Archived version

The rapid spread of baseless claims about Haitian immigrants reveals the need for long-term accountability in political reporting.

[…]

Liars must pay a price

Given this landscape of rampant misinformation, journalists have an important role to play — one that goes beyond fact-checking. It’s time for the media to make politicians pay a real price for spreading outrageous lies.

When a politician like J.D. Vance amplifies a baseless claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets, or when Trump asserts that schools are secretly performing gender transition surgeries, these lies shouldn’t be treated as isolated incidents. They should become part of the narrative about these politicians moving forward.

Journalists have a responsibility to consistently remind the public of these lies in future coverage. Every article about Vance should mention his willingness to spread xenophobic misinformation. Every piece on Trump should reference his history of transgender fearmongering. These lies should color all future coverage of these candidates, becoming an integral part of their political identity.

By doing this, journalists are accomplishing several things at once. It holds politicians accountable for their words, creating a lasting consequence for spreading misinformation. It provides important context for readers, helping them evaluate the credibility of these figures on an ongoing basis. It may deter politicians from spreading future lies, knowing that doing so could tarnish their reputation long-term. Perhaps most importantly, it helps combat the normalization of misinformation in political discourse.

Some may argue that this approach compromises journalistic objectivity. However, consistently reporting on a politician’s documented history of spreading lies isn’t a form of bias — it’s responsible journalism. Facts aren’t partisan, and the public deserves to know when their leaders have a track record of dishonesty.

Moreover, this strategy could help break the cycle of misinformation we’re currently trapped in. If politicians know that spreading lies will damage their credibility long-term, they may think twice before amplifying unverified claims for short-term political gain.

Of course, this approach requires courage from news organizations. They must be willing to withstand accusations of bias and potential loss of access to these political figures. But the alternative – allowing politicians to spread harmful lies without consequence — is far more damaging to our democratic discourse.