Traditionally, the summer months brought a “silly season” of lighthearted, unusual news stories – think moved statues and fabricated clown scares. However, journalist Lise Hand observes this phenomenon has drastically changed. The rise of widespread misinformation and denialism has essentially eliminated the distinction between playful summer news and serious, concerning trends. Now, conspiracy theories and false narratives dominate the news cycle, permeating all times of the year. This constant barrage of false information means the harmless hysteria once confined to summer is now a year-round occurrence. Hand suggests the media landscape has fundamentally shifted, rendering the old concept of “silly season” obsolete. The public is now consistently exposed to, and often grappling with, fabricated or misleading content.