The Medill Fact Check

One of my readers, Arthur — who once served as vice chair of a political committee in Maryland — wrote to me after reading one of my columns. He quoted Jimi Hendrix: “There must be some kind of way out of here, said the joker to the thief. There’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief.” He went on to describe the stress, confusion, and helplessness so many Americans feel today, reminding me that part of our relief comes from strong, honest, and courageous journalists deciphering the political scene. His words struck me because they capture the moment we are living in: people are hungry for truthful information, yet too often they are fed lies.

Free speech versus falsehoods — there is no competition because, ironically, both are protected under the First Amendment. The Supreme Court has ruled that most political lies are shielded, even when they mislead voters. That protection makes it nearly impossible to legislate against deception in campaigns or public discourse. Yet the damage of lying is devastating. Consider the “Big Lie” of 2020. Repeated endlessly, it convinced millions that the presidential election was stolen. That falsehood eroded trust in the electoral system, fueled conspiracy theories, and culminated in the violence of January 6. Democracy depends on the peaceful transfer of power, yet lies turned citizens against one another and against the institutions meant to safeguard our republic.