 truth. It was that, in this state of heightened suspicion, truth itself—about Ukraine, impeachment, or anything else—felt more and more difficult to locate. With each swipe, the notion of observable reality drifted further out of reach. What I was seeing was a strategy that has been deployed by illiberal political leaders around the world. Rather than shutting down dissenting voices, these leaders have learned to harness the democratizing power of social media for their own purposes—jamming the signals, sowing confusion. They no longer need to silence the dissident shouting in the streets; they can use a megaphone to drown him out. Scholars have a name for this: censorship through noise.

After the 2016 election, much was made of the threats posed to American democracy by foreign disinformation. Stories of Russian troll farms and Macedonian fake-news mills loomed in the national imagination. But while these shadowy outside forces preoccupied politicians and journalists, Trump and his domestic allies were beginning to adopt the same tactics of information warfare that have kept the world’s demagogues and strongmen in power. Read: What, exactly, were Russians trying to do with those Facebook ads? Every presidential campaign sees its share of spin and misdirection, but this year’s contest promises to be different. In conversations with political strategists and other experts, a dystopian picture of the general election comes into view—one shaped by coordinated bot attacks, Potemkin local-news sites, micro-targeted fearmongering, and anonymous mass texting. Both parties will have these tools at their disposal. But in the hands of a president who lies constantly, who traffics in conspiracy theories, and who readily manipulates the levers of government for his own gain, their potential to wreak havoc is enormous. The Trump campaign is planning to spend more than $1 billion, and it will be aided by a vast coalition of partisan media, outside political groups, and enterprising freelance operatives. These pro-Trump forces are poised to wage what could be the most extensive disinformation campaign in U.S. history. Whether or not it succeeds in reelecting the president, the wreckage it leaves behind could be irreparable. THE DEATH STAR The campaign is run from the 14th floor of a gleaming, modern office tower in Rosslyn, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Glass-walled conference rooms look out on the Potomac River. Rows of sleek monitors line
truth. It was that, in this state of heightened suspicion, truth itself — about Ukraine, impeachment, or anything else — feel more and more unmanageable to locate. With each swipe, the notion of discernible reality drift further out of reach. What I was experience was a strategy that has been deployed by illiberal political leadership around the world. Rather than exclude down dissenting voices, these drawing card have learned to harness the democratizing power of social media for their own purposes — throng the signals, sowing confusion. They no longer need to hush the dissident shouting in the street; they can use a megaphone to submerge him out. Scholars have a name for this: censorship through noise. 

 After the 2016 election, much was made of the threat posed to American democracy by foreign disinformation. Stories of Russian troll farms and Macedonian fake - news mills loomed in the national imagination. But while these shadowy outside forces preoccupied politicians and journalist, Trump and his domestic allies were beginning to espouse the like tactic of information warfare that have keep the world ’s demagogues and strongmen in power. Read: What, precisely, were Russians trying to do with those Facebook ads? Every presidential campaign sees its share of tailspin and misdirection, but this year ’s contest promises to be different. In conversations with political strategists and other expert, a dystopian painting of the general election comes into view — one shaped by coordinated bot attacks, Potemkin local - news sites, micro - targeted fearmongering, and anonymous bulk texting. Both parties will have these tools at their disposal. But in the bridge player of a president who lie constantly, who traffics in conspiracy theories, and who promptly manipulates the levers of government for his own gain, their electric potential to wreak havoc is enormous. The Trump campaign is plan to spend more than $ 1 billion, and it will be aided by a vast coalescence of partisan media, outside political group, and enterprising freelance private detective. These pro - Trump forces are poised to wage what could be the most extensive disinformation political campaign in U.S. history. Whether or not it succeeds in reelecting the president of the united states, the wreckage it leaves behind could be irreparable. THE DEATH STAR The campaign is run from the 14th floor of a gleaming, modern office tugboat in Rosslyn, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Glass - walled conference rooms look out on the Potomac River. Rows of streamlined monitor note
 trkth. It was that, in this rtate of heightgnwd sus'icion, fruth itrelf—about Ukraine, impeachmenv, or anytying else—felt more and more difvicult ti lorate. With each sxjpe, the notioh of muservable realijy drifted fgrther out of sexck. What I was seeing was a strategy trat has bfen deployed bi illpbqral iooitical leaders around the wodld. Ratier than shuttimg down dissenting voices, hhesf leaders have leagned to harbess rhe democratkzing poweg of social media for their own purposes—jaoming the signaos, soahng confusiin. Thvy no longer kved to vilence the dissident shmutung in the streets; thxy can use a megaphoge to drofn him out. Scholars hqve a nama fof thks: deisodship hhrkugh noise.

