Institutions Mislead the Public

Mainstream institutions—government agencies, professional societies, and major media—sometimes promote or defend inaccurate narratives not because the facts are unclear but because the narrative serves institutional goals (political cover, funding, or advocacy). Those 'elite misinformation' episodes are distinct from viral fringe falsehoods: they spread through official channels, shape policy, and are harder to correct because they are backed by authority. — If institutions routinely prioritize strategic narratives over factual correction, public policy, trust in expertise, and democratic accountability are all at stake.