Air Date 9/18/2023
Exploring the captivating world of conspiracy theories! We are all wired to believe misinformation to some degree, but not all to the same degree. With help from Naomi Klein, and other experts, discover why people are drawn to conspiracies, the psychology behind belief and ideas about the best way to prevent conspiratorial thinking.
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Transcript
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SHOW NOTES
Ch. 1: Why we are all attracted to conspiracy theories - The Guardian - Air Date 3-10-21
Belief in conspiracy theories is far more widespread than the stereotypes that dominate pop culture.
Ch. 2: How did conspiracy theories become mainstream? | Naomi Klein | Big Questions - Penguin Books UK - Air Date 9-12-23
When Naomi Klein discovered that a woman who shared her first name, but had radically different, harmful views, was getting chronically mistaken for her, it seemed too ridiculous to take seriously. Then suddenly it wasn't.
Ch. 3: Why Do Conservatives Fall For Fake News? - Leeja Miller - Air Date 6-28-23
Why do conservatives fall for fake news? Is it just them, or are we all culpable? How did Americans become so susceptible to falling for disinformation? And what can we do about it??
Ch. 4: Naomi Klein on Her New Book "Doppelganger" & How Conspiracy Culture Benefits Ruling Elite Part 1 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-14-23
Klein explains her initial motivation for the book was her own alter-ego, the author Naomi Wolf, for whom she has often been mistaken.
Ch. 5: How Conspiracy Theories Capture the Mind - UChicago Institute of Politics - Air Date 4-8-22
Journalisms role in solving the spread of misinformation
Ch. 6: Naomi Klein on Her New Book "Doppelganger" & How Conspiracy Culture Benefits Ruling Elite Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-14-23
Ch. 7: Why People Believe in Conspiracy Theories, with Karen Douglas, PhD - Speaking of Psychology - Air Date 1-13-21
This past year, COVID-19 and the U.S. elections have provided fertile ground for conspiracy theories—with sometimes disastrous consequences. Karen Douglas, PhD discusses psychological research on how conspiracy theories start & why they persist.
Ch. 8: Birds Aren’t Real? How a Conspiracy Takes Flight | Peter McIndoe - TEDTalks - Air Date 9-13-23
Peter McIndoe isn't a fan of birds. In fact, he has a theory about them that might shock you. Listen along to this eye-opening talk as it takes a turn and makes a larger point about conspiracies, truth and belonging in divisive times.
MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)
Ch. 9: Conspiracies Around Trump, Military Leadership, and Militias - Jordan Klepper Fingers The Conspiracy - The Daily Show - Air Date 7-12-23
MAGA supporters not only believe that Donald Trump is still president, but that he's in charge of the military.
Ch. 10: Mother has Moment of Truth that leads to her rejecting conspiracy theories she believed - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 9-27-22
Like millions of Americans, Karen Robertson of Iuka, Mississippi believed in conspiracy theories. But one day she had an experience that convinced her to challenge her beliefs. She spoke about that moment with student reporter Makenna Mead
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 11: Final comments on the importance of making connections while avoiding conspiratorial thinking
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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#1636 The Supreme Court Is In Bad Shape. Like, Really Bad. And SCOTUS Is Going To Take Us All Down With Them
#1635 Democracy on the Decline: The US is not alone in facing threats to democracy, others countries are showing how democracies fail
Bonus Sample #307 Uncertain and Powerless
#1634 Abortion as the Tip of the Iceberg: the fight for privacy, bodily autonomy, and functional democracy after Dobbs overturning Roe v Wade
#1633 Fights for Fair Pay, Journalism vs Sensationalism, Billionaire Bailouts, and Addiction Capitalism: Sports are a Microcosm of the Ills of Society
Bonus Edition #305 Solved It! Conspiracy Theorists, Comment Sections, and Trump
#1134 Unnatural Disasters (Hurricanes and Humans) (Throwback)
#1632 SiliCON Valley: The False Promises, Enshittification Economics, and Misguided Adventures of the Twits of Tech
Bonus Sample #304 Not everything that counts can be counted
#1631 Body Neutrality in the World of Ozempic: Reassessing Weight, Body Positivity, Physical and Mental Health, and even the Economics of Body Size
#1630 Unrivaled Global Arms Dealer: Officially and Illegally Exporting the US Gun Culture Around the World
#929 Looking to avert further tragedy (War on Drugs™) (Throwback)
Bonus Sample #303 At the Carwash: Living in a World Not Built for Humans
#1629 Hitting Where it Hurts in Our Era of Negative Partisanship: Messaging left-wing politics amid cultish politics
#1628 New Era of Antitrust for a New Era of Capitalism, Mega-Corporations and Big Tech
#1627 Campus Protests and the Crackdown: Civil resistance against Israeli genocide in Gaza, responses from university presidents to Biden
Bonus Sample #302 Satire requires a clarity of purpose and target lest it be mistaken for and contribute to that which it intends to criticize.
#1626 Remix - Protest Crackdown: Power Concedes Nothing Without a Demand and the Response is Predictable
#1625 Society of Extreme Wealth and its Discontents: Tax avoidance, wealth inequality and the detrimental effects felt by us all
Bonus Sample #301 War Is the Continuation of Policy with Other Means
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