A Comprehensive Timeline of Russian Electoral Interference: From Imperial Russia to the Digital Age
Russian election interference around the globe has a much longer history than most people realize, extending back centuries rather than decades. This interference has evolved alongside Russia‘s own political transformations, from imperial ambitions to Soviet ideology to modern geopolitical objectives under Vladimir Putin. Recent actions, particularly during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, represent not an anomaly but the continuation and evolution of long-established patterns of behavior designed to shape foreign politics to Russian advantage.
The Imperial Russian Roots of Electoral Interference
Russia’s involvement in foreign electoral politics dates back to the early 18th century. Following a period when Poland had been the dominant power that once occupied Moscow, the tables turned as Russia grew in strength. Under Peter the Great and his successors, Russia began systematically meddling in Poland’s electoral politics by bribing Polish nobles to vote against attempts to strengthen the Polish central government and national army. This early form of interference was aimed at keeping a neighboring power weak and malleable to Russian interests.
This pattern culminated at the end of the 18th century when Russia, alongside Austria and Prussia, partitioned the Polish state among themselves, effectively erasing Poland from the map. Poland would remain part of the Russian Empire until World War I when it finally regained independence. This early example established a precedent that would continue in various forms through subsequent Russian regimes.
The Birth of Soviet Electoral Interference
After the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, the Soviet approach to electoral interference took on an ideological dimension. In 1919, Vladimir Lenin founded the Communist International (Comintern), an organization designed to unite communist parties worldwide and foment revolution abroad. The Comintern distributed funding and supported propaganda operations in various countries to help communist parties compete more effectively in elections, with the ultimate goal of having these parties assume power and eventually abolish national borders.
While Lenin’s vision of global communist revolution was not realized, the Comintern’s activities generated significant paranoia in Western democracies like the United States and United Kingdom, where fears of Soviet manipulation of democratic processes took root. This marked the beginning of a more systematic approach to electoral interference that would be refined during the Soviet era.
Post-World War II: Aggressive Soviet Electoral Manipulation
After World War II, the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin aggressively interfered in elections across Eastern Europe, particularly in countries like East Germany, Hungary, and Poland. These operations foreshadowed many tactics that would later be employed by Putin’s Russia. The Soviet Union manipulated voter rolls, falsified vote counts, and distributed massive amounts of propaganda through posters, pamphlets, and leaflets to influence public opinion.
These elections were effectively rigged, resulting in communist parties coming to power across Eastern Europe and subsequently ending competitive elections in these nations. This period represents one of the most successful campaigns of electoral interference in modern history, as it resulted in the establishment of Soviet-aligned governments throughout the Eastern Bloc.
Remember when memes were just harmless internet jokes? Those days are long gone. “Meme Wars” meticulously documents how these seemingly innocent cultural artifacts have evolved into powerful weapons in a coordinated assault on American democracy — a form of information warfare that tears at our very ability to detect fantasy from reality at all, something that Hannah Arendt once warned of as a key tool of authoritarian regimes.
What makes this transformation particularly insidious is how easy it is to dismiss. After all, how could crudely drawn frogs and joke images possibly be a threat to democracy? Yet the authors convincingly demonstrate that this dismissive attitude is precisely what has allowed far-right operatives to wield memes so effectively.
The book reveals how figures like Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, Nick Fuentes, and Roger Stone have mastered the art of meme warfare. These digital provocateurs understand something that traditional political institutions have been slow to grasp: in today’s media environment, viral content can bypass established gatekeepers and directly shape public opinion at scale.
The Digital Radicalization Pipeline
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of “Meme Wars” is its detailed examination of what the authors call the “redpill right” and their techniques for radicalizing ordinary Americans. The process begins innocuously enoughβa provocative meme shared by a friend, a YouTube video recommended by an algorithmβbut can quickly lead vulnerable individuals down increasingly extreme ideological paths.
This digital radicalization operates through sophisticated emotional manipulation. Content is carefully crafted to trigger outrage, fear, or a sense of belonging to an in-group that possesses hidden truths. Over time, these digital breadcrumbs lead users into alternative information ecosystems that gradually reshape their perception of political reality.
From Online Conspiracy to Capitol Insurrection
“Meme Wars” provides what may be the most comprehensive account to date of how online conspiracy theories materialized into physical violence on January 6th, 2021. The authors trace the evolution of the “Stop the Steal” movement from fringe online forums to mainstream platforms, showing how digital organizing translated into real-world action.
The book presents the Capitol insurrection as the logical culmination of years of digital warfare. Participants like “Elizabeth from Knoxville” exemplify this new realityβsimultaneously acting as insurrectionists and content creators, live-streaming their participation for online audiences even as they engaged in an attempt to overthrow democratic processes.
This fusion of digital performance and physical violence represents something genuinely new and dangerous in American politics. The insurrectionists weren’t just attacking the Capitol; they were creating content designed to inspire others to join their cause.
Inside the Digital War Rooms
What sets “Meme Wars” apart from other analyses of digital extremism is the unprecedented access the authors gained to the online spaces where anti-establishment actors develop their strategies. These digital war rooms function as laboratories where messaging is crafted, tested, and refined before being deployed more broadly.
The authors document how these spaces identify potential recruits, gradually expose them to increasingly extreme content, and eventually mobilize them toward political action. This sophisticated recruitment pipeline has proven remarkably effective at growing extremist movements and providing them with dedicated foot soldiers.
The Existential Threat to Democracy
At its core, “Meme Wars” is a book about the fundamental challenge digital manipulation poses to democratic governance. By deliberately stirring strong emotions and deepening partisan divides, meme warfare undermines the rational discourse and shared reality necessary for democratic deliberation.
The authors make a compelling case that these tactics represent an existential threat to American democracy. What’s more, the digital warfare techniques developed in American contexts are already being exported globally, representing a worldwide challenge to democratic institutions.
Confronting the Challenge
Perhaps the most important contribution of “Meme Wars” is its insistence that we recognize digital threats as real-world dangers. For too long, online extremism has been dismissed as merely virtualβsomething separate from “real” politics. The events of January 6th definitively shattered that illusion.
While the book doesn’t offer easy solutions, it makes clear that protecting democracy in the digital age will require new approaches from institutions, platforms, and citizens alike. We need digital literacy that goes beyond spotting fake news to understanding how emotional manipulation operates online. We need platforms that prioritize democratic values over engagement metrics. And we need institutions that can effectively counter extremist narratives without amplifying them.
A Must-Read for Democracy’s Defenders
“Meme Wars” is not just a political thriller, though it certainly reads like one at times. It is a rigorously researched warning about how extremist movements are reshaping American culture and politics through digital means. For anyone concerned with the preservation of democratic institutions, it should be considered essential reading.
The authors — including Joan Donovan, widely known and respected as a foremost scholar on disinformation — have performed a valuable service by illuminating the hidden mechanics of digital manipulation. Now it’s up to all of us to heed their warning and work to build democratic resilience in the digital age. The future of our democracy may depend on it.
A Diplomatic Travesty in the Oval Office: Zelensky, Trump, and JD Vanceβs Foreign Policy Ambush
The Oval Office has seen its share of tense diplomatic moments, but the recent clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trumpβjoined by Ohio Senator JD Vanceβmarks a new low in international decorum. What was expected to be a high-stakes discussion on Ukraineβs future and continued U.S. support instead devolved into a heated, profanity-laced exchange, described by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as ushering in a βnew era of profanity.β
In a tense and extraordinary meeting in front of the cameras, President Trump and Vice President Vance confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in what appeared to be a carefully orchestrated diplomatic ambush. With Russian state media present while major American outlets were excluded, Trump and Vance pressured Zelensky to accept terms highly favorable to Russia – including a ceasefire that would effectively cede Ukrainian territory and sign over rights to valuable rare-earth minerals without firm security guarantees in return. Zelensky pointed out that Putin had broken ceasefire agreements 25 times already — so what was his incentive to find this one credible, particularly without any concrete guarantees?
