The "but" is a denial of what preceded it. I think you misread me there. It wasn't a denial at all. It was simply saying: whatever the state of the mess -- w

The "but" is a denial of what preceded it. I think you misread me there. It wasn't a denial at all. It was simply saying: whatever the state of the mess -- weird, distorted narratives about the mess don't help us out of the mess. And in fact are a huge part of the mess. Exactly as you put it.