The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast "Paranoid Thinking" with Stephen Clermont
4 snips
Oct 4, 2025 Stephen Clermont, Head of Polling at Change Research and author of the 'Beyond the Fringe' report, dives into America's fascination with conspiracy theories rooted in institutional distrust. He reveals how paranoid narratives spread and profile who typically believes them. The conversation also touches on the historical context of American skepticism and the alarming role of technology in amplifying misinformation. Clermont suggests that enhancing transparency and civic literacy could counteract these harmful beliefs. A thought-provoking exploration!
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Military Focus Can't Replace Soft Power
- Overemphasis on military power by leaders can ignore critical informational, diplomatic, and economic elements.
- Mark Jacobson warns strategic success requires integrating non-military instruments of national power.
Information Ecosystem Shapes Election Trust
- Erosion of trust in the information environment matters more than isolated ballot processes.
- Mark Jacobson and Jim Ludes note that undermining the broader information ecosystem breeds doubt about election fairness.
Paranoid Thinking Rooted In Institutional Distrust
- Paranoid thinking taps into deep public distrust amplified by modern political rhetoric and information chaos.
- Stephen Clermont links rising conspiratorial beliefs to collapsing trust in institutions and rapid AI-driven misinformation.