In response to a reporter’s question about the US’s sudden shift away from its staunch Cold War stance to embracing Russia, Trump complained that Zelensky showed “such hate” towards Putin, who — he alleged — has suffered very badly (hatred being more impactful than military invasion, I guess?). When Zelensky remained composed and warned that the United States might “feel problems” due to its shifting alliance toward Russia, Trump grew visibly agitated, repeatedly insisting Americans would “feel very good and very strong” instead, while Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of being ungrateful for American support — as someone insecure and in need of praise would do.
The situation escalated when Zelensky calmly but firmly stated that Trump and Vance would “feel influenced” by Russia, triggering an extended, angry tirade from Trump that veered into his grievances about Russian election interference investigations, criticisms of former Presidents Biden and Obama, and rhetoric that closely mirrored Putin’s talking points and invented conspiracy theories on Ukraine.
The terse portmanteus are blunt and blocky, like a brutalist architecture vocabulary. Their simplicity indicates appeal to the small-minded masses for easily digested pablum.
Table of Contents
What is Newspeak?
Newspeak is a fictional language created by George Orwell for his dystopian novel 1984, published in 1949. The language serves as an essential tool for the oppressive regime, known as The Party, to control and manipulate the population of Oceania. Newspeak is intentionally designed to restrict the range of thought, eliminate words that convey dissent or rebellion, and enforce political orthodoxy. The language accomplishes this by reducing the complexity of Newspeak vocabulary and grammar, condensing words into simplified forms, and eliminating synonyms and antonyms. The Party aims to eliminate the potential for subversive thoughts by ensuring that the language itself lacks the necessary words and expressions to articulate them.
In Orwell’s world, Newspeak works hand in hand with the concept of “doublethink,” which requires individuals to accept contradictory beliefs simultaneously. This manipulation of language and thought is central to maintaining the Party’s power and control over the populace. Newspeak translation is often the exact opposite of the meaning of the words said.
Newspeak’s ultimate goal is to render dissent and rebellion impossible by making the very thoughts of these actions linguistically unexpressable. As a result, Newspeak serves as a chilling representation of how language can be weaponized to restrict personal freedoms, suppress independent thought, and perpetuate an authoritarian regime.
Newspeak Rises Again
Those boots ring out again, from Belarus to Hungary to the United States. There are book burnings and the defunding of libraries in multiple states. From Ron DeSantis to Trumpian anti-intellectualism to the rampant proliferation of conspiracy theories, It’s a good time to brush up on the brutalism still actively struggling to take hold.
The following is a list of all Newspeak words from 1984.
Newspeak 1984 Dictionary
Newspeak term
Definition
ante
The prefix that replaces before
artsem
Artificial insemination
bb
Big Brother
bellyfeel
The blind, enthusiastic acceptance of an idea
blackwhite
To accept whatever one is told, regardless of the facts. In the novel, it is described as “…to say that black is white when [the Party says so]” and “…to believe that black is white, and more, to know that black is white, and to forget that one has ever believed the contrary”.
crimestop
To rid oneself of unorthodox thoughts that go against Ingsoc’s ideology
crimethink
Thoughts and concepts that go against Ingsoc, frequently referred to by the standard English βthoughtcrimeβ, such as liberty, equality, and privacy, and also the criminal act of holding such thoughts
dayorder
Order of the day
dep
Department
doubleplusgood
The word that replaced Oldspeak words meaning “superlatively good”, such as excellent, fabulous, and fantastic
doubleplusungood
The word that replaced Oldspeak words meaning “superlatively bad”, such as terrible and horrible
doublethink
The act of simultaneously believing two, mutually contradictory ideas
duckspeak
Automatic, vocal support of political orthodoxies
facecrime
A facial expression which reveals that one has committed thoughtcrime
Ficdep
The Ministry of Truth’s Fiction Department
free
The absence and the lack of something. “Intellectually free” and “politically free” have been replaced by crimethinkful.
βful
The suffix for forming an adjective
fullwise
The word that replaces words such as fully, completely, and totally
goodthink
A synonym for “political orthodoxy” and “a politically orthodox thought” as defined by the Party
goodsex
Sexual intercourse only for procreation, without any physical pleasure on the part of the woman, and strictly within marriage
goodwise
The word that replaced well as an adverb
Ingsoc
The English Socialist Party (i.e. The Party)
joycamp
Labour camp
malquoted
Inaccurate representations of the words of Big Brother and of the Party
Miniluv
The Ministry of Love, where the secret police interrogate and torture the enemies of Oceania (torture and brainwashing)
Minipax
The Ministry of Peace, who wage war for Oceania
Minitrue
The Ministry of Truth, who manufacture consent by way of lies, propaganda, and distorted historical records, while supplying the proles (proletariat) with synthetic culture and entertainment
Miniplenty
The Ministry of Plenty, who keep the population in continual economic hardship (starvation and rationing)
Oldspeak
Standard English
oldthink
Ideas from the time before the Party’s revolution, such as objectivity and rationalism
ownlife
A person’s anti-social tendency to enjoy solitude and individualism
plusgood
The word that replaced Oldspeak words meaning “very good”, such as great
plusungood
The word that replaced “very bad”
Pornosec
The pornography production section (Porno sector) of the Ministry of Truth’s Fiction Department
prolefeed
Popular culture for entertaining Oceania’s working class
Recdep
The Ministry of Truth’s Records Department, where Winston Smith rewrites historical records so they conform to the Party’s agenda
rectify
The Ministry of Truth’s euphemism for manipulating a historical record
ref
To refer (to someone or something)
sec
Sector
sexcrime
A sexual immorality, such as fornication, adultery, oral sex, and homosexuality; any sex act that deviates from Party directives to use sex only for procreation
speakwrite
A machine that transcribes speech into text
Teledep
The Ministry of Truth’s Telecommunications Department
telescreen
A two-way television set with which the Party spy upon Oceania’s population
thinkpol
The Thought Police, the secret police force of Oceania’s government
unperson
An executed person whose existence is erased from history and memory
upsub
An upwards submission to higher authority
βwise
The only suffix for forming an adverb
Newspeak Dictionary Quiz
Claude Artifacts made this in one prompt. Imagine this power to generate study aids for a wide variety of students at all levels. If I had had this as a kid…
Newspeak Quiz: Test Your Ingsoc Vocabulary
Welcome to the interactive Newspeak quiz! This quiz will help you learn the terminology of Oceania’s official language through fun repetition. Demonstrate your goodthink by mastering these terms – your commitment to linguistic purity will surely be recognized by the Party.
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Term β Definition
Definition β Term
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Review Your Answers
Creation of New Words in Newspeak
One of the most fascinating and insidious aspects of Newspeak is the methodical creation of new words. This process is not only about inventing new terms but also about streamlining and simplifying the language to ensure it serves the purposes of the Party. Hereβs how this process works:
1. Compounding Words
In Newspeak, many new words are created by combining existing ones. This technique, known as compounding, helps to streamline communication by reducing longer phrases into single, concise terms. For example:
Goodthink: A compound of “good” and “think,” meaning orthodox thought, or thoughts that align with Party doctrine.
Oldthink: A combination of “old” and “think,” referring to thoughts that are based on outdated, pre-revolutionary beliefs and values.
By merging words in this manner, Newspeak eliminates the need for descriptive phrases, thereby simplifying language and controlling thought.
2. Prefixes and Suffixes
Newspeak employs prefixes and suffixes to create new words and alter the meanings of existing ones. This method ensures that language remains efficient and devoid of any unnecessary complexity. Some common prefixes and suffixes include:
Un-: This prefix is used to form the negative of any word, thereby eliminating the need for antonyms. For example, “unhappy” replaces “sad.”
Plus- and Doubleplus-: These prefixes intensify the meaning of words. “Plusgood” means very good, while “doubleplusgood” means excellent or extremely good.
-wise: This suffix is used to form adverbs. For instance, “speedwise” means quickly.
