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3 episodes with russell muirhead
3 episodes with russell muirhead
2 episodes with russell muirhead
3 episodes with russell muirhead
3 episodes with russell muirhead
2 episodes with russell muirhead
2 episodes with russell muirhead
2 episodes with russell muirhead
2 episodes with russell muirhead
An interview with Russell Muirhead, co-author of the new book, Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos. The book details how a concentrated attack on political institutions threatens to disable the essential workings of government.
When Professor Nancy Rosenblum joined us months back, she and Russell Muirhead had written a book called “Ungoverning” The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos.” Their case study was the first Trump Administration. And while every modern state is an administrative state, the bureaucracy at all levels of government has … Read More Read More
One month into Trump's second term and his actions, thus far, have been described as chaotic, anarchic, cruel, mercurial, authoritarianian, etc. At minimum, it's clear that Trump is single-mindedly focused on systematically dismantling the very institutions designed to uphold democracy. Our guest this week, Dr. Russell Muirhead, professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth, and co-author of "Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos" has a word for this to help us understand this concept - this experience. We discuss this disruptive strategy, tracing its dangerous evolution and impact on American democracy, especially during the Trump administration. From the philosophical seeds planted by Reagan to today's political climate, we examine how this shift from small government to outright chaos threatens to erode the societal bonds that hold democracy together.We also examine how ungoverning permeates state politics and even the judiciary. Through the volatile role of the Supreme Court and state resistance, we discuss the increasing polarization and fragmentation of political alliances. Considerations on single-party states illustrate how these political strongholds potentially serve as bastions of resistance or exacerbation of national divides. In this context, Dr. Muirhead provides a critical lens on the intricate relationship between political loyalty and governance – a crucial factor in understanding the current state of American politics.Finally, we talk about the human element of this political upheaval, the shifting attitudes of the American electorate, and the crucial role of public engagement in safeguarding democracy. -------------------------Follow Deep Dive:BlueskyYouTube Email: deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com Music: Majestic Earth - Joystock
In Their Jihad Against DEI, Trump and Hegseth Are Creating Affirmative Action for White Losers, Drunks and Incompetents | Trump's Wrecking Crew and the Politics of Destruction | Trump Eyes Panama, Greenland and Canada For a Land Grab backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social facebook.com/ianmastersmedia
We welcome Dr. Russell Muirhead back to the program today for the second of a two-part interview. Russel is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics and Co-Director, Political Economy Project at Dartmouth College. He has many publications, including two books co-written with Dr. Nancy L. Rosenblum, who is the Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita at Harvard University. Their first title together was 2019's A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy and recently Princeton University Press released Ungoverning: The Politics of Chaos and the Attack on the Administrative State which we will conclude discussing today.
We welcome Dr. Russell Muirhead to the program today for the first of a two-part interview. Russel is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics and Co-Director, Political Economy Project at Dartmouth College. He has many publications, including two books co-written with Dr. Nancy L. Rosenblum, who is the Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita at Harvard University. Their first title together was 2019's A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy and recently Princeton University Press released Ungoverning: The Politics of Chaos and the Attack on the Administrative State which we will discuss today and next time.
The conversation about limited government has morphed from looking at ways to reduce bureaucracy to an effort to eliminate large pieces of the government all together. Russell Muirhead is Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why non-elected workers in “the administrative state” find themselves in the crosshairs from both the right and the left, how Donald Trump's term might affect them, and what elimination of their functions might mean for the nation. His book, written with Nancy L. Rosenblum, is “Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos.”
Linda Fowler, Professor of Government and Frank J. Reagan Chair in Policies Studies, Emerita at Dartmouth College, and Russell Muirhead, Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth join us to discuss the anniversary of the January 6th riots at the U.S. Capitol.
Host Cyrus Webb welcomes Russell Muirhead to Conversations LIVE to discuss the new book UNGOVERNING---and what he hopes readers take away from it.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with Dartmouth Prof. Russell Muirhead about election denialism, misinformation, conspiracy theories and how they threaten democratic elections in November.