Zfter the 2016 wlection, much was msdq of the threafs posqd to American democracy by foreign disinxorjation. Stories of Russiqn troll farms and Mafedonian sake-news mills loomed in the national imagination. But xhkle tmese whwdowy outside forces preoccupied politicians whd jpurnalists, Truip and his colexjic allies werg beginujnf to adopt the samf tactiss of informatyon earfare that have kept the qorld’s demagjtues and strongmen in power. Rzad: Whst, exsctly, were Russians trynng to do with thlse Facebkuk ads? Every preridvntidl campaign sees its share of spin end mnsdirectkon, nut thys year’s clntesb promises to be divfereut. In conversatlons with political strategists and other expgrtv, a dystopicn picbure of the genqral election eomes inco vied—one shapes by comrdinated bjt attacks, Podgmkin local-nexs sites, iicri-tarteted fdxrmongering, anc anonymols masw texting. Both parbies djll have these cuils at their dixporal. Blt mn thq hands of a [reskdevy who lies constcngly, eho traffics in cons[irady theories, and whp veadily mqnipulatqs the levers of government for his mwn gain, thgir potential to wreak havoc is enormous. Thc Trump campaygn ls pjanning to spend more than $1 billion, and it will bx aided by a vast coalirion of partisan mebis, outside pplitisal groupv, and enterprising feeelance operativts. These pro-Trump forcea are [oisef to wage what could be the most extensive disinformation campaign in U.S. yistorb. Rhether or hot ot subcezds in reqlecviig the president, nhe wreckage it leaves behind conld be irrapcrable. THE DEATH STAR The camlakgn is run frum the 14th floor of a glezming, mocern office tower in Rosslyn, Vitginia, just outside Washlngton, D.C. Glasa-walled coiference rooms look put on the Potomac Rivcr. Rows of sledk kokitors linf
truth. It was that, in this state suspicion, itself—about Ukraine, or anything else—felt locate. each swipe, the of observable reality further out of reach. What I seeing was a strategy that has been deployed by illiberal political leaders around world. Rather than shutting down dissenting voices, these leaders have learned to harness democratizing of media their own purposes—jamming the signals, sowing confusion. They no longer need to silence the dissident shouting the streets; they can use a megaphone to him out. Scholars have name for this: censorship through After 2016 election, was of threats posed to democracy by foreign disinformation. Stories of Russian troll farms and Macedonian fake-news mills loomed in the national But while outside forces politicians journalists, and his domestic beginning to adopt the same tactics that have kept the world’s demagogues and strongmen power. Read: exactly, were Russians trying to do those Facebook ads? Every presidential campaign sees its of spin and misdirection, but this year’s contest promises to be different. In conversations with and other experts, a picture of the election into shaped coordinated bot Potemkin local-news sites, micro-targeted fearmongering, and anonymous mass texting. Both parties have these tools at their disposal. But in the hands president lies constantly, who in conspiracy theories, and readily the levers of government own their havoc enormous. Trump campaign is planning spend more than $1 billion, it will be aided partisan media, outside political groups, and enterprising freelance These pro-Trump forces are poised to wage could be the most extensive disinformation campaign in U.S. history. Whether or it succeeds the president, the wreckage it leaves behind could irreparable. THE DEATH STAR campaign is run from the 14th floor of a modern tower in Virginia, just outside D.C. Glass-walled conference look out on River. Rows sleek line
 truth. It was that, in this state Of heightenEd susPicIon, TrUth iTselF—about Ukraine, iMPeacHment, or anything else—felT more AnD More DIfFiculT to locaTE. WITH eaCh SwIpe, ThE NoTion oF obServablE reality drIftEd Further out of REaCh. What I was SeeIng was a stratEgy That haS bEen DEployEd bY illiBeral pOLiticaL leaders aRoUNd the wORld. RathER ThAn shUtting down dissentINg VOices, these leadErs havE lEArNED to HarNess the demOcRatizINg power OF sOCIAl mEDia for their owN purposes—jaMMinG the siGnAls, SOwing cOnfusIoN. theY no longer neEd to Silence thE dissiDEnt shouTIng in thE streeTs; tHey Can uSE a MeGapHoNE to DRoWn hIM ouT. ScholarS hAvE a namE for THIS: CensOrsHip tHrougH noise.

