Thread by @MollyMcKew

The Jade Helm 2015 conspiracy remains a concise example, from point A—> B, of how disinformation changes governance.

This takes on a new sense of urgency as lawmakers echo dis/misinformation about COVID-19.

My latest for @SURfdn #defusingdisinfo /1  standuprepublic.com/current-io-top…

My recent discussion with filmmakers @a_rossi + @NotTheATVRider reminded me what a powerful test Jade Helm was. From the time the conspiracy appeared, fueled by Russia, until the moment the governor of Texas responded was about 6 weeks total. /2
greatpower.us/p/weekend-watc…

Six weeks from a random online document to angry locals calling a US Army officer a liar at a packed townhall meeting.

It was overlooked in the aftermath of 2016 in public — but not by the military. And not by foreign analysts of Russian disinfo campaigns. /3

The Jade Helm case so powerful because it was a tangible example, from point A to point B, of how disinformation changes government and governance. 

We are seeing this again in the context of the “open” anti-lockdown protests and the anti-mask demonstrations. /4

For example, “open” demonstrators recently stormed the Idaho state legislature to try to force lawmakers to open the state more quickly despite the fact that some counties in Idaho have some of the highest rates of new COVID cases in the country. /5

ktvb.com/article/news/l…

This takes on new urgency as lawmakers echo dis/misinformation they are consuming about COVID-19, and as that disinfo merges with a broader conspiracy universe.

For example, Senator Joni Ernst saying she is “so skeptical” of the COVID death toll, echoing an online conspiracy /6

Ernst went on to say there were less than 10,000 deaths maybe, and the inflated numbers are part of a vast insurance scam being run by hospitals/doctors to cash in on COVID deaths. (Just — no)

Just like that, a US Senator repeating a COVID conspiracy promoted by QAnon./7

Ernst apparently lives in an information environment where “the news” is telling her that actually there is no crisis. She believes it enough to say it in public.

... we’re supposed to have faith in her to handle COVID relief bills in the Senate? No wonder it’s not done. /8

So, what to do?

When toxic conspiracies pushing false info can undermine decisions of governance that impact our lives and the well-being of our communities and the functioning of the cities we live in, we have a duty to engage the politicians spreading these conspiracies /9

Conspiracists and promoters of misinformation cannot be at the helm as we make the decisions to get us out of parallel public health and economic crises and try to rebuild our nation. They simply don’t have the tools to cope. 

So... /10

1- Call out politicians promoting conspiracies & disinfo that impact serious decision-making, explain why their engagement with malign narratives can impact governance & community. Social media, letters to the editor, call-in radio — litter the earth with your form of protest /11

2- Call and write the offices of politicians who are engaging with malign and conspiracy narrative. Volume matters. Numbers matter. Challenge them. Present the facts. /12

3- Vote accordingly in November. We will only get out of this if the people in charge of us don’t inhabit an information domain where conspiracy seems plausible, even if it means ignoring dead Americans.

Enough of these people. Enough.  

Read more: /13

standuprepublic.com/current-io-top…