Through these prefixes and suffixes, Newspeak ensures that language remains consistent and simplified, reinforcing the Partyβs control over thought.
3. Simplification of Grammar
The creation of new words in Newspeak is also characterized by the simplification of grammar. Irregular verbs and noun forms are abolished, making all words conform to a delimited list of regular patterns. For example:
Think: In Newspeak, the past tense of “think” would simply be “thinked,” and the past participle would also be “thinked,” eliminating irregular forms like “thought.”
Knife: Plural forms are regularized, so “knife” becomes “knifes” instead of “knives.”
This grammatical regularization reduces the cognitive load required to learn and use the language, further limiting the scope for complex or critical thought.
4. Abolition of Synonyms and Antonyms
Newspeak systematically removes synonyms and antonyms to narrow the range of meaning, engendering black and white thinking. Each concept is reduced to a single, unambiguous word, eliminating nuances and shades of meaning:
Good: The word “good” stands alone without synonyms like “excellent,” “great,” or “superb.” Intensifiers like “plus-” and “doubleplus-” are used instead.
Bad: Instead of having a separate word like “bad,” Newspeak uses “ungood.” This not only simplifies vocabulary but also imposes a binary way of thinking.
By removing synonyms and antonyms, Newspeak reduces the complexity of language, ensuring that only Party-approved ideas can be easily communicated.
5. Creation of Euphemisms
In Newspeak, euphemisms are crafted to mask the true nature of unpleasant or controversial realities, aligning language with Party propaganda. For instance:
Joycamp: A euphemism for forced labor camps, designed to make the concept seem more palatable and less threatening.
Minipax: Short for the Ministry of Peace, which actually oversees war. The euphemistic name helps to disguise its true function.
These euphemisms help to distort reality, making it easier for the Party to maintain control over the populationβs perceptions and beliefs.
Pathocracy is a relatively lesser-known concept in political science and psychology, which refers to a system of government in which individuals with personality disorders, particularly those who exhibit psychopathic, narcissistic, and similar traits (i.e. the βevil of Cluster Bβ), hold significant power.
In today’s complex geopolitical landscape, understanding different systems of governance is crucial for making sense of world events. Among these systems, totalitarianism stands out as one of the most extreme forms of government control. What exactly is totalitarianism, how does it function, and what can history teach us about its impacts — and how to fight back against its oppressive aims?
Defining Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a form of government and political system that attempts to assert total control over the lives of its citizens. It shares similarities with both fascism and authoritarianism, but unlike other authoritarian regimes, totalitarian states seek to subordinate all aspects of individual life to the authority of the state. The term itself suggests the extreme “total” nature of this controlβextending beyond purely political spheres into social, economic, cultural, and even private dimensions of human existence.
What distinguishes totalitarianism from other forms of authoritarianism is its ambition to erase the line between government and society entirely. Under totalitarianism, there is no concept of a private life outside the reach of state authority.
Key Characteristics of Totalitarian Regimes
1. Complete State Control of Society
Totalitarian states attempt to control virtually every aspect of social life:
Business and Economy: State-directed economic policies, often involving nationalization or collectivization of industries and resources
Labor: Control over labor unions, work assignments, and employment opportunities
Housing: Allocation and control of housing and living arrangements
Education: Strict control of curriculum and educational institutions to indoctrinate youth
Religion: Suppression or co-option of religious institutions
The Arts: Censorship and direction of artistic expression to serve state purposes
Personal Life: Intrusion into family relationships, leisure activities, and personal decisions
Youth Organizations: Creation of state-sponsored youth groups to foster loyalty from an early age
Hannah Arendt’s “On Lying and Politics” is a collection of two seminal essays that explore the complex relationship between truth, lies, and political power. The book, published in 2022, includes “Truth and Politics” (1967) and “Lying in Politics” (1971), along with a new introduction by David Bromwich.
Key Themes of “On Lying and Politics”
The nature of political lies
Arendt argues that the phenomenon of lying in politics is not new, and that truthfulness has never been considered a political virtue. She posits that lies have long been regarded as justifiable tools in political dealings, reflecting a deep-seated tension between truth and politics. However, Arendt also warns that excessive lying by political classes can lead to totalitarianism, where reality becomes entirely fictional.
Types of truth
Arendt distinguishes between two types of truth: factual and rational. She argues that factual truth is more vulnerable to political manipulation, as it is not self-evident and can be challenged like opinions. Rational truth, on the other hand, is more resilient as it can be reproduced through logical reasoning. Others can more easily verify on their own whether a rational truth checks out, whereas they cannot as easily go fact-finding — particularly about far-flung things that happen well outside their ken.
The impact of lies on democracy
Arendt explores how organized lying can tear apart our shared sense of reality, replacing it with a fantasy world of manipulated evidence and doctored documents. She argues that in a democracy, honest disclosure is crucial as it is the self-understanding of the people that sustains the government. This aligns with the idea that totalitarian governments can warp even the language itself, a la George Orwell’s Newspeak language in the classic novel 1984.
A Tale of Two Essays
“Truth and Politics” (1967)
In this essay, Arendt examines the affinity between lying and politics. She emphasizes that the survival of factual truth depends on credible witnesses and an informed citizenry. The essay explores how organized lying can degrade facts into mere opinions, potentially leading liars to believe their own fabrications in a self-deluding system of circular logic.
“Lying in Politics” (1971)
Written in response to the release of the Pentagon Papers, this essay applies Arendt’s insights to American policy in Southeast Asia. She argues that the Vietnam War and the official lies used to justify it were primarily exercises in image-making, more concerned with displaying American power than achieving strategic objectives.
Arendt’s perspective on political lying
Arendt views lying as a deliberate denial of factual truth, interconnected with the ability to act and rooted in imagination. She argues that while individual lies might succeed, lying on principle ultimately becomes counterproductive as it forces the audience to disregard the distinction between truth and falsehood.
Contemporary relevance
Arendt’s work remains highly relevant today, perhaps even more so than when it was written. Her analysis of how lies can undermine the public’s sense of reality and the dangers of political self-deception resonates strongly in our current political climate of disinformation, manipulation, and radicalization.
Not to mention, the incredible contribution from Big Tech — whose tech bros have seen to it that political technology, and the study of professional manipulation, is alive and well. It’s been in the zeitgeist for a couple of decades now, and is now being accelerated — by the ascendancy of AI, Elon Musk, and the Silicon Valley branch of the right-wing wealth cult (Biden called it the tech-industrial complex).
“On Lying and Politics” feels fresh today
Arendt’s “On Lying and Politics” provides a nuanced exploration — and a long-term view — of the role of truth and lies in political life. While acknowledging that lying has always been part of politics, Arendt warns of the dangers of excessive and systematic lying, particularly in democratic societies.
Her work continues to offer valuable insights into the nature of political deception and its impact on public life and democratic institutions. We would be wise to hear her warnings and reflect deeply on her insights, as someone who lived through the Nazi regime and devoted the remainder of her life’s work to analyzing what had happened and warning others. The similarities to our current times are disturbing and alarming — arm yourself with as much information as you can.
Pathocracy is a relatively lesser-known concept in political science and psychology, which refers to a system of government in which individuals with personality disorders, particularly those who exhibit psychopathic, narcissistic, and similar traits (i.e. the “evil of Cluster B“), hold significant power. This term was first introduced by Polish psychiatrist Andrzej Εobaczewski in his work “Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes.”
The crux of pathocracy lies in the rule by a small pathological minority, which imposes a regime that is damaging to the majority of non-pathological people. The key characteristics of pathocratic leadership include a lack of empathy, a disregard for the rule of law, manipulation, authoritarianism, and often, brutal repression. Many who are attracted to pathocratic rule exhibit the Dark Triad trio of malevolent and manipulative personality traits.
