Combat disinformation with better norms, not more laws

SACRAMENTO » In a typically unhinged social-media post last month, Donald Trump expressed the desire to jail former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and the members of the select congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot or insurrection or peaceful demonstration or FBI false-flag operation (pick your narrative). It's one in a long series of posts in which the former president and 2024 GOP nominee has touted tactics usually reserved for third-world strongmen.

More recently, the judge in the case involving Trump's hush-money payments to adultmovie actress Stormy Daniels slapped a gag order on him “after repeatedly targeting the judge's daughter in social media posts,” per USA Today. Not long ago, Trump said he would tell Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to NATO member countries that don't pay their bills. And he of course he continues to falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen.

This is all widely reported, yet I expect many readers to already have their computers out so they can pen angry letters to the editor. Sorry, I've already heard all the excuses, “whataboutisms” and alternative explanations. America's two main tribes don't agree on much anymore and there's little hope they'll find common ground on Trump. But they should agree on this much: He's demolished most of the norms surrounding the presidency.

Channeling the Carly Simon song (“You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you”), I'd note that this column isn't really about that narcissistic man who has captivated the public's attention for more than eight years. It's about disinformation and what the nation should do about it. In their frustration at Trump's truth-bending norm-busting behavior, many Trump critics are willing