New Books Network

Adam J. Berinsky, "Political Rumors: Why We Accept Misinformation and How to Fight It" (Princeton UP, 2023)

Apr 6, 2025

Adam J. Berinsky, Mitsui Professor of Political Science at MIT, dives into the tangled web of political rumors and misinformation. He explains why false narratives endure, often fueled by conspiratorial thinking and partisanship. Berinsky highlights the critical role of social media and political elites in spreading misinformation. He argues that combating these falsehoods requires focusing on undecided individuals and employing trusted messengers. Ultimately, he calls for greater public skepticism to safeguard democracy against the tide of misinformation.

44:47

Episode guests

Adam J. Berinsky

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Political rumors thrive due to the ease of sharing information on social media, amplifying misinformation beyond previous informal means.

Conspiratorial thinking and political affiliation significantly influence belief in rumors, necessitating targeted strategies to combat misinformation among vulnerable audiences.

Deep dives

The Rise of Political Rumors

Political rumors have a long history but have been notably amplified in recent years due to the rise of technology and social media. Unlike the past, where rumors might have circulated through informal means, today's platforms allow individuals to easily find and connect with like-minded conspiratorial thinkers online. As individuals share and reinforce these beliefs through social media, political rumors, which were once just stories or whispers, have now become prominent public discussions. This visibility makes it easy for those who are normally apolitical to inadvertently engage with these rumors, thereby affecting their perceptions and beliefs.

Intro

2min

Navigating Political Misinformation

12min

Analyzing Political Rumors: A Study of Partisan Beliefs and Influences

3min

Examining Political Rumors and Strategies to Combat Misinformation

2min

Navigating Misinformation Challenges

9min

The Perils of Elite Rumors in Politics

13min

Political rumors and misinformation pollute the political landscape. This is not a recent phenomenon; before the currently rampant and unfounded rumors about a stolen election and vote-rigging, there were other rumors that continued to spread even after they were thoroughly debunked, including doubts about 9/11 (an “inside job”) and the furor over President Obama’s birthplace and birth certificate. If misinformation crowds out the truth, how can Americans communicate with one another about important issues? In Political Rumors: Why We Accept Misinformation and How to Fight It (Princeton UP, 2023), Adam Berinsky examines why political rumors exist and persist despite their unsubstantiated and refuted claims, who is most likely to believe them, and how to combat them.

Drawing on original survey and experimental data, Berinsky shows that a tendency toward conspiratorial thinking and vehement partisan attachment fuel belief in rumors. Yet the reach of rumors is wide, and Berinsky argues that in fighting misinformation, it is as important to target the undecided and the uncertain as it is the true believers. We’re all vulnerable to misinformation, and public skepticism about the veracity of political facts is damaging to democracy. Moreover, in a world where most people simply don’t pay attention to politics, political leaders are often guilty of disseminating false information—and failing to correct it when it is proven wrong. Berinsky suggests that we should focus on the messenger as much as the message of rumors. Just as important as how misinformation is debunked is who does the debunking.

Adam J. Berinsky is the Mitsui Professor of Political Science at MIT and the founding director of the MIT Political Experiments Research Lab. A specialist in the fields of political behavior and public opinion, he is the author of Silent Voices: Public Opinion and Political Participation in America (Princeton) and In Time of War: Understanding American Public Opinion from World War II to Iraq.

Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter.

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