Origins and development of the concept of pathocracy
Pathocracy emerges from Εobaczewski’s study of totalitarian regimes, particularly those of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler and Communism in the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. Born in Poland in 1921, he witnessed the upheaval and transformation of his own country during the horrors of World War II and the chilling effects of the subsequent Communist occupation.
He suffered greatly to arrive at the insights in his work — arrested and tortured by the Polish authorities under Communist rule, he was unable to publish his magnum opus, the book Political Ponerology, until he escaped to the United States during the 1980s. Εobaczewski spent the rest of his life and career trying to unpack what had happened to him, his community, and his nation — having witnessed such brutality over such a shockingly short span of time, and having experienced friends turning against friends in vicious and shocking ways.
Εobaczewski posits that these authoritarian and fascist regimes were not merely politically oppressive, but were also psychologically abnormal. He studied the characteristics of these leaders and their closest supporters, identifying patterns that aligned with known personality disorders. His work also identified a much higher percentage of personality disordered individuals than is still commonly understood, finding that about 7% of the general population could be categorized as severely lacking in empathy and possessing the tendencies — latent or overt — leading to the rise of pathocracy in society.
Characteristics of pathocratic leadership
Psychopathy: Leaders in a pathocracy often display traits synonymous with psychopathy, including a lack of empathy, remorse, and shallow emotions.
Narcissism: Excessive self-love and a strong sense of entitlement often drive pathocratic rulers.
Manipulation: These leaders are adept at manipulation, using deceit and coercion to maintain their power. They also often exhibit other traits and behaviors of emotional predators.
Paranoia: A heightened sense of persecution or conspiracy is common, leading to oppressive and authoritarian measures.
Corruption: Moral depravity, ethical degeneration, and widespread corruption are endemic in a pathocracy, as pathological leaders tend to surround themselves with similarly affected individuals who feel no shame about performing unethical and/or illegal actions either in secret, or in broad daylight with little fear of retaliation.
Effective Altruism and Longtermism are relatively recent (since the late 2000s) twin philosophical movements making the claim that, as a human species, we ought to prioritize impacting the long-term future of humanity — hundreds, thousands, or millions of years from now — over and above any concerns for actual humans alive today. Largely inspired by utilitarianism, it favors questionable metrics like “lives saved per dollar” in its quest to not just do good, but “do the most good.”
Longtermism is an outgrowth of Effective Altruism (EA), a social movement developed by philosophers Peter Singer and William MacAskill. It emphasizes the moral importance of trying to shape the far future, and adherents argue that the long-term consequences of our actions far outweigh their short-term effects because of the potential of vast numbers of future lives. In other words, future people will outnumber us at such a scale that, by comparison to this imaginary future universe, our current-day lives are not very important at all.
It has numerous and powerful adherents among the Silicon Valley elite including Trump bromance Elon Musk, tech billionaire Peter Thiel (who spoke at the RNC in 2016), indicted and disgraced crypto trader Sam Bankman-Fried, Twitter and Square founder Jack Dorsey (who is good friends with Elon), OpenAI‘s CEO Sam Altman, Ethereum founder (and Thiel fellow) Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Asana Dustin Moskovitz, and others.
Why longtermism resonates with tech oligarchs
The tech-industrial complex is steeped in the idea of longtermism in part because it aligns so well with so many of their values:
technological optimism / techno-utopianism — the belief that technology is the solution to all of humanity’s greatest challenges
risk-taking mindset — venture capital is famous for its high-risk, high-reward mentality
Greatness Thinking — unwavering devotion to an Ayn Randian worldview in which only two groups exist: a small group of otherworldly titans, and everyone else
atomized world — social groups and historical context don’t matter much, because one’s personal individualized contributions are what make real impact on the world
The dubious ethics of effective altruism
Although it positions itself high, high above the heady clouds of moral superiority, EA is yet another in a long line of elaborate excuses for ignoring urgent problems we actually face, in favor of “reallocating resources” towards some long-distant predictively “better” class of people that do not currently exist and will not exist for thousands, millions, or even billions of years. It’s an elaborate excuse framework for “billionaires behaving badly” — who claim to be akin to saints or even gods who are doing the difficult work of “saving humanity,” but in reality are navel-gazing into their vanity projects and stroking each others’ raging narcissism while completely ignoring large, looming actual dangers in the here and now like climate change, systemic inequality, and geopolitical instabillity to name a few.
In President Joe Biden’s farewell speech (already memory holed by the Trump administration — and archived on my GitHub) he delivered a parting shot to the tech oligarchs currently falling over themselves to bend the knee and kiss the ring. With no fucks left to give, the remarkably Keynesian 46th US President gave a strikingly woke warning about the class struggle rarely revealed so openly by either party — warning of a tech-industrial complex slavering to abuse power even more brazenly:
I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is a dangerous β and thatβs the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultrawealthy people, and the dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked. Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead. We see the consequences all across America. And weβve seen it before.
More than a century ago, the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts. They didnβt punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy play by the rules everybody else had. Workers want rights to earn their fair share. You know, they were dealt into the deal, and it helped put us on the path to building the largest middle class, the most prosperous century any nation the world has ever seen. Weβve got to do that again.
The last four years, that is exactly what we have done. People should be able to make as much as they can, but pay β play by the same rules, pay their fair share in taxes. So much is at stake. Right now, the existential threat of climate change has never been clearer. Just look across the country, from California to North Carolina. Thatβs why I signed the most significant climate and clean energy law ever, ever in the history of the world.
And the rest of the world is trying to model it now. Itβs working, creating jobs and industries of the future. Now we have proven we donβt have to choose between protecting the environment and growing the economy. Weβre doing both. But powerful forces want to wield their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps weβve taken to tackle the climate crisis, to serve their own interests for power and profit. We must not be bullied into sacrificing the future, the future of our children and our grandchildren. We must keep pushing forward, and push faster. There is no time to waste. It is also clear that American leadership in technology is unparalleled, an unparalleled source of innovation that can transform lives. We see the same dangers in the concentration of technology, power and wealth.
You know, in his farewell address, President Eisenhower spoke of the dangers of the military-industrial complex. He warned us that about, and I quote, βThe potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power.β Six days β six decades later, Iβm equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country as well.
Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit. We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is the most consequential technology of our time, perhaps of all time.
Biden farewell speech video
Despite the Trumpian regime’s attempt to erase history, there are many copies of the speech available for posterity. You can watch one of them here:
Since Donald Trumpβs election in 2016, a lot of people believe that new technologiesβand how foreign actors manipulate themβplayed a big role in his win and are fueling our βpost-truthβ world, where disinformation and propaganda seem to thrive.
Network Propaganda flips that idea on its head. The book dives into an incredibly detailed study of American media coverage from the start of the 2016 election in April 2015 to Trumpβs first year in office. By analyzing millions of news stories, social media shares on Facebook and Twitter, TV broadcasts, and YouTube content, it paints a full picture of how political communication in the U.S. really works. The authors dig into big topics like immigration, Clinton-related scandals, and the Trump-Russia investigation and reveal that right-wing media doesnβt play by the same rules as other outlets.
Their big takeaway? The conservative media ecosystem functions in a totally unique way, shaped by decades of political, cultural, and institutional shifts since the 1970s. This has created a kind of propaganda loop thatβs pushed center-right media to the sidelines, radicalized the right, and made it more vulnerable to both domestic and foreign propaganda. Thus Russia’s involvement was more like pouring gasoline onto an existing fire — a conflagration which was raging prior to Putin’s arrival on the scene.
For readers both inside and outside the U.S., Network Propaganda offers fresh insights and practical ways to understandβand maybe even fixβthe broader democratic challenges weβre seeing around the world.
Network Propaganda podcast book summary
I have been getting a kick out of NotebookLM‘s renditions of podcasts about the source materials uploaded to the Notebook. They are really quite good, and I can see them being useful for a number of purposes. Here’s an AI-generated discussion about Network Propaganda, taken from a PDF of the book as the source of the Notebook.
