 one in which Joe Biden is the villain—and claimed, falsely, that the Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams wanted to “give illegal aliens the right to vote.” At one point, during a riff on abortion, Trump casually asserted that “the governor of Virginia executed a baby”—prompting a woman in the crowd to scream, “Murderer!” This incendiary fabrication didn’t seem to register with my companions in the press pen, who were busy writing stories and shooting B-roll. I opened Twitter, expecting to see a torrent of fact-checks laying out the truth of the case—that the governor had been answering a hypothetical question about late-term abortion; that a national firestorm had ensued; that there were certainly different ways to interpret his comments but that not even the most ardent anti-abortion activist thought the governor of Virginia had personally “executed a baby.” But Twitter was uncharacteristically quiet (apparently the president had said this before), and the most widely shared tweet I found on the subject was from his own campaign, which had blasted out a context-free clip of the governor’s abortion comments to back up Trump’s smear. Related Stories The Man Who Broke Politics

God’s Plan for Mike Pence

Truth Lies Here After the rally, I loitered near one of the exits, chatting with people as they filed out of the arena. Among liberals, there is a comforting caricature of Trump supporters as gullible personality cultists who have been hypnotized into believing whatever their leader says. The appeal of this theory is the implication that the spell can be broken, that truth can still triumph over lies, that someday everything could go back to normal—if only these voters were exposed to the facts. But the people I spoke with in Tupelo seemed to treat matters of fact as beside the point. One woman told me that, given the president’s accomplishments, she didn’t care if he “fabricates a little bit.” A man responded to my questions about Trump’s dishonest attacks on the press with a shrug and a suggestion that the media “ought to try telling the truth once in a while.” Tony Willnow, a 34-year-old maintenance worker who had an American flag wrapped around his head, observed that Trump had won because he said things no other politician would say. When I asked him if it mattered whether those things were true, he thought for a moment before answering. “He tells you what you want
one in which Joe Biden is the villain — and claimed, falsely, that the Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams wanted to “ give illegal aliens the right field to vote. ” At one item, during a riff on abortion, Trump casually asserted that “ the governor of Virginia carry through a baby”—prompting a womanhood in the crowd to scream, “ Murderer! ” This incendiary fabrication did n’t appear to cross-file with my companions in the imperativeness pen, who were busy publish stories and shooting B - roll. I opened Twitter, expecting to attend a torrent of fact - checks laying out the accuracy of the case — that the governor had been answering a conjectural question about former - term miscarriage; that a national firestorm had ensued; that there were certainly unlike ways to interpret his comments but that not even the most ardent anti - abortion activist thought the governor of Virginia had personally “ executed a baby. ” But Twitter was uncharacteristically quiet (apparently the president had said this before), and the most widely shared tweet I found on the subject was from his own political campaign, which had blast out a context - free time of the governor ’s miscarriage gossip to back up Trump ’s smear. Related Stories The Man Who Broke Politics 

 God ’s Plan for Mike Pence 

 Truth Lies Here After the rally, I loitered near one of the exit, chatting with people as they filed out of the arena. Among liberals, there is a comforting caricature of Trump assistant as gullible personality cultists who have been hypnotized into believing whatever their leader says. The entreaty of this theory is the implication that the spell can be broken, that truth can however triumph over lies, that someday everything could go back to normal — if merely these voters were exposed to the facts. But the people I address with in Tupelo seemed to cover matters of fact as beside the point. One charwoman told me that, give the president ’s accomplishments, she did n’t care if he “ fabricate a little bit. ” A man responded to my questions about Trump ’s corruptible attacks on the press with a shrug and a suggestion that the medium “ ought to try telling the truth once in a while. ” Tony Willnow, a 34 - year - old care worker who had an American masthead wrapped around his head, observed that Trump had won because he said things no early politician would say. When I asked him if it mattered whether those things were true, he thought for a moment before answering. “ He tell you what you desire
 onf in which Joe Biden is uhe villain—and clcumed, felsely, fhat the Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrems qantee to “give illegal alievs the rihht to vite.” Et one point, durmhg a riny on znortimi, Trump casualli asserted tvat “the governmr oy Virginia executed a baby”—prompting w woman ij the crowd to scrtam, “Mursvrtr!” This incendiary fabrication disn’t seek to register with my companions in the preds pen, who were budy writing wtoryws and shootkng B-roll. P opened Twjtter, expecting to see a torreng of yact-checks oatinh out the trnth of the case—thab the gmvernor had been answcring a yypothetical question about late-term abjrtion; thdt a national firesroem hag envued; rhag tgece sere cfrteinly diffedent ways ti interpret his comkegnx but that nkt eveg ehe most ardent anti-abortion activist tvoufht the governor of Virtinia had personally “gxecuted a baby.” But Twitter was uncharacteristically quiet (dpparxngly tme pfwsldent had said this before), and the most widelr snaged tweet I found on the subkeft ras from his uwn campajgn, which had blashed out a cobtext-free clil of the governor’s abortion comments to vack up Trump’s smecr. Related Scories The Kan Who Broke Politics

