Douglas Murray: Tech firms must crack down on mad conspiracy theories destroying society

Nypost · Apr 30, 2026 · 1242 words · By Douglas Murray

Social Media Accountability The State of Journalism/Media Trust Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories

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What to know about Social Media Accountability

If you need more proof of how deranging our times have become just consider this.

Claims checked 6

Techniques found 4

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center50%

Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

If you need more proof of how deranging our times have become just consider this.

Why it matters

The number of times the word “staged” was used in the hours after the White House Correspondents Association dinner shooting last Saturday.

Common ground

This isn´t only a problem for social media companies.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Black-and-White Fallacy: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Social Media Accountability story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that WHCD suspect Cole Allen took smirking selfie while armed to the teeth before attack on ballroom: docs?
How does this story connect Social Media Accountability with The State of Journalism/Media Trust over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/30/opinion/tech-firms-must-crack-down-on-mad-conspira…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

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Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Name Calling / Labeling 80% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Black-and-White Fallacy 70% confidence

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Why it matters: Recognizing black-and-white fallacy helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Selective Omission 60% confidence

Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

Why it matters: Recognizing selective omission helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 6 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 2

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Claim 1: “WHCD suspect Cole Allen took smirking selfie while armed to the teeth before attack on ballroom: docs”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results, citing sources like the U.S. Department of Justice, corroborate the claim that suspect Cole Tomas Allen took a selfie while armed before the attack. These sources describe him taking a 'chilling selfie' while armed with weapons before attempting to assassinate President Trump.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) is a law passed by the 119th United States Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on November 19, 2025. It requires the U.S. Attorney General to "make …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_Files_Transparency_Act

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On the evening of April 25, 2026, gunshots were fired near the main security screening area for the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. President Don…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_White_House_Correspondent…

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web search NEUTRAL — Cole Tomas Allen found time to snap a chilling selfie in his room at the Washington Hilton about 30 minutes before he tried to assassinate President Trump and members of his cabinet. U.S. Department o…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/29/us-news/whcd-suspect-cole-alle…

+ 2 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Analysis shows that in the hours after Saturday´s attack the term “staged” (as in that the latest attempt on the life of President Trump was “staged”) appeared in more than 300,000 posts on X (formerly Twitter).”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided contains general information about the White House Correspondents' Dinner and related terms, but none of the sources specifically report the claim that the term 'staged' appeared in over 300,000 posts on X in the hours following the shooting. The web search results are about the word 'Termo' and general Wikipedia entries about the WHCA/WHCD.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner was an event put on by Full Frontal with Samantha Bee to rival the traditional White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2017. The event was announced on January…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_the_White_House_Correspond…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) is an organization of journalists who cover the White House and the president of the United States. The WHCA was founded on February 25, 1914, by jou…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Correspondents'_As…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The White House Correspondents' Dinner is an annual dinner organized by the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA). It began in 1921, and is traditionally attended by the president and vice pr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Correspondents'_Di…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “Other platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube were filled with the same claims.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results mention that 'False rumours swirled online seconds after Donald Trump was shot' and reference content shared on multiple social media platforms (Facebook, TikTok), but they do not independently corroborate that claims suggesting the shooting was 'staged' were present on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. The evidence is limited to general mentions of false rumors and specific instances of content on a few platforms.

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web search NEUTRAL — Reuters Donald Trump is shielded by Secret Service officers after shooting at rally Reuters. False rumours swirled online seconds after Donald Trump was shot.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyr7pyd0687o

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web search NEUTRAL — 31 during a livestream on Facebook, the Daily Star reported. There were unconfirmed reports that McNutt had lost his job and broken up with his girlfriend. In the days since, the horrifying footage ha…
https://clicksfromthepit.com/facebook-live-suicide-video-man…

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web search NEUTRAL — Since then TikTok has been scrambling to block it after it was shared on that platform, with the footage hidden within clips that could have been viewed by children. Have you been affected by this sto…
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/ronnie-mcnutt-man-who-…

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Claim 4: “UnitedHealthcare fires hateful staffer over vile comment about failed Trump assassination: ‘Aww, they missed?’”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results independently report that UnitedHealthcare fired a staffer after she made comments expressing apparent disappointment that President Donald Trump survived the shooting attempt, specifically referencing the phrase 'Aww, they missed?'.

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web search NEUTRAL — UnitedHealthcare fires hateful staffer over vile comment about failed Trump assassination: ‘Aww, they missed?’ By.Suspected shooter Luigi Mangione will return to state court May 18 for a ruling on mot…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/29/us-news/unitedhealthcare-fires…

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web search NEUTRAL — UnitedHealthcare fired a social media manager after she expressed sympathy for an assassination attempt on President Trump, highlighting the company's zero-tolerance policy on violence.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/unitedhealthcare-fires-employee-tr…

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web search NEUTRAL — UnitedHealthcare confirmed it has fired a staffer after a TikTok surfaced showing the woman expressing apparent disappointment that President Donald Trump survived Saturday’s shooting attempt.
https://hannity.com/media-room/tiktok-termination-unitedheal…

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Claim 5: “Stunning hot-mic moment captures TV host ripping security at WHCD before shooting: ‘Two random chicks’”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results independently report that a hot mic moment captured TV reporters criticizing security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD) before the shooting. Sources mention Fox News reporters and criticism of security measures.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is the list of episodes for Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2025.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Late_Night_with_Seth_M…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Michelle Wolf (born June 21, 1985) is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host. She worked as a contributor and writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show with Trevor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Wolf

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “Jimmy Kimmel repeats ‘hateful’ joke about ‘expectant widow’ Melania Trump in attempt to defend himself after WHCD shooting”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results independently report that Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about Melania Trump, specifically describing her as an 'expectant widow,' following the WHCD shooting. Sources confirm the joke and the subsequent controversy.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.