gossip : casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true (Oxford Languages & Google, n.d.)
A popular politician, Eric Swalwell, recently withdrew his bid for the Governor of California after multiple women reported rejecting his sexual advances and/or being sexually assaulted by Swalwell in the past. Some of these women discussed this recently on CBS (CBS Mornings, 2026).
Growing up in the Protestant Christian Church, gossip was routinely criticized for its harm and divisiveness. Pastors regularly debunked the adage “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. Words can and do hurt people. But is gossip sometimes helpful?
Gossip, like most things, is a double edged sword. The more speculative gossip is, the more harmful may be. But unconfirmed “casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people” sometimes end up being true.
The case of Eric Swalwell reveals a troubling pattern that may indicate severe moral degeneracy in the man who was seeking to lead what may be the USA’s most powerful State. If these allegations are true, gossip has – in this case – proved its worth. And these women have done the nation and the State of California a tremendous favor.
What of Eric Swalwell? Well, the man has probably done many good things. Like others with troubling allegations or disturbing reported patterns of misbehavior, the shockingly bad appears to outweigh the good.
If Swalwell is found guilty of many of these allegations, it will signal not only an unoriginal lack of moral integrity in the politician but more disturbingly a track record of predatory behavior within a system that provided far too little accountability (see Kevin McCarthy’s recent comments – starting at 43:53 – on This Week with George Stephanopoulos Full Broadcast – Sunday, April 12, 2026) (ABC News, 2026).
Why are humans duplicitous? And what do we make of it? For those questions read Welcome to the Jungle.
Sources:
ABC News. (2026, April 12). This Week with George Stephanopoulos Full Broadcast – Sunday, April 12, 2026 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4cd68toz9A
CBS Mornings. (2026, April 14). Swalwell accusers detail their accusations and share why they were afraid to speak out [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avCEoOKWoJU
Oxford Languages & Google (n.d.). Google Search. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=b23efcb65468375a&rlz=1C5XOFX_enUS1158US1160&sxsrf=ANbL-n5vYqDAnN80mOT_6tpqD2zOGdxpHQ:1776257724851&q=gossip&si=AL3DRZGftPMu5S1DRQlTjs_j9BL7BN6e3FqDfNY9SHc7wsMVbrcI0Kxb0ZpPhaGOJwWCZBbIdFtxySXxX2hFyrb0ngwQEfFmfg%3D%3D&expnd=1&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjpoeDV8–TAxXYzvACHcXxK5QQ2v4IegUIGRDdAQ&biw=1470&bih=801&dpr=2
Deliberating Truth 