Bret Weinstein & Heather Heying discuss the media's tactic of inventing slurs, the threat to the Democratic Party, and inconsistencies in official stories. They also explore the lingering effects of COVID-19, alternative treatments, and the importance of breaking harmful narratives. The chapter on border security questions the logic behind intense surveillance at certain borders and the debate over Trump's wall. They delve into the difference between individual and societal thinking and discuss the rise of alternative media and the equation for leftists crossing over to the authoritarian right.
Read more
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Individuals can contribute to breaking false narratives and promoting alternative perspectives by actively challenging prevailing narratives and engaging in thoughtful conversations with others.
Being discerning and critical consumers of information is crucial in a landscape influenced by capture and misinformation, requiring individuals to evaluate the quality and validity of sources.
Demonizing dissenting voices and labeling them as dangerous reactionaries serves to control the dominant narrative and discourage independent thought and critical analysis.
To maintain control over the dominant narrative, those who pushed the woke ideology must pivot away from it without empowering those who warned against its negative consequences.
Deep dives
The Perils of Capture and the Importance of Awareness
The podcast episode discusses the perils of capture and how it impacts the Democratic Party and society as a whole. It emphasizes the need to be aware of the changing landscape and not to blindly follow consensus or mainstream narratives. The episode highlights the importance of questioning and sharing doubts, as well as engaging in offline conversations to establish trust and create space for alternative perspectives. It suggests that individuals can play a role in breaking false narratives and insights into the unfolding events by constantly seeking and sharing accurate information.
Taking Action in a Challenging Landscape
In the face of capture and misinformation, the episode encourages individuals to take action by critically examining information and engaging in offline discussions with others. By modeling doubt and providing alternative viewpoints, individuals can create pockets of resistance to false narratives and help others break free from the influence of mainstream narratives. This requires challenging the prevailing consensus and seeking out trustworthy information sources.
The Importance of Processing Valid Information
The episode emphasizes the need to process accurate and trustworthy information rather than relying on quantity or consensus. It urges individuals to evaluate the quality and validity of sources, especially in a landscape tainted by corruption and conflicting narratives. The episode highlights the power of being discerning and critical consumers of information, ensuring that what is processed is based on valid evidence and reliable sources.
The Role of Individual Awareness and Skepticism
The podcast underscores the importance of individual awareness, skepticism, and critical thinking in navigating a landscape influenced by capture and misinformation. It encourages individuals to actively challenge the prevailing narratives and engage in thoughtful conversations with others. By recognizing the power of individual agency, individuals can contribute to breaking false narratives, promoting alternative perspectives, and fostering a greater understanding of complex issues.
The Tactical Nature of Attacks
The podcast episode discusses the tactical nature of attacks in order to discredit and distance from the concept of woke ideology. The aim is to pivot away from woke without empowering those who initially warned against it. One tactic utilized is to specially demonize individuals who have expressed doubts or asked questions, labeling them as dangerous reactionaries. These attacks attempt to control and silence alternative viewpoints and prevent scientific progress or critical analysis. The fear of empowering those who challenge preconceived narratives is at the core of these tactics.
Demonizing Dissenting Voices
The podcast emphasizes the tactic of demonizing dissenting voices in order to maintain control over the dominant narrative. Expressing doubts or questioning official explanations is portrayed as a sign of being on the 'other team.' This creates an environment where independent thought and critical analysis are discouraged, preventing progress and deeper understanding. The podcast highlights the danger of dismissing alternative viewpoints as conspiracy theories, and the importance of being able to ask questions and explore anomalies.
Pivoting Away from Wokeness
The podcast discusses the need for those who pushed the woke ideology to pivot away from it without empowering those who warned against its negative consequences. This necessitates the use of tactics such as demonizing individuals and labeling them as dangerous reactionaries. By discrediting those who express doubts or ask questions, the dominant narrative can be maintained without acknowledging its flaws. The fear of facing the truth and admitting past mistakes drives these tactics, leading to the suppression of independent thinking and critical analysis.
In this 193rd in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we discuss the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.
In this episode we discuss the middle-ground scramble by the mainstream media to defeat those who would think for themselves by inventing slurs like “conspiracy theorist influencer” and “reactionary trap.” Harper’s says that “insurgency” is threatening the Democratic Party. The Atlantic invokes a world in which “mistakes don’t matter, and no one feels shame,” not realizing that they’re talking about themselves. And the New York Times goes after Bret for observing inconsistencies in official stories. As Isaac Asimov famously said, “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but that’s funny…’”
*****
Our sponsors:
MUD\WTR: is a coffee alternative with mushrooms and herbs (and cacao!) and is delicious, with 1/7 the caffeine as coffee. Visit www.mudwtr.com/darkhorsepod and use DARKHORSEPOD at check out for 15% off.
PaleoValley: Wide array of amazing products, including SuperFood Golden Milk and beef sticks. Go to https://paleovalley.com/darkhorse for 15% off your first order.
Hillsdale College: Since 1844, Hillsdale has been providing an education focused on freedom and character. Go hillsdale.edu/DARKHORSE to register for any of 39 free on-line courses.
*****
Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com/
Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com
Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://a.co/d/dunx3at
Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org
***** Mentioned in this episode:
Harper’s: Against the Current: https://harpers.org/archive/2023/10/against-the-current/
The Atlantic: From Feminist to Right-Wing Conspiracist: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/10/naomi-wolf-klein-doppelganger-book/675120/
The New York Times: How to Argue Against Identity Politics Without Turning Into a Reactionary: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/22/opinion/identity-politics.html