Disinformation and misinformation have been blurring the line between fantasy and reality since the start of communication itself. But over the last decade, they’ve posed an increasing threat to democracy in the United States, with the 2016 presidential election becoming a major flashpoint in Americans’ understanding of the consequences of fake news. Laicie Heeley, from our partner podcast “Things That Go Boom,” looks into how false information flooding the internet and spreading like wildfire on social media poses risks not just to national and election security, but to our health and safety.