Credit: (Courtesy of Paul Goldenberg; Linda Langston; Eagleton Institute of Politics) Paul Goldenberg, left, Linda Langston and John Farmer As if the challenge of safeguarding public health and our citizens’ security during a global pandemic were not enough for local government officials and law enforcement, they also face another form of contagion of perhaps greater long-term concern: a pandemic of viral mis- and disinformation that challenges the stability of government and the public’s trust. In today’s environment, the way citizens view facts, define certainty and classify information no longer adheres to traditional rules. Fundamental changes have made it easier for domestic and foreign bad actors to exploit and amplify vital information to sow discord, push foreign nations’ policy agendas, cause alarm and ultimately undermine confidence and public trust in the core institutions of our democracy.