latest

How astroturfing creates the illusion of authenticity and faux consensus.

latest experts

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 - establishing a connection with an audience based on being just like one of them and being able to empathize with their concerns.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive qualities to the opponent.
: Graham uses Harrison's former lobbying work to link him to Hillary Clinton[1] and statements Harrison's made to link him to Pelosi and Sanders.
: 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 - establishing a connection with an audience based on being just like one of them and being able to empathize with their 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 to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive qualities to the opponent.
: Graham uses AOC's support for Harrison to link Harrison to AOC.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive qualities to the opponent.
: Graham uses AOC's endorsement for Harrison to now link Harrison (through AOC) to the Green New Deal, which he doesn't support.[2]
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive qualities to the opponent.
: Graham uses Harrison's support for the Democratic police reform bill to link Harrison to 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 a declaration of "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.[3]
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive qualities to the opponent.
: Graham uses groups who support Harrison and also support defunding the police to link Harrison to defunding the police.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive qualities to the opponent.
: Graham uses a compliment Harrison made to Bernie Sanders to link Harrison to Sanders, then to AOC, then to Medicare for All, which he doesn't support.[2]
: 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.[4]
: 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.[5]
: FUDsee definition - making dire warnings or raising doubt about an issue, while provided little or no specifics or evidence to support the claims.
: 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.[6]
: minimizationsee definition - characterizing something that 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."
: whataboutismsee definition - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy, in order to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: Graham shifts the focus from his questionable actions to win re-election to Harrison's questionable actions to win the election.
: 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.[7]
: whataboutismsee definition - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy, in order to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: This time Harrison shifts the focus from his unethical actions to Graham's unethical actions.

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

PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES

18 OCCURRENCES

adding qualifiers:  
common folk:    
dysphemism:  
false dichotomy:  
FUD:  
guilt by association:            
labeling:    
minimization:  
projection:  
whataboutism:    

FALSEHOODS & DISTORTIONS

3 OCCURRENCES

false claim:  
half truth:  
misleading claim:  

SUMMARY

21 OCCURRENCES

Graham: 65%
Harrison: 35%