The trajectory of the U.S. national debt is a compelling narrative that mirrors the nation’s evolving priorities, polarities, challenges, and triumphs. From the nascent days of the republic, grappling with the financial aftermath of the Revolutionary War, to the expansive fiscal policies of the 20th century, each era offers a unique lens into the economic and political forces at play in the history of the national debt.
In the late 18th century, under the stewardship of Alexander Hamilton, the United States established its first national debtβa strategic move to unify the fledgling states and build creditworthiness. The 19th century witnessed fluctuations driven by events such as the Civil War, which necessitated unprecedented borrowing, followed by periods of aggressive debt reduction during peacetime.
The 20th century introduced complexities with global conflicts like World War I and WWII, the Great Depression, and the Cold War, each leaving indelible marks on the nation’s fiscal landscape. Post-World War II prosperity facilitated debt reduction, but subsequent decades saw increases due to military engagements, economic policies, and social programs.
As we navigate the 21st century, the national debt continues to be a focal point of economic discourse, influenced by factors ranging from tax policies to global pandemics. Tax cuts for the wealthy under Reagan, the Bushes, and most notably Trump since 1980 have blown a hole in the debt. Military adventurism around the world including 2 completely unpaid for Gulf Wars in the ’90s and 2000s and the 20-year war in Afghanistan ballooned it as well.
This timeline delves into the pivotal moments that have shaped the U.S. national debt, offering insights into the decisions and events that have influenced its rise and fall over the centuries — so we can get intimately familiar with which policies increase or decrease it.
In todayβs digital landscape, disinformation has become an ever-present challenge, influencing everything from public opinion to personal beliefs. Understanding and combating disinformation isnβt just a task for media professionals; itβs a crucial skill for anyone navigating the vast array of information and misinformation in our interconnected world.
This curated list of books offers invaluable insights into the mechanisms of disinformation and the tools we can use to think critically, fact-check effectively, and enhance our media literacy. With perspectives spanning neuroscience, history, and media studies, these books dive deep into the factors that make disinformation so potentβand what we can do to counter it. Whether youβre a publishing or media professional looking to stay informed or a member of the general public eager to sharpen your information literacy skills, this selection has something for everyone interested in the truth amidst a world of half-truths and fabrications.
The book provides a comprehensive historical account of disinformation campaigns, tracing their evolution from the early 20th century to the present day. Rid explores how intelligence agencies, governments, and other actors have used “active measures” to manipulate public opinion and influence political outcomes. The author examines key case studies, including Cold War operations and modern digital disinformation campaigns, offering insights into the tactics and strategies employed in information warfare.
Pomerantsev’s book explores the global landscape of information manipulation, drawing on personal experiences and interviews with key figures in the field. The author examines how various actors, from authoritarian regimes to populist movements, exploit modern communication technologies to shape narratives and influence public opinion. The book offers insights into the challenges facing democracy and truth in the digital age.
This collection of essays challenges conventional narratives and exposes various forms of misinformation across different domains. The book covers a wide range of topics, from media manipulation to historical inaccuracies and cultural misconceptions. It aims to encourage critical thinking and skepticism towards information presented by governments, media, corporations, and other institutions.
This comprehensive study analyzes media coverage of American presidential politics from 2015 to 2018. The authors argue that the right-wing media ecosystem operates fundamentally differently from the rest of the media environment, creating a propaganda feedback loop. The book examines how this dynamic has marginalized center-right media, radicalized the right-wing ecosystem, and made it susceptible to propaganda efforts.
This book examines how social media has become a new battlefield for information warfare. The authors explore how various actors, including governments, terrorists, and activists, use social media platforms to shape public opinion, spread propaganda, and influence real-world events. The book offers insights into the strategies and tactics employed in this new form of conflict and discusses the implications for society and warfare.
“The Misinformation Age” explores the social and psychological factors that contribute to the spread of false beliefs. The authors use case studies and scientific research to explain how misinformation propagates through social networks and why it can be so persistent. They examine the role of cognitive biases, social dynamics, and information ecosystems in shaping our beliefs and discuss potential strategies for combating the spread of false information.
This collection of essays from various experts examines the phenomenon of “fake news” from multiple perspectives. The book covers topics such as the history of misinformation, the role of social media in spreading false narratives, and the challenges of fact-checking in the digital age. It offers insights into the complex landscape of modern media and provides strategies for navigating an information environment rife with misinformation.
Drawing from his experience as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Stengel provides an insider’s account of the U.S. government’s efforts to combat disinformation. The book examines the challenges faced in countering propaganda from state actors like Russia and non-state actors like ISIS. Stengel offers insights into the nature of modern information warfare and proposes strategies for addressing the threat of disinformation.
Marantz’s book provides an in-depth look at the individuals and groups behind the rise of online extremism and disinformation in America. Through extensive interviews and firsthand accounts, the author explores how fringe ideas have moved into the mainstream, facilitated by social media platforms and tech industry dynamics. The book offers insights into the complex interplay between technology, media, and politics in shaping public discourse.
This book serves as a practical guide for navigating the complex information landscape of the “post-truth” era. Levitin provides tools and strategies for critical thinking, teaching readers how to evaluate claims, spot logical fallacies, and interpret statistics. The book aims to empower individuals to become more discerning consumers of information and to resist manipulation through misinformation and deceptive rhetoric.
This book looks ahead to emerging technologies and their potential impact on the spread of disinformation. Woolley examines how artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and other advanced technologies might be used to create and disseminate even more convincing false narratives. The author also explores potential countermeasures and the role of policy in addressing these future challenges.
Howard’s book explores the world of computational propaganda, examining how social media platforms, artificial intelligence, and big data are being used to manipulate public opinion. The author investigates the actors behind disinformation campaigns, from state-sponsored trolls to political consultants, and discusses the implications for democracy. The book also offers potential solutions for combating these “lie machines” and preserving democratic discourse.
When evaluating a candidate for a role, you would be wise to consider what those who have worked with them in the past think of them — that’s why we ask for references during a job interview process. Unfortunately for Donald Trump, a majority of his closest advisors don’t support him and cannot recommend him as being fit for the presidency — and in fact many are actively campaigning against him and supporting the Harris-Walz ticket in the 2024 election.
And these aren’t just people out at the edges of a sprawling administration — these folks are from the inner circle, the cabinet, the military’s top brass, and other high-level officials in or near the White House who routinely interacted with the then-President.
Trump bragged about hiring all the best people — but then proceeded to fire a huge swath of them for having the audacity of disagreeing with him, or other trivial reason. Of those that remained, an unusually large number resigned from his administration in protest over whatever they saw as their personal last straw — many on January 6. And of that whole set, a conspicuously large number are now actively speaking out against the former president and working to prevent him from ascending to a second term.
I’ve been a voter for 30 years. And never have I seen the outpouring of “duty to warn” from former officials of someone seeking re-election. Never has this many of the president’s closest advisors refused to support him for a second term. Let’s hear why, in their own words.
Mike Pence
Former Vice President
“It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year,” he said to Fox News — an extraordinary historical moment when a VP cannot in good conscience support their own former President. Of course, when that former President tried to murder to you — or at the very least looked the other way while it happened in front of him on TV — it might be more difficult to get over than the usual spat between political cronies.
Mark Esper
Former Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army
Another rare moment: when a former cabinet member goes on national television weeks before an election to warn the American public about the dangers of their former boss. I have definitely never seen this in my lifetime and my 30 years of voting.
“I think he’s unfit for the presidency. As somebody who worked directly for him — I don’t think he’s the right person for our country. And so I will not be supporting him.” — to CNN, April 16
“Trump is not fit for office because he puts himself first and I think anybody running for office should put the country first.”
βYes, I think we should take those words seriously,β former Trump Defense Secretary Mark Esper says after Trump suggesting using the U.S. military against the βenemy from within.β pic.twitter.com/oXOlaU7tnZ
The Former Guy has been continuously proclaiming to know nothing about Project 2025, the plan whose authors include 70% current and former Trump officials. In that he doth protest too much — does Trump support Project 2025? You bet your bippy he does!
