disinformation

People bristle and resist when told what they can or cannot do. We knew this about guns, vaccinations and masks. And we are seeing some of that with regard to abortion rights, even in red states.

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones must pay millions in damages for spreading lies about the Sandy Hook school massacre. But even if the penalties shut down Infowars, his influence will remain.

Jones, the creator and face of the conspiracy-peddling website InfoWars, is on the hook for a total of $49.3 million for spreading falsehoods about the 2012 mass shooting at an elementary school.

Positive messaging about democratic values like freedom and unity seems to have a meaningful effect on whether voters say they trust voting results.

Kari Lake, who has spent her campaign spreading election lies, was endorsed by Trump. Her rival, Karrin Taylor Robson, was backed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and former Vice President Mike Pence.

The InfoWars host and creator will have to pay $4.1 million to two parents whose 6-year-old son was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. Jones spent years claiming the mass shooting as a hoax.

Mark Finchem was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and is a longstanding member of the right-wing extremist group the Oath Keepers.

Neil Heslin, whose 6-year-old son was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012, testified that he has endured online abuse, anonymous phone calls and harassment on the street.

Trump is still the dominant figure in Republican politics, but he appears more vulnerable after the persistent focus on his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy amid the trial underway seeking to force Jones to pay $150 million or more to the family of one of the children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook attack.