Truth is Essential in Democracy - Stop Disinformation & Lies

We are calling on all levels of government, local, state, and federal, because someone has to listen. The dangerous rhetoric from President Trump and his allies is a direct threat to democracy and American lives. Silence is not neutrality, it’s complicity. The Washington Post recorded 30,573 false or misleading statements from Trump during his first term, averaging 39 lies per day in his final year. Experts describe this as a “firehose of falsehoods,” a strategy designed to drown out truth and erode public trust. Yale historian Timothy Snyder warns that “the truth is never with those who hold power… loving our country means knowing about our country,” not hiding behind lies. That rhetoric is now fueling real-world violence. On January 6, 2021, Trump’s lies about a stolen election led to an insurrection that left five dead and over 140 officers injured. His subsequent pardons of many January 6 rioters sent a dangerous signal: political violence will be excused. In July 2024, Trump himself was wounded at a Pennsylvania rally in an assassination attempt that killed a bystander, proving no one is immune to the violence he has helped normalize. Just days ago, on June 13, 2025, Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman was killed, and Senator John Hoffman and their spouses were wounded in a politically motivated shooting. The attacker reportedly viewed them as “traitorous politicians.” This follows the El Paso Walmart massacre, where 23 people were killed by a shooter who echoed Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, calling immigration an “invasion.” These are not isolated events; they are symptoms of a democracy under siege. The global impact is just as severe. A Gallup-Pew poll shows global confidence in U.S. leadership has dropped from 22% to 16%, placing us alongside authoritarian states like Russia and China. Legal experts warn that deploying troops against citizens, labeling dissent as treason, and pardoning insurrectionists are all hallmarks of dictatorial regimes. We demand immediate action. Pass legislation to hold elected officials accountable for spreading disinformation and inciting violence. Treat deliberate political lies with the same seriousness as perjury and fraud. Reaffirm your oath to defend the Constitution, not any one leader or party. Lives are on the line. Our credibility, our democracy, and our future depend on you.