Fact-Checking and Political Impunity

The recent vice presidential debate highlighted the minimal fact-checking performed by CBS News, which led to backlash from Donald Trump and his allies. J.D. Vance's exaggerated claims about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, were met with a simple correction from the moderator, resulting in outrage from conservative representatives. This incident underscores the broader strategy of the Trump campaign that relies on promoting unchallenged narratives and discouraging media scrutiny. The expectation among figures like Trump and Vance is that they can speak without facing any contradiction, fostering an environment where dishonesty can flourish without consequence.