Last year we were told that Tylenol is linked to autism. It’s not. We were told the federal administration’s immigration actions are focused on rounding up criminals–the “worst of the worst.” That’s false. In July last year the Israeli Prime Minister said there was no starvation in Gaza. That was not true. And not to be outdone, the Republican vice president candidate in September of 2024 (knowing it wasn’t true) told us that Haitian migrants living in Springfield, Ohio were stealing and eating people’s pets. Despite the deluge of lies we’re exposed to every day, please don’t give up on seeking, finding, and acting on the truth. Our democracy depends on it. Yes, we’re drowning in misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Only 8% of the nearly 25,000 Americans polled by Northwestern University in 2023 correctly identified all the false political information presented to them. But democracy depends on citizens staying informed, speaking out, acting for the common good, and voting. May the ideas here help you separate political fact from fiction. Watch for emotional manipulation: You’re reading propaganda when the information doesn’t engage your critical thinking and instead seeks to trigger strong, visceral emotions from you —emotions like fear, anger, or blind patriotism. Often misinformation involves an “us vs. them” mentality where people who aren’t like us are painted as an essential threat to our lives. Or an image, video, or headline is intended to make us feel immediate outrage or panic before we check the facts. Check sources: To avoid fake news, the Macdonald-Kelco Library at the University of Tampa recommends that when you’re reading a news article know who the author is. Does the author have the experience to speak knowledgeably on the subject? Do a quick Google or LinkedIn search to see if they have the background to talk on the subject with authority and accuracy. Look for bias: Does the article you’re reading lean toward a particular point of view? Does it link to sites, files, or images that skew to the left or the right? Biased articles may not be giving you the whole story. Check multiple reputable sources, especially when you’re researching candidates and issues. And do check reliable sources that you know espouse views with which you might not agree. Check dates: Usually, the best information is the most up-to-date information. Old information, like old milk, can go bad. Avoid social media: Don’t use social media for your news.  Social media sites are designed to hold your attention, not to convey objective news and facts. Verify via fact checking sites: Try FactCheck.org, Politifact, or Snopes.com. Note URLs: One shyster trick is to create what looks like a famous reputable news website with a domain name like “ABCnews.com.co” or “washingtonpost.com.co”. Those sites were designed to make you think they were the TV network and the Washington D.C. newspaper when in fact they were fake news sites. Question the sensational: If a story comes across as sensational, be skeptical. Exaggerated and provocative headlines with excessive use of capital letters or emotional language are red flags. Don’t believe them without verifying what you read with two or more other sources. Consider foreign sources: Even the most reputable U.S. news sources can have biases, so consider including foreign ones (like the BBC) that might more objectively cover the United States. Be tough: If what you’re reading seems too good to be true, or too weird, or too reactionary, it probably is. Hear different opinions: Try to discuss political candidates and issues with others who have a different ideology or viewpoint than yours. The goal is not to convert others to your way of thinking. The goal is to gain more information and learn. You may gain a fuller understanding of the issues. Don’t be swayed By persuasion techniques: Some classic techniques are: card stacking (deliberately omitting crucial context or only presenting facts that support a specific narrative), bandwagon appeal (pressuring people to adopt a belief because everyone agrees on it), name-calling (using demeaning names or labels to persuade people to reject an idea, person, or group), glittering generalities (using vague, appealing words like freedom and democracy to win approval without facts and evidence), plain folks appeal (positioning someone as an ordinary, relatable person just like us to build trust or hide elite or extreme interests.) Contrary to a viral 2023 local news story, Vladimir Putin did not visit Interstate 84 in Danbury. Simsbury Democrats did not celebrate the shooting of Charlie Kirk. And Connecticut state lawmakers do not have full-time, year-round jobs. Use the techniques above and others to debunk such statements. We can’t elect the best candidates and support the best local and state government proposals if we can’t distinguish fact from fiction. Chris Amorosino lives in the Unionville section of Farmington. ...read more read less