Sane-Washing: When Political Lies Get a Fresh Coat of Crazy: A Queer Survival Guide for Election Madness
Equality Photo by Michele Wales, Unsplash
What the Hell is Sane-Washing?
Sane-washing is like being stuck in an endless loop of gaslighting, where absurd lies get repackaged and sold as reasonable truths. It’s not just a mind game—it’s a reality-bending mind fuck on a mass scale. And it all traces back to Donald Trump. One minute, a politician says something ridiculous—like Democrats controlling the weather—and the next, Republicans spin it into something almost rational, while the media makes it sound "normal."
The kicker? Trump recently declared himself "basically a truthful person" with a straight face (while the interviewer nearly rolled out of his seat laughing). It’s like being asked to suspend all logic, the ultimate gaslighting trick—making the outrageous seem ordinary, leaving us questioning our own sanity for daring to say, “Wait, this is nuts.”
This constant warping of reality doesn’t just erode trust; it exhausts those of us who feel deeply, like highly sensitive queers (HSQs), who rely on integrity and facts to navigate an already chaotic world. How do we stay grounded when the lies are dressed up and sold as something sensible?
Sane-Washing: Gaslighting America, One Lie at a Time
There’s a special kind of madness in today’s political landscape—where blatant lies are polished up, rebranded, and served as something almost believable. It’s called sane-washing, and it drives me (and likely a lot of smart, thoughtful people) absolutely insane. When Trump can claim to be “basically a truthful person” with a straight face and major media outlets feel compelled to package his outlandish statements as rational discourse, we’re left questioning our grip on reality. Sane-washing isn’t just political spin—it’s gaslighting on a national scale, designed to make us doubt our instincts.
Take Trump’s performance during the only debate watched by 64 million people, where he claimed, “They’re eating the dawgs,” referring to Haitian immigrants in Ohio. He even doubled down with “They’re eating the pets.”
These outlandish statements, which should send shockwaves through the media, are instead normalized, excused, or ignored. This is the dangerous part of sane-washing: when even the most absurd lies slip into the mainstream, we barely flinch anymore, allowing liars to evade accountability while society loses its grip on the truth.
Law and Order? The Ultimate Gaslighting
It’s almost laughable—if it weren’t so maddening—that Trump continues to brand himself as the “law and order” candidate, even as he faces 34 felony charges and has been convicted of multiple offenses. Just the idea that a convicted felon could say he’s the protector of law and justice, even though he’s under indictment for financial crimes, election interference, and more, is the ultimate example of gaslighting.
This hypocrisy doesn’t just undermine any trust we might have in the American justice system; it insults the intelligence of the public. Here’s a man facing numerous serious legal battles, yet he insists that he alone can restore order to a country he himself helped fracture. His “law and order” shtick, meanwhile, is just another form of sane-washing—dressing up his chaotic, self-serving actions as something respectable, when in fact they’re anything but. And the most troubling part? Many still buy it.
Lies Targeting Trans and Queer Communities: A Full-Blown Assault on Our Humanity
It’s not just Trump and Vance’s disinformation about elections or crime that’s damaging—they’ve also targeted trans and queer communities with outright lies designed to incite fear and hate. Trump’s claims that schools are “turning boys into girls” or that kids are “coming home a different gender” are not only absurd but deeply harmful. These false narratives feed into the fear that conservative voters have about anything that doesn’t fit into their rigid idea of “normal,” and they cause real harm to trans youth and their families.
Even more, JD Vance has parroted similar lies, like the ridiculous claim that undocumented immigrants in detention are undergoing gender-affirming surgeries without consent. These stories are pure fabrication but are repeated so often that they start to feel like facts to those who already harbor prejudice against queer and trans people. It’s a full-blown attack on our humanity—an attempt to dehumanize anyone who doesn’t fit the cisgender, heteronormative mold. For highly sensitive queers (HSQs), this feels like an assault not just on our rights but on our very existence.
The Normalization of Lies and Their Dangerous Consequences
So, now we’re at a point where blatant lies and outright misinformation have become so damn commonplace that they barely register anymore. Terms like “mainstream media,” “fake news,” or “corporate media” are thrown around to dismiss coverage, but even outlets that once claimed to hold higher standards—compared to places like Fox News—have become wishy-washy. Subtly, they’re contributing to the erosion of truth.
One of the main ways they do this is through “both sides” rhetoric, which creates a false equivalence between far-right extremism and more progressive policies (or at least less harmful ones). This kind of media narrative makes it seem like both sides are equally dangerous, when the reality is far more complex and unequal. By framing these extremes as comparable, they dilute the truth and give cover to extremist rhetoric.
Corporate Media: As Bad as Fox News?
Some of the talking heads on CNN are a glaring example. They, along with other supposedly “neutral” platforms, frame the disinformation and incendiary rhetoric of figures like Trump and Vance as simply the Republican version of the Democrats' equally “extreme” or “violent” language.
Even outlets that used to be considered "left-leaning," like The New York Times, have downplayed Trump’s violent rhetoric and increasingly incoherent ramblings. Whether through whitewashing his violent words or sane-washing his extremist positions, they contribute to a culture where his actions are normalized. It’s as if the violent rhetoric surrounding the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection can somehow be weighed on the same scale as calls for racial justice or addressing systemic inequality.
This both-sides narrative not only normalizes dangerous behavior but, worse, provides cover for extremism. In some cases, it even serves as a subconscious dog whistle, signaling approval for extreme rhetoric while maintaining a facade of neutrality.
