The "Big, Beautiful Bill:" the Ultimate Simulacrum or Post-Truth Exercise in Orwellian Doublespeak—Newspeak
ORCID
Moser: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3824-1021
MSU Affiliation
College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures
Creation Date
2026-06-01
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.
Publication Date
12-2-2025
Publication Title
Politics and Policy
Publisher
Wiley; Policy Studies Organization
Recommended Citation
Moser, K.2025. “The “Big, Beautiful Bill:” the Ultimate Simulacrum or Post-Truth Exercise in Orwellian Doublespeak—Newspeak.” Politics & Policy53, no. 6: e70104. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.70104.