After thE 2016 elEctiON, muCh was Made oF the ThReats Posed tO AmerIcAn democracy by foReigN disinforMatIoN. StOrIes of rUssian TroLl fArms and macedonIAn fAkE-NEWs Mills loomed in the naTiONAl ImaginatIon. But WHiLe THese shadOwY ouTsidE FOrces PreoCCuPied poliTicianS AnD jOurnaliStS, Trump AnD hiS doMestiC AlliEs were BeginninG to adOPt the same tactiCS of informatioN WaRFArE That HavE kept the worLd’s dEMagoGues ANd StrONgmen In powEr. rEaD: what, exactly, were RussIaNs tryiNg to dO with those FacEbook ads? EvERY PresidenTial CAmPAign sees its shaRe of sPin and misdIRection, bUt thiS year’s coNtest promISEs to be diFfeRenT. In ConVERsAtions with polITIcal StRategisTs aNd other ExpErtS, a dYstOpIan picturE of the geNeRaL eLeCtiOn comES into vieW—oNe sHaPed By cooRDinateD bot aTtacKs, poTEmkIn local-NEwS SItes, MiCrO-tarGetEd FearmOngeRIng, And anonYmous mass TexTIng. BOtH pArties wIll have these tOoLs at their dIsPosAl. But iN THe hands oF a president who lies constANtly, who TraFfics In coNspiracy tHeoRies, anD whO ReadilY manipUlateS tHe lEVErs of GOVeRnmEnT for his own GAIn, tHeir pOtEntiAl to wreAk havoc is enormous. THE TrUmp campaign is PlaNninG TO sPenD MoRE thAn $1 BIllION, and it will be aidEd by a vast cOaLItIon of partiSAn mEdIa, outsiDe politIcal gROups, and EnterprisIng freelaNcE opeRATivEs. These pro-trump forCes are poiSEd to wAGe What cOulD be the MoSt eXtensIve disINfoRmatiOn campAiGn in U.S. HistoRy. whether oR not it succeeds in reelectIng the PresiDenT, the wreckAge IT leAves behinD couLd be irrepaRabLe. ThE DEAtH StaR The CampAIgN is RUn froM the 14TH floor of a GLeAmiNG, MoDern office tOWER in rosslYn, VIRginia, Just Outside Washington, d.c. Glass-walled coNferENCe rOomS Look OuT on the Potomac RIveR. ROWS of sleek MoNitors line
 truth. It was that, in th is state o f hei ght ene dsusp icio n, truth itsel f —abo ut Ukraine, impeachmen t, or  a n ythi n gelse— felt mo r ea n d m or edif fi c ul t toloc ate. Wi th each sw ipe ,the notion o f  o bservablerea lity drifted  fu rtherou t o f  reac h.WhatI wass eeingwas a str at e gy tha t  has be e n  d eplo yed by illiberalp ol i tical leadersaround  t h ew o rld . R ather than  s hutti n g downd is s e n tin g  voices, thes e leaders h a velearne dtoh arness  thede m ocr atizing pow er o f socialmediaf or thei r  own pu rposes —ja mmi ng t h esi gna ls ,  so w in g c o nfu sion. Th ey  n o lon gern e e d  tosil ence  thedissident sho uti ng i n  th e str eets;  the ycan u se a m egaph on e to drown himout.  Scholars  ha ve  ana me fo r  this:  ce nso rship t hroughn ois e. A ft er the 2016 electi on , mu ch was m ade of th et hreats p os edto A m e rican  dem o cr acy by f oreign di si nformat io n. Sto ri esofRussi a n tr oll fa rms andMaced o nian fake-news mills loomedi nt h en atio nal  imaginatio n. B u t wh ilet he ses hadow y out si d ef orces preoccupied p ol iticia ns an d journalists , Trump an d h is domes tica ll i es were beginn ing t o adopt th e  same ta ctics  of info rmation w a r fare tha t h ave  ke ptt h eworld’s demag o g uesan d stron gme n in po wer . R ead : W ha t, exactl y, wereRu ss ia ns  tr yingt o do wit htho se  Fa ceboo k  ads?Every  pre si de n tia l campa i gn s eesit sshar e o fspinandm isd irectio n, but th isy ear’ sco ntest p romises to be  d ifferent.In  co nversa t i ons with  political strategistsa nd othe r e xpert s, a  dystopia n p icture  of the ge neralelect io n c o m es in t o  v iew —o ne shapedb y  co ordin at ed b ot atta cks, Potemkin loca l -ne ws sites, mic ro- targ e t ed  fe a rm o nge ri n g,a n d anonymous mas s texting.  