How you can immunize yourself from Operation Epstein propaganda
First, our president has a long and well-documented record of distorting facts, exaggerating claims, and repeating falsehoods, often amplified by those around him. Iran’s leadership also manipulates information and spreads propaganda, though the scale, style, and context differ. Both governments shape narratives to serve political ends.
If you want to protect yourself from propaganda on either side and move closer to the truth, build a simple habit of asking three questions whenever you see breaking news about an Iran strike:
Who is speaking?
How do they know?
What reaction are they trying to trigger in me?
Be cautious with reports that rely heavily on unnamed officials, skip over what led up to an event, or substitute loaded labels like “terror” or “evil” for specific, verifiable facts. Pay attention to sanitized phrases such as “surgical strike” or “high-value target,” which can obscure the human impact. When possible, compare coverage from sources outside the U.S. and its allies and notice what details change, disappear, or are emphasized differently.
To blunt propaganda’s effect, slow down before reacting or sharing. If a story suddenly pushes you toward anger at an entire nation or population, pause. Translate technical language into plain human terms: “infrastructure neutralized” likely means buildings where people worked or lived were hit. Separate governments from civilians, and soldiers from ordinary people, regardless of which side you’re examining. When discussing events, normalize phrases like “this is what’s confirmed so far” and “this part is still unclear.” That intellectual humility keeps you from becoming an unpaid amplifier of anyone’s messaging strategy.
The Iranian people are human beings, just like Americans. Some support their government. Many oppose it but lack the power to change it. As of now, Iran has not launched a direct military attack on the United States.
A word about the term “proxy”:
Calling a group an “Iranian proxy” isn’t proof that Iran ordered or controlled a specific attack. Support, funding, or shared ideology does not automatically mean direct command. If someone wants to justify violence against Iran, they should have clear, public evidence of operational control — not just a label. Otherwise, “proxy” becomes a political shortcut that turns suspicion into justification for war.