Trump and the GOP’s dangerous lies about Hurricane Helene response
ALSO INSIDE: Harris and her surrogates continue to make her case across the country
As you read this, Hurricane Milton is barreling towards Florida, with meteorologists making dire predictions that it will hammer the Tampa Bay region with “destructive storm surge, devastating wind damage, potentially catastrophic flooding rainfall, and several tornadoes.”
Millions have been told to evacuate their homes, with no idea of whether those homes will even exist by this time tomorrow. It is, in short, an absolute nightmare for residents of Central Florida.
And yet, if the past two weeks are any indication, things will only get worse in the aftermath as survivors seek help, resources, and useful, factual information.
Since Hurricane Helene ripped through the Southeast, leveling entire communities in western North Carolina, Donald Trump and many other Republican politicians – as well as far-right conspiracy theorists like Elon Musk – have responded by spreading lies, rumors, and utter nonsense about the hurricane and the government’s response to it.
Some of these lies are so ridiculous that they deserve scorn — no, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Democrats did not create Helene and direct it at Republican areas. But other lies and conspiracies that are only slightly less ridiculous have taken hold and are having massive real-life consequences, such as making survivors reluctant to apply for emergency financial support from FEMA.
The post-Helene disinformation crisis is so severe that a Republican congressman representing western NC had to put out a press release Tuesday debunking all the lies – and at least implicitly telling his party’s leader to cut it out.
Considering who Trump is and what the modern GOP is, we should expect another round of lies, conspiracies, and disinformation following Milton.
And ultimately, it is the people of Florida who will suffer.
More from COURIER’s other newsrooms:
FLORIDA
DeSantis declines call from VP Harris as Biden-Harris Administration ramps up Hurricane Milton support
From Floricua: As residents prepare for the impact of Category 5 Hurricane Milton, the Biden-Harris administration extended support to Florida. However, Governor Ron DeSantis declined a call from Vice President Kamala Harris offering support.
ARIZONA
Arizona files first felony charges against their 17 fake electors from the 2020 election
From Copper Courier: Ahwatukee AZ Republican Loraine Pellegrino is the first person charged nationwide in any fake elector case to plead guilty and admit criminal wrongdoing.
WISCONSIN
Liz Cheney issues a call to duty in the Wisconsin birthplace of the Republican Party
From Up North News: The exiled Republican implored other conservatives who feel politically homeless to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and defeat Trumpism.
IOWA
Two of Iowa’s congressional races enter ‘toss-up’ territory as Dems make gains
From Iowa Starting Line: Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation might be in for a shakeup. Political analysts are beginning to reflect what organizers on the ground have known for months: Two congressional races in Iowa are tight.
NEVADA
Abortion is on the ballot in Nevada: Here’s what to know about Question 6
From The Nevadan: Abortion in Nevada is allowed up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but voters will decide in November whether those protections should be added to the state constitution to further protect access.
MICHIGAN
Harris vows to defend Michigan auto manufacturing jobs at massive Flint rally
From The ‘Gander: Thousands of Michiganders packed inside Dort Financial Center in Flint to rally in support of Vice President Kamala Harris during her fourth campaign stop in Michigan.
PENNSYLVANIA
Tim Walz’s former students campaign for him door-to-door in PA County
From The Keystone: Andrea Johnson, Jenny Diaz, and Steven “Ross” Pomeroy, who were all born and raised in Mankato, Minnesota, traveled to Pennsylvania’s York County to knock on doors for the presidential ticket.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
National Director of South Asians for Harris shares why she believes Trump is not for the people
From Granite Post: Harini Krishnan, national director of South Asians for Harris, was in New Hampshire recently to remind Granite Staters that New Hampshire is committed to getting Harris-Walz into the White House.
VIRGINIA
Questions about campaign photos, primary residency dog Virginia congressional candidate
From Dogwood: “Republican candidates can either borrow their friends’ families for photo ops or accurately claim they’re not weird, but they can’t do both,” Hillary Clinton posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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