Nicholas Confessore, a political and investigative reporter for The New York Times, explores the contentious atmosphere on college campuses following the October 7th attacks on Israel. He discusses the rise of antisemitism and the anxiety felt by Jewish students amid heated protests. The podcast reveals how a congressional hearing involving university leaders impacted careers and influenced academic policies. Confessore also highlights the complex balance between free speech and the need to address hate speech, examining the reactions from both students and alumni.

Nicholas Confessore, a political and investigative reporter for The New York Times, dives deep into the chilling rise of replacement theory—a racist ideology behind recent mass shootings. He explores its unsettling origins and how it gained traction among white nationalists, connecting it to horrific events like the Buffalo massacre. The discussion highlights the troubling role of social media in radicalizing individuals and the mainstream embrace of extremist views within conservative politics, raising urgent questions about the societal impact of such dangerous beliefs.

Nicholas Confessore, a Politics correspondent for The New York Times, joins Michal Kosinski, a Stanford psychometrics expert, to dive into the murky world of data-driven politics. They discuss the controversial strategies of Cambridge Analytica in the Trump campaign, questioning if personality profiling really swayed voters or if charisma was the true trump card. The conversation raises ethical dilemmas surrounding the manipulation of voter behavior and the fine line between effective persuasion and unethical influence in both politics and marketing.