Inhale the Lie, Exhale the Truth: A Call for Sharper, Braver Responses in a Disinformation Age

Every day, pro-democracy leaders in Congress and state legislatures face a barrage of lies from MAGA Republicans—lies about crime, immigration, protest movements, and the basic functioning of our democracy.And every day, too many of those lies go unchallenged in real time.That must change.This piece is a message to our Democratic, Independent, and Non-MAGA Republican allies: it’s time to stop letting lies pass uncorrected. When a lie is told, interrupt it. Dismantle it. Inhale the lie, exhale the truth.A Missed Opportunity in the Hearing RoomI recently watched a House Appropriations hearing where Congressman Pete Aguilar questioned Secretary Pete Hegseth (fictionalized here for illustration). The topic: Trump’s illegal use of federal military forces in Los Angeles in response to a protest that spanned—wait for it—eight city blocks, one freeway overpass, and one entrance/exit ramp to the 101 freeway.Secretary Hegseth repeated falsehoods: that officers were being attacked, that the city was under siege, that there was rebellion in the streets. All of it was demonstrably false.And while Congressman Aguilar asked good questions—important questions—he didn’t correct the record in real time. He didn’t say: "That’s a lie." He didn’t say: "The protest is peaceful." He didn’t say: "There is no rebellion. There is no invasion. There is no justification for this illegal military occupation."Instead, the lie sat there. Untouched. Growing.What Should Have Been SaidHere’s the truth that should’ve followed every false claim:* “That’s a lie. There is no riot.”The protest was limited in size and scope. The only incidents involved a few people throwing bottles or burning vehicles—who were already arrested by LAPD or local sheriffs. No one assaulted police. No one burned down buildings. There is peace in 502 out of 503 square miles of Los Angeles.* “That’s a lie. This is not an invasion.”These are American citizens and some undocumented but longtime residents—protesting the targeting of their communities. If yelling and videotaping officers is now considered assault, then we’ve lost the First Amendment.* “That’s a lie. This is not rebellion.”If Donald Trump can’t function as president because of an eight-block protest, he’s not fit for the job. He needs to be removed under the 25th Amendment.Every time a lie is told, truth must be spoken—clearly, forcefully, and immediately.Why This MattersWhen MAGA lies go unchallenged, they metastasize. They become talking points. They’re repeated on right-wing media, embedded in appropriations bills, and echoed in legislation across the country.This isn’t just a messaging problem. It’s a democracy problem.And while it’s essential to ask about cost overruns, constitutional authority, or budget misuse, those inquiries mean little if the lie is allowed to stand unopposed.Make Truth Simple AgainThis is a call to elected officials, legislative staff, and pro-democracy communicators:* Interrupt the lie.* Recenter the truth.* Reclaim the narrative.Don’t allow bad-faith actors to invent reality while we debate hypotheticals. Speak plainly. Repeat facts. Say: "That’s a lie." And say it as many times as it takes.This is not about performative outrage. It’s about defending the integrity of our public discourse and refusing to let gaslighting dominate democratic spaces.We can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can press for oversight and exhale truth. We must.Let’s make truth simple again.Visit https://www.futurepac.today/donate/ to support our efforts to build the Coalition of Democratic, Non-MAGA Republican, Independent and 3rd party Americans that support our Pro-Democracy, Multicultural, Multiracial Constitutional Republic and Representative Democracy form of Government.Common Sense by Eric Foster is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Common Sense by Eric Foster! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ericfoster52.substack.com/subscribe