In a bizarre twist of civic perception, many citizens are convinced that major U.S. cities like Portland, Seattle, and Minneapolis have been utterly destroyed or are overrun by warlords and lawlessness. This widespread belief persists even among those living mere minutes away from these 'apocalyptic' zones, who regularly confirm their cities are, in fact, still standing and quite lively. This alternate reality, meticulously crafted by certain cable news outlets, makes it incredibly difficult for the public to gauge actual threats, like a sitting President — in this case, Donald J. Trump as of December 2025 — potentially deploying federal troops under the Insurrection Act based on fabricated unrest.

The issue highlights a significant disconnect: when the narrative is so divorced from reality, how can people respond meaningfully to legitimate concerns, let alone potential overreaches of executive power?