The human brain runs on stories, not statistics. Which is why facts lose to fiction every time in a public debate. A winning political campaign tells you about a mother at her kitchen table, staring at medical bills for her husband Joe's cancer. The losing campaign talks about healthcare system efficiency metrics. Which one is more likely to resonate with voters? This pattern repeats everywhere. If someone attacks you with a false story, defending with true statistics almost guarantees you defeat. What to do instead? Lulu Cheng Meservey explains: