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But now we seem to have entered an era where getting…

“But now we seem to have entered an era where getting caught lying openly and shamelessly, lying in a manner that insults the intelligence of both your friends and foes, lying about lying, and lying for the sake of lying have all lost their power to damage a politician. In fact, the “Trump Effect”…” quote by Al Franken
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““But now we seem to have entered an era where getting caught lying openly and shamelessly, lying in a manner that insults the intelligence of both your friends and foes, lying about lying, and lying for the sake of lying have all lost their power to damage a politician. In fact, the “Trump Effect” yields the opposite result: Trump supporters seem to approve of the fact that he lies constantly, including to them.””

Al Franken

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The prevalence of blatant lying has desensitized the public, making falsehoods less damaging to politicians and even admired by supporters.

In simple terms: Lies no longer hurt politicians; some fans even like it.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the impact of normalized dishonesty.

Themes

politics trust media public perception ethics

Mood

cynical critical concerned

Type

analytical observational

When to use this quote

  • election campaigns
  • news commentary
  • social media discourse
  • public debates
  • voter education

Key Concepts

propaganda cognitive dissonance political polarization

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does constant lying affect democratic accountability?
  • Can societies rebuild trust after widespread deceit?
A Different Perspective

Lying may still erode long‑term institutional trust.

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