Barack ObamaThe Democrat US president between 2008 and 2016. has never looked so angry. Last week, the former US president spoke at a Kamala HarrisUS Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate. If elected, she will be the first female vice president of the USA. campaign rally. "The idea of intentionally trying to deceive people in their most desperate and vulnerable moments," he said. "When did that become ok?"

Obama was speaking after a stormy month in America. Last week, HurricaneA storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction. Milton struck Florida and Georgia. It brought tornadoesA strong, dangerous wind that spins very quickly in a funnel and reaches down to the ground. It can destroy things that it passes over. and flooding. At least 16 people were confirmed dead.¹ It came a fortnight after Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 230.²

As Milton raged, misinformationIncorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies. spread across social media. There were AIA computer programme that has been designed to think. -generated videos of children running from the storm and old CGIComputer-generated imagery. clips of hurricanes posted as if they were real.

The conspiracy theoristA person who believes that some secret but influential organisation is responsible for a particular event or phenomenon. Alex Jones called the hurricanes "weather weapons" that the US government had set on its own people.³

Donald Trump waded in. He falsely claimed that President Biden had refused to talk to Georgia's governorIn the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states. . He said - also falsely - that hurricane relief funds have been limited to $750 (£573) and that they are being spent on illegal migrants.⁴

For some, it seems like reality has died in the world's most powerful democracyA system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.. A large portion of the country's 333 million people no longer seem to care if something is real or not. 

In 2020, over 74 million of them voted for Trump, despite his avalanche of untruths.⁵ Last week, FiveThirtyEight's election simulator showed he had a 47% chance of winning this year.⁶

Yet the picture might not be so straightforward. Social media posts do not represent everyone. The US has 108.55 million active XA social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk. users.⁷ That leaves about 222 million who do not use it. X also tends to magnify the angrier messages and more extreme views.

If Harris wins in November, many will see it as a victory for reality. Trump's brand of post-truthAfter truth. A society where established fact does not matter. policies will have been defeated twice.

Has reality died?

Yes: We can talk about using the law to stop misinformation. Politicians can try to uphold truth and decency. But lies are too powerful. Obama's speech is a cry of pain at the graveside of civilisation.

No: Millions of people believe Trump's lies about hurricanes. But millions more do not. An equal poll found that 28% of Americans believed Trump's false claims - but that means 72% do not.

Or... This is a fuss over nothing. People have always believed ridiculous things, regardless of the evidence. It's just that social media makes us see views that would previously only reach a smaller number of people.

Barack Obama - The Democrat US president between 2008 and 2016.

Kamala Harris - US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate. If elected, she will be the first female vice president of the USA.

Hurricane - A storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction.

Tornadoes - A strong, dangerous wind that spins very quickly in a funnel and reaches down to the ground. It can destroy things that it passes over.

Misinformation - Incorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies.

AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think. 

CGI - Computer-generated imagery.

Conspiracy theorist - A person who believes that some secret but influential organisation is responsible for a particular event or phenomenon.

Governor - In the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states.

Democracy - A system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.

X - A social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk.

Post-truth - After truth. A society where established fact does not matter.