In this episode of Humanity Examined, we take a human perspective to the world of politics with Professor Russell Muirhead from Dartmouth College. Our conversation delves into the life experiences that shaped Professor Muirhead's surprising academic journey. We discuss the kind of thinking that shaped our democracy and his own life, and he also provides insights into his latest book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy. After graduating from Harvard College, Russell was selected as a Rhodes Scholar, studying at Oxford University. There he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in politics, philosophy, and economics. He later returned to Harvard to receive his Ph.D. in Government. Professor Muirhead currently serves in the New Hampshire House of Representatives for Grafton County's 12th district and as The Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Government at Dartmouth continues to teach students about the importance of politics, seeking to help bring up the next generation of great leaders
Daniel Stid is the former Program Director of U.S. Democracy at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, leading the foundation's grantmaking to support the key values and institutions of U.S. democracy–in particular Congress, the first branch of government–in our polarized age. Previously, Daniel was a partner at The Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit consultancy, where he helped coordinate the organization's work with federal, state, and local government agencies and advised nonprofit and foundation clients supporting children, youth, and families. Daniel began his career as a political scientist teaching at Wabash College and served as a Congressional Fellow on the staff of the House Majority Leader. He is the author of The President as Statesman: Woodrow Wilson and the Constitution. A graduate of Hope College, he holds an MPhil in politics from Oxford University and a doctorate in government from Harvard University. Daniel is proud to have been commissioned an honorary Kentucky Colonel for his service to the Commonwealth. Additional Resources/Reading https://oneamericamovement.org (One America Movement) https://braverangels.org (Braver Angels Organization) https://breakingground.us/we-need-more-christian-partisanship-not-less/ (Daniel Stid Article): https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/06/evangelical-church-pastors-political-radicalization/629631 (Upcoming Article from the Atlantic) https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-polisci-041916-020727#_i11 (Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum article on partisanship )
In this episode, I am joined by Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of the recent book, The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth. Today, we talk about the rise and spread of misinformation and falsehood.Meet Jonathan: Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings and the author of eight books and numerous articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer of The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry's equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.Resources:The Constitution of Knowledge by Jonathan RauchA Lot of People Are Saying by Russell Muirhead and Nancy RosenblumTruth Decay by Jennifer Kavanagh and Michael D. RichPost-Truth by Lee McIntyreOn Liberty by John Stuart MillBraver Angels
Good morning, RVA! It’s 52 °F, and today’s highs will float around in the 60s. The sun will poke it’s head out of the clouds at some point this morning, and the next couple of days look like they’ll bring warmer weather.Water coolerAs of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 600 new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealth and 17 new deaths as a result of the virus. VDH reports 67 new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 36, Henrico: 23, and Richmond: 8). Since this pandemic began, 1,295 people have died in the Richmond region. The seven-day average of new reported cases across the state sits at 699.Over in vaccine world, I’ve got three things to share. First, remember that today the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet and most likely vote on authorizing the Pfizer vaccine for kids 12–15 years old. I’d bet VDH will move quickly following ACIP’s vote, so get ready parents, caregivers, teens, and tweens. Second, the New York Times asked a bunch of epidemiologists what they’re doing out in the world now that they’re fully vaccinated. Hiking with friends? Totally. Attending a wedding or a funeral? Not so much. Keep in mind that even though they have big science brains, epidemiologists are (mostly) people, too, and will have some of the same issues with reemerging into the world after a year of hibernation as the rest of us. Finally, also in the New York Times, a look at this “third group” of folks—people who aren’t necessarily vaccine hesitant, don’t have any of the classic barriers to access, but still haven’t gotten an appointment yet…because. That sounds snarky, but it’s not. People are busy living life and finding time to make it out to a pharmacy or one of the region’s vaccination sites is a lot of work for some folks. This quote sums it up: “I know you’re trying to find out the reason people aren’t doing it…I’m going to tell you. People are trying to take care of their household. You don’t have much time in the day.”Yesterday, the Governor declared a state of emergency due to the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline system. This feels like an extremely Mad Max headline. From the Governor’s remarks it doesn’t sound like folks in Virginia should expect any sort of long-term impacts or extreme fuel shortages, although I’ve already seen some reports of price gouging at local gas stations (which is illegal) as people run out to top off their tanks. If you want to know more about the specifics, Krebs on Security has a fascinating/terrifying look at DarkSide, the group behind the attack. And because I can’t help myself: It’s hard to cyberattack a bicycle. You can follow the Colonial Pipeline’s crisis PR blog here, for a bit of morning schadenfreude.The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Michael Paul Williams weighs in on the School Board’s recent decision to take over school facility procurement and construction. Even if you’re tired of thinking about it and the impact this whole thing is having on the George Wythe community, Williams' piece is worth reading! A couple years back he was pro-schools running their own construction process, but, after the mostly successful