The hottest Disinformation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

After the Election: Swimming in the Sea of Disinformation.

Breaking the News • 4861 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Disinformation is a huge problem today, affecting how people see reality. Many people get their news from social media rather than traditional sources, and this can lead to misunderstandings.
  2. Writers at a recent event discussed how losing touch with reality can harm society. They emphasized the importance of language and honest communication to keep a shared understanding.
  3. Personal stories can powerfully impact people's views. Sharing real-life experiences shows the consequences of political choices and helps others connect emotionally.

X Just Accidentally Exposed A Vast Covert Influence Network Targeting Americans

Weaponized • 395 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. A new feature on X showed that many accounts pretending to be American supporters are actually from other countries. This raises alarms about foreign influence on U.S. politics.
  2. Some of these foreign accounts were promoting pro-Trump messages while pretending to be local Americans. This tactic is similar to what Russia did in the 2016 election.
  3. The discovery is a wake-up call about ongoing foreign influence in U.S. political discussions. It makes people more cautious about believing everything they see online.

Nick Shirley’s Somali Daycare Fraud Video Is Bullsh*t. Here’s Why It Worked Anyway.

Weaponized • 190 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Real footage and real documents can still mislead when selectively edited and stripped of context. Omissions, timing, and visual framing can make innocent scenes look like proof of wrongdoing.
  2. Creators borrow the look of journalism and use gotcha interviews, lingering shots, and in‑group/out‑group messaging to launder credibility and tap into viewers' emotions and biases.
  3. Traditional media and institutions lose the narrative race when they’re slow and reactive; to fight this they must preempt stories with quick, clear multimedia, monitor emerging narratives, and expose the tactics being used.

Transcript - America This Week, Jul 25, 2025: "The Unified Field Theory of American Corruption"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1152 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. New evidence has surfaced that reveals hidden links between major American scandals, pointing to the importance of transparency in understanding corruption.
  2. The media has shown a pattern of attacking candidates like Tulsi Gabbard, often with little evidence, influenced by political agendas.
  3. There seems to be a growing awareness and demand for accountability regarding misinformation and manipulation in political discourse.
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CROSSPOST: TIMOTHY SNYDER: Ethnic Cleansing in Ohio: Nazi Lies in Vance's America

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 38 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. JD Vance and Trump promoted invented stories about Haitians in Springfield—claims about pet‑eating, crime, and disease—that were amplified by right‑wing media and treated as facts.
  2. Those lies fueled online Nazi‑style mobilization, bomb threats, and have been translated into government action as DHS moves to remove Haitian TPS and prepare large deportations.
  3. This campaign amounts to a test of bureaucratized ethnic cleansing that threatens American democracy and moral life, leaving local communities bracing for forced removals.

Special Livestream at 1 p.m. ET: On the Ongoing Global Engagement Center Saga

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1885 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. There's a special livestream discussing the Global Engagement Center and how it relates to State Department censorship. It's good to stay informed about these current events.
  2. Both hosts have faced some scrutiny from the Global Engagement Center due to their reporting. It's interesting how investigative journalism can sometimes attract unwanted attention.
  3. A watchdog group has filed a lawsuit seeking information on the GEC's actions against journalists. This highlights the ongoing tension between government transparency and media freedom.

The ‘Black Insurrectionist’ account is run by a white man

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2627 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. A social media account promoting false theories about politics is actually managed by a white man pretending to be Black. This raises concerns about transparency in the online creator space.
  2. People are becoming more critical of wealthy influencers flaunting their luxuries, showing a shift towards less tolerance for excessive consumption.
  3. There's a growing pattern of conspiracy theories on both sides of the political spectrum, highlighting how misinformation can spread among different groups.

German Public Television Reports on the Wuhan Cover Up

The DisInformation Chronicle • 705 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. German scientists suggest that the COVID-19 virus may have been engineered in a lab, challenging the idea it came from nature.
  2. Some scientists faced backlash for trying to raise concerns about the virus's origins, leading to fears that scientific integrity is at risk.
  3. Documents reveal past proposals to create similar viruses, raising questions about the responsibility of researchers in handling dangerous pathogens.

Election Exclusive: British Advisors to Kamala Harris Hope to "Kill Musk's Twitter"

The DisInformation Chronicle • 2465 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. A group of British advisors is working with Kamala Harris to undermine Elon Musk's Twitter. They plan to do this by attacking its advertising revenue and promoting censorship.
  2. The Center for Countering Digital Hate, linked to these advisors, has been active in U.S. politics, attempting to influence legislation and public perception about misinformation online.
  3. There are concerns about the legality of the CCDH's actions, especially since they may violate rules for tax-exempt organizations by engaging in substantial lobbying efforts.