What is Project 2025? Think of it as a vast plan, close to the former president, to feverishly establish Christofascism in America starting with Day 1 of a second Trump presidency. It is a 920-page document, and 1000-employee project, to “supercharge” another Trump term with an infusion of Christian nationalism.
More than 100 Christian nationalist organizations and groups are involved in drafting the blueprint for Trump’s next term, should that horrorscape come to pass. One core problem they have, however, is the extreme unpopularity of their ideas. Most Americans are recoiling from the draconian measures Project 2025 wishes to bestow upon the nation, unasked for and unwanted — including banning abortion nationwide, restricting IVF, defunding education, pulling out of NATO, etc.
Who is behind Project 2025?
Project 2025 is so toxic in fact that Donald Trump tried to disavow it on Truth Social:
But despite his pathetic attempt to disclaim knowledge about Project 2025, Trump’s current and former staff make up the majority of the group’s architects. Trump’s name appears 312 times in their document. It’s simply not credible that the GOP presumptive nominee is unaware of his loudest allies and advocates — and even if you take the known liar at his word, it constitutes malpractice for a political candidate to be so uninformed.
So allegedly, Donald Trump doesn’t know anyone behind Project 2025. Let’s have a look at the amazing Venn Diagram between Trump officials and Project 2025, shall we?
Kevin Roberts and Trump on a plane
Heritage Foundation president and leader of the organization behind Project 2025, Kevin Roberts, grins with Trump on a private plane in 2022, on the way to a Heritage conference in which Trump gave a keynote address about the project and its policy proposals.
In April 2024 Roberts told the Washington Post first hand that βI personally have talked to President Trump about Project 2025.β Apparently then, at least one of the two men is lying.
In an era marked by unprecedented political, social, and technological upheavals, understanding the forces shaping our world has never been more urgent. From the dark currents of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and Christian nationalism to the shadowy influence of dark money and disinformation, weβre facing a web of interconnected threats that challenge the very foundations of democracy. To navigate this complex landscape, we need to rely on those trusted experts who have dedicated their lives to researching and exposing these dangersβexperts whose work sheds light on the hidden mechanisms at play in global power struggles.
This post is a curated guide to some of the top thought leaders in areas critical to understanding todayβs political battlegrounds. These experts, from historians to journalists to security analysts, are at the forefront of their fields, providing the insights we need to decode the chaos and develop informed strategies for resistance. Whether you’re a seasoned activist, a curious reader, or someone just trying to make sense of the headlines, these voices are essential listening if weβre to combat the disinformation and division threatening democratic norms.
In times like these, itβs easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the challenges we face. But by turning to trusted experts, we can arm ourselves with knowledgeβone of the most powerful tools we have in the fight for a more just and equitable future.
Authoritarianism
The rise of authoritarianism isn’t a distant threat relegated to history booksβit’s a real, present danger, creeping into the cracks of democracy worldwide. Understanding its mechanisms, from centralized power grabs to the erosion of civil liberties, is crucial to resisting its spread. Below are some of the most insightful thinkers and researchers who are sounding the alarm, dissecting how authoritarian regimes function, and offering solutions to protect democratic institutions.
Anne Applebaum — Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and journalist who specializes in authoritarianism, communism, and the resurgence of nationalism in Europe and the U.S. Her notable works include Gulag and Twilight of Democracy, exploring the rise of illiberal politics. (@anneapplebaum)
Ruth Ben-Ghiat — Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a historian and expert on authoritarianism, propaganda, and fascism, with a focus on the past and present dynamics of strongman rulers. She is the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present and frequently writes about modern autocratic regimes. (@ruthbenghiat)
Natasha Bertrand — Natasha Bertrand is a journalist and national security correspondent, known for her work covering intelligence, foreign policy, and the investigation into Russian interference in U.S. elections. She has written for Politico, The Atlantic, and currently serves as a White House reporter for CNN. (@NatashaBertrand)
Joseph Fronczak — Joseph Fronczak is a historian who studies the history of global insurgencies, empire, and the politics of solidarity. His work explores the impact of colonialism and anti-colonial movements on modern international relations and transnational activism.
Masha Gessen — Masha Gessen is a Russian-American journalist and author who has written extensively on totalitarianism, Vladimir Putin‘s regime, and LGBTQ+ rights. Gessen’s book The Future Is History won the National Book Award for its profound exploration of Russia’s political culture. (@mashagessen)
Jason Stanley — Jason Stanley is a professor of philosophy at Yale University and the author of How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them. His research focuses on the intersections of propaganda, ideology, and authoritarianism, especially in contemporary contexts. (@jasonintrator)
Elizabeth Mika — Elizabeth Mika is a clinical psychologist and expert on authoritarianism and collective psychology, with a particular focus on the psychological mechanisms behind mass support for authoritarian leaders. She has contributed to anthologies and discussions on the psychology of totalitarianism and fascism. (@yourauntemma)
Timothy Snyder — Timothy Snyder is a historian specializing in Eastern European history and totalitarian regimes, best known for his books Bloodlands and On Tyranny, which explore the dangers of authoritarianism and the fragility of democracy. He is a professor at Yale University and a frequent commentator on modern political crises. (@TimothyDSnyder)
Christian nationalism
Christian Nationalism is more than just a fringe ideologyβitβs a growing political force that merges religious fundamentalism with nationalist fervor, aiming to reshape American democracy into a theocratic state. This dangerous movement thrives on historical revisionism and a distorted version of Christian values. The experts listed here have been at the forefront of exposing and analyzing the real-world implications of Christian Nationalism, warning of its impact on policy, governance, and individual rights.
Tim Alberta — Tim Alberta is a journalist and political reporter, best known for his coverage of the Republican Party and conservative politics in the U.S. He is the author of American Carnage, which delves into the GOP’s transformation and the rise of Donald Trump. (@timalberta)
Anthea Butler — Anthea Butler is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought and Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in African American and American religion, race, politics, and evangelicalism. She is a prolific author and commentator, known for her work on religion and politics, including her recent book “White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America” and her contributions to the 1619 Project (@AntheaButler)
Robert P. Jones — Robert P. Jones is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and a leading scholar on religion and politics in America. He is a New York Times bestselling author, known for his books on white supremacy and American Christianity, including “The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future” and “White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity” (@robertpjones)
Kevin Kruse — Kevin M. Kruse is an American historian and professor of history at Princeton University, specializing in the political, social, and urban/suburban history of 20th-century America with a focus on modern conservatism. He has gained significant attention for his Twitter threads providing historical context for current political events and has authored several books, including “White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism (@kevinmkruse)
Sarah Posner — Sarah Posner is a Type Investigations reporting fellow who has spent years reporting on the increasing influence of the evangelical Christian right on mainstream politics. She is known for her in-depth analysis of Christian nationalism and its impact on various aspects of American society, including reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues (@sarahposner)
Katherine Stewart — Katherine Stewart is a journalist and author focusing on religious extremism and its influence on American politics. Her book The Power Worshippers examines the rise of Christian nationalism and its impact on the country’s political landscape. (@kathsstewart)
Dark Money
Dark money flows through the veins of modern politics, influencing elections, legislation, and public opinion in ways most people never see. These hidden streams of funding empower corporations, billionaires, and interest groups to manipulate the political landscape without accountability. The researchers and journalists below have dedicated themselves to pulling back the curtain on these shadowy networks, offering a clearer picture of how wealth and power are wielded behind closed doors.
