analysis

How astroturfing creates the illusion of authenticity and faux consensus.

latest interviews

CAN YOU IDENTIFY PROPAGANDA?

Find out
Want to help us continue our work? All donations are tax deductible.
support this project

Full coverage of the final South Carolina U.S. Senate debate between Senator Lindsey Graham and challenger Jaime Harrison.

By Nicholas Jaramillo and Sarah Carino-Koza
02/27/2021 • 04:37 AM EST

Don't know how to use this page?

: Click or tap on any techniquesee definition - the definition will be displayed here.
 that appears in bold to show its definition.
: common folksee definition - connecting with an audience by showing that you understand and share their everyday experiences and concerns.
: false dichotomysee definition - giving the impression that there are only two opposing choices or options, while ignoring any middle ground exists between the two extremes.
: Between only choices on each end of the partisan political spectrum, while ignoring the existence of any middle-ground.
: labelingsee definition - pigeon-holing a person or group into a simple category and assigning names and/or beliefs to that category.
: Harrison casts Graham as a Washington insider and himself as a Washington outsider.
: hyperbolesee definition - an extravagant statement or figure of speech used for effect, not intended to be taken literally.
: Characterizing everyday Washington politics as a "food fight."
: dysphemismsee definition - replacing neutral language with more derogatory or unpleasant terms, to instill a negative association.
: The term "socialism for all" used to refer to Medicare for all.
: common folksee definition - connecting with an audience by showing that you understand and share their everyday experiences and concerns.
: labelingsee definition - pigeon-holing a person or group into a simple category and assigning names and/or beliefs to that category.
: Harrison again casts Graham as an out of touch Washington insider.
: adding qualifierssee definition - adding an extra word or phrase to a response, which makes it ultimately meaningless, but still leaves the desired impression.
: Harrison declares that he doesn't support adding more justices to the SCOTUS "at this point," which is not saying he doesn't support adding more justices at any other point in the future.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Graham uses AOC's support for Harrison to identify Harrison with AOC and her agenda.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Graham uses AOC's endorsement for Harrison to identify Harrison with the Green New Deal (which Harrison also doesn't support).[1]
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Graham uses Harrison's support for the Democratic police reform bill to identify Harrison with Pelosi.
: hyperbolesee definition - an extravagant statement or figure of speech used for effect, not intended to be taken literally.
: Characterizing the Democratic police reform bill as declaring "war on the cops."
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: Graham's opposed the Democratic Covid relief bill, which included funding for police, not necessarily because the bill included funding for the police.[2]
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Graham uses groups who support Harrison and also support defunding the police to identify Harrison with defunding the police.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Graham uses a compliment Harrison made to Bernie Sanders to identify Harrison with Sanders, then with AOC, then with Medicare for All.
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: Graham mentions that certain Democratic states receive more Obamacare funding, without mentioning it's because states like SC refused the extra Obamacare funding.[3]
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Pelosi and Schumer (and Warren) didn't write Obamacare.[4]
: fear-mongeringsee definition - spreading exaggerated rumors or dire warnings of impending danger to arouse fear and undermine rational thinking about an issue.
: Warning that, if Democrats win, they'll impose Medicare for All, when Biden and many Democrats (including Harrison) have stated they don't support it.[5]
: minimizationsee definition - portraying something you don't want to address as trivial or insignificant, in order to shift the focus away from it and onto "more important" things.
: Graham trivializes addressing gun control and white supremacist groups, in light of "radical Islam."
: projectionsee definition - accusing an opponent of using the same underhanded tactics or committing the same misdeeds the accuser is guilty of.
: Harrison accused Graham of playing political games, as he plays political games by encouraging potential Graham voters to vote for a candidate that dropped out of the race.[6]
: whataboutismsee definition - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy, in order to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: Harrison shifts the focus from his questionable actions to Graham's questionable actions.

Total number of techniques detected over the 59:53 runtime of this video clip:

PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES

16 OCCURRENCES

adding qualifiers:  
common folk:    
dysphemism:  
false dichotomy:  
fear-mongering:  
guilt by association:          
labeling:    
minimization:  
projection:  
whataboutism:  

FALSEHOODS & DISTORTIONS

3 OCCURRENCES

false claim:  
half truth:  
misleading claim:  

SUMMARY

19 OCCURRENCES

Graham: 62%
Harrison: 38%

References