Unpacking Influence: Media, Politics, and Controversy

Join Matt and Chris for a deep dive into the discourse created by Darryl Cooper’s controversial interview with Tucker Carlson. The decoders tackle Cooper’s revisionist takes on Winston Churchill, Hitler, and WWII, asking whether throwing in strategic disclaimers really makes it all okay.

They also explore reactions from the wider comment-o-sphere, including the musings of libertarian firebrand/idiot Dave Smith, mainstream historians and history YouTubers, and the hosts of Triggernometry, Konstantin and Francis, as they try to unpack Niall Ferguson’s sharp critique of Cooper. Along the way, Sam Harris enters the fray, on a search for grown-ups in the alternative media.

But does Harris offer a mature critique, or is he engaging in his own cycle of grievance-mongering? Matt and Chris examine his response and consider if it rises above or contributes to the podcasting noise. Whether you are a staunch critic of Sam Harris or a devoted fan, we promise this episode has something to disappoint everyone!

Links

• Tucker Carlson: Darryl Cooper: The True History of the Jonestown Cult, WWII, and How Winston Churchill Ruined Europe
• The History Underground: Was Churchill the Chief Villain of WWII??? A Response to Darryl Cooper & Tucker Carlson
• Cooper's follow up thread on X.
• Triggernometry: “Tucker Has Become an Enabler of Fascists” - Sir Niall Ferguson
• Dave Smith | Darryl Cooper | Part Of The Problem 1169
• Sam Harris: Episode 383 Where Are the Grown-Ups?
• Free Press: Sohrab Ahmari. Pseudo-Scholars and the Rise of the Barbarian Right
• SPLC: McInnes, Molyneux, and 4chan: Investigating pathways to the alt-right
• Vox: Ezra Klein. Sam Harris, Charles Murray, and the allure of race science
• Vox. The Sam Harris Debate.
• Arthur Jensen Profile at SPLC. The researcher who contributed to the Neo-Nazi journal.
• The Churchill Project. Reply to Darryl Cooper: The Truth About World War II.
• The Bulwark: Robert Tracinski. The “Charlottesville Hoax” Hoax.
• Independent Article on the 'Cat' roasting video.
• Wikipedia article on the Cat Eating Hoax.