The Glenn Show Michael Shermer – A Skeptic's Guide to 2026
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Jan 23, 2026 
Michael Shermer, founding publisher of Skeptic Magazine and author on belief and truth, joins to probe conspiracy thinking and the collapse of institutional trust. He catalogs major conspiracies, explains cognitive biases that fuel them, and defends Bayesian, evidence‑based reasoning. They also debate immigration enforcement, media credibility, QAnon’s appeal, and whether leaders uniquely threaten democratic norms.
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Pluralistic Ignorance Drives Public Conformity
- People often privately reject a belief yet publicly conform due to pluralistic ignorance and fear of social costs.
- This dynamic creates a crisis not only of belief but of speech, making honest disagreement rare.
Personal Immigration Paperwork Frustration
- Michael Shermer recounts navigating immigration paperwork for his wife and a separate failed visa hire to show system friction.
- He uses these experiences to argue enforcement should focus on criminals while sparing long-term community workers.
Proportionality And Anti‑Randomness Biases
- People prefer larger, intentional causes for big events because of proportionality bias and a bias against randomness.
- That psychological discomfort fuels conspiracy theories for events like JFK, 9/11, and Princess Diana's death.
