In "The Death of Truth," Michiko Kakutani, a veteran New York Times book critic, explores the troubling landscape of our current political and social climate. She delves into how we've arrived at a "post-truth era" where facts are questioned, and "fake news" dominates headlines. Kakutani draws on insights from various writers and thinkers to illustrate the dangers of denying or twisting established truths, especially by those in power.
The book offers a unique perspective on modern politics, viewed through a literary lens. It's a wake-up call for those who feel the world has become too chaotic and surreal, reminding us that these feelings aren't new. Kakutani points out that as far back as 1961, writer Philip Roth used the same words - "chaos" and "surreal" - to describe his concerns about truth becoming stranger than fiction.
The Historical Context of Truth and Reason
The Enlightenment and Its Opposition
Kakutani begins by reminding us that the founding principles of the United States were deeply rooted in the Enlightenment ideals of reason, liberty, progress, and religious tolerance. However, she points out that throughout American history, there have always been those who opposed these principles.
In 1839, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Lyceum Address, emphasizing the importance of reason in preserving democracy and the rule of law. Yet, even then, there was an ongoing counter-narrative that sought to undermine reason and progress.
The Know Nothing Party
The author highlights the Know Nothing Party of 1855 as an early example of this counter-narrative. This right-wing party, with 43 members in Congress at the time, was staunchly anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic. Kakutani draws parallels between the supporters of the Know Nothing Party and those who push back against progress and reason today. Both groups tend to be part of a working class that feels marginalized and blames their loss of agency on globalization and technological progress.
The "American Berserk"
Throughout history, writers have given different names to this opposing movement. Philip Roth called it "the indigenous American berserk," while Richard Hofstadter termed it "the paranoid style." Kakutani describes this counter-narrative as a dormant virus, always present just beneath the surface of American society, waiting to reactivate.
The Mainstream Shift
The author argues that 2017 marked a significant shift when this counter-narrative went mainstream. Conspiracy theories and extremist views on religious and racial intolerance, which had largely been kept out of the national spotlight, began appearing on platforms like Breitbart and even received support from President Trump through retweets.
Trump's Actions Against Reason and Progress
Kakutani points out specific actions taken by the Trump administration that seem to go against reason and progress. She cites examples such as appointing Rick Perry, who once called for the end of the Department of Energy, to run that very department. Similarly, Scott Pruitt, who had previously sued the Environmental Protection Agency multiple times, was appointed to lead it. These appointments, Kakutani argues, have led to a rollback of efforts and programs related to renewable energy and environmental protection.
The Changing Landscape of Information
The Kaleidoscope of Information Options
Kakutani discusses how the way we receive information has drastically changed over the past couple of decades. She quotes author David Foster Wallace, who in 2005 described the media landscape as a "kaleidoscope of information options." This shift has led to the rise of outlets like Fox News that uphold specific ideologies rather than remaining impartial.
The Impact of Social Media
The author notes that Wallace's observations came before the omnipresence of social media, which has further increased the likelihood of information being filtered and skewed before reaching individuals. She also points out the growth of right-wing news media beyond Rush Limbaugh and Fox News to include outlets like Breitbart and the Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Confirmation Bias and Content Silos
Kakutani explains how these changes have led to increased confirmation bias, where people only accept information that aligns with their preexisting beliefs. This has resulted in what she calls "partisan silos" or "content silos" - structures people build around themselves to contain only the information that fits their preferred narrative.
Tribal Mentality
The author draws attention to how people are sorting themselves into like-minded tribes more than ever before. She compares the dynamics of these ideological tribes to terrorist networks, where recruits are cut off from outside influence to develop an extremely polarized worldview.
The Divided Media Landscape
To illustrate the extent of this division, Kakutani cites a 2016 Pew survey. The survey found that 45 percent of Republicans believed Democratic policies were a danger to the nation's well-being, while 41 percent of Democrats felt the same about Republicans. Moreover, 70 percent of Democrats called Republicans "close-minded," and 47 percent of Republicans called Democrats "immoral." This polarized landscape, Kakutani argues, is hardly conducive to open and reasonable conversation.
The Misuse of Postmodern Theory
Postmodernism in Politics
While acknowledging the positive impact of postmodernism in literature and film, Kakutani expresses concern about its influence in politics. She explains that one of the primary tenets of postmodernism is the idea that reality or experience may differ from person to person due to factors like gender or class.
The Rise of Subjectivity
Kakutani traces the popularity of postmodern thought in the United States to the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. During this time, the public was eager for narratives that differed from the government's official line. While this helped to expose government lies, Kakutani argues that the concept has been taken too far, to the point where everything is seen as subjective, and even simple truths and facts become debatable.
The Trump Administration and "Alternative Facts"
The author uses the example of the Trump administration's dispute over the attendance numbers at the 2016 presidential inauguration to illustrate how this subjectivity is being misused. She argues that treating verifiable facts as subjective is not only ridiculous but also harmful.
Climate Change Denial and Scapegoating
Kakutani points out how Trump's disregard for well-researched facts on alternative energy and climate change seems designed to appeal to his followers and donors in the fossil fuel industry, widening the ideological divide in the nation. She also highlights Trump's use of lies to stir up anger and fear among white working-class voters, providing them with scapegoats in the form of immigrants, women, black people, and Muslims.
The Totalitarian Playbook
The author draws parallels between these tactics and those described in Hannah Arendt's 1951 book, "The Origins of Totalitarianism." Arendt wrote that the ideal foundation for totalitarian rule was a population that could no longer distinguish between fact and fiction. Kakutani suggests that we may be approaching such a state.
