Quico Toro

Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion and democracy advocate, Russell Muirhead, a professor of government and New Hampshire state representative, and Quico Toro, a climate repair director and contributing editor, dive into pressing geopolitical and domestic issues. They discuss the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and the implications of the U.S. government shutdown. The conversation also touches on the alarming parallels between America and authoritarian regimes, featuring insights on generational moralism in politics and the dangers of loyalty tests in governance.

Quico Toro, co-author of "Charlatans" and advocate for the Anthropocene Institute, dives into the world of deceitful influencers. He outlines how charlatans exploit deeply held beliefs, making us vulnerable to manipulation. The conversation reveals that technology and isolation craft a perfect storm for scammers. Toro emphasizes that harm, not just persuasion, defines a charlatan, illustrating this with examples from politics and religion. He warns of the increasing sophistication of grift, fueled by AI, urging listeners to cultivate critical thinking and community connections.

Quico Toro, a contributing editor at Persuasion and co-author of *Charlatans*, dives deep into the world of fraudsters. He and Yascha Mounk unpack how technology has made charlatanism widespread and discuss the psychology behind both charlatans and their victims. They explore whether these scam artists truly believe their claims and the blurred lines between persuasion and deception. Toro offers insights on building defenses against scams, emphasizing the importance of community and skepticism in today’s vulnerable landscape.