The Consequences of False Equivalence
The result? A political climate where extreme positions are not only tolerated but seen as standard fare. Trump’s inflammatory statements about immigrants being “stone cold killers” or Vance’s echoing of election fraud conspiracies are brushed aside as just part of the usual political back-and-forth. This kind of normalization is the ultimate gaslighting—convincing us that the most dangerous, fact-free assertions are just "another perspective."
While the media may claim they are simply providing “balance,” this approach undermines the very fabric of democracy. It creates an environment where it’s impossible to hold anyone accountable because, according to the mainstream narrative, “both sides” are guilty of the same behavior.
The Impact on Marginalized Communities—and Everyone Else
When lies are consistently given equal weight to facts, the line between truth and fiction becomes blurry, leaving the public not only confused but disillusioned. This false equivalence has very real consequences, especially for marginalized communities—like queer folks, immigrants, and people of color—who often find themselves at the center of these political deceptions.
But it’s not just those directly targeted who feel the impact. As one of my straight, white male friends pointed out, it’s devastating to watch the people he loves be bashed repeatedly by this rhetoric. This distortion of reality affects us all, pulling everyone into a web of disinformation and hate.
The Emotional Toll of Constant Gaslighting
For highly sensitive people (HSPs), this constant barrage of disinformation and the gaslighting that follows can be especially overwhelming. For HSPs, whose heightened sensitivities make them more attuned to emotional and social cues, this distortion of reality can feel especially disorienting. Imagine watching as the very lies used to target you or people like you are spun into “reasonable” political positions by those in power, all while mainstream media tries to convince you it’s not as bad as it seems. It’s exhausting, disorienting, and damaging to our collective well-being.
Why It’s More Than Just Lies
Sane-washing is not just about spreading false information—it’s about reshaping reality itself. When mainstream media gives equal weight to lies and facts under the guise of “balance,” they contribute to this warped narrative. The truth is no longer an objective standard but something that’s open to interpretation depending on which political camp you belong to.
Republicans who privately admit Trump’s lies are dangerous but do nothing to stop them are complicit in this reality-bending game. They know the stakes but are unwilling to act, fearing political backlash or the wrath of Trump’s base. This inaction only fuels the fire, allowing the lies to take root and grow .
For many, particularly highly sensitive queers (HSQs), this is more than just frustrating—it’s emotionally and mentally exhausting. It’s hard to keep your sense of self intact when the world around you is constantly telling you that up is down and right is left. This gaslighting on a national scale creates a culture of despair and disconnection, making it difficult to stay grounded in a reality that seems to be falling apart.
How to Stay Grounded in the Madness
With all this madness, how do we protect our mental and emotional well-being? Especially for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) and queers who are already feeling the weight of political attacks, it’s essential to prioritize self-care and find ways to stay grounded. People like Pete Buttigieg, with his steadfastness and bravery, remind us that standing firm in truth is possible. Even as he speaks about his children and his husband, he confronts the lies with a calm but firm resolve. His example is proof that, amidst the chaos, truth can prevail—and that we too can find ways to stay grounded intruth and resilience.
Limit Media Consumption: Constant exposure to the news—especially outlets that engage in sane-washing—can be mentally exhausting. Give yourself permission to step away from the 24-hour news cycle and focus on activities that bring you joy and peace.
Build a Support Network: Surround yourself with people who value integrity and truth. Finding your community—whether online or in person—will remind you that you’re not alone in this fight. Talking things out with trusted friends can help you feel less disoriented by the constant barrage of lies.
Engage in Critical Thinking: When you hear outrageous claims, like “they’re eating the dawgs,” take a moment to question the source and intent behind the statement. Equip yourself with facts and challenge disinformation when you can, but know when to step back to protect your energy.
Practice Grounding Techniques: Simple things like journaling, meditation, or even spending time with pets can help you stay anchored in reality. Grounding yourself in the present moment can prevent you from spiraling into fear or anger over the latest wave of political lies.
Freedom to Speak Out—and Why We Must Protect It
In the U.S., we still have the freedom to publish and post images like a homeless person holding a sign that reads "shit hole" right outside of Trump Tower. It’s a raw reminder of both the country's flaws and its freedoms. In many places around the world, this kind of public criticism wouldn’t just be discouraged—it would be dangerous, even illegal. Here, we still have the ability to speak out, protest, and fight for the rights of marginalized communities.
This is why the fight for trans rights, gay rights, and queer rights must continue—openly and fiercely. In this country, we can challenge discriminatory policies and push for equality. But there are very real threats, like Trump’s Project 2025, which aims to roll back many of the rights we’ve fought so hard for. Trump may call it a “concept of a plan,” but make no mistake—if left unchecked, this plan threatens to undo decades of progress in the name of extremism.
That’s why it's so important we continue using our voices while we still can. We must keep this vision of repression as just that—a dangerous concept that never becomes reality.
Final Thoughts: Gaslighting the Nation Has Consequences
For highly sensitive people, the constant barrage of anger and disinformation can be completely overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that staying grounded and connected to the truth is an important and strong form of resistance. And this isn’t just about those of us who are directly targeted. When even allies feel the pain of seeing their loved ones attacked, it becomes clear that this fight against sane-washing matters to all of us. We’re all affected when lies and hate are normalized.
However we might feel about this country, and for all its flaws, as the 2024 election gets closer, it’s critical that we hold these “leaders” accountable, call out the lies, vote them out of office, and protect our mental health in the process.
Reality still matters, and it’s on us to damn well fight for it.
Disclaimer
My blog posts are my reflections and thoughts on mental health topics and do not replace therapy or getting support from a licensed mental health professional. The advice provided is general in nature and may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, please seek personalized assistance from a qualified professional.
All rights reserved: Tori Corbett Counseling 2024
