Democracy
‘Inoculation’ helps people spot political deepfakes, study finds
‘Inoculation’ helps people spot political deepfakes, study finds Researchers have found that informing people about political deepfakes through text-based information and interactive games can improve their ability to spot AI-generated video and audio that falsely depict politicians. Inoculation theory, which proposes that psychological inoculation can immunize people against persuasive attacks, has been shown to be […]
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Why ‘The West Wing’ went from a bipartisan hit to a polarized streaming comfort watch over 2 decades, reflecting profound shifts in media and politics
Why ‘The West Wing’ went from a bipartisan hit to a polarized streaming comfort watch over 2 decades, reflecting profound shifts in media and politics The TV series “The West Wing” has undergone a significant shift in its appeal over the past two decades, reflecting profound changes in media and politics. The show’s transition from […]
🏛️ Politics
There’s a competition crisis in America’s state legislatures – and that’s bad for democracy
There’s a competition crisis in America’s state legislatures – and that’s bad for democracy The competition crisis in America’s state legislatures is a growing concern for democracy, with over half of Massachusetts state House seats going uncontested by one party since 2010. The trend is not limited to Massachusetts; in recent election cycles, between 30% […]
🏛️ Politics
As Jeff Bezos dismantles The Washington Post, 5 regional papers chart a course for survival
As Jeff Bezos dismantles The Washington Post, 5 regional papers chart a course for survival The Washington Post’s downsizing under Jeff Bezos’ ownership has led to significant job losses and reduced coverage, but regional papers have found ways to survive and thrive by prioritizing community service over profit. Five large regional newspapers – The Boston […]
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‘Expertise’ shouldn’t be a bad word – expert consensus guides science and society
‘Expertise’ shouldn’t be a bad word – expert consensus guides science and society Expertise is being eroded due to growing distrust of science in the US, with partisan divides widening since the pandemic. The decline of public trust in expertise is fueled by politicians manipulating people’s suspicions about experts and undermining scientific consensus. Expertise is […]
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What triumphalist narratives about Brazil’s high court and Bolsonaro imprisonment leave out
What triumphalist narratives about Brazil’s high court and Bolsonaro imprisonment leave out Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes recently upgraded the prison accommodations of former President Jair Bolsonaro, sparking questions about the court’s motivations. The upgrade comes after repeated complaints from Bolsonaro over the conditions of his detention, with many experts suggesting that it […]
🏛️ Politics
The rise of Reza Pahlavi: Iranian opposition leader or opportunist?
The rise of Reza Pahlavi: Iranian opposition leader or opportunist? Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has emerged as a prominent opposition leader in exile, encouraging Iranians to demonstrate against the government. Pahlavi’s popularity and intentions are unclear, with some viewing him as an opposition leader dedicated to democracy, while […]
🏛️ Politics
The only thing limiting Taylor Swift’s popularity is partisan polarization
The only thing limiting Taylor Swift’s popularity is partisan polarization Taylor Swift’s popularity has become a cultural mirror reflecting societal divisions, with opinions on her being deeply polarized by party, particularly among young men and women. A study found that young women (Gen Z) admire Swift, while young men (Gen Z) have negative views, with […]
🏛️ Politics
A government can choose to investigate the killing of a protester − or choose to blame the victim and pin it all on ‘domestic terrorism’
A government can choose to investigate the killing of a protester − or choose to blame the victim and pin it all on ‘domestic terrorism’ The author argues that some governments choose to investigate killings of protesters or blame them for “domestic terrorism” instead of holding themselves accountable, and this approach can be perilous to […]
🏛️ Politics
For 80 years, the president’s party has almost always lost House seats in midterm elections, a pattern that makes the 2026 congressional outlook clear
For 80 years, the president’s party has almost always lost House seats in midterm elections, a pattern that makes the 2026 congressional outlook clear The president’s party has almost always lost House seats in midterm elections over the past 80 years, making the 2026 congressional outlook clear. Since 1946, there have been 20 midterm elections, […]
🏛️ Politics