By Stephanie MartinThe ConversationIn the aftermath of Alex Pretti’s killing on Jan. 24, 2026, federal officials claimed the Border Patrol officers who fired weapons at least 10 times acted in self-defense. When the public repeatedly experiences the same sequence — confident claims, partial disclosures, shifting explanations, delayed evidence, lies — the damage can outlast any single incident. Arendt did not wonder why officials lie. Truth Is a Public GoodPolitics is not a seminar in absolute clarity, and competing claims are always part of the process. If people are taught that “truth” is always contingent and always tactical, the harm goes beyond misinformation.