Haslighting

 It’s called “gaslighting” because the term comes from a 1938 play (and later the 1944 film) Gaslight.

In the story:

• A husband secretly dims the gas lamps in their home.
• When his wife notices and asks about the changes, he insists she’s imagining things.
• Over time, she begins to doubt her own sanity because her reality is constantly denied.

Why it applies to politics

Amanda Carpenter and others use the term because political gaslighters use the same psychological tactic:

• They deny obvious truths (e.g., crowd sizes, scientific facts).
• They insist you’re wrong or crazy for questioning them.
• The goal is to make opponents exhausted, confused, and self-doubting — while followers cling tighter to the gaslighter’s version of reality.

👉 In short: It’s not just lying — it’s lying in a way that makes you question reality itself.

Would you like me to also give you everyday, non-political examples of gaslighting (like in workplaces or relationships) to make the idea clearer?