Happy Tuesday! As we navigate the rapidly shifting landscape where technology and politics collide, it becomes increasingly clear that the digital world is no longer just a backdrop for public policy—it is the main stage. This week’s developments underscore a recurring theme: whether it’s the weaponization of social media in international immigration crises or the rise of “terminally online” political extremism, the tools we use to connect are simultaneously being used to polarize, surveil, and manipulate. As these stories demonstrate, the intersection of tech and governance is becoming a chaotic frontier where truth is often the first casualty. A striking…

In April 2026, a wave of alarmist misinformation began washing over social media, falsely characterizing a small, long-established housing project in Little Rock, Arkansas, as an extremist “Islamic enclave” threatening to impose Sharia law. The project, known as “New Africa,” is a modest subdivision developed by the Islamic Center for Human Excellence in the John Barrow neighborhood. Despite the reality that the development has existed for nearly two decades and currently consists of just five houses—some of which are occupied by Christians—it was framed by online influencers as a dangerous, fast-growing threat. This narrative, fueled by anti-Muslim rhetoric, quickly migrated…