During disaster responses, we used to have rumor control as a function for public information officers (PIO). Now, besides "normal rumors" we have an entire ecosystem of disinformation feeding the conspiracy beast that is lurking everywhere these days on the Internet and the airwaves.
When you have elected officials, who are sworn to protect us and defend the Constitution, echoing conspiracy theories, we are in deep, deep trouble.
Truth is out! Science is out! Facts are out! Trust in any and every institution is out!
What is a person to do?
I figure one must tell the truth, as best you can. Check your own information sources to be sure they are valid. Speak up when someone espouses information that has no facts behind it. Or, join the conspiracy of silence that is letting these (I won't dignify them by calling them rumors) outright lies be told.