construction of three new schools, he’s mellowed a bit on that. Here’s the rub and the truest of true sentences: “The reality is, schools don’t get built in this town without political support. Until the Richmond School Board has taxing power — everyone, hold your breath at the count of three! — the mayor and City Council will maintain a grip on the purse strings.”Mike Platania at Richmond BizSense has the details on the sale of the Mowbray Paint Co. building on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. There’s one world where this building becomes a restaurant, brewery, or other space for people. There’s another world where it becomes a bank or pharmacy with a focus on drive-through service. If we want that corridor to feel like a thriving neighborhood, we have limit the amount of car-focused businesses! Those business can and should exist, but probably not fronting a thoroughfare we want to see become a second city center.I haven’t listened yet, but I posted the audio from Council’s formal meeting to approve RPS’s budget over on The Boring Show.This morning’s patron longreadIn Defense of Liberal ConspiratorsSubmitted by Patron Alix. I keep reading unrelated things about labor movements—and this wide-ranging longread is one!The book A Lot of People Are Saying, from 2019, epitomizes the genre. Authors Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead describe what they call the “new conspiracism,” or “conspiracy without theory.” In their schema, classic conspiracism’s evidentiary basis (picture dozens of JFK assassination aficionados poring over photographs of the grassy knoll) has been abandoned in favor of pure affect; hypotheses and suppositions gain purchase through repetition, not proof. Digital networks drown internet users in dubious information designed less to persuade than to overwhelm, as social networks circulate and recirculate sensational claims. Those who know how to game algorithms amass enormous followings, and those with the most “engaging” content always win, accuracy be damned.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.Picture of the Day
Chris Beem takes the interviewer's chair this week for a conversation with political theorist Laura K. Field about her recent work that examines how the conspiracism described by Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead in their book A Lot of People Are Saying has made its way to prominent conservative intellectuals and the institutions that support them. The conversation ends with ways that listeners can take conspiracy-minded arguments with the appropriate grain of salt and perhaps disconnect from politics a little in the process. Field is a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center and scholar in residence at American University. She he writes about current political affairs from a vantage point informed by the history of political thought. Her academic writing spans antiquity and modernity, and has appeared in the The Journal of Politics, The Review of Politics, and Polity. She earned a Ph.D. in political theory and public law from the University of Texas at Austin.Additional InformationThe Highbrow Conspiracism of the New Intellectual Right: A Sampling From the Trump YearsRevisiting "Why Liberalism Failed:" A Five-Part SeriesLaura K. Field on TwitterThe Niskanen Center's podcasts: The Science of Politics and The Vital CenterRelated EpisodesHow conspiracies are damaging democracy?Is it possible to overdo democracy?
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And this new kind of conspiratorial thinking has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. Are we living in a golden age of conspiracy theories? Russell Muirhead, author of https://www.amazon.com/Lot-People-Are-Saying-Conspiracism/dp/0691188831/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1616637118&sr=1-1 (A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy) says these theories are not only thriving — they're also getting more absurd, less substantive, and harder to refute.
Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine Participatory Democracy: Is that for real? Conspiracy Theories in American Politics We’ll talk about the political and social conditions that give rise to conspiracy movements. Why are people drawn to these ideas? What are the conditions in civil society that are feeding into these trends? How have these moments come up in our history? How have we gotten past it before? Can democracy function when these beliefs are widespread? Guests: Jamie McKown, James Russell Wiggins Chair in Government and Polity at College of the Atlantic Joanne Miller, Associate Professor, Political Science & International Relations, Director of Graduate Studies, University of Delaware To learn more about this topic: Speaking of Psychology: Why people believe in conspiracy theories, with Karen Douglas, PhD, podcast of the American Psychological Association Gender Differences in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory Beliefs, Erin C. Cassese, Christina E. Farhart, and Joanne M. Miller. 2020 A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy, Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead, 2019 The mostly volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes: Martha Dickinson, Michael Fisher, Starr Gilmartin, Maggie Harling, Ann Luther, Judith Lyles, Wendilee O’Brien, Maryann Ogonowski, Pam Person, Leah Taylor, Linda Washburn About the host: Ann currently serves as Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Maine and leads the LWVME Advocacy Team. She served as President of LWVME from 2003 to 2007 and as co-president from 2007-2009. In her work for the League, Ann has worked for greater public understanding of public policy issues and for the League’s priority issues in Clean Elections & Campaign Finance Reform, Voting Rights, Ethics in Government, Ranked Choice Voting, and Repeal of Term Limits. Representing LWVME at Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, she served that coalition as co-president from 2006 to 2011. She remains on the board of MCCE and serves as Treasurer. She is active in the LWV-Downeast and hosts their monthly radio show, The Democracy Forum, on WERU FM Community Radio -which started out in 2004 as an recurring special, and became a regular monthly program in 2012. She was the 2013 recipient of the Baldwin Award from the ACLU of Maine for her work on voting rights and elections. She joined the League in 1998 when she retired as Senior Vice President at SEI Investments. Ann was a founder of the MDI Restorative Justice Program, 1999 – 2000, and served on its Executive Board.
