Hindering 'Helene' efforts: the storm surge of Trump-fed disinformation

Georgia Recorder columnist Jay Bookman reminded readers the many and varied ways Donald Trump injected pettiness into federal disaster response efforts while President. The headline: "Trump’s lie that Biden didn’t offer Georgia storm relief a disastrous pattern." Because it's so difficult to keep up with the sheer volume of things we ought remember about his presidency, it was a necessary reminder. Also "all accusations are confessions" with him. These lies - and this cultural phenomenon of generating and circulating unbelievable (literally to anyone grounded in reality) distortions or lies, are hindering relief efforts and - according to the Washington Post - stirring up anti-FEMA militarism. "One user suggested “a militia to go against FEMA,” in a post that had received more than half a million views as of Saturday afternoon," per that piece. Asheville resident and digital creator Mark Huneycutt set off (mostly by foot) to Chimney Rock, NC, to see for himself what's reality vs fiction, and shared his findings in a riveting 20-minute YouTube video. In it, many of the "myths" circulating through social media are - surprise - dispelled. Having lived in Louisiana before during and after Hurricane Katrina, it's not lost on me where Trump is getting his inspiration to spew these falsehoods. This is just yet another scenario where his lies are not only endangering lives, but could prove to be deadly. __________________________ CONTRIBUTE TO THE SHOW