Time is never on the fact-checker’s side

Plus: A time capsule article from 1997, my deep dive into the foreign policy of Ron DeSantis for The New York Times, and more

Good morning! It’s Wednesday, and here are this week’s five items for you.

As a reminder, today is the final day to get 25 percent off for your first year as a paid subscriber. If you like my work, I hope you’ll consider upgrading:

In this post, paid subscribers will receive:

1. the rest of the first item

2. a time capsule article I’ve been reading

3. the simplest dessert recipe recommendation (involves a blender and oven)

4. a list of recent work, including my deep dive into the foreign policy of Ron DeSantis for The New York Times

5. the release date for the tech ethics book to which I’ve contributed a chapter

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1. A take I haven’t written elsewhere

Time is never on the fact-checker’s side

Former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.)—the Republican who took over Justin Amash’s old district, then got primaried himself, losing last year to a Trumpy candidate who was supported by Democratic ad spending—gave an exit interview to Politico which included this exchange:

Meijer: … I think one of the challenges on the politics side is you just have to spend a lot of time reacting in some areas where there may be valid concerns, but where the factual basis of those concerns is lacking.

Politico: Such as?

Meijer: There was this big hubbub about these amendments to the World Health Organization’s pandemic preparedness. Everyone is worried that “our sovereignty is going to be stripped away; don’t do anything.” And half the time, you don’t really have any authority over that. But our sovereignty is not going to be infringed on by the World Health Organization.

Politico: You’re talking about a one-world government kind of conspiracy?

Meijer: There were initially amendments that were proposed by the Trump administration because of China’s lack of transparency. And then that led to a delay in the international response. It reminded me of the time my mom thought she saw a UFO in California; it took her 30 seconds: “I saw a UFO.” But it took me 45 minutes to figure out that it was a B-2 stealth bomber. It ends up not being the most productive exercise.

I don’t know the details on the WHO pandemic policy he’s referencing, but that last paragraph is all too familiar. I’ve wondered what to do in similar situations myself. (Not with, uh, UFOs, but otherwise similar.)

If a friend or family member makes a claim which you’re pretty sure—but can’t immediately prove—is nonsense, should you debunk it? If a loved one is sincerely asking, is there maybe even an obligation to fact-check? If you have, perhaps, a bit more internet research savvy, are you failing that person if you don’t put those skills to use on their behalf?