To the editor:
The headline quote above seems to accurately reflect the state of our internet today. Once a narrative is out there, whether true or untrue, it is picked up on social media and can travel around the world instantaneously.
Gone are the days when the legacy television news anchor sat in the center of the news desk and two invited guests were brought in to sit at either side of the news anchor in order to present opposing points of view. The viewer had the benefit of listening to both sides of an issue and the task of making up his or her own mind based on factual information presented.
Today, individuals are more likely to cherry-pick selective soundbites and narratives on the internet that closely conform to their own point of view and conflate them with the truth. Unfortunately, this process prioritizes speed and convenience over facts and evidence, which involves a time-consuming verification procedure on the part of the reader/viewer.
In order to better understand our geopolitical situation in 2026, we may have to look beyond the repetitive “orange man bad” political soundbite and review the actual events of 2025 that have led us here. An interested reader may wish to research the following list, as it indicates why it takes so long for the truth to get its boots on.
2025: A Year in Review
January 20, 2025 — Trump was sworn in as commander in chief, as noted in the U.S. Department of War Government website. This supersedes the civilian office of the presidency.
March 2025 — The commander in chief received the “Annual Threat Assessment,” a document of the Intelligence Community, which comprises 18 separate intelligence agencies.
August 27, 2025 — The Meyers Report was released: “A review and assessment of the election rules in the United States and internationally.”
November 2025 — Trump’s “National Security Strategy of the United States of America” was released. This document was drawn up in response to the threat assessment received in March.
December 2, 2025 — Hugo Carvajal Barrios wrote a letter to President Donald Trump, as published in The Dallas Express Newspaper.
In conclusion, I would encourage readers to prioritize facts and evidence over the convenience of political soundbites, as former President Ronald Reagan often stated: “Trust but Verify.”
Lucinda Shmulsky
New Marlborough
Click here to read The Berkshire Edge’s policy for submitting Letters to the Editor.