Once again on Candace Owens and the novelty take social media treadmill

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 117 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Outrage cycles on social media produce lots of intense speculation and innuendo that people move on from quickly, leaving uncertainty rather than real revelations.
  2. Trying to change deeply held beliefs with arguments or evidence is often futile, so proving a sensational claim usually won’t convert doubters.
  3. The real problem is the pattern of novelty-seeking, attention-driven content that the social media treadmill rewards, not any single person’s interpretation.

February 4, 2026

Letters from an American • 27 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Prominent GOP leaders are pushing claims that undocumented immigrants are stealing elections and calling for federal control of voting, despite decades of investigations showing virtually no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting.
  2. Declaring opponents’ votes illegitimate and threatening to override results is not new — it echoes a long history of white supremacist and anti‑democratic tactics used to suppress and overturn elections.
  3. A recent Democratic upset in a Texas state senate district, driven by Latino and suburban voters, suggests GOP assumptions about voter loyalties and the durability of gerrymanders are weakening ahead of 2026.

“UK Files” Exclusive, Part 2: The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) Told the IRS It Was A Charity. Documents Say Otherwise

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 3820 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) incorrectly claimed charity status with the IRS, raising questions about their truthfulness.
  2. The CCDH is known for pressuring companies to restrict certain content and promoting its own political agenda in the media space.
  3. The CCDH's ties to major-party politics and regulatory mix-ups suggest a complex background and operational strategy.

Media Spreads Dangerous Disinformation About Trump Rally

Michael Shellenberger • 1659 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. The media accused Trump of hosting a racist rally, but many claims about the event were misleading. No actual racist or anti-Semitic remarks were reported at the rally.
  2. Connections made between the rally, past events, and public figures don't prove anything racist or harmful. The mentions of historical rallies or comedians don't reflect the current situation accurately.
  3. Issues like Puerto Rico's trash problem were mentioned in a way intended to critique the island's waste management, not to offend its people. The humor in some comments can be taken out of context and misunderstood.

Narcissistic Wounding Behind Media Disinformation On Liz Cheney, Trump Rally, And Vaccines

Michael Shellenberger • 1536 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. The media is increasingly deceptive, making false claims about events, like Trump's rally and vaccine issues. This creates distrust among the public.
  2. Legacy journalists seem angry about new voices on social media that challenge traditional narratives. They react negatively to this shift in authority.
  3. Accurate reporting is essential, but misinformation can spread quickly and impact public perception. It's important to verify facts before believing them.

EXCLUSIVE: Intelligence Analyst Who Authored Fraudulent Russiagate Report Is Still At CIA, Say Sources

Public • 426 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. An intelligence analyst involved in a controversial report about Russia's influence in the 2016 election is still working at the CIA. This raises questions about accountability in intelligence.
  2. A recent report suggests the CIA misrepresented information to support the idea that Russia favored Trump in the election. This contradicts earlier findings that indicated Russia actually wanted Clinton to win.
  3. There is concern that this manipulation of intelligence is similar to past events, like the claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. It shows a pattern of misleading the public.

President von der Leyen's WEF Speech Shows She Will Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste

THE FREEDOM BLOG • 412 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Disinformation
  1. President von der Leyen emphasizes the need for businesses and governments to collaborate in addressing the risks of misinformation and disinformation.
  2. The fight against misinformation should consider that it comes from various sources and political biases, not just easily identified malicious actors.
  3. Caution should be exercised in handing over internet regulation to a political elite, as it may lead to power grabs disguised as cooperation.

Russian Revisionism

Diane Francis • 699 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Disinformation
  1. Russia has a long history of spreading misinformation to hide the truth about its actions and policies. This dishonesty is a key part of its government strategy.
  2. Two major false narratives are currently promoted by Russia: one is that it is a great empire deserving of pride, and the other is that Ukraine is not a real country invaded by Russia for noble reasons.
  3. Disinformation tactics include tailoring messages to different groups and undermining Ukraine's efforts, showing how Russia manipulates information to divert blame and distract from its own wrongdoings.

