The Intelligence from The Economist Lying in states: fibbing politicians
Dec 23, 2019
John Parker, Editor-at-large at The Economist, dives into the escalating issue of political lying and its consequences for democracies. He explores historical and contemporary examples of dishonesty from global leaders. The discussion also touches on cognitive biases that complicate voters' ability to distinguish truth from falsehoods. Additionally, the conversation shifts to remarkable Antarctic explorations, where isolation and literature profoundly impact the adventurers’ experience. Meanwhile, the complexities of home genetic-testing kits raise both excitement and privacy concerns.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
The Rise of Blatant Lies in Politics
- Politicians, even in democracies, are increasingly telling blatant lies.
- This trend is exemplified by figures like Donald Trump and Boris Johnson.
The Human Bias Towards Trust
- Humans are inherently wired to trust others, making us vulnerable to deception.
- This tendency to believe facilitates communication but can be exploited.
Voter Behavior and Political Lies
- Voters often support politicians even when aware of their lies.
- Political decisions are driven by intuition and confirmation bias, not rational thought.
