Propaganda
From ancient Rome to today, war-makers have talked constantly about peace
From ancient Rome to today, war-makers have talked constantly about peace US President Donald Trump has been using the concept of “peace” to justify his aggressive military actions, including invading Venezuela and capturing its president, despite claiming to want peace on Earth. The phrase “war is peace,” coined by Roman historian Tacitus in 83 CE, […]
🏛️ Politics
Searching reporters’ homes, suing journalists and repressing citizen dissent are well-known steps toward autocracy
Searching reporters’ homes, suing journalists and repressing citizen dissent are well-known steps toward autocracy Autocrats like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and the US President Donald Trump are taking steps to repress criticism and silence independent media, threatening free speech and public ignorance. The use of lawsuits to intimidate journalists, such as Trump’s $15 billion lawsuit against […]
🏛️ Politics
Karoline Leavitt’s White House briefing doublethink is straight out of Orwell’s ‘1984’
Karoline Leavitt’s White House briefing doublethink is straight out of Orwell’s ‘1984’ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has been accused of using “doublethink” to manipulate information and present false narratives during a recent press conference. Leavitt claimed that inflation had slowed to 2.5% and real wages were increasing by $1,200 for the average worker, […]
🏛️ Politics
Overwhelm the public with muzzle-velocity headlines: A strategy rooted in racism and authoritarianism
Overwhelm the public with muzzle-velocity headlines: A strategy rooted in racism and authoritarianism The Trump administration’s strategy of overwhelming the public with muzzle-velocity headlines is rooted in racism and authoritarianism, according to scholars. This strategy involves flooding the media with breaking news and contradictory statements, creating a cycle of confusion and uncertainty that can be […]
🏛️ Politics
Beware the Anglo-Saxons! Why Russia likes to invoke a medieval tribe when talking about the West
Beware the Anglo-Saxons! Why Russia likes to invoke a medieval tribe when talking about the West Russia has been using the term “Anglo-Saxons” to describe Western adversaries, particularly the US and UK, as a way to justify its invasion of Ukraine and smear its perceived enemies. The term was first used by Russian officials in […]
🏛️ Politics
King, pope, Jedi, Superman: Trump’s social media images exclusively target his base and try to blur political reality
King, pope, Jedi, Superman: Trump’s social media images exclusively target his base and try to blur political reality The White House’s social media strategy under Trump blurs the lines between politics and entertainment, using melodramatic and theatrical language to appeal to his base. The White House often releases AI-generated images of Trump in various roles, […]
🏛️ Politics
Winning with misinformation: New research identifies link between endorsing easily disproven claims and prioritizing symbolic strength
Winning with misinformation: New research identifies link between endorsing easily disproven claims and prioritizing symbolic strength Research suggests that some people consider it a “win” to endorse easily disproven claims, prioritizing symbolic strength over factual accuracy. The study found that this mindset was strongly associated with authoritarian attitudes, including beliefs in conspiracy theories and support […]
🏛️ Politics
From printing presses to Facebook feeds: What yesterday’s witch hunts have in common with today’s misinformation crisis
From printing presses to Facebook feeds: What yesterday’s witch hunts have in common with today’s misinformation crisis Historical witch hunts in Europe (1400-1780) share parallels with today’s misinformation crisis, including the spread of false information through media and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The printing press and publications like “Malleus Maleficarum” played a significant role […]
📰 News
China makes AI-generated videos to criticize Trump tariffs
China makes AI-generated videos to criticize Trump tariffs China has been using AI-generated videos to criticize US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods. The videos are being shared on Chinese social media platforms, including YouTube. The use of AI-generated content is part of China’s efforts to counter the negative impact of the tariffs on […]
📰 News
3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship
3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship The US government can silence opinions it disagrees with without using censorship by making institutions change their advocacy to get government benefits, inducing self-censorship through intimidation, and molding the government’s own speech to promote official ideology. The Trump administration has used these […]
🏛️ Politics