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Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine Participatory Democracy: Is that for real? Conspiracy Theories in American Politics We’ll talk about the political and social conditions that give rise to conspiracy movements. Why are people drawn to these ideas? What are the conditions in civil society that are feeding into these trends? How have these moments come up in our history? How have we gotten past it before? Can democracy function when these beliefs are widespread? Guests: Jamie McKown, James Russell Wiggins Chair in Government and Polity at College of the Atlantic Joanne Miller, Associate Professor, Political Science & International Relations, Director of Graduate Studies, University of Delaware To learn more about this topic: Speaking of Psychology: Why people believe in conspiracy theories, with Karen Douglas, PhD, podcast of the American Psychological Association Gender Differences in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory Beliefs, Erin C. Cassese, Christina E. Farhart, and Joanne M. Miller. 2020 A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy, Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead, 2019 The mostly volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes: Martha Dickinson, Michael Fisher, Starr Gilmartin, Maggie Harling, Ann Luther, Judith Lyles, Wendilee O’Brien, Maryann Ogonowski, Pam Person, Leah Taylor, Linda Washburn About the host: Ann currently serves as Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Maine and leads the LWVME Advocacy Team. She served as President of LWVME from 2003 to 2007 and as co-president from 2007-2009. In her work for the League, Ann has worked for greater public understanding of public policy issues and for the League’s priority issues in Clean Elections & Campaign Finance Reform, Voting Rights, Ethics in Government, Ranked Choice Voting, and Repeal of Term Limits. Representing LWVME at Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, she served that coalition as co-president from 2006 to 2011. She remains on the board of MCCE and serves as Treasurer. She is active in the LWV-Downeast and hosts their monthly radio show, The Democracy Forum, on WERU FM Community Radio -which started out in 2004 as an recurring special, and became a regular monthly program in 2012. She was the 2013 recipient of the Baldwin Award from the ACLU of Maine for her work on voting rights and elections. She joined the League in 1998 when she retired as Senior Vice President at SEI Investments. Ann was a founder of the MDI Restorative Justice Program, 1999 – 2000, and served on its Executive Board.
Net als jij doen we bij Het Redelijke Midden graag ons eigen onderzoek. Daarom duiken Annelot en Farah samen met wetenschappers Suzanne van Geuns en Boris Noordenbos in de wereld van complotdenkers. Wat We Leren Had Je Nooit Voor Mogelijk Kunnen Houden. Van Corona tot de pastelkleurige complothel van Instagram, van hagedismensen tot praten met familie over vaccinaties: we helpen je er in een uurtje doorheen. Friedepiepel! SHOWNOTES Klik hier (https://www.vn.nl/auteur/lex-boon/) voor de volledige serie die Lex Boon voor Vrij Nederland schreef over de kleurplaat met Adolf Hitler erop die Farah aanraadde Suus stelt dat de NPO van wisselende kwaliteit is en wil daarom graag dat je wél naar Klassen (https://www.npostart.nl/klassen/VPWON_1304701/overview) kijkt en níet naar Waarom Werken Vrouwen Niet (https://www.npostart.nl/waarom-werken-vrouwen-niet/KN_1717390) Volgens Boris is Behind The Curve op Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/title/81015076) de moeite waard als je meer wilt weten over mensen die denken dat de aarde plat is Annelot raadt je aan eerst naar dit podcastinterview met Kate Manne (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/this-conversation-will-change-how-you-understand-misogyny/id1081584611?i=1000428850914) te luisteren en dan meteen haar nieuwste boek Entitled (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608442/entitled-by-kate-manne/) aan te schaffen Nancy L. Rosenblum en Russell Muirhead schreven een boek over hoe complotdenkers democratie ondermijnen en wat we daaraan kunnen doen (https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691188836/a-lot-of-people-are-saying) Dit artikel van Susannah Crockford (https://religiondispatches.org/q-shamans-new-age-radical-right-blend-hints-at-the-blurring-of-seemingly-disparate-categories/) gebruikt de ‘viking’ die het Capitool aanviel om uit te leggen hoe extreemrechts complotdenken en ‘new age’ spiritualiteit samengaan Toen we Suus naar de link vroegen van Crockfords artikel, kwam ze ook nog met dit artikel (https://religiondispatches.org/how-positivity-can-lead-to-conspiratorial-thinking/) over de relatie tussen positief denken en complotten aanzetten en zei ze “doe deze er anders ook even bij, is leuk!” In Republic of Lies (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250159052) legt Anna Merlan uit hoe falende politieke systemen complotdenken bevorderen In dit boek (https://books.google.nl/books?id=g6G4DgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=nukhet+varlik&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjIzMnemLXuAhVD_aQKHd5tBLYQ6AEwAnoECAYQAg#v=onepage&q=nukhet%20varlik&f=false) claimt Nükhet Varlik dat epidemieën in het westen vaak worden gekoppeld aan een oosterse identiteit. Hier vind je een subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/QAnonCasualties/) voor de familieleden en vrienden van Qanon-aanhangers Dit artikel over paranoia (https://harpers.org/archive/1964/11/the-paranoid-style-in-american-politics/) van Richard Hofstadter werd in 1964 gepubliceerd maar wordt nog steeds veel gelezen Jeet Heer bekritiseerde het stuk (https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/richard-hofstadter-library-america-review/) onlangs in The Nation Volgens Arundhati Roy is de pandemie een portaal (https://www.ft.com/content/10d8f5e8-74eb-11ea-95fe-fcd274e920ca) en moeten we goed nadenken over wat we er wel en niet meer doorheen willen slepen Boris schreef een boek getiteld Post-Soviet Literature and the Search for a Russian Identity (https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137596727) maar als je geen tijd hebt om dat te lezen mag je hem ook mailen op b.noordenbos bij uva punt nl
Kelly talks to Dr. Isaac Bogoch, Russell Muirhead and Anthony Farnell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From Pizzagate to Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracies seem to be more prominent than ever in American political discourse. What was once confined to the pages of supermarket tabloids is now all over our media landscape. Unlike the 9/11 truthers or those who questioned the moon landing, these conspiracies are designed solely to delegitimize a political opponent — rather than in service of finding the truth. As you might imagine, this is problematic for democracy.Democracy scholars Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum call it “conspiracy without the theory” and unpack the concept in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy. Russell is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth. Nancy is the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics in Politics at Harvard.As you'll hear, the new conspiricism is a symptom of a larger epistemic polarization that's happening throughout the U.S. When people no longer agree on a shared set of facts, conspiracies run wild and knowledge-producing institutions like the government, universities, and the media are trusted less than ever.Additional InformationA Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy
Something a little different this week (don't worry, this won't be a trend). I just thought I would upload a talk I gave that relates to my dissertation work. Specifically, I argue here about the limitations of Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead notion of "conspiracism" in their book, A Lot of People are Saying. If you want to support me, you can do that with these links. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theoryandphilosophy paypal.me/theoryphilosophy IG: @theory_and_philosophy
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today's politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com.
