Hurricane Milton and a storm of misinformation

Oct 10, 2024

Hurricane Milton left over 3 million without power in Florida, sparking a conversation about the storm's impact on elections and the flood of misinformation online. The hosts examine how political figures navigate crises and the trust issues arising from conspiracy theories. They also discuss the challenges of voting amid hurricane disruptions and the role of generative AI in shaping public perception. Additionally, the cultural significance of the Waffle House as a disaster response indicator adds a unique twist to the discussion.

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Intro

00:00 • 1min

Hurricane Milton: Politics and Perception

01:30 • 18min

Voting Amidst Hurricane Challenges

19:13 • 9min

The Impact of Generative AI on Public Perception During Crises

28:09 • 2min

Perception, Reality, and the Waffle House Index

30:09 • 7min

Engaging Listeners on Current Events

36:45 • 3min

Exploring Reverse Auctions and Shopping Innovations

39:31 • 2min

More than 3 million homes and businesses in Florida have been left without power after Hurricane Milton tore through the center of the state. The Americast team have partnered with Newscast to bring you a special episode on the storm that arrived less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the Gulf Coast.

Sarah is in Miami to survey the scale of the damage, and Justin, Marianna and Adam are in the studio to discuss Hurricane Milton’s potential impact on the upcoming election and the disinformation swirling online.

HOSTS: * Sarah Smith, North America editor * Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter * Adam Fleming, Newscast presenter * Marianna Spring, Disinformation and Social Media correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 * Email Americast@bbc.co.uk * Or use #Americast

This episode was made by George Dabby with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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