The Echo Chamber

Every evening, when the Capitol dome glowed under the soft amber lights, Senator Morgan Delaney prepared for his televised address. It was a ritual now: shirt crisply ironed, flag pin aligned, and a script rewritten just enough to sound new.

“Freedom is under attack,” he’d proclaim, eyes narrowing for emphasis. “We must protect our values!”

What values? Nobody asked anymore.

In the suburbs of DC, across countless living rooms, his words echoed. Some nodded in agreement. Others rolled their eyes. But over time, even the critics grew tired. The same phrases were repeated — “enemy within,” “economic miracle,” “we’re winning” — though groceries cost more, wages hadn’t risen, and every week brought a new scandal hushed with a smile.

Among them was young Jamie, a journalism intern new to the city, eyes full of ideals. At her first press briefing, she raised a hand.

“Senator, you've said this is the ‘best economy in decades’ for the 14th time this year. But the data doesn’t support that. Aren’t you afraid people will stop believing you?”

The senator smiled. “My dear,” he said into the mic, “if something is true in spirit, facts will eventually catch up.”

The room laughed. Reporters chuckled politely. Jamie sat down, stunned. The next day, no outlet covered her question.

But weeks later, something changed. A clip of that exchange went viral. Commentators debated, people talked. A senator’s soundbite had been punctured.

The tide didn’t turn overnight, but it stirred. A few more interns asked questions. One network aired a fact-check. On a subway wall, someone had scribbled in black ink:

“Repeating a lie doesn't make it true. Just louder.”

Senator Delaney still speaks every Friday. But now, so do others. And Jamie? She’s writing for a new outlet—one that begins each broadcast with a disclaimer:

“Wisdom isn’t volume. It’s clarity.”

Inspiration: 

The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom! - Voltaire