Joe Biden and Donald Trump both visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas on Thursday, where the two leading presidential candidates each pitched anti-immigration measures to further militarize the border and restrict asylum. Meanwhile, a federal judge blocked a new Texas law set to go into effect that would give police the power to arrest migrants they suspect of entering the U.S. without authorization. For more, we speak with Marisa Limón Garza, executive director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, one of the groups challenging this Texas law. “Clearly, Texas has become a battleground for the soul of this nation,” she says, adding that regardless of which party is in power, immigrant communities come under attack.
Because the (social-)media simulation of reality is more influential (on voters, society, politics) than actual reality, in practice the simulation is often more ‘real’ than reality. If crime rises, it only matters if the simulation of reality convinces enough people that crime is rising. In fact, crime is falling across much of the western world, but most people think the opposite thanks to media, so the false reality has more influence on politics than actual reality.
Hyperreality:
Because the (social-)media simulation of reality is more influential (on voters, society, politics) than actual reality, in practice the simulation is often more ‘real’ than reality. If crime rises, it only matters if the simulation of reality convinces enough people that crime is rising. In fact, crime is falling across much of the western world, but most people think the opposite thanks to media, so the false reality has more influence on politics than actual reality.