When millions believe things that simply are not true, Ds’ accomplishments matter very little. Their message does not reach the audience. Frighteningly, “You can get people to vote away their democracy … as long as you create a false world for them to believe in,” as Heather Cox Richardson said.

It behooves Americans who care about the future of democracy, decent governance and the fate of their most vulnerable fellow Americans to understand the fundamentally different media reality that envelops a substantial number of voters.