Interviews with experts and discussions of propaganda techniques, disinformation, and conspiracy theories.
The Polarized States of America
Dr. Peter Coleman discusses the nation's progression to "toxic polarization" and how we can begin to break the cycle.
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Published: May 16, 2022
The Psychology of Conspiracy Beliefs
Shauna Bowes discusses research on the psychological factors and personality traits behind conspiratorial beliefs.
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Published: May 15, 2022
The Origins of American Propaganda
Author, John Maxwell Hamilton discusses the complicated legacy of the Committee for Public Information.
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Published: May 09, 2022
Propaganda as the Medium of Government
Author, Nicholas O'Shaughnessy discusses how the Nazis pursued propaganda as the totality of government.
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Published: April 29, 2022
Disinformation is not Just Fake News
Dr. Larissa Doroshenko details how "reflexive control" forms the framework of Russian disinformation.
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Published: March 19, 2022
Nolan Higdon and Mickey Huff discuss the breakdown in civil discourse and how to re-engage with those across the political divide.
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Published: March 01, 2022
Democratizing Character Assassination
Dr. Jennifer Keohane discusses how social media has democratized character assassination attacks.
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Published: February 19, 2022
Author, Ian Olasov, discusses how classifications can be used to help better detect and verify dog whistles.
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Published: February 11, 2022
Propaganda Precedes State Violence
Dr. Josephine Lukito discusses how state governments use propaganda and disinformation to lay the groundwork for state violence.
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Published: January 27, 2022
The Shift from Journalism to Propaganda
Dr. Sarah Oates discusses the fundamental shift in U.S. media from journalism to propaganda.
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Published: January 21, 2022
Building Resilience to Disinformation
Dr. Peter Warren Singer details the new rules that govern social media weaponization and how average citizens can avoid becoming part of the problem.
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Published: January 21, 2022
The Virality of Disinformation on Social Media
Dr. Filippo Menczer explains how the natural structure and dynamics of social media inevitably leads to echo chambers.
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Published: January 06, 2022
The Evolution of Character Assassination
Dr. Sergei Samoilenko discusses ad hominem attacks and how character assassination is evolving with technology.
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Published: December 02, 2021
The Challenge of False Narratives
Paulina Alvarado-Goldman discusses the destabilizing effects of widespread false narratives.
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Published: November 06, 2021
Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat details the common playbook populist strongmen use to rise to and hold on to power.
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Published: June 15, 2021
Combating Polarization and Defending Truth
Jonathan Rauch discusses overcoming polarization and the critical role norms and institutions play in defending truth.
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Published: June 10, 2021
The Unique Danger of Conspiracy Theories
Dr. Adams Enders discusses the unique challenges conspiracy theories pose and why they are so hard to dislodge once they take hold.
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Published: May 02, 2021
Dr. Axel Barcelo explores when a whataboutism might be more than just a form of fallacious argumentation.
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Published: April 14, 2021
The Need for Critical Media Literacy
Dr. Jeff Share talks about the urgency for critical media literacy in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
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Published: April 14, 2021
Sowing Discord through Trolling
Dr. Josephine Lukito discusses how Russian trolls, posing as Americans online, sow discord and heighten U.S. political and racial divisions.
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Published: April 08, 2021
The Firehose of Falsehood Effect
Dr. Christopher Paul discusses going up against the "firehose of falsehood" and strategies to counter its formidable impact.
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Published: March 19, 2021
The "Umbrella Protection" of Inoculation
Dr. Bobi Ivanov discusses the endurance and virality of inoculation messaging and its role in building "umbrella protection."
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Published: March 19, 2021
Buying into Conspiracy Theories
Dr. Dannagal Young discusses the emotional traits those buying into conspiracy theories have in common and what those close to them can do about it.
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Published: March 03, 2021
Dr. Louis de Sassure discusses the social mechanics of straw men and why they can be effective, even when exposed.
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Published: January 21, 2021
How Intuition Fuels Conspiracy
Dr. Eric Oliver explains how intuitionism and feelings of uncertainty fuel conspiracy theories and intensify political polarization.
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Published: January 11, 2021
Building Resistance through Inoculation
Dr. John Banas discusses how attitudes and beliefs can be protected against persuasion through inoculation.
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Published: December 28, 2020
Dr. John Cook discusses the seven traits of conspiratorial thinking and how conspiracy theories are immune to evidence.
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Published: November 11, 2020
How Repetition & Familiarity Influence Truth
Dr. Tom Stafford explores the relationship between the illusory truth and mere exposure effects and how each influences what we perceive as true.
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Published: October 02, 2020
Dr. Alexander Douglas talks about the origins of scapegoating and the social and political function it serves.
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Published: September 17, 2020
Using Science to Muddy the Waters
Dr. Cailin O'Connor explains how propagandists "fight science with science" to muddy the waters and raise doubt.
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Published: September 16, 2020
Fiona Young Brown discusses the importance of media literacy education for both young and old.
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Published: August 29, 2020
Dr. Nolan Higdon discusses hyper-partisanship, sensationalism in the media, and the weaponizing of "fake news."
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Published: August 18, 2020
The Collective Toll of Fake News
Dr. Gordon Pennycook discusses the perils of lazy thinking and the collective toll fake news takes on our ability to decipher truth.
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Published: December 17, 2019
