Episode 312: What George Santos Sees in the Mirror
Nov 18, 2023
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Mark Chiusano, author of The Fabulist, discusses the aftermath of the House ethics report on George Santos. Topics include connecting the dots on questionable finances, the redistricting of Santos' district, his inconsistencies in political stance, and his self-destructive behavior as a politician.
Thorough investigative journalism is crucial to uncover the truth about political candidates and expose deception.
Local races can have significant impacts on political outcomes, even if they go under the radar.
Deep dives
George Santos and his Early Interactions with the Media
George Santos first came into contact with the media in 2019 when a reporter from Newsday reached out to him for an interview. At the time, Santos was launching his campaign for a Long Island Queens district, but he was actually in Florida on business. Despite this initial oddity, the reporter wrote several pieces on Santos throughout the campaign cycle. The election resulted in Santos losing by 12 percentage points, yet he continued to act as though he had won. The reporter also uncovered some strange financial activities related to a recount campaign committee that Santos had opened.
The House Ethics Committee Report and Revisiting Early Warning Signs
Recently, the House Ethics Committee released a scathing report on George Santos, likely leading to his expulsion from Congress. However, even back in 2019, reporters had raised questions about Santos, such as his connections to a harbor city capital shop and his campaign's financial activities. These warning signs were not fully pieced together at the time, and the true extent of Santos' deception only became apparent with the exposure of a lurid story from Brazil. This demonstrates the importance of thorough and comprehensive investigative journalism to uncover the truth about political candidates.
The Evolution of the District and Political Landscape
The district that George Santos represents underwent redistricting, changing its boundaries and demographics. Originally, it included parts of Queens, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. The Republican candidate running against the incumbent Tom Swazi was not favored to win. However, after Swazi left the district and the boundaries changed, the district became unexpectedly more Republican-friendly. This shift provided Santos with an opportunity to ride the wave of red support and secure his position in Congress. These local races often go under the radar, but as Santos' case shows, they can have significant impacts.
Lessons Learned from the George Santos Saga
The saga of George Santos serves as a reminder for reporters, editors, and the public to remain vigilant in fact-checking and thoroughly vetting political candidates. It is essential to dig deep and connect the dots, ensuring that candidates' backgrounds, biographies, and claims are rigorously examined. Additionally, supporting local media outlets that have the resources to conduct comprehensive investigative journalism is crucial. Collaboration among journalists and news organizations can help shed light on the truth and expose deceptive politicians. Ultimately, the Santos case highlights the importance of journalistic integrity and the role of the media in holding politicians accountable.
Mark Chiusano, author of "The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos," talks with guest host Azi Paybarah of the Washington Post about this character in the aftermath of the brutal new House ethics report about him.
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