Amanda Shendruk and Catherine Rampell discuss how the political manipulation of data has intensified, particularly under Trump's administration. They highlight the historical context of selectively curating facts, yet underline the unprecedented scope of recent data deletions. The article critiques the contradictory nature of claiming that 'data does not lie' while simultaneously obscuring vital statistics about governmental operations and societal conditions. This raises concerns about transparency and the implications of an uninformed public, questioning the motivations behind such actions.
Curating reality is an age-old political game. Politicians spin facts, cherry-pick and create 'truth' through repetition. Statistical sleight of hand has long been part of that tool kit.
Trump's statistical purges have been faster and more sweeping - picking off not just select factoids but entire troves of public information.
Why delete all the truth about how the United States functions, how we live, and where we are headed?
The deletions self-contradict when the same groups are also saying that 'data does not lie' in reference to spending cuts and takedowns.
Collection
[
|
...
]