In this lively discussion at the Hay Festival, David Spiegelhalter, a renowned statistician, joins Anne Applebaum, a distinguished journalist and historian, and comedian Marcus Brigstocke. They dive into the murky waters of political rhetoric surrounding Putin and the unsettling influence of misinformation. The trio humorously examines the complexities of labor statistics and government policies, while Spiegelhalter shares insights on combating false claims through 'pre-bunking'. Bridging humor and serious analysis, they tackle the challenges of modern governance and public perception.
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insights INSIGHT
Bond Markets and Autocracy
Bond markets act on financial interests and can limit fiscal irresponsibility by autocrats indirectly.
Autocratic regimes may bypass this by using hidden, parallel financial systems for laundering and maintaining power.
insights INSIGHT
Trump's Alternate Reality on War
Donald Trump's recent criticism of Putin reflects a clash between his imaginary reality and the war's harsh reality.
Trump believes his friendship with Putin could end the war, ignoring the ongoing conflict facts on the ground.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Truth Sandwich In Reporting
Use the "truth sandwich" by stating a fact, showing the misinformation, then restating the fact.
This approach helps remind audiences that misinformation does not reflect reality.
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Introducing Mrs Collins is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, exploring the life of Charlotte Lucas after she marries Mr. Collins. The story begins at the point where Charlotte accepts Mr. Collins' proposal and follows her journey beyond the original novel. It delves into themes of duty, routine, and unexpected change when an unexpected visitor arrives at Rosings Park.
Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don't
Josie Long
Josie Long's debut book, 'Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don't', is a collection of short stories that reflect her unique voice and perspective. The book marks a significant milestone in her career, as she transitions from comedy to writing, a dream she had since her university days.
The New Age of Sexism
The New Age of Sexism
How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny
Laura Bates
In 'The New Age of Sexism,' Laura Bates investigates the ways in which AI and emerging technologies are perpetuating and amplifying existing forms of misogyny. The book delves into areas such as finance, healthcare, recruitment, and the creation of deepfake pornography to reveal how algorithms and AI tools are embedding gender bias. Bates argues that these technologies, if left unchecked, risk reinforcing and exacerbating historical inequalities. She calls for prioritizing safety and equality at the design stage of AI development to prevent the technology from vomiting our sexism back at us. Through her research, Bates highlights the urgent need for regulation and ethical considerations in the development and deployment of AI to protect women and girls from harm.
Autocracy, Inc.
The Dictators Who Want to Run the World
Anne Applebaum
In 'Autocracy, Inc.', Anne Applebaum provides a detailed analysis of how modern autocracies operate, highlighting their sophisticated networks of kleptocratic financial structures, surveillance technologies, and professional propagandists. These autocratic regimes, spanning countries like China, Russia, and Iran, collaborate across borders to maintain power and undermine democracy. Applebaum argues that international condemnation and economic sanctions are ineffective against these autocrats and calls for democracies to fundamentally reorient their policies to combat this new threat. The book serves as both a historical investigation and a practical guide for defending democratic values against the rising tide of autocracy.
A Confederacy of Dunces
John Kennedy Toole
A Confederacy of Dunces is a picaresque novel that tells the story of Ignatius J. Reilly, an overweight, unemployed, and intellectually arrogant man living with his mother in New Orleans. The novel is a rich satire that critiques modern society through Ignatius's interactions with a diverse cast of characters, including his mother Irene, his girlfriend Myrna Minkoff, and various eccentric figures from New Orleans. Written in the early 1960s while Toole was in the army, the book was published posthumously in 1980 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981. It is celebrated for its witty and absurd portrayal of life in New Orleans and its memorable protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly.
The Art of Uncertainty
David Spiegelhalter
Recorded live at Hay Festival, Adam and Alex look at whether President Trump has changed his mind about President Putin and how politician’s use statistics. Plus, Newscast continues trying to work out if the goverment’s change of policy on winter fuel allowance counts as a U-Turn.
They are joined by Anne Applebaum, journalist, historian and author of Autocracy Inc, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter statistician and author of The Art of Uncertainty, and comedian and broadcaster Marcus Brigstocke.
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Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming and Alex Forsyth. It was made by Anna Harris. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Huge thanks to the BBC team at Hay, as well as Chris the festival organisers.
Newscast 
