Why Obviously False Claims Keep Showing Up in Politics

If a political claim sounds obviously false, that doesn’t always mean it’s a mistake. Sometimes it means it’s working. Have you ever noticed that in politics people sometimes make claims that are obviously ridiculous? Not wrong in a complicated way. Wrong in a way that makes you wonder: “Do they actually expect anyone to believe that?” What if convincing you isn’t the goal? Modern propaganda often works by flooding the information environment with claims faster than they can be verified. Researchers sometimes call this the “firehose of falsehood.” Once the information space is saturated, truth doesn’t lose because better arguments disappear. It loses because people stop trying to evaluate them. And that’s where the strategy begins. First, flood the information space. Large volumes of claims spread faster than they can be checked. Second, attack the referees — journalists, experts, and institutions — so no one can reliably resolve disputes about facts. Third, replace arguments with emotionally powerful narratives. Stories about enemies, betrayal, or national decline move faster than evidence. Fourth, turn politics into identity. Disagreement stops feeling like debate and starts feeling like betrayal. And finally, exhaust the audience. Because once people feel overwhelmed, many stop trying to determine what’s true. They simply choose the narrative that aligns with their tribe. Modern propaganda doesn’t try to win the argument. It tries to make arguments impossible.