I'm not suggesting jettisoning standards for verification. I do believe, though, that journalism needs to be far more disciplined about allowing flagrant lies to swirl in the guise of uncertainties. 50 million spent on condoms for Hamas becomes 100 million, etc. Call a lie a lie. - ThreadSky

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millardfillmore.bsky.social • 13 days ago

I'm not suggesting jettisoning standards for verification. I do believe, though, that journalism needs to be far more disciplined about allowing flagrant lies to swirl in the guise of uncertainties. 50 million spent on condoms for Hamas becomes 100 million, etc. Call a lie a lie.

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zeeshanaleem.bsky.social•13 days ago

It has been deemed false.

millardfillmore.bsky.social•13 days ago

I take your point, though I think you may be over endorsing the conclusive nature of the calling out of the condom lie. The way the laundering of lies works is that GOP surrogates keep saying it, often as a part of a torrent of mendacity (Litter boxes in school bathrooms! Eating dogs and cats!) 1/

millardfillmore.bsky.social•13 days ago

Sidebar stories address the falsehood, but as we know, they continue to be repeated. Reporters rarely confront them after the “debunking,” despite the incessant restatement of the lie—which often becomes a kind of loyalty test to repeat the President’s lies. 2/

millardfillmore.bsky.social•13 days ago

This is what must happen, and this repetition of the lies when reported out can’t simply be bracketed with “despite there being no evidence to support the claim.” This is the language that does the liar’s work for him by throwing a curtain of politeness, or “ethics” if you prefer… 3/

millardfillmore.bsky.social•13 days ago

…over dishonesty that is calculated and methodological. The latter becomes “a matter of opinion.” And then we’re truly lost.

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