In preparation for the launch of his new book On Truth in Politics: Why Democracy Demands It, Professor Michael Patrick Lynch has written two articles on Psychology Today addressing the state of political truth in modern democracy.
His first article, “Why Does Everything Seem Political?” defines and discusses political meaning:
Political meaning, in particular, emerges from the associations communities attach to things. Politics is an activity aimed at resolving collective problems among communities. It reflects the perceived contributions of actions, objects, or ideas to political debates. In this sense, political meaning is all about perception.
While his second article, “Has Meta’s Fact-Checking Exit Put Truth at Risk?” directly confronts media company Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp) newest decision that will end anti-disinformation programs across their sites:
In its recent announcement, Meta declared that it is ending its anti-disinformation program, stating a commitment to “more speech and fewer mistakes” (Meta, 2025). Given the size and global reach of their platforms, this is not just a blow against systematic and professional fact-checking online; it is a blow against the very idea of fact-checking—and that’s a problem for democracy.
You can pre-order his new book, On Truth in Politics: Why Democracy Demands It on Bookshop or Amazon.
Congratulations, Michael!