Peril in The Main Stream: The 209th Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
Jan 24, 2024
01:31:47
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Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying discuss misinformation and its impact on mainstream researchers and media. They dissect flawed research on 'doing your own research' and celebrate the finding that the Trucker's Convoy emergency act was unconstitutional. The WHO's pandemic preparedness plan is criticized. They also explore their recent trip to Panama, highlighting the major migration across the Darien Gap and the construction projects in the Panama Canal. They delve into the history and challenges of the canal project and discuss the border situation at the US border.
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Quick takeaways
Misinformation is dangerous and the research claiming that "doing your own research" cements false views is flawed.
Fact checkers' assessments of article veracity raise concerns about biases and the need for diverse input.
The Panama Canal has had a profound impact on wildlife and migration, highlighting the need for conservation and community empowerment.
Deep dives
Study finds online searches can increase belief in false information
A recent study examined the impact of online searches on belief in false information. The findings showed that individuals who searched online to verify the truthfulness of false news articles were actually more likely to believe them. This was attributed to the exposure to lower quality information during the search process. The study also highlighted the need for media literacy programs to provide empirically tested strategies to combat this issue.
Fact checkers' evaluations and their influence on perceived truth
The study employed professional fact checkers to evaluate the veracity of articles simultaneously with the respondents. The fact checkers' ratings were used to label articles as true, false, misleading, or undetermined. However, this reliance on fact checkers' assessments raises questions about inherent biases and subjective judgments. The study suggested the importance of having diverse fact checkers and encouraged the inclusion of public interest litigants to ensure robust legal argumentation.
Challenges in assessing veracity of articles
The study faced challenges in determining the veracity of articles immediately after publication, as fact-checking organizations' evaluations were not yet available. Instead, the study recruited professional fact checkers from reputable publications to provide timely assessments. However, this approach raised concerns regarding conflicts of interest and highlights the difficulty of establishing a definitive truth given the ever-evolving nature of information.
Evaluation of media sources and misinformation
The study categorized media sources into mainstream liberal, mainstream conservative, low-quality liberal, low-quality conservative, and low-quality non-political bias. Interestingly, the assessment determined that mainstream sources were perceived as more true, while low-quality sources were more likely to be considered false or misleading. This finding raises questions about the objectivity of fact-checking and the potential influence of institutional biases.
The Impact of the Panama Canal on Wildlife and Migration
The podcast episode explores the profound impact of the Panama Canal on wildlife and migration. It begins by discussing a remarkable incident where a howler monkey was seen swimming across the canal, highlighting the division of habitat caused by the canal's construction in 1913. The episode draws parallels between the monkey's struggle and the challenges faced by migrants crossing the perilous Darien Gap. The hosts also reflect on the symbolic significance of the canal as a major artery of the world economy, affecting the lives of both animals and humans. The discussion delves into the perspectives of various indigenous communities and the unique ways they adapt to the changing ecosystem around the canal. Overall, the episode emphasizes the need for awareness and action to protect natural habitats and empower local communities.
Exploring the Global Phenomenon of Migration
The podcast episode delves into the global phenomenon of migration, particularly in relation to the situation at the US-Mexico border. It highlights surprising insights from eyewitnesses and experts on the composition of migrant populations, revealing that it extends beyond Latin Americans and encompasses people from various countries. The discussion raises thought-provoking questions about the causes and implications of this migration pattern, including the involvement of Chinese communities and the potential geopolitical aspects. The hosts emphasize the importance of carefully considering these complex dynamics and address the need for a nuanced understanding of the situation. Overall, the episode calls for critical thinking and informed dialogue to navigate the challenges posed by migration on a global scale.
In this 209th in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we talk about the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.
In this episode, we discuss misinformation and how dangerous it is, especially to mainstream researchers and media. We dissect research that claims to find evidence that “doing your own research” actually cements false views, and find that the research itself is so methodologically flawed as to be incapable of delivering accurate results. We celebrate the finding of Canada’s Federal Court that the invoking of the Emergencies Act during the Trucker’s Convoy was unconstitutional; and we discuss the WHO’s faltering pandemic preparedness plan. And we briefly discussed Panama: what is happening in the Darien, in the Panama Canal, and why a monkey crossed the Canal. Head over to our Locals for more content from Bret & Zack’s recent trip to Panama.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Doing your own research is a good way to end up being wrong (WaPo):https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/17/do-your-own-research-study/
Aslett et al 2024. Online searches to evaluate misinformation can increase its perceived veracity. Nature625:548-575: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06883-y
From Table S8?: Why are volcanoes all over the globe suddenly shooting giant clouds of ash miles into the air? https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/01/michael-snyder/why-are-volcanoes-all-over-the-globe-suddenly-shooting-giant-clouds-of-ash-miles-into-the-air/
Cargo cult science, by Feynman (1974): https://calteches.library.caltech.edu/51/2/CargoCult.htm
Federal Court of Canada declares invocation of the Emergencies Act unconstitutional: https://theccf.ca/wp-content/uploads/EA-challenge-fed-court-reasons-FINAL.pdf
The cavalry rolled in, by Dan Arcand: https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/the-cavalry-rolled-in
The Guardian: Global pandemic agreement at risk of falling apart, WHO warns: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/22/global-pandemic-agreement-at-risk-of-falling-apart-who-warns