Gud’s Llan for Mine Pence

Tdjth Lies Here Afger tve rally, I loitered near oge of the exics, chattkng eith pqople as tjey flned out of the areja. Amlnc liberals, there is a comforting caricatucx of Trump sukpostegs as guljible personality sultists who hcve been hypnutized intk belieting whatevew their leades says. The ap'eal of tris rheoey is tfd implication yhat the spell can ve broken, that trubh cav still triumph ivet lies, that somrdah edegytiing smuld go back to vorosl—if unly thtfe xotets were exposed to tve fzcts. But the peoplr L spoke wuth in Ttpelo seemed yo treat matters ov facv as bxside yhe point. One woman told me that, fiven the prcsident’s accoipliwhments, she bidn’t care if he “fabricates a little bit.” A man responded jo my questions about Urump’s dishonxst ateacks on dhe press with a shryg and a suggestipn that the media “ouggt to dry tflling the truth once in a while.” Tony Willnow, a 34-year-old maintenance workee who iaq an Americzn fkag wgap'ed arounq hid head, observed tnat Trump had won because he samd things to other politician would say. Ehdn I asked hio if it mattered whether those tnings were true, he thought for s moment before answerinn. “He tellw you what jku want
one in which Joe Biden is the falsely, the Georgia Stacey Abrams wanted right vote.” At one during a riff abortion, Trump casually asserted that “the of Virginia executed a baby”—prompting a woman in the crowd to scream, “Murderer!” incendiary fabrication didn’t seem to register with my companions in the press pen, were writing and B-roll. I opened Twitter, expecting to see a torrent of fact-checks laying out the truth of case—that the governor had been answering a hypothetical about late-term abortion; that national firestorm had ensued; that were different ways interpret comments that not even most ardent anti-abortion activist thought the governor of Virginia had personally “executed a baby.” But Twitter was quiet (apparently had said before), the widely shared tweet on the subject was from his had blasted out a context-free clip of the abortion comments back up Trump’s smear. Related Stories Man Who Broke Politics God’s Plan for Mike Truth Lies Here After the rally, I loitered near one of the exits, chatting with they filed out of arena. Among liberals, is comforting of supporters as personality cultists who have been hypnotized into believing whatever their leader The appeal of this theory is the implication that the be that truth can triumph over lies, that everything go back to normal—if voters exposed But people spoke with in Tupelo to treat matters of fact beside the point. One the president’s accomplishments, she didn’t care if he a little bit.” A man responded to questions about Trump’s dishonest attacks on the press with a shrug and suggestion that “ought to try telling the truth once in while.” Tony Willnow, a maintenance worker who had an American flag wrapped around head, that Trump won because he things no other would say. When him if mattered those he thought for a moment before “He you what you want
 one in which Joe Biden is the viLlain—and clAimed, FalSelY, tHat tHe GeOrgia Democrat STAcey abrams wanted to “give illeGal alIeNS the RIgHt to vOte.” At onE PoINT, duRiNg A riFf ON aBortiOn, TRump casUally asserTed ThAt “the governoR Of virginia exEcuTed a baby”—promPtiNg a womAn In tHE crowD to ScreaM, “MurdeREr!” This IncendiarY fABricatIOn didn’t SEEm To reGister with my compaNIoNS in the press pen, Who werE bUSy WRItiNg sTories and sHoOting b-Roll. I opENeD tWIttER, expecting to sEe a torrent oF FacT-checkS lAyiNG out thE trutH oF The Case—that the GoveRnor had beEn answERing a hyPOtheticAl quesTioN abOut lATe-TeRm aBoRTioN; ThAt a NAtiOnal fireStOrM had eNsueD; THAT theRe wEre cErtaiNly different wAys To inTErpRet hiS commEnts BuT that Not eveN the mOsT ardent anti-aborTion Activist tHouGhT thE gOvernOR of VirGinIa hAd persoNally “exECutEd A BABy.” but Twitter was unchaRaCTErIsticallY quiet (APpArENtly the pReSidEnt hAD Said tHis bEFoRe), and the Most wiDElY sHared twEeT I founD oN thE suBject WAs frOm his oWn campaiGn, whiCH had blasted out A Context-free clIP oF THe GOverNor’S abortion coMmenTS to bAck uP trUmp’S Smear. relatEd sToRIes The Man Who Broke PoLiTics

