Gov. Lee says untruths are being spread about relief efforts; Johnson City Press, October 3, 2024

 Robert Hook, Johnson City Press; Gov. Lee says untruths are being spread about relief efforts

"Gov. Bill Lee said Thursday he is “inspired” by the work of volunteers and first responders in addressing flood relief needs in East Tennessee and “disheartened” to hear misinformation is being spread about that relief getting to flood victims.

He was referring to reports being posted on social media and elsewhere falsely claiming that food, water and other supplies for flood victims are being intercepted or diverted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and related agencies.

“It’s sad that would happen ... that people would push out that misinformation when aid is so badly needed,” Lee told Six Rivers Media by phone while touring recovery efforts in Greene and Cocke counties. “It’s ridiculous and disheartening. We don’t need this kind of distraction now.”"

'Disinformation laundering': Experts slam Lara Trump’s reply to GOP senator’s disaster relief statement; AlterNet, October 6, 2024

 Maya Boddie, AlterNet; 'Disinformation laundering': Experts slam Lara Trump’s reply to GOP senator’s disaster relief statement

"Donald Trump's daughter-in-law and Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump on Sunday morning claimed that western North Carolinians are not receiving a sufficient federal disaster response. 

CNN's Dana Bash pushed back on he Republican National Committee co-chair's comments by playing a clip of US Senator Thom Tillis' (R-NC) Saturday comments during a press conference, in which the Republican leader praised the response from the Biden-Harris administration thus far.

"I'm actually impressed with how much attention was paid to a region that wasn't likely to have experienced the impact that they did," Tillis said. "For anybody that think that any level of government could have been prepared precisely for what we're dealing with, clearly are clueless. But right now, I'm out here to say, we're doing a good job."

Bash then emphasized that Tillis "and others are saying please to the former president and others, stop spreading misinformation, because it's hurting people in North Carolina."

Lara Trump replied, "I'm so glad to hear he feels that way, but it's coming directly from people there. You can go online and you can look at people recording videos of themselves and posting online saying, 'We need help. No one has come here.'"

WLRN reporter Danny Rivero replied to Lara Trump's interview clip posted to X, writing: "Disinformation laundering is a term and concept more people in media should be aware of. Politician spreads disinformation > gullible people start repeating it > politician cites the people repeating it as proof of step one. This is disinformation laundering"

Michigan GOP Watch commented: "Get this. Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of Donald Trump, knows more about the situation on the ground than the Republican senator of North Carolina.""