Grant Nothing. Counterpunch.

No more participating in lies.

Yunseo Chung, Columbia student, arrested for “concerning conduct.”

I’ve promised specifics on how to defy despotism. Today I’ll make good. First is a two-step action item. It’s entirely rhetorical. You can do this one in your everyday conversations with only a pinch of discomfort.

And you must do it. Because we no longer have the luxury of polite consensus and granting people their private lies. So here is how to both discipline liars and stay civil, without giving the lies themselves any quarter.

1. Grant Nothing.

2. Counterpunch.

Now how to do this?

When you encounter centrists and the apolitical—as we all do—you know exactly which clauses you’re expected to nod along to. These clauses are half-digested memes. They’re usually smuggled into a longer sentence. Because the meme sounds familiar, as oft-repeated lies do, we’re expected to let them pass. Don’t. Stop the lies in their tracks.

Let’s get specific.