By the very definition of the word, disinformation is not something that just happens. Someone has to deliberately lie to create it.

The typical reader never makes it past the front page for most stories. Words those readers will  miss regarding this article: Trump; Vance; MAGA; Greene; QAnon; Loomer; far-right.



To its credit, the New York Times ran a hard-hitting story about Donald Trump's cognitive decline, but it's not like there's a daily limit of one and Trump is capable of doing multiple bad and newsworthy things over a weekend. The attempt to spread disinformation and undercut the federal government's efforts to aid victims of not one, but two major hurricanes certainly qualifies based on both criteria.

This is not just an extraordinary situation but an unprecedented one and we need honest and unflinching accounts of what's going on. (And, yes, I did split that infinitive.)

Even Republicans are getting overwhelmed by the lies pic.twitter.com/Gy0hwpiXhF

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 5, 2024

The disinformation being pushed by rightwing extremists regarding Pres. Biden's + the federal government's response to devastation from Hurricane Helene is disgusting, and it's also the complete opposite of what Republican leaders are saying.

In their own words...

(thread)

— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) October 5, 2024

Here's South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a huge supporter of Trump, describing the federal government's response as "superb" and talking about his phone calls with Pres. Biden, Sec. Buttigieg, and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell. This was Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/VA7TcTRKrf

— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) October 5, 2024

Here's Sen. Lindsey Graham praising Pres. Biden and the federal government for their response.pic.twitter.com/4xKnVCI4qO

— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) October 5, 2024

There really is a massive conspiracy theory that the Deep State is manipulating the weather. For real.

WTF is happening to this country?

— digby (@digby56) October 5, 2024

Trump: They don’t have people there. All of the people on North Carolina, no helicopters, no rescue. What's happened there is very bad. They are offering $750 to people whose homes have been washed away. pic.twitter.com/UAfXK430lq

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 5, 2024

As my better half @featherty points out. I flew helicopters in the Army for 18-years. I’ve never used the word “choppers” in my entire fucking life. Ever. No one does who actually serves. Our aircraft don’t even make a chopping sound anymore. https://t.co/7QgN4azsw4

— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) October 5, 2024

The degree to which, since Musk took over, this site has largely become a vehicle for spreading outright lies for political gain is both amazing and depressing. (No Community Note on this lie, of course.) pic.twitter.com/JQCbDk4rw0

— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) October 5, 2024

Republican officials in NC are literally begging far right influencers to stop shitposting conspiracy theories about FEMA stealing supplies, corpses stacking up, lithium heists, weather control, and the federal govt abandoning them. https://t.co/KzPa8VXUyI

— Mike Rothschild (no relation) (@rothschildmd) October 4, 2024