Blocked and Reported Episode 291: Oh, Canada (with Jonathan Kay)
28 snips
Jan 17, 2026 
In this engaging conversation, Jonathan Kay, a Canadian journalist and editor at Quillette, explores the nuances of conspiracy theories and their subgroups, like MYHOPs and LIHOPs. He discusses the allure of video propaganda and how intelligent individuals can fall prey to conspiracism due to overconfidence. Kay highlights the challenges of responding to misinformation, debates the illiberal left versus the MAGA right, and examines Canada's unique social norms. His insights into the trucker protests and Trudeau’s policies provide a fascinating look at contemporary Canadian culture.
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Evergreen Episode Radicalized A Once-Progressive Voice
- Jonathan Kay describes Brett Weinstein's rise to prominence after the Evergreen protests and how that experience catalyzed his dissident identity.
- Kay recounts how professional ostracism can lead figures like Weinstein to embrace broader conspiratorial views.
Conspiracism Is Self-Reinforcing
- Belief in one conspiracy strongly predicts belief in others because communities and forums reinforce accumulation of conspiracies.
- Kay explains that conspiracism tends to be cumulative and socially reinforced online.
Prioritize Public-Health Harms Over Culture-War Clicks
- Prioritize harms: anti-vax propaganda has caused far more real-world damage than most culture-war controversies.
- Kay argues publications should resist profitable anti-science content even if clicks tempt them.