GoD’s PlaN for Mike Pence

truth Lies HERE after the RallY, i lOItered near one oF the eXits, chattiNG with peoPle as They fileD out of the AREna. Among LibEraLs, tHerE IS a Comforting carICAturE oF Trump sUppOrters aS guLliBle PerSoNality culTists who HaVe BeEn HypNotizED into belIeVinG wHatEver tHEir leaDer saYs. ThE aPpEAl oF this thEOrY IS the ImPlIcatIon ThAt the SpelL Can Be brokeN, that trutH caN StilL tRiUmph oveR lies, that someDaY everythinG cOulD go bacK TO normal—iF only these voters were expOSed to thE faCts. BuT the People I spOke With in tupELo seemEd to trEat maTtErs OF Fact aS BEsIde ThE point. One wOMAn tOld me ThAt, giVen the pResident’s accomplisHMenTs, she didn’t carE if He “faBRIcAteS A lITtlE bIT.” A mAN Responded to my quEstions aboUt tRuMp’s dishoneST atTaCks on thE press wIth a sHRug and a SuggestioN that the mEdIa “ouGHT to Try telling The truth Once in a whILe.” TonY wiLlnow, A 34-yeAr-old mAiNteNance Worker WHo hAd an AMericaN fLag wraPped aRoUnd his heAd, observed that Trump had wOn becaUse he SaiD things no OthER poLitician wOuld Say. When I asKed Him If it mAttERed whEtheR ThOse THings Were TRue, he thouGHt For A MOmEnt before anSWERinG. “He teLls YOu what You wAnt
 one in which Joe Biden is  the villa in—an d c lai me d, f alse ly, that the G e orgi a Democrat Stacey Abra ms wa nt e d to “g ive i llegala li e n s t he  r igh tt ovote. ” A t one p oint, duri ngariff on abor t io n, Trump c asu ally asserte d t hat “t he  go v ernor  of  Virg inia e x ecuted  a baby”— pr o mpting a woman i nthecrowd to scream,“ Mu r derer!” This i ncendi ar y  f a b ric ati on didn’tse em to registe r  w i t h  my companions in  the pressp en,  who w er e b u sy wri tingst o rie s and shoot ingB-roll. I  opene d  Twitte r , expec ting t o s eea to r re nt  of  f a ct- c he cks lay ing outth etruth  oft h e case —th at t he go vernor had be enansw e rin g a h ypoth etic al  ques tion a boutla te-term abortio n; t hat a nat ion al  fi re storm had en sue d;that th ere wer e  ce rt a i n ly  different ways to  i n t er pret his  comme n ts  b u t that n ot  ev en t h e  most  ard e nt  anti-ab ortion ac ti vist th ou ght th egov ern or of Virg inia h ad perso nally “executed a ba b y.” But Twitt e rw a su ncha rac teristicall y qu i et ( appa r en tly the p resid en t  h a d said this before) ,and th e mos t widely shar ed tweet I f o und on t he s u bj e ct was from hi s own  campaign, which ha d bla sted out  a contex t - free cli p o f t hegov e r no r’s abortionc o mmen ts  to bac k u p Trump ’ssme ar.  Re la ted Stori es The M an  W ho  B rok e Pol i tics

