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How to Age Up

How to Know What's Real: How to Know What’s Really Propaganda

Sep 4, 2024
Peter Pomerantsev, contributor at The Atlantic and author of This Is Not Propaganda, dives into the intricacies of propaganda in America. He discusses how propaganda has evolved and affects our perception today, paralleling emotional strategies from past wars with modern media. Pomerantsev explores the blend of reality TV and political narratives, revealing how personality-driven politics shape our engagement. He emphasizes the balance of competition and collaboration needed to combat this manipulation, grounding his insights in historical contexts.
23:38

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Democratic values can erode gradually, highlighting the crucial role of vigilance among citizens to protect their rights and liberties.
  • Propaganda serves the interests of its creators, contrasting sharply with public education, thus complicating the discernment of truth in today's media landscape.

Deep dives

The Gradual Erosion of Democracy

Democracy can deteriorate subtly over time rather than through abrupt events like coups or significant battles. This ongoing decline is evident in the current political landscape, where the fear of losing democratic values has intensified. Acknowledging the factors that contribute to this shift underscores the importance of vigilance among citizens to safeguard democracy. Societal complacency can allow autocratic tendencies to creep into the political discourse, reshaping public perceptions and influencing governance subtly yet profoundly.

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