David Farenthold — David Farenthold is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has covered political corruption and the misuse of funds, particularly in his investigative reporting on Donald Trump’s charitable foundation. He is known for his in-depth investigations and work with The Washington Post and The New York Times. (@Fahrenthold)
Judd Legum — Judd Legum is a journalist and the founder of Popular Information, a newsletter focused on accountability journalism, corporate influence, and politics. He previously served as the editor-in-chief of ThinkProgress and frequently covers disinformation and media dynamics in U.S. politics. (@JuddLegum)
Jane Mayer — Jane Mayer is a staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of Dark Money, which explores the influence of wealthy conservative donors on American politics. She is an acclaimed investigative journalist, specializing in political corruption, the Koch network, and the intersection of money and policy. (@JaneMayerNYer)
Anne Nelson — Anne Nelson is an American journalist, author, playwright, and professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, known for her diverse career spanning war correspondence, award-winning books, and plays. Her work includes “Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right,” which examines the influence of conservative political groups, and she was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2024 for her significant contributions to journalism. (@anelsona)
Disinformation
In an era of digital noise, disinformation is the poison that sows confusion, distrust, and division. From fake news and deepfakes to state-sponsored propaganda, the scale of disinformation campaigns is staggering, threatening not just elections but the very fabric of truth itself. The experts in this field are working to identify, expose, and counter the tactics used to manipulate public perception and undermine democracy.
Brooke Binkowski — Brooke Binkowski is a professional journalist whose career has taken her across the globe, covering stories in Mexico, Alaska, Europe, North Africa, and South America. She has worked for various news organizations including CNN, NPR, CBS, and the BBC, and currently serves as an interim news anchor at KPBS Public Media (@brooklynmarie)
Ben Collins — Ben Collins is an American businessman and journalist from Massachusetts who formerly worked as a reporter for NBC News, where he focused on disinformation and extremism. In 2024, he became the CEO of Global Tetrahedron, the media company that owns The Onion (@oneunderscore__)
Joan Donovan — Joan Donovan is an American social science researcher, sociologist, and academic renowned for her work on disinformation, online extremism, and media manipulation. She is the founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute and currently serves as an assistant professor at Boston University’s College of Communication, following her tenure as a researcher at Harvard Kennedy School (@BostonJoan)
Karen Douglas — Karen Douglas is a Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Kent, specializing in the psychology of conspiracy theories. Her research examines why conspiracy theories appeal to people and their consequences for individuals, groups, and society. Douglas has been widely featured in media outlets like Time, The Guardian, and BBC, and is a co-editor of the textbook “Social Psychology” (@Karen_Douglas)
Kevin Roose — Kevin Roose is an American author, journalist, and technology columnist for The New York Times. He hosts the podcast “Rabbit Hole” and co-hosts “Hard Fork” for the Times. Roose has written three books, including “Futureproof: 9 Rules in the Age of Automation,” and gained attention for his early access to and reporting on Bing’s ChatGPT-based chatbot (@kevinroose)
Brandy Zadrozny — Brandy Zadrozny is an American investigative journalist and reporter for NBC News, focusing on political radicalization, extremism, and disinformation on the Internet. Before journalism, she worked as a librarian and researcher. Zadrozny has covered topics like QAnon, the Stop the Steal movement, and COVID-19 misinformation (@BrandyZadrozny)
Rebecca Lewis — Rebecca Lewis is a researcher and PhD candidate at Stanford University, studying online political subcultures and radicalization. Her work has focused on the alternative influence network on YouTube and the spread of far-right ideologies online. Lewis has published influential reports on these topics through the Data & Society Research Institute.
Alice Marwick — Alice E. Marwick is an Associate Professor in Communication and Principal Researcher at the Center for Information, Technology and Public Life at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on the intersection of social media, politics, gender, and privacy. Marwick has authored books on social media culture and networked privacy, and has written for publications like the New York Times and The Guardian (@alicetiara)
Nina Jankowicz — Nina Jankowicz is a disinformation expert and author who has advised governments and organizations on countering information manipulation. She briefly served as executive director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board before it was disbanded. Jankowicz has written two books, “How to Lose the Information War” and “How to Be a Woman Online,” and is a frequent commentator on disinformation-related issues. (@wiczipedia)
Intelligence and National Security
Behind the headlines of political scandals and geopolitical maneuvering lies the world of intelligence and national securityβa complex and often hidden battleground where information is power. Understanding how states gather intelligence, conduct espionage, and protect national interests is key to grasping global power dynamics. The experts featured here have deep insight into the covert world of intelligence operations and its implications for global security.
Frank Figliuzzi — Frank Figliuzzi served as the FBI‘s Assistant Director for Counterintelligence and spent 25 years as a Special Agent, directing all espionage investigations across the U.S. government. He is now a national security contributor for NBC News and MSNBC, as well as the author of “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence,” leveraging his extensive experience to provide insights on intelligence and national security matters (@FrankFigliuzzi1)
Carol Leonnig — Carol Leonnig is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist for The Washington Post, known for her coverage of government accountability and national security. She has co-authored several books, including “Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service” and “I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump’s Catastrophic Final Year,” providing in-depth reporting on the Trump administration and related political events. (@CarolLeonnig)
Asha Rangappa — Asha Rangappa is a lawyer, former FBI agent, and senior lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. She frequently appears as a legal and national security analyst on various news networks, offering insights on counterintelligence, constitutional law, and the intersection of national security and civil liberties. (@AshaRangappa_)
John Sipher — John Sipher is a former member of the CIA‘s Senior Intelligence Service who worked for the agency’s clandestine service for 28 years. He is now a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, co-founder of Spycraft Entertainment, and a frequent contributor to various media outlets on intelligence and national security matters (@john_sipher)
Sam Vinograd — Samantha Vinograd is a national security expert who has served in various roles within the U.S. government, including as Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor during the Obama administration. She is currently the Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the Department of Homeland Security and provides regular commentary on national security issues. (@sam_vinograd)
Clint Watts — Clint Watts is a senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University and a Foreign Policy Research Institute fellow. He previously served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, an FBI special agent, and has provided expert testimony to Congress on topics including terrorism, Russian interference, and cybersecurity (@selectedwisdom)
Marcy Wheeler — Marcy Wheeler is an independent journalist and national security expert who runs the blog “emptywheel.” She is known for her in-depth analysis of legal documents related to national security, surveillance, and political scandals. Wheeler’s work has been instrumental in uncovering details about various high-profile investigations, including the Mueller probe and other national security matters. (@emptywheel)
Law, Legal, and SCOTUS
At the intersection of governance and justice lies the lawβan evolving field that shapes the boundaries of individual rights, state power, and societal norms. Whether itβs landmark Supreme Court rulings or the legal frameworks used to regulate new technologies, understanding the law is essential to navigating the political and social landscape. The following legal scholars and practitioners have made significant contributions to dissecting the most pressing legal issues of our time.
George Conway — George Conway is an American lawyer and political activist known for his vocal criticism of former President Donald Trump, despite being the then-husband of Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway (he now helms PsychoPAC, a fundraising arm against a Trump second term). As a partner at the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, he gained prominence for successfully arguing the Supreme Court case Morrison v. National Australia Bank in 2010 and has since become a prominent figure in conservative legal circles, contributing to discussions on the rule of law and constitutional issues. (@gtconway3d)
Quinta Jurecic — Quinta Jurecic is a fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a senior editor at Lawfare, as well as a contributing writer at The Atlantic. She co-hosts the “Arbiters of Truth” series on the Lawfare Podcast, focusing on misinformation and online information ecosystems, and her work has appeared in prominent publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. (@qjurecic)
Teri Kanefield — Teri Kanefield is an attorney, author, and legal analyst known for her clear explanations of complex legal and political issues. She has written numerous books for children and young adults on historical and legal topics, and regularly contributes analysis on current events, particularly related to constitutional law and democracy, through her blog and social media presence. (@Teri_Kanefield)
Dahlia Lithwick — Dahlia Lithwick is a Canadian-American lawyer, writer, and journalist who serves as a senior editor at Slate and contributing editor at Newsweek. She is known for her insightful legal commentary, particularly on Supreme Court issues, and hosts the award-winning podcast “Amicus” while also being a regular contributing analyst on MSNBC (@Dahlialithwick)
Joyce Vance — Joyce Vance is a Distinguished Professor from the Practice of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law and a legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC. She served as the United States Attorney in the Northern District of Alabama from 2009 to 2017, appointed by President Obama, and has focused her work on criminal justice reform, civil rights, and improving police-community relationships (@JoyceWhiteVance)
Maya Wiley — Maya Wiley is a nationally respected civil rights attorney and activist who has dedicated her life to fighting for justice, equality, and fairness. She has served in various roles, including as counsel to the mayor of New York City, chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, and as a faculty member at the New School University, while also working as a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC (@mayawiley)
Politics
In an age of hyper-polarization, understanding the intricacies of politicsβboth domestic and globalβis more crucial than ever. Whether it’s electoral strategies, policy debates, or the workings of political institutions, the experts in this field offer invaluable insights into the forces shaping our world. Below is a list of the most astute political analysts, reporters, and scholars whose work illuminates the evolving political landscape.
