What's happening now is "knowledge is leaking" phase of Collapse. There's a movie "Miracle Mile" from 1988 which captures this moment in time.

As understanding of how BAD the CRISIS is spreads. The first impulse will be to MANAGE PANIC. "Panic" will make everything worse.

Which is true. BUT, they shouldn't get to LIE to all of us. They are stealing the choices people could make in order to preserve the illusion as long as possible.

SO, that they can get in the lifeboats first.