The other day, my grandmother privately sent me a Facebook post.
This is usually her way of asking, "Is this true?"
The post was a long, authoritative-sounding breakdown from Stephen Miller, defending a bill that allegedly slashes trillions in spending and cuts the deficit. It sounded confident and specific. Even technical.
But something felt off.
This kind of post — all numbers, no sources — is common on social media. It’s built to sound smart. To overwhelm. To make skepticism feel like ignorance.
And if you want to respond well — not just with facts, or a hot take, but with clarity — you need to approach it with more than just a counter-link.
Here’s how I worked through it. And how you can, too.
1. Start with the tone, not the text.
If someone sends you something misleading, the first move isn’t to correct it. It’s to stay open. If they trust you enough to ask, treat that trust like a newborn baby. Protect and nurture it.
That doesn’t mean you hide the truth. It means you make space for the other person to stay in the room with it.
2. Ask, "What is this actually claiming?"
This post had layers:
That the bill saves $1.6 trillion in mandatory spending.
That it reduces the deficit.
That CBO projections are lies based on gimmicks.
That critics are fabricating numbers.
Any one of these claims could be dissected. But all together? It’s too much for a casual reply.
So I picked one core question: Does this bill actually cut the deficit?
3. Check the original sources.
Stephen Miller references a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, but doesn’t link it. That’s a red flag.
So I looked it up myself. The actual CBO report estimates that the bill would increase the deficit over time, primarily because of the tax cuts being extended without offsets.
So when Miller says "this lie is based on a CBO gimmick," what he means is: the official budget office disagrees with me, and I don’t like their math.
That’s not a correction. That’s spin.
4. Choose one clear, non-defensive response.
When I replied to her, I said:
"Thanks for sending this. I read through it and looked up what the CBO actually said. They estimate that the bill would increase the deficit, not reduce it. Miller’s post kind of brushes that off, but it’s worth reading the CBO’s own summary. Want me to send it over?"
No shame, just clarity.
That’s the goal.
5. Know when to stop.
Not every post deserves a full breakdown. But when someone opens the door — like my grandmother did — you have a chance to respond in a way that builds trust.
And in times like these, trust is our most valuable asset.
Takeaway:
When someone sends you something misleading, assume curiosity, not hostility. Stay calm. Pick one claim to check. Look for primary sources.
If this was useful, feel free to forward it.
-Austin