Yamiche Alcindor — Yamiche Alcindor is a prominent American journalist and political commentator. She currently serves as the Washington correspondent for NBC News and is a political contributor to NBC News and MSNBC. Previously, she was the White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour and has also worked for The New York Times and USA Today. (@Yamiche)
Rachel Maddow — Rachel Maddow is a political commentator, author, and television host. She is best known for hosting “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC, where she provides in-depth analysis of political news. Maddow has written several books, including “Blowout” and “Bag Man,” and is known for her liberal perspective and investigative reporting style. (@maddow)
Phil Rucker — Philip Rucker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who serves as the deputy national editor at The Washington Post. He previously worked as the White House Bureau Chief for the Post during the Trump administration. Rucker has co-authored two books about the Trump presidency with his colleague Carol Leonnig: “A Very Stable Genius” and “I Alone Can Fix It.” (@PhilipRucker)
Jared Yates Sexton — Jared Yates Sexton is an author, political commentator, and associate professor of creative writing at Georgia Southern University. He has written several books, including “The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore” and “American Rule,” focusing on American politics, history, and culture. Sexton is known for his analysis of right-wing extremism and political movements. (@JYSexton)
A.B. Stoddard — A.B. Stoddard is a political analyst and associate editor and columnist for RealClearPolitics. She regularly appears on various news networks to provide commentary on American politics. Stoddard is known for her non-partisan approach to political analysis and her insights into congressional politics and national elections.
Nicolle Wallace — Nicolle Wallace is an American television host, author, and former political commentator. She currently hosts MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House” and serves as a political analyst for the network. Wallace previously worked in Republican politics, serving as White House Communications Director during the George W. Bush administration and as a senior advisor for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. (@NicolleDWallace)
Right-Wing History
The resurgence of far-right movements across the globe has deep historical roots, with ideological threads that stretch back to fascism, white supremacy, and nativism. Understanding these origins is key to unpacking the modern political landscape, as many of today’s right-wing movements draw heavily on historical narratives. The scholars below are dedicated to tracing these threads, helping us see the connections between past and present in the evolution of right-wing ideologies.
Seth Cotlar — Seth Cotlar is a Professor of History at Willamette University, specializing in the history of the United States between the American Revolution and the Civil War. His first book, “Tom Paine’s America: The Rise and Fall of Trans-Atlantic Radicalism in the Early Republic,” won the Best First Book Prize from the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic, and he is currently working on a cultural history of nostalgia in modernizing America from 1776 to 1865 (@sethcotlar)
John Dean — John Dean is an American former attorney who served as White House Counsel for President Richard Nixon from 1970 to 1973. He became a key figure in the Watergate scandal, eventually testifying against Nixon and other administration officials. Since then, Dean has worked as an investment banker, author, and political commentator, often criticizing Republican administrations. (@JohnWDean)
Joanne Freeman — Joanne Freeman is a professor of History and American Studies at Yale University, specializing in early American politics and political culture. She has authored several books on the revolutionary and early national periods, including “Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic” and “The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War.” (@jbf1755)
Nicole Hemmer — Nicole Hemmer is an associate professor of History at Vanderbilt University and director of the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Center for the American Presidency. She specializes in media, conservatism, and the presidency, and has authored books such as “Partisans: The Conservative Revolutionaries Who Remade American Politics in the 1990s” and “Messengers of the Right: Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics.” (@pastpunditry)
Heather Cox Richardson — Heather Cox Richardson is an American historian and professor of history at Boston College, known for her expertise in 19th-century American history, particularly the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the American West. She gained widespread recognition for her nightly newsletter “Letters from an American,” which contextualizes current events within American history, and has authored several books including “To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party” and “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America” (@HC_Richardson)
Julian Zelizer — Julian Zelizer is a professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University and a CNN Political Analyst. He has authored and edited numerous books on American political history, including “Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, the Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party” and “The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: A First Historical Assessment.” (@julianzelizer)
Russia and Ukraine
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is far more than a regional disputeβitβs a flashpoint in global geopolitics, with ramifications for democracy, security, and international law. Understanding the complex history and political motivations driving this conflict requires deep expertise. The experts listed here provide crucial analysis on everything from Russiaβs imperial ambitions to Ukraineβs struggle for sovereignty and the international communityβs response.
Allison Gill — Dr. Allison Gill is a multifaceted talent who transitioned from a federal government executive to a comedian, author, and podcast host. She is best known as the executive producer and host of the popular podcast “Mueller, She Wrote,” which provides in-depth analysis of the Trump-Russia investigation (@muellershewrote)
Fiona Hill — Dr. Fiona Hill is an acclaimed foreign affairs specialist, author, and former presidential advisor who served on the US National Security Council from 2017 to 2019. Born in County Durham, England, she is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and is widely recognized as an authority on Russian and European geopolitics.
Gary Kasparov — Garry Kasparov is a former World Chess Champion who held the title from 1985 to 2000 and is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. After retiring from professional chess in 2005, he became a prominent political activist and critic of Vladimir Putin, eventually leaving Russia in 2013 and settling in New York City (@Kasparov63)
Michael McFaul — Michael McFaul is the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies at Stanford University and a former U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014. He has authored several books on democracy and Russian politics, and currently serves as an analyst for NBC News and a contributing columnist to The Washington Post (@McFaul)
Molly McKew — Molly McKew is an American journalist and strategic consultant specializing in foreign policy and information warfare. She has worked as an adviser to foreign governments, including Georgia and Moldova, and has written extensively on Russian information operations and geopolitics for publications such as WIRED and Politico. (@MollyMcKew)
White Nationalism
White nationalism is not just an extremist ideologyβitβs a persistent and growing threat, gaining new life through online platforms, political rhetoric, and violent movements. From Charlottesville to Christchurch, the ideology has fueled domestic terrorism, hate crimes, and political insurgencies. The researchers below have been instrumental in tracking the rise of white nationalism, unpacking its myths, and revealing its insidious presence in mainstream discourse.
Carol Anderson — Carol Anderson is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and a historian known for her work on public policy and how it intersects with race, justice, and equality. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including “White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide” and “One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy.”
Kathleen Belew — Kathleen Belew is an associate professor of History at Northwestern University and an expert on the white power movement in the United States. She is the author of “Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America” and has testified before Congress on issues related to white nationalism and domestic terrorism. (@kathleen_belew)
Talia Lavin — Talia Lavin is an American journalist and author known for her investigative work on far-right extremism and white supremacist movements. She wrote the book “Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy” and has contributed to publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. (@mobydickenergy)
Cynthia Miller-Idriss — Cynthia Miller-Idriss is a professor of education and sociology at American University, where she leads the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL). She is an expert on far-right extremism and radicalization, having authored several books on the subject, including “Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right.” (@milleridriss)
Vegas Tenold — Vegas Tenold is a Norwegian journalist and author who has extensively covered white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups in the United States. His book “Everything You Love Will Burn: Inside the Rebirth of White Nationalism in America” provides an in-depth look at various far-right organizations based on his years of firsthand reporting. (@Vegastenold)
