Internet spaces are buzzing with outrageous tales that might make you squint. Take, for instance, that picture spreading through social media that’s supposedly of an ABC News memo directed at debate moderators. The chat revolves around a debate that was held between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris. As indicated in the alleged memo, Trump, who is a white male, and Harris, a woman of color, should be treated differently. Sounds dubious, doesn’t it?
It’s mentioned in the so-called memo that the moderators should approach the debate in the same manner as a ‘DEI hire’ – an acronym indicating emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The tabloid-like memo further exaggerates, saying Trump must be ‘questioned and fact-checked in real time’, while Harris should be considered from the perspective of a ‘Black female, not Asian-American.’ This supposed memo circulated on Facebook and was divulged at least 50 times within a day. It apparently attracted hundreds of shares on a platform we’ll refer to as ‘X’, which was formerly Twitter.
In the debate, which lasted well over 90 minutes, Trump and Harris crossed swords, volleying back and forth with political attacks, claims, and policy propositions. This fiery debate came in the build-up to the November Presidential elections, promising to be their only face-off. The performance of the ABC News moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, was certainly memorable, as they often interjected with on-the-spot fact-checks – a move certainly not favorably received by Trump and his faithful followers.
However, the critical piece of this tale you need to know is: this memo is nothing more than a fiction. It is completely untrue and unfounded – a creation pulled straight from the imaginative minds that run the satirical account, News That Matters. The account’s publisher, Adam Iverson, was not shy about clarifying the truth either, stating in no uncertain terms that it was ‘absolutely satire’ when contacted by USA TODAY.
The inexistent memo supposedly from ABC has not been confirmed by any trustworthy news source. All of this suggests that the actual purpose of this tale is shrouded in ambiguity. It seems to be a case of what we might label ‘stolen satire’, where satirical content is posted again out of context, making it seem as if it were genuine news.
As such, the audience of this ‘second-generation’ post is left in a cloud of misinformation, as was the situation with this case. While it is sadly hilarious to witness, it also goes to show how easily snippets of information can be taken out of context and used to spark unnecessary controversy.
Another curry to note here is the bias that the memo implies towards Kamala Harris. It unconditionally vouches for approaching her with a different treatment than her counterpart, former President Trump. But considering the high office of debate, shouldn’t the rule of law be applied equally?
Yet, this skewed representation of Harris in the alleged memo reflects an uncomfortable bias that, to be frank, hardly adheres to democratic norms. Instead of representing a stance towards empowering women of color as it might have been intended, it sadly ends up painting Harris as someone who needs protection in the debating arena against someone like Trump.
The critical dialogue now shifts towards this concept of ‘DEI hires’. To reiterate, this refers to an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. But the question that one may ponder upon is – is a debate stage comparable to a hiring process? Furthermore, is claiming to offer equal fact-checking opportunities to both parties but in reality favoring one party, practicing real equity?
It’s clear by the sheer amount of shares and the speed at which they occurred, that there was a keen interest in this ‘memo’ across social platforms. But as with any viral social content, it’s crucial to question the authenticity and agenda behind these trend-chasing tales.
What this episode has also highlighted is the need to view every piece of information through a critical lens. By doing so, we not only keep ourselves educated and aware but also prevent the formation of false narratives that may desecrate the public faith in democratic processes.
This story also provides an interesting glimpse into our collective psyche – the absurd fascination with controversy that fuels the wildfire spread of such half-baked tales. A sobering reminder of our responsibility to resist these distractions, no matter how engaging they might seem.
Lastly, satire is a powerful tool. In the right hands, it can challenge, provoke and enlighten. But it can also fuel misunderstanding if not intended for such. This whole event underscores the necessity for discernment amongst readers today in the age of digital information overload.