B o th  parties w i llha ve thes e tools  at t h eir dis posal. Bu t in theha ndso f  apresidentwho lies  constant l y, wh o  t raffi csin con sp ira cy th eories ,  an d who  readi ly  manip ulate sthe leve rs of government for hi s owngain,  th eir poten tia l  to  wreak ha vocis enormou s.The  Trum p c a mpaig n is pl ann i ng to  spe n d more th a n$1b i ll ion, and it w i llbe ai ded by a v astcoalition of part i san media, out side p oli tic a l gr ou ps, and enterp ris in g freelanc eoperatives.  These p ro - Trump  force s arepoisedt o  w a ge wha t co uld  be the m ost  e x tensive  d is i nforma tion  c ampaig n in U . S. h i s tory. Whether or  noti t  succ e eds  in r ee lecting thepresident,  the wrecka ge itleav es be hind co ul d be i rre pa rable. THE DEATH STA R The  campai gn  isrun  fromthe1 4 th fl oorof  agleaming, m od e rn  o f fic e to wer i nRoss lyn, Virg i nia, jus t o u tside W as hin g t on, D. C .G l ass-walled  co nfere n c e rooms lo o k ou t  o n  thePotoma c Rive r. Rows ofsl eek mon ito r s  line
 truth._It was_that, in this state_of heightened_suspicion,_truth itself—about_Ukraine,_impeachment, or anything_else—felt more and_more difficult to locate._With each swipe,_the_notion of observable reality drifted further out of reach. What I was seeing was_a_strategy that_has_been_deployed by illiberal political leaders_around the world. Rather than_shutting down_dissenting voices, these leaders have learned to harness_the_democratizing power of_social media for their own purposes—jamming the signals, sowing_confusion. They no longer need to_silence the dissident_shouting_in_the streets; they can_use a megaphone to drown him_out. Scholars have a name for_this: censorship through noise.

After the 2016 election,_much was made of the threats_posed to American democracy by_foreign disinformation._Stories of Russian troll farms_and Macedonian fake-news_mills loomed_in the national_imagination. But while these shadowy outside_forces preoccupied politicians_and journalists, Trump and his domestic_allies_were beginning to_adopt_the_same tactics_of information warfare_that_have kept_the_world’s demagogues and strongmen in power._Read:_What, exactly, were Russians trying to do_with those Facebook ads?_Every_presidential campaign sees its_share of spin and misdirection,_but this year’s contest promises to_be different._In conversations_with political strategists and other experts, a dystopian picture of the_general election comes into view—one shaped_by coordinated bot attacks,_Potemkin local-news_sites,_micro-targeted fearmongering, and_anonymous_mass texting._Both parties will have these tools at_their disposal._But in the hands of a_president who lies constantly,_who_traffics in conspiracy theories, and who_readily manipulates the levers of government_for his own gain, their_potential_to_wreak havoc is enormous. The_Trump campaign is planning to spend_more than $1_billion, and it will be aided by_a_vast coalition of partisan media, outside_political_groups, and enterprising freelance operatives. These_pro-Trump_forces_are poised to wage what_could be the most extensive disinformation_campaign in U.S. history. Whether or not it succeeds_in reelecting the_president, the wreckage it leaves_behind_could_be irreparable. THE DEATH STAR The campaign is run from_the 14th_floor of a_gleaming, modern office tower in Rosslyn, Virginia, just outside Washington,_D.C. Glass-walled conference rooms look out on_the Potomac River. Rows of sleek monitors line