The “Big, Beautiful Bill:” the Ultimate Simulacrum or Post‐Truth Exercise in Orwellian Doublespeak—Newspeak
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Building upon the postmodern theories of Jean Baudrillard and Guy Debord and the Orwellian notions of doublespeak‐newspeak, this article analyzes Trump's “Big, Beautiful Bill” (BBB). Based on evidence, it demonstrates that the BBB is a simulacrum obfuscating calculated economic warfare against the middle class, an attack on an already weak healthcare system, and a dangerous brand of authoritarian populism. There is nothing remotely “beautiful” or sublime about this bill that strengthens a miniscule financial elite at the expense of the remainder of the population. The successful passage of the BBB is emblematic of a larger post‐truth crisis undermining democratic models of governance through disinformation and the spectacle. Related Articles Stockemer, Daniel. 2025. “Is the US Moving Toward Autocracy? A Critical Assessment.” Politics & Policy 53(3): e70032. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.70032 . Aguado, N. A. 2022. “When Charismatic Leadership Trumps Social Networking: Searching for the Effects of Social Media on Beliefs of Electoral Legitimacy.” Politics & Policy 50, no. 5: 942–951. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12494 . Craig, S. C., and J. Gainous. 2024. “To Vote or Not to Vote? Fake News, Voter Fraud, and Support for Postponing the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.” Politics & Policy 52, no. 1: 33–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12577 .
Source: Politics & Policy
DOI: 10.1111/polp.70104
Author: Keith Moser
Institution: Mississippi State University
Language: English
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4416936659