#disinformation

I think it's safe to say that pretty much everyone who's paying attention believes that the United States (in 2021) has a disinformation problem (caused by malicious actors), a misinformation problem (caused by honest mistakes), or both.

It might seem to be common sense to say that it has both. However, to what degree is disinformation driving society forward?

Republicans have long complained that voter fraud has been perpetrated and that this has les to losses on their side. It has even prevented some forms of mail-in voting (although absentee ballots are still accepted), which is a particular issue during the coronavirus pandemic, and may still be an issue for the 2020 Presidential elections.

According to the Washington Post:

“I will never lie to you,” McEnany replied [to a question by a reporter]. “You have my word on that.”

Fifteen minutes later, she raised a subject no one had asked about and quickly offered an obviously false claim about it.

BBC News:

During Thursday's White House coronavirus task force briefing, an official presented the results of US government research that indicated coronavirus appeared to weaken more quickly when exposed to sunlight and heat.

The study also showed bleach could kill the virus in saliva or respiratory fluids within five minutes and isopropyl alcohol could kill it even more quickly.