Fox News correspondent Garrett Tenney discusses the increase in threats at Somali-run daycare centers in Minnesota and the federal intervention by the Trump administration on ‘Special Report.’

"Gaslighting," a term that is often misused, isn’t just a lie, or even a really big lie. It is a specific kind of lie, and a great example of it comes in the form of absurd claims that Minnesota’s new state flag does not resemble the flags of Somalia.

The expression comes from the 1938 play "Gaslight" in which a devious husband lowers the lights in the house each evening, while insisting to his wife that she is imagining it, in an attempt to drive her mad and take her money.

Regarding the new Minnesota state flag, let's be clear about one thing: It absolutely does closely resemble the national flag of Somalia as well as several Somali regional flags. One reason we know this is the case is that, not only did people immediately notice, but left-wing media started "debunking."

At right, the new Minnesota state flag. At left, the Somali national flag. Some say the new Minnesota flag bears similarity to the banner of Somalia, as well as regional flags in the African nation.

Here is what PBS News had to say in January 2024 as the flag was adopted: "It's a stretch to say the final version bears much resemblance to the Somali national flag, which is a solid light blue with a white, five-pointed star right in the center. The state Democratic Party chairman issued a news release taking one GOP lawmaker to task for fueling the spread of the misinformation on social media."

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