Pessimistic prospects for a democratic resurgence

Brain Pizza • 860 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Democracy is facing tough challenges, especially from technology and social media. These platforms can create confusion and division among people.
  2. There is a concern that neuroscience and psychology are being used against us in a way that harms democratic values. This means that our minds can be influenced to think in ways that aren't helpful.
  3. While some believe there is a chance for improvement in democracy, the outlook remains pretty negative right now. It's hard to see how we will overcome these obstacles.

9 ways to spot falsehoods

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1105 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Disinformation
  1. Check the basic logic of claims before sharing. If something sounds outrageous, take a moment to think it through.
  2. Follow the money behind the claims you see. If someone profits from spreading a story, be cautious about believing it.
  3. Stay skeptical and ask questions. The more you look into a claim, the better you'll understand its truth.

Trump Camp: British Censorship Group to be "Investigated From All Angles"

The DisInformation Chronicle • 1000 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. The Trump campaign plans to investigate the UK-based Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) after discovering their agenda includes targeting platforms like Twitter. They feel this group is unfairly attacking political allies of Trump.
  2. CCDH has been involved in recent electoral strategies and supports stricter online censorship measures. This has raised concerns among Trump supporters, who believe foreign groups shouldn't influence US elections.
  3. The CCDH has shown a focus on deplatforming specific voices and intervening in elections, leading to worries about free speech. Their documents indicate a clear agenda against platforms perceived as harmful.

Panic In The Newsroom

Teaching computers how to talk • 89 implied HN points • 12 Nov 25
📰 News Disinformation
  1. AI news assistants often get things wrong, with nearly half of their summaries showing big mistakes. That means people who read them might be misinformed.
  2. Even when AI summaries are inaccurate, many people still trust them because they seem professional. This can harm the reputation of actual news sources.
  3. There's a real worry about deepfakes and AI spreading false information, especially as the technology gets better. It's important to educate everyone on how to spot misinformation before it spreads.

Everything Feels Like It Doesn't Make Sense

Kyla’s Newsletter • 320 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Our lives are filled with contradictions, where technology promises a better future but the reality feels chaotic. We need to recognize the gap between the ideal futures promised by AI and the struggles we face today.
  2. AI and social media are often misaligned, causing disinformation while claiming to help us. This shows how the tools intended to connect us can also create confusion and frustration.
  3. The stories we tell ourselves about progress can ignore the very real human costs. It's important to see and acknowledge the work and lives behind the technology and systems that support our convenience.

UK Government And Media Spread Disinformation About Southport Killer, Evidence Suggests

Michael Shellenberger • 862 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. The UK media and government initially blamed far-right groups for spreading false information about a stabbing incident, claiming a Muslim migrant was the attacker. However, this was later disproven.
  2. The police have charged the suspect with producing a deadly poison and possessing an al-Qaeda training manual, suggesting a possible link to radical groups.
  3. There are questions about whether the UK government knew about the suspect's background earlier than they revealed, raising concerns about their handling of information during the incident.

Jonathan Rauch on Disinformation

In My Tribe • 668 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Disinformation is more about the actions and tactics used to manipulate people, rather than just labeling certain information as false. It's like a tricky game where bad actors twist the facts to confuse us.
  2. Fixing Congress could help heal divisions in society because it's the place where different groups can come together to negotiate and make compromises. When Congress isn't working well, everyone suffers.
  3. To reduce disinformation, we need better civic education so people understand how government works and how to engage in constructive discussions. But it's also important to recognize that the failures of elites can be a bigger problem than populism.

Scripps Institute’s Kristian Andersen Cannot Tell the Truth, But You Already Knew That

The DisInformation Chronicle • 690 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Kristian Andersen, a researcher at the Scripps Institute, has been accused of lying in his statements to Congress about COVID-19 origins. His past actions have raised questions about his credibility.
  2. Emails show that Andersen initially thought the COVID-19 virus might be genetically engineered, but changed his stance after discussions with influential figures like Tony Fauci. This shift has led to scrutiny over his motivations.
  3. The recent House Select Committee report suggests possible attempts to cover up the true origins of the virus. Andersen is accused of misleading the public and Congress, which could potentially lead to legal consequences.

'Demonic force': Dominion lawsuit reveals Fox knowingly spread election lies

georgelakoff • 432 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox for knowingly spreading election lies
  2. Fox personalities like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham privately expressed disbelief at Trump's false attacks on democracy but still spread those lies on air
  3. Fox chose to prioritize ratings over truth by airing false claims about the election and pressuring employees who fact-checked the lies

Tulsi Gabbard Holds the Knife

Thinking about... • 641 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Tulsi Gabbard is seen as unqualified to lead U.S. intelligence due to her past support for controversial regimes and spreading false information.
  2. Her actions, including justifying violence against civilians and promoting propaganda, raise concerns about her intentions and reliability.
  3. If she were to lead national intelligence, it could put U.S. safety at risk and harm relationships with allies.

