A well regarded Minnesota politician – Melissa Hortman – was assassinated. Police soon caught the gun man. People who knew him testified to his political beliefs. But – people on the political right decided to take advantage of this tragedy – by deliberately spreading falsehoods. Consider the following examples from Elwood Watson’s August, 2025 column in The Progressive Populist:
1] “Several Republican politicians, including Vice President J.D. Vance, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise [whose life a Black, liberal, lesbian police officer saved], blamed the shooting on the “far left” and liberals’ continual demonization of President Donald Trump.”
2]. “Right-wing social media personality Mike Cernovich..amplified the falsehood that Governor Tim Walz demanded the assassination. Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist and Trump whisperer, posted that “Walz’s goons are now assassinating lawmakers who support legislation Walz opposes” and denounced the Democratic Party as a “terrorist organization.””
3] “Elon Musk, a Trump “frenemy” and frequent poster of unproven right-wing claims..quote-tweeting claims “the left” killed Hortman and writing “the far left is murderously violent.” Viva Frei, a right-wing X user..posted a thread casting doubt on suspected shooter Vance Boelter being a Trump supporter.”
4] “His roommate, D.C., told reporters Boelter voted for Trump and “was a strong supporter of the president. Other longtime friends told local media Boelter was right-leaning.”
For perspective – consider the following excerpt from Nathan Pemberton”s 7/13/25 New York Times article: “The Radical Trolls Who Are Influencing the White House”:
“If you want to know where Republican politics is heading, look at the memes. Since the start of its second term, the Trump administration and its G.O.P. surrogates have been crashing out onlne. Like an unhinged Zoomer, they’ve relentlessly posted sadistic memes about policy decisions in the style of social media trends. A highlight reel of ICE arrests set to “Ice Ice Baby.” An A.S.M.R.-style video that features people in shackles boarding a deportation flight. An image of a woman being arrested, rendered in the style of a Hayao Miyazaki movie. The Vice President has threatened his critics with deportation via a GIF image. One Republican congressman even suggested that an undocumented migrant be thrown out of a helicopter, Pinochet style.”
Once, a Republican President said that trust was what held government together. Much later, a leader of another country said; ‘A lie told often enough becomes the truth.’ His name was V.I. Lenin.
THE question is very simple: If we allow, encourage blatant lying – then how much longer will American democracy last? If blatant falsehoods get rewarded – then how do we have the necessary public debates ghat lead to intelligent, rational policy decisions like mitigating climate change crisis [which some claim to be “a hoax]?????
If one political ‘side” NEEDS perceived “enemies’ to be against, who ‘must” be eliminated – then are they required to lie??? If one political ‘side” NEEDS perceived “enemies’ to stoke fear, hatred, and anger – then are they required to act against these ‘enemies’ by ANY. means – in order to “save America”????????
If some people are willing to lie about an assassination. – what else are they willing to lie about ???????
With Justice For All 