Why obvious lies make great propaganda
For leaders like Trump and Putin, telling big lies isn’t about persuasion — it’s about power.
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At first glance, US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin seem to have wildly different communication styles. But what they share is a tendency to repeat big, obvious lies — a tactic researchers have dubbed the “firehose of falsehood.” Whether it’s lying about Russian troops in Crimea or falsely claiming millions of people voted illegally during the 2016 election, both leaders demonstrate a kind of shamelessness when it comes to telling and retelling big lies. And that’s because firehosing isn’t actually about persuasion. It’s about power.
Read the original “firehose of falsehood” report:
https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE198.html
Read more of Masha Gessen’s work at The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/how-putin-and-trump-each-lied-in-helsinki
Read more of Christopher Paul’s work at RAND: https://www.rand.org/about/people/p/paul_christopher.html
On Strikethrough, Vox producer Carlos Maza explores the challenges facing the news media in the age of Trump. Follow Carlos on Facebook for more: https://www.facebook.com/CarlosMazaVox
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what’s really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
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@Vox
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
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@jeepbleep7017
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Huh wonder why I’m seeing this now 🤔
@canthandlethatdough
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
its all very orwellesque
@JustforInternetsurfing
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
imagine their talking against athiesm just saying the truth isnt objective it will in fact set you free
@JustforInternetsurfing
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
1:24 you sure you arent talking about "natural athiesm"😆
@checkercuber
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
This aged so well it got younger. I thought it was posted in 2026
@mmukai3930
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
In Swahili we say lisemwalo lipo I think that’s what they do
@untitled2836
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
That was 7 YEARS AGO
@jameswhipp3256
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
In other words, the point is to move us into the "post truth era", where nobody can find the needles of truth buried under haystacks of lies, distractions, and garbage.
@growwithemilie1235
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
😮😮😮
@Samdosentexist
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
8:11 “Trust us with your information”
@Fizzbob
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
The left constantly use firehosing tactics too. fire hosing does not mean lying. you gotta check the facts, not about the speed of the speech. get that right.
@gixx
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Watu wa kasongo hoiye
@ВладиславСтарчевський
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
unfortunately this video aged like a VERY good vine
@Themshoy
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Sighs
@mizoik9893
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
1:40 then same idea works with faces that's why posters have faces of leaders everywhere
@MrAveragevideoviewer
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
5:15 Trump golden showers us every day.
What can we do but wipe off our glasses, and faces?
Or like vote every time we get the opportunity?
@MrAveragevideoviewer
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
They should only let poutine take the land he has already claimed.
Why can’t we agree on that?
🤦♂️ We’re f#%&*d!
@YourzTruly357
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
And thus “Just Trust me Bro “ Was Created !
@michaela_anastasia
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
April 4th 1984…
@aohallx
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
yet only trump. THEY ALL LIE WHY JUST HIM
@nothinghere198
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Remember that:
0! = 1
(When you shout something false loud enough, it becomes true.)
@thelistener9024
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Anybody here after the Epstein files 😭
@eduardoab5530
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
So Putin is basically Dr. Evil ?
@tuanphuctran8651
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Its interesting that u guys can debate about things like this, in Vietnam, if you mention the president and the word lie in the same sentence, straight to jail!
@Lensed_yt
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Wow, Vox saw the future.
@nandini6504
January 29, 2026 at 6:44 pm
George orwell made us aware of this decades ago but we had to let it escalate till this day to finally accept the fact we are being manipulated to believe euphemisms created by politicians
Comments are closed.