For an updated version:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NIxIb6gAVUd7nqRhQBqINCoeN3actsAaTShYDOaxR_o/edit?usp=sharing
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The State of the Union recap: Lies. Not ‘falsehoods’. Lies.
Why, oh why, is this no longer news? Are we supposed to be so used to this gaslighting with lies that we are to take it as normal and let it go unchecked with headlines? Why are there no headlines saying: “President Trump consistently lies in the State of the Union address”?
The 2026 State of the Union was a disgrace.
Bunches of lies. Not ‘falsehoods’. Lies. Rancor and hate. Zero outreach to those that did not vote for him. Game show amateur hour. Propaganda gone amuck. Little to no substance. Mostly lies, lies, lies.
However, my Google Assistant refuses to agree. When pushed to account for Trump’s lies, it consistently says “sorry, I did not understand”. Then, without me asking for it, it tells me a litany of his ‘successes’. This is 21st century propaganda at its best/worst. Beware, be very aware.
His exaggerations and hyperbolic self-praise were nauseating. His demeanor was beneath the Office of the Presidency. His insult of Somalians was beyond racist. His immigration rampage was sickening. His mockery of the reality of affordability was lame.
His recognition of ‘everyday citizens’ would have been ok and praiseful had it not been for his over the top carnage language.
Nothing about Minnesota’s killings. Nothing on Epstein. Warped reframing of what is going on in Venezuela. Excuses for not doing anything about Ukraine. Blaming Biden ad-infinitum.
Yet, media headlines are mostly tepid at best. Even fact checkers choose non-definitive headlines. Do a search for “fact check the State of the Union speech” in your favorite search engine and you do get a decent list of sources, including NPR and AP. No Fox News on the list. Hmmm. Search for “did Fox News fact check President Trump’s State of the Union”, and nada. Zilch. Evidently Fox took Trump at his word. 100%. (I suppose Fox News feels there is no need to fact check him; or are they afraid to do so?)
In one year this Administration has managed to reshape the media environment to ensure that what is most available explicitly or implicitly is a propaganda arm of the President.
- When was the last time you saw a headline about the number of deaths directly attributable to the dismantling of USAID in Africa?
- When was the last time you saw a headline referencing the damage being done to the environment as a direct result of massive deregulations?
- When was the last time you saw a headline recognizing the plight of the homeless as a direct result of the dire cuts to the safety nets of the most vulnerable?
- When was the last time you saw a headline of the very real world negative impact of the dismantling of scientific research?
Sure, at times these issues are anecdotally mentioned in a blip of a news report. But headlines? Headlines about these issues appear only in marginal, partisan outlets that this Administration allows to exist only to identify who is against them – and eventually go after them. (i.e.: Democracy Now!, Crooked Media.) You simply do not see headlines in major news outlets, even the allegedly ‘left leaning’ outlets because they are right-out scared they will be punished by this Administration.
Beware, be very aware of what ‘news source’ feeds you.