective president when crimes are committed by him. Where did this "policy" come from? Who wrote it? Or did someone, one day say"Hey I think it would be good policy not to convict a potential or sitting president if he commits crimes." The Supreme Court has overturned standing precedent without so much as a blink of the law when they are dealing with actual law, not policy. Why do we cling so steadfastly to this ridiculous policy when we now have a convicted felon as a president-elect and one who should be sitting in jail rather than the white house.
It was actually a simple DOJ memo. I’d have to look up the details, but criminal politicians have been holding it up like a get out of jail card ever since.
I agree. I think Smith backed away prematurely. A powerful train was coming; he was exhausted, I imagine.
I agree. It’s why the felon guy ran again — and (sob!) won.
Let’s face it, sadly the only way we could have avoided our current problem is if Pence, Pelosi or any lawmaker had been killed by the pigs scum people on Jan 6th. That would have made a huge difference. Even turtle boy wouldn’t have capitulated in the 2nd impeachment trial then.
This shoed in Supreme Court is not smart, nor wise in the majority. It is suspiciously partisan. The "Trump majority" on it are, despite what they say, ruling not for the future (which they are changing by this ruling) but for a partisan result today while claiming otherwise. This result does not give them horror at all. This is the futility; the power grab is extensive. I don't know what we can do about it other than through massive response.
I would suggest that people check out @muellershewrote.bsky.social and her Substack. She recently wrote on why it took so long for Merrick Garland to appoint Jack Smith and to get the ball rolling. She points out how witnesses fought subpoenas, and how long it takes to break into cell phones. How he had to go to the Post Office to get someone to serve the subpoenas because the FBI wouldn't cooperate. Following the rule of law also means following it for everyone, even the people who are trying to tear it all down. She doesn't excuse Garland, she's just trying to provide a fuller picture.
This is an important point. There is significantly more evidence for Garland's diligence than for suggesting he dilly-dallied. Marcy Wheeler over at Emptywheel has laid out this evidence in detail. (Emptywheel and this blog are my top 2 go-to's.) One can of course fault Garland for carefully sticking to the rules in an environment where in practice that amounted to self-obstruction, but that is no more than the entire Democratic party chose to do. Obviously that approach failed for all concerned, but it's equally obvious there are no easy answers to the dilemma they faced.
Your suggestion here that the FBI wouldn't cooperate in 2021 under Wray is similar to the reports that they didn't fully investigate Hegseth, or Kauvenaugh, etc. Either out of lack of resources, time, or corruption, this is a bad sign that the investigative function of our federal government has been fully compromised to the point of being useless. And now it's going to get a whole lot worse.
In the trump era of chaos, almost nothing of value makes it out of the shadows.
Seems like America is moving towards an ignorant state where facts are arbitrary, truth an inconvenience and honesty the province of suckers & losers.
Facts? Silly human, facts are for kids … manly men know better.
Much the most forthright summary I've seen. thank you
I listened to oral args yesterday at The Court discussing the difference between ‘lies in context,’ ‘misleading statements,’ and ‘intentional lying;’ and if juries can reasonably make the distinction. There is so much more coming.
We haven’t seen anything, yet.
I'm afraid you're right. Once I read the book AntiDemocratic by David Daley about how Chief Justice John Roberts started trying to undermine the Voting Rights Act all the way back in 1981 (as White House counsel for Reagan) when I was just a freshman in college, I understood why we are where we are at in 2025. There's no way for Americans to be able to keep up with all the behind the scenes chicanery that's been going on for the last 40 years. Heck 76 million Americans didn't pay attention to what was happening right in front of them in plain sight. The pretzels of legalese lawyers and judges can tie their brains into is mind-numbing for most of us. That's what they've depended on--the rest of us tuning it all out while they play their games and chicanery and destruction. We're in for a major conflagration and collapse.
I would say that a Trump Presidency historically will be an era equivalent to "The Dark Ages", "The Crusades", "Spanish Flu Epidemic", "Stalin's Purges": but I fear those comparisons pale in light of what may come....Repugnant Party is aghast that they didn't propose MOE,LARRY, and CURLY (EY), for Cabinet positions but there's still time.............
That Biden didn't replace Garland after the first 12 months of his Presidency for doing nothing about the attempted coup on 1/6/21; and that Biden broke his promise to be an "interim" president, and make way for a younger candidate back in January, 2024 -- has erased EVERY good feeling I have about the positive things he did during his four years. I hold HIM (and Jill, apparently, re holding on to power) responsible for what has happened in our nation: the impending utter destruction of our democracy. His actions/inaction are what have allowed the orange sadist's return to power, but with ten times the force for evil as he had in 2021. Biden is a failure in my eyes. Never thought I'd feel this way.
76 million Americans failed us. Not one president. 76 million Americans failed us.
You're right. I'm laser-focused on Biden as we approach the dreaded day, 1/20.
The future? Dark indeed. Trump will try to do whatever his last “thought” was; Patel to git them enemies; the FBI, already predisposed to defend the red; SCOTUS, the smug visage of white supremacy (after buying Thomas for millions).
Trump is a singularly unique and dangerous figure and it is telling that everyone else in his orbit is being tried or sent away but he remains standing. It’s like James Earl Jones in Conan when he proclaims that “flesh is stronger than steel.”