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2019), Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”). The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy. Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat. Marshall Poe is the editor of the New Books Network. He can be reached at marshallpoe@newbooksnetwork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony learn from esteemed political scientists Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead about how Trump, QAnon, and a new type of conspiracism are shaping the idea of reality itself. You know, the just the simple stuff about our times... Check out their book: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691188836/a-lot-of-people-are-saying ...And go to our website and buy a shirt: http://www.nopoliticsatthedinnertable.com/divest-tshirts-by-vt-artist-michael-p-kin
In Episode 25: Q and The Baby Gays Jeanette explains conspiracies without the “theory” and the ridiculous Q-Anon cult. Then, Alena shares her own theory about Q-Tips. Book: “A Lot of People Are Saying,The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy” by Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum Podcast Music by Jeff Stovall: https://soundcloud.com/backhousetranscendent
A politician you don’t like might be running child prostitutes from a pizzeria. Election results you don’t like were rigged. In their new book A Lot of People are Saying, Professors Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead argue that new conspiracists in Donald Trump’s America have no evidence and no argument – in essence, no theory at all. Rosenberg explains how they harm democracy. This episode is made possible by the Israel office of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, which promotes peace, freedom, and justice through political education. This season is made possible by The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, which promotes humanistic, democratic, and liberal values in the social discourse in Israel.
D'Arcy Carden joins to match listeners with battleground states. Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead discuss their book about new ways conspiracies spread and how to respond. And we're joined live by listeners in Birmingham to break down the week's news and quiz the audience on how characters are described in books versus how those characters are cast on screen.
A conversation with Professor Russell Muirhead, Interim Director of the Rockefeller Center, Chair of the Department of Government at Dartmouth College, and the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics. Professor Muirhead discusses his latest book "A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy." Interview by Dartmouth student Ben Vagle '22. Music: Debussy Arabesque no 1. Composer: Claude Debussy
Does your favorite conspiracy come with evidence and theory of governance, or is it just a meme? Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, authors of A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy argue that the new conspiracism, while having the feel of classic conspiracy theories, have none of the search for meaning. The authors articulate the rise of this new kind of conspiracy thinking and the ramifications for democratic institutions and our collective understanding of the world. Host Lisa Schweitzer is joined by Olivia Olson, Jeff Jenkins, and Aubrey Hicks to discuss this new book about the current political moment. Follow us on Twitter: @drschweitzer @AubreyHi @jaj7d @BedrosianCenter Read along with us! Next month we’re reading Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China by Leta Hong Fincher. Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or email us at bedrosian.bookclub@usc.edu. Check out the showpage for links to some of the things we talk about.
