Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and historian, recently published an 8,000-word piece in The Atlantic warning about the dangers of disinformation and propaganda in the modern world. In her upcoming book “Autocracy Inc.,” she highlights how autocratic forces, including Donald Trump in the U.S., are using sophisticated information wars to discredit liberalism and freedom. She believes that this propaganda is undermining democracy by warping public discourse and eroding trust in democratic institutions.
Applebaum argues that the deployment of propaganda by authoritarians is a significant crisis for American democracy, impacting legislation and public debate. She emphasizes the importance of a shared perception of reality in democracies and warns that those in power seek to destroy the very notion of truth. This tactic, known as the “firehose of falsehoods,” was pioneered by Vladimir Putin and has been used by Trump and others to manipulate public perception for their own benefit.
The propaganda war in the U.S. differs from other countries in that disinformation is not coming from state-controlled media like RT or Sputnik. Instead, Trump relies on a voluntary network of collaborators who spread lies and conspiracy theories to serve his goals. This broken information economy rewards spreading dishonest ideas, enriching and empowering individuals like Rupert Murdoch, Tucker Carlson, and Sean Hannity. Applebaum acknowledges the destructive impact of this propaganda network on society, but notes that legacy news media largely ignore the story.
Despite the clear toll that lies promoted by Trump and his allies are taking on American society, mainstream news outlets often turn a blind eye to the propaganda pipeline poisoning the information well. Understanding the role of MAGA Media in spreading disinformation is crucial to comprehending major issues like the struggle to pass Ukraine funding or widespread disbelief in election results. Applebaum is puzzled by the lack of aggressive coverage of this central issue by the establishment press and stresses the importance of addressing the propaganda machine undermining democracy.
In conclusion, Applebaum’s warning about the new propaganda war and the dangers of disinformation are crucial for understanding the challenges facing democracies today. The deliberate spread of falsehoods by authoritarian forces threatens to erode trust in institutions and sow division in society. Addressing this crisis requires awareness of the tactics used by autocrats and their collaborators to manipulate public opinion and undermine the foundations of democracy. It is essential for the media and the public to remain vigilant and informed in order to combat the spread of propaganda and defend the principles of truth and freedom.
