Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Despite Over One Million Confirmed Cases, The GOP In One Colorado County Just Questioned If The Pandemic Is Actually Real In A Mind-Boggling Facebook Post

In recent decades, Republican party has earned a reputation for denying science even when the evidence is smacking them in the face.

The global pandemic has infected over a million people, but that didn't stop the El Paso County Republican party in Colorado from doubting whether the virus was real.

Nor did they hesitate to share their disbelief in reality on Facebook.


In a post that was removed shortly thereafter, the El Paso Republicans suggested the virus may be a "PSYOP," which they then defined:

"Psychological operations (PSYOP) are operations to convey select information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals."


The now-deleted Facebook post

The state GOP quickly pressured their El Paso chapter to remove the post and it disappeared.

But County Chair Vickie Tonkins later told Colorado Politics she didn't understand what the big deal was.

"I posted a question. I'm sorry people couldn't answer it. Don't get all offended."


Of course, the only people who might have taken personal offense from Tonkins' post were the people whose lives were directly affected by the virus.

El Paso County has one of the nation's highest death rates related to the pandemic and Tonkins was publicly questioning the cause of those deaths.

Most people weren't offended so much as outraged that even as most of the nation is on lockdown, the El Paso County GOP continues to endanger people by downplaying the severity of the issue.

Tonkins, however, was unfazed, writing on Facebook:

"I put a post on our Facebook earlier today to see what people thought! I am sorry a few of you were offended by a definition, that was NOT the intention. I did not give an opinion I just asked what people's thoughts as we have asked your thoughts on other issues."

Whether she knows it or not, Tonkins is employing a classic technique extremists often use to make their radical views seem more mainstream.

By framing her insane idea (the pandemic isn't real) as "someone else's view" or "just another perspective," while simultaneously shaming the reader for their valid feelings of outrage, Tonkins is trying to make herself seem normal.

Tonkins also both misidentifies and downplays the source of people's negative feelings, saying ("a few of you were offended by a definition") further clouding the real issue: that her post put people's lives in danger.

Twitter was, fortunately, not taken in by Tonkins' misinformation.


As communities come together to fight the spread of the virus, it's important that our leaders spread information they know to be accurate. Obviously, now is not the time to be spreading fringe conspiracy theories.

More from News

Sabre; Nancy Mace
@bottleneckloser/Instagram, Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project

Trans Influencer Speaks Out After She's Randomly Targeted By Nancy Mace Online

A trans influencer fired back at MAGA Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina for mocking her about her trans identity on social media and subsequently making her vulnerable to attacks.

Sabre, whose Instagram handle is @bottleneckloser, posted a video stating that the lawmaker "bullied" her recently for being "hot on Twitter.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk
Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

YouTube Becomes Unlikely Hero After Play Button Is Perfectly Placed Over Musk's Face

Call it kismet or divine intervention, but sometimes the fates align to inadvertently create something wonderful.

Or hilarious.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk and Jim Jordan
Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

GOP Account Hit With Blunt Reminder After Shaming Dems For Celebrating Tesla's Downfall

Minnesota Democratic Governor and former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz joined many Americans in a bit of schadenfreude regarding White House advisor Elon Musk’s recent reversal of fortune.

Musk, the self-described leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has seen protests against his actions on behalf of Republican President Donald Trump. Part of those protests include Tesla owners getting rid of their vehicles, buyers boycotting the brand, and stockholders dumping their shares.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Zegler
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/GettyImages

Rachel Zegler Claims 'White Executives' Questioned Her Latina Heritage During 'West Side Story' Casting

Actor Rachel Zegler claimed that skeptical producers questioned her Latina heritage during the casting process for the 2021 West Side Story remake directed by Steven Spielberg.

In the remake of the classic 1961 film adaptation, Zegler starred opposite Ansel Elgort as the star-crossed lovers, Maria and Tony.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Hilariously Melts Down Over Awful Portrait Of Him Hanging In CO State Capitol—And People Can't Stop Trolling Him

People can't help but troll President Donald Trump after he complained about a truly awful portrait of him hanging in the Colorado State Capitol building.

On Sunday night, Trump lashed out against Colorado Governor Jared Polis for hanging what he called a "purposefully distorted" portrait of him in the Colorado State Capitol building.

Keep ReadingShow less