With fake news at an all time high, the media is essential to Americans’ news consumption. However, the tension between the political left and right is at a zenith in which politically leaning journalism and audience commentology fuels news bytes everywhere. It is harder to discern what is honestly going on in the world—let alone our own country. It is not just about fake news or an expanding media’s newfound relevance in shaping our world. It is about conversations, or the lack thereof. It is about forgetting that your opponent is a person with the same biases and faults as you. It is buying into the sensationalism that has pumped off penny presses since the 1830s, and letting it warp our ability to tell if everything on the internet is true or not, and demanding more of it. Misinformation and heated disagreements are nothing new to us. They’ve just been reemphasized by current events.

A HEALTHY STUDY OF AT LEAST THREE DEBATED IDEAS CIRCULATING AMONG STUDENTS IS TIMELY AND HELPFUL:

Myth #1: “A permanent ban of Muslims will reduce violence in the U.S.”

Myth #2: “A Mexican funded wall desired by a racist president will keep unwelcome Mexicans out.”

Myth #3: “Brutal ICE raids are randomly deporting minorities.”

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