USA - When the media lies, the media normalizes deceit, and the word “liar” loses its sting. Lying becomes part of the New Normal. When government lies as well — Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction, Assad’s use of chemical weapons, Iranian nukes, Russian invasions, Russiagate — lying becomes ubiquitous. Truth becomes so discordant that truth is discarded. Truth-tellers become dissident “conspiracy theorists” who are guilty of trying to shake the population’s confidence in the ruling lies. They are censored, and if they persist they risk becoming labeled “domestic terrorists” and “enemies of democracy.” Orwell’s 1984 is our reality.