Biden, Lies, and the Post-Truth Era

Last week, President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, sparking yet another political firestorm. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a touching story of a father standing by his troubled son or a glaring example of political privilege. But let’s zoom out for a second: this isn’t just about Biden. It’s about a bigger cultural shift—a world where lying doesn’t seem to matter anymore.

Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter is particularly striking because, as recently as this summer, he was adamant that a pardon wouldn’t even be on the table. He said so publicly, multiple times, in no uncertain terms. Yet rumors have started swirling that the president was already weighing his options in June. Now, here we are, and those denials seem hollow in hindsight. But that’s the thing about our current era: leaders, influencers, and everyday people can make promises, break them, and face zero consequences.

We live in an age where getting caught in a lie doesn’t really matter. Sometimes, it’s rewarded. From politics to social media, dishonesty is often just fine. People lie, it goes viral, and when it’s proven false or hypocritical, they don’t apologize—they just move on, knowing that attention (and engagement) is the only currency that matters.

10 Years After UVA: Have We Learned Anything?

Remember the Rolling Stone UVA rape story? It’s been 10 years since that bombshell article claimed a horrific gang rape happened at a fraternity. It sparked protests, outrage, and endless think pieces. The problem? It wasn’t true. The story fell apart under scrutiny, and Rolling Stone had to issue a public retraction.

You’d think there’d be widespread accountability. But no—while the magazine took a hit, the activists, commentators, and media personalities who ran with the story largely escaped unscathed. Few apologized. Most just moved on to the next outrage loop. Sound familiar?

This cycle of accusation without accountability repeats all the time. Take the recent story about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, who were accused of eating people’s pets. Yes, eating pets. The rumor spread like wildfire online, making it all the way into Trump’s mouth during a presidential debate. It wasn’t true, but by the time it was debunked, the damage was done. The people who started the lie didn’t apologize or face consequences. And the folks falsely accused? They’re left picking up the pieces.

Social Media: Where Lies Go to Thrive

Social media didn’t invent lying, but it sure made it profitable. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook thrive on engagement, and lies—especially dramatic, emotionally charged ones—get clicks. And clicks mean money, followers, and influence.

When a viral post turns out to be false, it’s already too late. The truth doesn’t go viral the way lies do. And the people spreading the falsehoods? They rarely face accountability. Instead, they just pivot to the next topic, riding the algorithm to the next wave of outrage.

Take the Springfield story. The initial accusation about Haitians eating pets got thousands of shares and tons of engagement. The correction? Crickets. The algorithm doesn’t reward corrections—it rewards whatever keeps people scrolling, whether it’s true or not.

Biden, Hunter, and the No-Lie Era

This brings us back to Biden and Hunter. The decision to pardon his son might feel like a personal, family-centered act, but it fits neatly into this larger cultural trend.

Sure, you can argue he changed his mind, but the timing suggests something else. Reports that he was considering the move back in June directly contradict his public stance. Did he lie? Maybe. Did he face any real pushback for doing so? Not really.

This is the era we live in now—where walking back promises or outright lying doesn’t matter. If the President of the United States can contradict himself on something so significant without facing lasting consequences, what hope is there for the rest of us?

The Post-Shame Era

We’re in what I call the “post-shame” era—where spreading content (true or false) is the goal, and accountability is a relic of the past. People share first, fact-check never, and the vicious circle keeps repeating.

Hunter Biden, UVA, Springfield—all these stories are part of the same cultural shift. When lying has no downside, the truth becomes meaningless. And when nothing matters, it’s not just politics or social media that suffers. It’s all of us.

The only way out? Start caring again. Care about the truth, call out lies, and hold people accountable—whether they’re a politician, a journalist, or just some random account on X. Because if we don’t, we’re all going to be living in a world where nothing really matters. And that’s not a world anyone wants.