August 31, 2026 · Information Integrity, Press & Democratic Norms

Well supported

Trump Posts an Apparently AI-Generated Video Captioned 'Kharg Island Being Blown to Smithereens' 410 Miles From the Real Strike

Overnight after the Aug. 30 exchange of strikes with Iran, Trump posted what NPR described as an apparently AI-generated video of a large oil facility being hit by missiles, captioned "Kharg Island being blown to...

August 30, 2026 · Information Integrity, Press & Democratic Norms

Well supported

Hegseth Secretly Employed MAGA Influencers in Undisclosed Pentagon Roles, Washington Post Finds

The Washington Post reported on August 30, 2026 that the Pentagon had quietly employed several veteran influencers in undisclosed civilian roles under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Pentagon records the Post reviewed...

August 30, 2026 · Information Integrity, Press & Democratic Norms

Well supported

Pentagon Put Conservative Military Influencers on Its Civilian Payroll and Will Not Say What They Do

The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has placed several retired officers with large social-media followings into undisclosed government roles while they amplify Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's positions and...