9 chapters across the catalog
Strategy 23 involves weaving a blend of fact and fiction to disturb an enemy's focus. The hosts cite the 50 intelligence officials who labeled the Hunter Biden laptop "Russian propaganda" as a prime example. They also discuss the recent news about T-Mobile monitoring texts for "hate speech" as a distraction from the fact that the NSA already possesses all digital communications.
The hosts analyze the definitions of "information disorder" provided by the organization First Draft: disinformation (intentionally false), misinformation (unintentionally false), and malinformation (true information used to cause harm). They argue that the term "malinformation" is being used to censor true facts—such as statistics on single motherhood or geriatric pregnancy—that are deemed "harmful" to certain political narratives.
Adam Curry and Mo Fax open episode 80 of the MoFax podcast from the Texas Hill Country and Northern Virginia. The hosts discuss their recent schedules, including Curry's travel to New York for his father's internment and Mo's struggle with severe allergies. They introduce the primary theme of the episode regarding misinformation and the emergence of political factions like "Dark MAGA" and the "Pizza Party."
The hosts discuss the concept of "mass formation" and how false information is often planted alongside real analysis to discredit researchers. They emphasize the importance of vetting clips and maintaining context to avoid falling for "nuggets" of misinformation designed to destabilize independent media.
Renee DiResta of the Stanford Internet Observatory discusses the "harassment campaigns" faced by doctors who post pro-vaccine content on social media. The segment focuses on Dr. Nicole Baldwin's refusal to remove her posts despite negative feedback. The hosts critique the media's framing of these interactions as "bullying" while ignoring the legitimate skepticism of the commenters.
LeBron James and his "More Than a Vote" initiative launch "Under Review," a rapid response operation to counter political misinformation targeting Black voters. The hosts discuss the conversion of NBA arenas into polling locations and LeBron's tactical decision to focus on issues rather than endorsing a specific candidate.
The hosts discuss why celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyonce have been less visible in the 2020 cycle compared to 2016. They also recount a social media interaction regarding Joe Biden's "predator" comments, criticizing the tendency to label counter-narratives as "Russian misinformation."
Dr. Robert Piat continues his critique of inflammatory online content and clickbait that erodes public trust in experts. The hosts pivot to a critique of academia, questioning why similar skepticism isn't applied to climate change models. They suggest that university funding structures prevent professors from challenging certain mainstream scientific narratives.
A news segment highlights the confusion among some members of the public who believe the coronavirus is linked to Corona beer. Google searches for "beer virus" spiked, leading the beer's parent company to halt production temporarily. The hosts use this as a data point to illustrate how easily the public can be misinformed through simple word association.
