We are talking here about a paper describing a global disinformation machine that:
- Takes 496 real historical crises as training data.
- Generates “plausible” blends of fact and fiction by design.
- Segments output by psychological persona type.
- Treats confabulation as a core feature.
- Runs thousands of automated iterations to optimize framing.
[…]
It produces believable sounding precedents on demand, like historical analogies that feel authoritative but are computationally optimized to move specific audience segments toward predetermined conclusions.
Let me explain how this works in real life.
The nails-on-chalkboard contradictions about President Truman being spread all over the world right now serve as proof of concept. Within small targeted communities, targeted lies stick like peanut butter. The Trump operation spreads the following contradicting narratives all at the same time:
- MAGA frame: “Department of War is a title that restores founding strength, by reversing Truman for being too weak and woke”
- Constitutional conservative frame: “Truman was strong and brave, he did Korea without Congress, and the big man established precedent”
- Interventionist hawk frame: “We’re back to winning, like before the weak-kneed Truman messed it all up”
- Legal skeptic frame: “America in Panama 1989 was perfectly normal”
Yeah, what a mess. Internally, each frame is meant to be coherent, despite contradicting other frames. Collectively, it makes zero sense. It’s a “power” transfer model that bypasses the cognitive defenses of isolated communities.