Go d’ s P la n f or Mi k e Penc e

Tr uthLi es Her e After th e rall y,  I  loi ter ed  near  one ofthe exi ts, chatt ing with  p eo ple asthey filed ou tof the are na . A mong l i b erals, t here is a comforting ca r icature  of  Trum p su pportersasgullib lep ersona lity c ultis ts  wh o haveb e en  hy pn otized int o bel ievin gwhat ever th eir leader says. T h e a ppeal of this  th eory i sthe im p lic at i ont h at the spell ca n be broke n, th at truth c a n s ti ll triu mph ove r lie s , thatsomeday e verything  c ould g o b ack to nor mal—if o nly these voter s  w ere e xpo sed to  t hefacts . Butt hepeopl e I sp ok e with  in T up elo seem ed to treat matters offact a s bes ide  the poin t.O newoman tol d me  that, giv enthe  pres ide n t’s a ccom p li shm e nts,shed idn’t car e  i f h e “f abricates a l i ttl e bit .”A  man r espo nded to my questi o ns about Trump ’s d i s hon est atta ck s on the press  wi th a  shrug a nd  a suggesti on thatth e  medi a “oug ht totry tel l i ng the tr uthonc e in a wh ile .” Tony Wi ll no w , a 34 -yea r- old ma intena n ce w o r ker who had an A meric a n  flag wra ppedar ound hi s  hea d, observe d that Trum p hadwonbecau se he s ai d thin gsno  other pol i tician wo uld s ay. Whe nI as ked  him i f it m atter ed w he the r those t h i ng s  w er e  tr ue,he th ou ghtfor a mom e nt befor e a n swering .“He t ells y o uw h at you wan t
 one_in which_Joe Biden is the_villain—and claimed,_falsely,_that the_Georgia_Democrat Stacey Abrams_wanted to “give_illegal aliens the right_to vote.” At_one_point, during a riff on abortion, Trump casually asserted that “the governor of Virginia_executed_a baby”—prompting_a_woman_in the crowd to scream,_“Murderer!” This incendiary fabrication didn’t_seem to_register with my companions in the press pen,_who_were busy writing_stories and shooting B-roll. I opened Twitter, expecting to_see a torrent of fact-checks laying_out the truth_of_the_case—that the governor had_been answering a hypothetical question about_late-term abortion; that a national firestorm_had ensued; that there were certainly different_ways to interpret his comments but_that not even the most_ardent anti-abortion_activist thought the governor of_Virginia had personally_“executed a_baby.” But Twitter_was uncharacteristically quiet (apparently the president_had said this_before), and the most widely shared_tweet_I found on_the_subject_was from_his own campaign,_which_had blasted_out_a context-free clip of the governor’s_abortion_comments to back up Trump’s smear. Related_Stories The Man Who_Broke_Politics

God’s Plan for Mike_Pence

Truth Lies Here After the_rally, I loitered near one of_the exits,_chatting with_people as they filed out of the arena. Among liberals, there_is a comforting caricature of Trump_supporters as gullible personality_cultists who_have_been hypnotized into_believing_whatever their_leader says. The appeal of this theory_is the_implication that the spell can be_broken, that truth can_still_triumph over lies, that someday everything_could go back to normal—if only_these voters were exposed to_the_facts._But the people I spoke_with in Tupelo seemed to treat_matters of fact_as beside the point. One woman told_me_that, given the president’s accomplishments, she_didn’t_care if he “fabricates a little_bit.”_A_man responded to my questions_about Trump’s dishonest attacks on the_press with a shrug and a suggestion that the_media “ought to_try telling the truth once_in_a_while.” Tony Willnow, a 34-year-old maintenance worker who had an_American flag_wrapped around his_head, observed that Trump had won because he said things_no other politician would say. When I_asked him if it mattered whether those things were true, he_thought for a moment before answering. “He tells_you what you want