The World and Everything In It 1.16.26 Online narratives and misplaced conviction, analysis of film noir, the reshaping of language, and the PCA’s new leadership
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Jan 16, 2026 Maria Baer, a journalist and co-host of Breakpoint This Week, dives into the impact of online narratives on real-world actions, highlighting the distortion of moral obligations. She discusses the challenges of motherhood in activism and critiques Amy Grant's recent song as cultural signaling. The conversation seamlessly transitions into a film noir analysis, exploring themes of fate and betrayal, while also examining the visual style of the genre. Finally, Maria reflects on the PCA's leadership changes and the quest for stability within its community.
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Online Narratives Warp Real Danger
- Online narratives can distort real-world perception, making protests feel like historic moral battles.
- Maria Baer argues this can cause people to misjudge actual danger and behave as if in a different moral reality.
Saying Something Isn’t The Same As Acting
- People increasingly treat online activism as equivalent to real-world action, blurring stakes and responses.
- Maria Baer says this blurred reality can make participants misperceive life-or-death situations.
Misplaced Mothering May Miss The Mark
- 'Misplaced mothering' was proposed to explain activist behavior, but Maria Baer questions its fit for protesters.
- She notes genuine nurture shows in concrete care, which she didn’t observe in this case.