Consider This from NPR Misinformation channels to the Oval Office
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May 25, 2025 
Lisa Hagen, an NPR correspondent focused on the rise of fringe beliefs in politics, joins to discuss the troubling journey of misinformation into the highest office. They dissect President Trump's unfounded claims linking South Africa to a genocide of white farmers, revealing how fringe ideologies can intertwine with mainstream narratives. The conversation highlights the media's role in amplifying these ideas and the negative impact on public trust and governance. Hagen sheds light on the historical roots of white supremacy narratives and their political ramifications.
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Trump's Misleading Genocide Claim
- President Trump showed a video in the Oval Office claiming white farmers in South Africa are being killed in a genocide.
- The footage was misleading; the murders were isolated crimes with convictions, not genocide.
Media Amplifies Fringe Narratives
- Fringe right-wing narratives about South African white genocide gained traction through media like Fox News.
- These narratives are amplified by influential figures like Elon Musk, embedding misinformation into policy discussions.
Misinformation Drives Policy
- Misinformation shapes Trump administration policies on refugees, diversity initiatives, and LGBTQ+ rights.
- False narratives increasingly influence government resource allocation and executive actions.