Dead Internet Confirmed: It's agents, trolls and clankers all the way down

The Corbett Report • 37 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Disinformation
  1. Much of what people see online is created or amplified by bots, foreign agents, and automated systems. So you often can’t trust that you’re talking to a real person.
  2. AI-generated content and organized trolls have degraded online discussion, spreading rage-bait and misinformation that now influences real-world behavior.
  3. You can reduce exposure by avoiding big platforms, using tools like RSS, and joining smaller communities, but the real remedy is rebuilding genuine human connection offline.

Disinformation aplenty from the aptly named Disinformation Project.

A B’Old Woman • 639 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. There is growing online hate towards trans people, especially after certain events that sparked this backlash. This highlights ongoing tensions in discussions around trans rights.
  2. The argument that there is 'no evidence' of trans people being violent is seen as misleading. Critics say that this overlooks the need for better data collection on the impacts of trans policies.
  3. Some believe that allowing trans women into women's spaces increases risk to women and girls. This viewpoint stresses the need for careful consideration around policies involving gender identity.

TL;DRussia Weekend Roundup

TL;DRussia • 373 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Disinformation
  1. The impact of disinformation is complex and goes beyond individual-level effects.
  2. Understanding disinformation requires looking at societal structures and group dynamics.
  3. Efforts to combat disinformation should focus on rebuilding societal bonds rather than just policing the media.

The Phantom Campaign

Thinking about... • 611 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Manipulative ads can sway voters by showing misleading information. These ads can create confusion and push people towards apathy about voting.
  2. Techniques used in past campaigns, like targeted propaganda, are still being used today. This has affected people's perceptions and discourages them from participating in elections.
  3. We should be aware of how powerful individuals influence our political views. With their resources, they can distort information and impact the democratic process in harmful ways.

We have established an autonomous, self-reinforcing censorship regime that serves no real purpose other than its own propagation

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 175 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. There is a strong censorship system that seems to exist only to keep itself going. It doesn't seem to help anyone or serve a meaningful purpose.
  2. Political rules around speech have gotten stricter since the pandemic, leading to many people facing legal trouble over what they say online. It feels like there's a disproportionate response to fairly minor comments.
  3. Special organizations are now focused on monitoring and punishing online speech, often making the situation worse. They tend to escalate issues rather than resolve them, which leads to more trouble for ordinary people.

The demonization of Dearborn, Michigan

Conspirador Norteño • 16 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Dearborn is repeatedly targeted with Islamophobic and anti-immigrant attacks online because it has a large Muslim and Middle Eastern population.
  2. These attacks come in waves tied to major events that often have nothing to do with Dearborn, and different groups and platforms (like X and Bluesky) have taken part at different times.
  3. Much of the rhetoric is misleading or false and is used for political scapegoating, showing that bigotry and misinformation cross ideological lines.

Further Confirmation the New York Times Peddles Lies

The DisInformation Chronicle • 355 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Be skeptical of what you read in major media, like the New York Times. It's important to question the facts presented to you.
  2. Some writers may ignore the reality of significant issues, such as inflation, which can lead to misleading conclusions.
  3. It's crucial to look closely at the evidence behind claims, particularly in areas like science and public health, as not all information is based on strong evidence.

Investigation into Imran Ahmed's Center for Countering Digital Hate Hits Global Audience

The DisInformation Chronicle • 435 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. An investigation into a British group is gaining worldwide attention for allegedly interfering in American elections. This shows how global these issues can be.
  2. The story reached over 40 million views on social media, highlighting its popularity and importance. It even got discussed on a major BBC program.
  3. Various media appearances and interviews are ongoing, emphasizing the connection between censorship and democracy. This issue is resonating with many people.

The Bonfire of the Sanities

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 20 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation
  1. Social media and the attention economy reward outrage and quick hits, which has polarized people, eroded a shared sense of reality, and weakened slow, careful thinking.
  2. Foreign influence operations exploited those divisions, with outside actors amplifying discord and helping elect leaders who undermined democratic norms and America's role in the world.
  3. Trust in institutions and expertise has collapsed while mass delusion and craving for certainty grew, allowing populist leaders and propaganda to replace reasoned public debate and threaten civic stability.