Tina Smith, a senator from Minnesota, confronted Utah Senator Mike Lee regarding his social media posts that fueled false narratives about a shooting that claimed her friend's life. Lee's posts connected the suspect to Marxism and implicated Minnesota's governor, adding to a wave of online misinformation. Smith expressed her pain directly to Lee, urging him to consider the harmful implications of his posts. This incident highlights the accelerated spread of falsified narratives by rightwing media following tragedies and underscores the role of elected officials in perpetuating these damaging claims.
Smith told Lee his posts were brutal and cruel, emphasizing the pain his words caused after the brutality her state endured.
Within hours of the shootings, rightwing social media accounts manufactured false conspiracy theories about the suspect, portraying him inaccurately to serve political agendas.
It was the latest example of a rightwing media ecosystem that swiftly spins narratives after tragic events, regardless of accuracy.
Elected officials like Lee often share in the rumoring, lending legitimacy to false claims and contributing to ongoing misinformation.
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