Liberal democracy, free speech and freedom of the press are under attack in many parts of the world. Two of the most insidious threats are from conspiracy theories and the growing global reach of China's dictatorship.In this episode we discuss two interviews from "Democracy Works", a podcast series from The McCourtney Institute at Penn State University about what it means to live in a democracy. Larry Diamond, author of the 2019 book, "Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition and American Complacency" discusses the threat China's model of authoritarian capitalism poses to democracy in the United States and around the world. The Chinese government is using its growing military, technological, and economic to change the direction of the world.Conspiracies are becoming increasingly prominent in the public discourse. Democracy Scholars Democracy scholars Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum call the current version “conspiracy without the theory” and unpack the concept in their book "A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy."In this episode Jim and Richard discuss the ideas raised in both sets of interviews. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
From Pizzagate to Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracies seem to be more prominent than ever in American political discourse. What was once confined to the pages of supermarket tabloids is now all over our media landscape. Unlike the 9/11 truthers or those who questioned the moon landing, these conspiracies are designed solely to delegitimize a political opponent — rather than in service of finding the truth. As you might imagine, this is problematic for democracy. Democracy scholars Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum call it “conspiracy without the theory” and unpack the concept in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy(Princeton UP, 2019). Russell is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth. Nancy is the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics in Politics at Harvard. As you’ll hear, the new conspiricism is a symptom of a larger epistemic polarization that’s happening throughout the U.S. When people no longer agree on a shared set of facts, conspiracies run wild and knowledge-producing institutions like the government, universities, and the media are trusted less than ever. Democracy Works is created by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State and recorded at WPSU Penn State, central Pennsylvania’s NPR station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From Pizzagate to Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracies seem to be more prominent than ever in American political discourse. What was once confined to the pages of supermarket tabloids is now all over our media landscape. Unlike the 9/11 truthers or those who questioned the moon landing, these conspiracies are designed solely to delegitimize a political opponent — rather than in service of finding the truth. As you might imagine, this is problematic for democracy. Democracy scholars Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum call it “conspiracy without the theory” and unpack the concept in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy(Princeton UP, 2019). Russell is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth. Nancy is the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics in Politics at Harvard. As you’ll hear, the new conspiricism is a symptom of a larger epistemic polarization that’s happening throughout the U.S. When people no longer agree on a shared set of facts, conspiracies run wild and knowledge-producing institutions like the government, universities, and the media are trusted less than ever. Democracy Works is created by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State and recorded at WPSU Penn State, central Pennsylvania’s NPR station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From Pizzagate to Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracies seem to be more prominent than ever in American political discourse. What was once confined to the pages of supermarket tabloids is now all over our media landscape. Unlike the 9/11 truthers or those who questioned the moon landing, these conspiracies are designed solely to delegitimize a political opponent — rather than in service of finding the truth. As you might imagine, this is problematic for democracy. Democracy scholars Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum call it “conspiracy without the theory” and unpack the concept in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy(Princeton UP, 2019). Russell is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth. Nancy is the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics in Politics at Harvard. As you’ll hear, the new conspiricism is a symptom of a larger epistemic polarization that’s happening throughout the U.S. When people no longer agree on a shared set of facts, conspiracies run wild and knowledge-producing institutions like the government, universities, and the media are trusted less than ever. Democracy Works is created by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State and recorded at WPSU Penn State, central Pennsylvania’s NPR station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From Pizzagate to Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracies seem to be more prominent than ever in American political discourse. What was once confined to the pages of supermarket tabloids is now all over our media landscape. Unlike the 9/11 truthers or those who questioned the moon landing, these conspiracies are designed solely to delegitimize a political opponent — rather than in service of finding the truth. As you might imagine, this is problematic for democracy. Democracy scholars Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum call it “conspiracy without the theory” and unpack the concept in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy(Princeton UP, 2019). Russell is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth. Nancy is the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics in Politics at Harvard. As you’ll hear, the new conspiricism is a symptom of a larger epistemic polarization that’s happening throughout the U.S. When people no longer agree on a shared set of facts, conspiracies run wild and knowledge-producing institutions like the government, universities, and the media are trusted less than ever. Democracy Works is created by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State and recorded at WPSU Penn State, central Pennsylvania’s NPR station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From Pizzagate to Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracies seem to be more prominent than ever in American political discourse. What was once confined to the pages of supermarket tabloids is now all over our media landscape. Unlike the 9/11 truthers or those who questioned the moon landing, these conspiracies are designed solely to delegitimize a political opponent — rather than in service of finding the truth. As you might imagine, this is problematic for democracy. Democracy scholars Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum call it “conspiracy without the theory” and unpack the concept in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy(Princeton UP, 2019). Russell is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth. Nancy is the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics in Politics at Harvard. As you’ll hear, the new conspiricism is a symptom of a larger epistemic polarization that’s happening throughout the U.S. When people no longer agree on a shared set of facts, conspiracies run wild and knowledge-producing institutions like the government, universities, and the media are trusted less than ever. Democracy Works is created by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State and recorded at WPSU Penn State, central Pennsylvania’s NPR station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From Pizzagate to Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracies seem to be more prominent than ever in American political discourse. What was once confined to the pages of supermarket tabloids is now all over our media landscape. Unlike the 9/11 truthers or those who questioned the moon landing, these conspiracies are designed solely to delegitimize a political opponent — rather than in service of finding the truth. As you might imagine, this is problematic for democracy. Democracy scholars Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum call it “conspiracy without the theory” and unpack the concept in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy(Princeton UP, 2019). Russell is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth. Nancy is the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics in Politics at Harvard. As you’ll hear, the new conspiricism is a symptom of a larger epistemic polarization that’s happening throughout the U.S. When people no longer agree on a shared set of facts, conspiracies run wild and knowledge-producing institutions like the government, universities, and the media are trusted less than ever. Democracy Works is created by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State and recorded at WPSU Penn State, central Pennsylvania’s NPR station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives
Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine Engineer: Amy Browne We talk about the lies in politics and the politics of lying, Historical examples, and current practice. How is the present moment in American politics different from others in our history? Or is it? What are the consequences for democracy? Guests: Dallas G. Denery II, Professor of History at Bowdoin College. www.bowdoin.edu/profiles/faculty/ddenery/index.html Nancy L. Rosenblum, the Harvard University Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita scholar.harvard.edu/nrosenblum/home To learn more about this topic: “How the Science of “Blue Lies” May Explain Trump’s Support,” guest blog at the Scientific American by Jeremy Adam Smith, March 2017. “Trump’s lies corrode democracy,” James Pfiffner for Brookings, April 2018. “A Behavioral Science Solution to Lies in Politics,” blogpost at Psychology Today by Gleb Tsipursky, June 2017. “Conspiracy Without the Theory,” by Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum in The Atlantic, April, 2019. The all-volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes: Starr Gilmartin, Maggie Harling, Ann Luther, Maryann Ogonowski, Pam Person, Leah Taylor, Linda Washburn FMI re League of Women Voters of Maine: www.lwvme.org.
Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine Engineer: Amy Browne We talk about the lies in politics and the politics of lying, Historical examples, and current practice. How is the present moment in American politics different from others in our history? Or is it? What are the consequences for democracy? Guests: Dallas G. Denery II, Professor of History at Bowdoin College. www.bowdoin.edu/profiles/faculty/ddenery/index.html Nancy L. Rosenblum, the Harvard University Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita scholar.harvard.edu/nrosenblum/home To learn more about this topic: “How the Science of “Blue Lies” May Explain Trump’s Support,” guest blog at the Scientific American by Jeremy Adam Smith, March 2017. “Trump’s lies corrode democracy,” James Pfiffner for Brookings, April 2018. “A Behavioral Science Solution to Lies in Politics,” blogpost at Psychology Today by Gleb Tsipursky, June 2017. “Conspiracy Without the Theory,” by Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum in The Atlantic, April, 2019. The all-volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes: Starr Gilmartin, Maggie Harling, Ann Luther, Maryann Ogonowski, Pam Person, Leah Taylor, Linda Washburn FMI re League of Women Voters of Maine: www.lwvme.org.
Long before the Internet, in the early days of talk radio, the all-night hosts were the progenitors of modern-day conspiracy theory. Hosts spent hours talking about crop circles, animal mutilation, Area 51, the Kennedy assassination and all manner of events and evidence that could be used to construct a hidden narrative. The idea was that strange things were happening, that evidence in plain sight could be interpreted in ways that evolved to different conclusions. The narrative was always about the interpretation of evidence that was in plain sight. We were told that we just didn’t understand the full impact of what it meant. Today, all of that has changed. Almost like science, the “conspiracy theories” today from people like Alex Jones, or Donald Trump are not about another way of interpreting the world. It’s all about flat out lies, fabricated rumors and it’s often presented with the only backup being the mantra, “people are saying.” Laying bear this new look to conspiracies are Harvard Professor Nancy Rosenblum and Dartmouth Professor Russell Muirhead in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy My WhoWhatWhy conversation with Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead:
Jill Lepore traces the history of conspiracy theories and the conditions that allow them to thrive; Tim Crane talks us through whether we have free will or not, and why it is still a problem; Michael Caines looks at non-traditional approaches to criticismBooksCONSPIRACY THEORIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THEM, edited by Joseph E. Uscinski CONSPIRACIES OF CONSPIRACIES: How delusions have overrun America, by Thomas Milan Konda THE STIGMATIZATION OF CONSPIRACY THEORY SINCE THE 1950s: ‘A plot to make us look foolish’, by Katharina ThalmannTHE AMERICAN CONSPIRACIES AND COVER-UPS: JFK, 9/11, the Fed, rigged elections, suppressed cancer cures, and the greatest conspiracies of our time, by Douglas Cirignano REPUBLIC OF LIES: American conspiracy theorists and their surprising rise to power, by Anna Merlan A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING:The new conspiracism and the assault on democracy, by Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum HARVESTER OF HEARTS: Motherhood under the sign of Frankenstein, by Rachel Feder THE HUNDREDS, by Lauren Berlant and Kathleen Stewart TUNNEL VISION, by Kevin Breathnach ON THE LITERARY MEANS OF REPRESENTING THE POWERFUL AS POWERLESS, by Steven Zultanski The Limits of Free Will: Selected essays by Paul Russell Aspects of Agency: Decisions, abilities, explanations, and free will by Alfred R. Mele Self-Determination: The ethics of action – Volume One by Thomas Pink See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
As the threat of government regulation of the internet mounts from both the political Left and Right, Paul and Matthew sit down to talk about the foundational law that made the internet as we know it possible. Ironically, Section 230 was one of the few bits of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 that wasn’t struck down by the courts as a violation of the First Amendment, giving the internet more legal protection than it would have if the moral scolds of the 1990s hadn’t passed the law in the first place. Then, Paul talks with Jennifer Huddleston from the Mercatus Center about her research into the common law origins of Section 230, which rebuts claims that the amendment was some kind of unprecedented “gift” to tech companies.What was the primary purpose of the Communications Decency Act? What are the ramifications of Section 230? Without Section 230, what would the internet look like? Why is censorship important to the conservative movement?Further Reading:What Senator Hawley Gets Wrong about American Identity, written by Aaron Ross PowellSection 230 Is the Internet’s First Amendment. Now Both Republicans and Democrats Want To Take It Away, written by Elizabeth Nolan BrownWhat Republicans are getting wrong about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, written by Zachary MackRelated Content:Free Speech Online: Unfriended, Building Tomorrow PodcastHow the FOSTA Rules Create a “Bootleggers and Baptists” Scenario for the 21st Century, written by Paul MatzkoNew Conspiracism and Modern Politics (with Russell Muirhead), Free Thoughts Podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But, according to Russell Muirhead, the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College and Nancy Rosenblum, the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics is Politics and Government at Harvard University, in their new book, ‘A Lot of People Are Saying', there is a new … Continue reading EP 251 The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy
