DiscoverPost ReportsSpringfield, Ohio, and the impact of a racist smear
Springfield, Ohio, and the impact of a racist smear

Springfield, Ohio, and the impact of a racist smear

Update: 2024-09-182
Share

Description

In the past couple weeks, both former president Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), have pushed unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in the small city of Springfield, Ohio. The story got its start with a viral Facebook post and quickly made its way from far-right corners of the internet into the Republican mainstream. 

Since the presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, during which Trump repeated these claims, the town of Springfield has been struggling with the sudden national attention. More than 30 bomb threats have been made in Springfield in the past week, and some members of the Haitian community are fearing for their safety

National correspondent Danielle Paquette traveled to Springfield last week to speak with Haitian immigrants about how their lives have changed since the debate, and today on “Post Reports,” Martine Powers talks with her about what she learned. 

Then, democracy reporter Sarah Ellison explains exactly how this conspiracy took root online and how it spread so quickly. 

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. 

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Springfield, Ohio, and the impact of a racist smear

Springfield, Ohio, and the impact of a racist smear

The Washington Post