1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

The American people are losing trust in one another, in science, and in truth itself. Our democracy can’t function if we don’t agree on a shared reality. The New Yorker’s April 2025 article, “It’s Always the Other Side That’s Been Brainwashed,” underscores just how deeply this mistrust runs—and how political leaders have used it to divide and manipulate. Elected officials must act now to defend truth as a civic value. Misinformation isn’t just a side effect of social media—it’s become a political strategy. When public figures knowingly spread falsehoods about elections, vaccines, or crime, it erodes public trust and inflames divisions. Studies show that exposure to political disinformation decreases civic participation and increases polarization (American Psychological Association, 2021; Pew Research, 2024). It also leads to real-world harm, from public health crises to violent insurrections. I urge you to introduce and support legislation that prohibits elected officials and government employees from knowingly spreading false or misleading information. There must be accountability. Just as we have rules to protect against fraud in finance, we need protections to safeguard the public from political deception. Truth should not be a partisan issue—it’s the foundation of our democracy.