Russell Muirhead joins us to discuss the difference between conspiracism and conspiracy theory and how it has influence modern political discussions. Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”).What makes a theory a conspiracy theory? What is ‘conspiracism’? What is the difference between gossip and news? What are the foundations of society and how are they fragile? Do people care about facts?Further Reading:A Lot of People Are Saying, written by Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. RosenblumThe Promise of Party in a Polarized Age, written by Russell MuirheadConspiracy Without the Theory, written by Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. RosenblumWhy conspiracy theories are getting more absurd and harder to refute, written by Sean IllingRelated Content:The Problem with “Fake News”, written by Ryan KhuranaIn the Pursuit of Self Government, Does Quality News Matter?, Anthony Comegna and Caleb O. BrownThe Coddling of the American Mind, Free Thoughts Podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Interview with Professor Russell Muirhead of Dartmouth College.
Long before the Internet, in the early days of talk radio, the all-night hosts were the progenitors of modern-day conspiracy theory. Hosts spent hours talking about crop circles, animal mutilation, Area 51, the Kennedy assassination and all manner of events and evidence that could be used to construct a hidden narrative. The idea was that strange things were happening, that evidence in plain sight could be interpreted in ways that evolved to different conclusions. The narrative was always about the interpretation of evidence that was in plain sight. We were told that we just didn’t understand the full impact of what it meant. Today, all of that has changed. Almost like science, the “conspiracy theories” today from people like Alex Jones, or Donald Trump are not about another way of interpreting the world. It’s all about flat out lies, fabricated rumors and it’s often presented with the only backup being the mantra, “people are saying.” Laying bear this new look to conspiracies are Harvard Professor Nancy Rosenblum and Dartmouth Professor Russell Muirhead in their book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy My conversation with Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead:
Professor Russell Muirhead argues that to do anything in politics you need a party but just because a party currently rules does not mean it will be successful and continue to rule. He posits that parties need to remember and nurture achievements that they were responsible for creating in the past, so the party can protect and extend those achievements into the future and thus continue to rule. The ultimate goal in elections is to create a constitutional majority and keep that majority for more than one election cycle. Unfortunately, each party has pursued an agenda that is more extreme than what the people want, so the people vote in the opposite party. The Constitution makes no provision for political parties, but Muirhead argues that parties connect average citizens with their elected officials. People feel like someone cares and is fighting for them in their state government and in DC. He further examines the development of political parties from the founding of this country through the era of bipartisanship in the twentieth century. He believes that polarization of American politics today is not necessarily negative if parties work to advance the good of society. Muirhead defends the Electoral College, stating that it answers the fundamental question of who should rule, which is the constitutional majority. The Electoral College is a constitutional majority because it represents an enduring and geographically dispersed population that is larger in space and more enduring in time and thus a more thoughtful, right, and just majority. He argues that the game being played today is Trump versus Madison and that we don’t know which will win. Madison represents the best in us; Trump represents authenticity. The voters hope that President Trump will translate their hopes and grievances into good government. Peter Robinson and Russell Muirhead end the interview by briefly discussing the global project that depends on the success of the United States, with Muirhead arguing that there is no global project without the United States. The fight for justice requires people/citizens who are tough, resilient, and ready to fight the world’s fight for good; that type of character is what we need to model at colleges and universities today.
From the Greek, “rule of the people,” “democracy” is a form of government wherein all the citizens of a nation determine policy: laws and actions. Does it work? Speakers: David Gergen, Sanford Levinson, Russell Muirhead, David M. Kennedy
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