Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content cover image

Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content

#378 - Digital Delusions

Aug 2, 2024
Renée DiResta, a leading expert on misinformation, shares her insights on the complexities of the digital information landscape. She discusses how social media has transformed propaganda into a tool for manipulation, affecting public perception, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Renée highlights the rise of vaccine hesitancy and the challenges faced by public health authorities in combatting online misinformation. The conversation also critiques the notion of social media as a public square, emphasizing its role in fostering confrontation rather than meaningful dialogue.
01:25:17

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Renée DiResta highlights the shift from traditional mass media propaganda to targeted social media tactics that exploit niche communities.
  • The concept of 'asymmetry of passion' reveals how motivated small groups can create misleading illusions of consensus, drowning out moderates.

Deep dives

Trump's National Association of Black Journalists Appearance

Trump's appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists highlighted both his performance style and the implications of his statements. He faced a tough question from an ABC News journalist that seemed to set the tone for a chaotic interaction. Observers noted his outdated rhetoric and questionable assertions regarding Vice President Kamala Harris's racial identity, which sparked outrage. Despite the absurdity of some of his claims, Trump was able to speak fluidly, contrasting the perception of him and Biden as political leaders.

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