Here are some common propaganda techniques to watch out for: Half-truths and distortion of data: Hyper-focusing on the parts of a story that further a particular agenda can gain audience support; Inflammatory statements: Bold statements based on emotion rather than facts can ignite passionate people; Leveraging emotions: Embarrassment, humor, comparison, and fear are all examples of emotions that can be used to unify an audience; and Creating an enemy or scapegoat: Targeting a particular person or idea can also be used to unify people against a supposed adversary.