The Propaganda Machine: Fake News and Russian Interference
The Unintended Consequences of the Internet
Kakutani reflects on Tim Berners-Lee's original vision for the World Wide Web in 1989, which focused on collaboration and creating a vast digital information database. She notes that Berners-Lee didn't anticipate how effectively the internet would spread misinformation at unprecedented speeds.
The Blurring of News and Entertainment
The author points out that even before the 2016 US election, the lines between news and entertainment were becoming increasingly blurred. Many outlets prioritized attention-grabbing headlines and viral content over factual reporting. Kakutani explains that the most effective viral content taps into emotions like awe, anxiety, and outrage.
Social Media as Primary News Source
By 2016, Kakutani notes, many people viewed sites like Facebook and Twitter as their primary news sources. This set the stage for the massive propaganda campaign that largely originated in Russia.
Russian Interference
The author provides startling statistics about Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Between June 2015 and August 2017, Russian agents posted around 80,000 posts on Facebook alone, reaching an estimated 126 million Americans. Many of these posts originated from the Internet Research Agency in St. Petersburg, where fake blog posts were created and then shared and commented on using fake American accounts.
The Success of Fake News
Kakutani highlights the alarming success of these fake news campaigns. In the three months leading up to the election, the most popular fake news articles had more readers than the top stories from mainstream outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and NBC News.
Beyond Pro-Trump Articles
The author notes that the Russian propaganda efforts went beyond pro-Trump articles. Fake online groups were created to increase tensions and divisions in the United States. For example, one group called "South United" promoted Confederate flags and a new Southern uprising, while another called "Blacktivist" celebrated the Black Panthers.
Global Reach of Russian Propaganda
Kakutani emphasizes that these Russian propaganda efforts aren't limited to the United States. In recent years, they've interfered in at least 19 European elections as part of their efforts to destabilize both the EU and NATO.
Trump's Nihilistic Behavior and Its Consequences
Trump as a Troll
Kakutani expresses shock at President Trump's regular use of Twitter to lie, bully, taunt, and engage in trollish behavior. She notes that Trump himself seems to take pride in this behavior, citing a 2013 incident where he replied to being called "the most superior troll" by saying it was "a great compliment."
Trump's Zero-Sum Worldview
The author delves into Trump's worldview as expressed in his own books. She describes it as a zero-sum perspective where there must be a loser for there to be a winner, driven primarily by nihilism - the denial of objective truth and an embrace of destructive negativity.
The Repercussions of Trump's Negativity
Kakutani argues that Trump's negativity-driven policies have far-reaching repercussions that could affect millions. She points to his efforts to dismantle every aspect of Obama's legacy, from healthcare to environmental protections, and his apparent intent to roll back civil liberties to pre-1960s levels.
The Ripple Effect of Trump's Lies
The author highlights the dangerous ripple effects of Trump's constant lies and the lack of consequences for his behavior. She notes that other politicians in the United States and leaders around the world seem to be following his lead.
Republican Tax Bill Example
Kakutani uses the 2017 Republican tax bill as an example. She argues that some Republicans, seemingly inspired by Trump's blatant lies, claimed the bill would help the budget deficit and benefit the middle class when it was clearly designed to give tax cuts to the rich.
Global Imitation of Trump's Media Attacks
The author points out that leaders worldwide appear to be inspired by Trump's attacks on the media. She cites examples of leaders in Syria and Myanmar dismissing accusations of mass murder and human rights violations as "fake news," seemingly taking a page from Trump's playbook.
The Rise of a New Nihilism
Resurgence of Dystopian Literature
Kakutani notes a surge in sales of dystopian literature following Trump's election, particularly George Orwell's "1984" and Hannah Arendt's "The Origins of Totalitarianism." She also highlights the relevance of Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," which imagines a population so distracted by trivialities that they cease to be responsible citizens.
Neil Postman's Prescient Observations
The author references Neil Postman's 1985 book "Amusing Ourselves to Death," which saw Huxley's vision reflected in an America narcotized by mindless entertainment and disillusioned by politics. Kakutani questions whether our current age of distractions and discontent is playing a similar role in allowing the president to disregard the Constitution.
Examples of Modern Nihilism
Kakutani provides several disturbing examples of a new brand of nihilism in the United States:
- The online trolling of survivors of the Sandy Hook and Parkland shootings.
- The operations of Disinfomedia, a California-based business running fake news sites.
- The behavior of white supremacist Richard Spencer, who claims his Nazi-like salutes are "ironic."
The Danger of "Ironic" Hate Speech
The author cites research by Alice Marwick and Rebecca Lewis, which found that even when racial slurs are used "ironically" online, prolonged exposure can make users more receptive to serious white supremacist claims.
The Administration's Dismissal of Trump's Words
Kakutani points out that even Trump's aides have told people not to take every word the president says seriously, further blurring the lines between truth and fiction.
Conclusion: A Call to Heed Historical Warnings
Kakutani concludes by reminding readers of the warnings given by the founding fathers of the United States. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson urged citizens to remain diligent in upholding the principles of truth, liberty, and reason, lest they put democracy at risk.
The author argues that our current predicament, while seemingly unprecedented, is firmly rooted in earlier events. She asserts that the aftermath of the 2016 US election shouldn't be surprising, given that many writers have predicted the consequences of leaders who continually lie, twist language to their own purposes, and distort facts and verifiable truths.
Kakutani's final message is clear: the actions of Donald Trump and those who emulate him place the basic tenets of democracy under attack. She calls on readers to recognize these dangers and take action to protect the principles of truth and reason that form the foundation of a healthy democracy.
In essence, "The Death of Truth" serves as both a warning and a call to action. It urges readers to be vigilant, to question authority, and to fight for the preservation of truth in an era where it seems increasingly under threat. By drawing on historical precedents and literary insights, Kakutani provides a unique and compelling perspective on one of the most pressing issues of our time.