The new best medicine

January 29, 2026

By Nate Smelle

As I have said many times before, having this column to say what must be said each week is both a blessing and a curse. Of course having a platform that reaches thousands of readers in print and tens of thousands online is a tremendous privilege; however, with great privilege also comes great responsibility.

And this is where the curse becomes to weave its web. While there was once a time when words could be wasted on whimsical subjects such as sports and other fun times around town, nowadays this luxury no longer exists.

It could, and still does for some writers putting pen to paper, but I am not one of them. Although I recognize the value of laughter being the “best medicine”, the human condition in 2026 requires something a lot stronger if we are going to cure what ails us and survive.

I am not talking about the next pandemic or the latest disease, I am referring to something far more pervasive and potentially catastrophic — the death of

truth.

What makes this condition so deadly is its rate of infection. As the American writer and humorist Mark Twain noted: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”

Despite their obligation to serve, there are certain politicians — almost all of which lean heavily to the right on the political spectrum — that have realized this and decided to use it to their advantage. Without mentioning any names or whether their house is white, these bottom feeders will say anything to anyone at any time to stay in power and get what they want. While it appears this has always been the case, in recent years — especially since the COVID-19 pandemic fertilized the soil — we have watched one greedy power-hungry “elected official” after another throw away their integrity by joining this assault on science, facts, and the truth.

And this attack on our state of mind is no accident or byproduct of intentions devoted to the greater good. Not at all. Instead, it is a diabolical and calculated strategy which only focuses on one goal — making the rich richer and the sick dead.

Harsh, yes I know. But this is the truth. During the pandemic we witnessed hoe dangerous misinformation becomes when it is allowed to spread, uncorrected. When left alone, like an invasive species it takes over our capacity to understand the difference between fact and fiction. And for some, those who falsely believe that their health and happiness is not interconnected and dependent on all of our well-being, science, facts, and the truth are just in the way. These contemptuous and corrupt individuals will put every once of energy they have into convincing the rest of us that what we know to be true, even what we can see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears is a lie. In his prophetic book, 1984, George Orwell wrote: “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

If you don’t yet believe you are being lied to by the people telling you to “reject the evidence of your eyes and ears”, search for the full videos of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti online. After you watch them for yourself, without being under the influence of those telling you what to see, selling you what you don’t need, and make up your own mind.

This good hard look at reality might not leave as pleasant of an aftertaste as a good belly laugh; but it is the right and best medicine for this moment in time.