The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast

On this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss the pattern that emerges when you look at the divisive issues being injected into diverse Western media environments--including Canada, Switzerland, and Germany--where a looming election in February is liberal-democracy's next test against a familiar pattern of ethno-nationalist grievance and promises of national renewal.  They also discuss the Chinese AI phenom DeepSeek and its penchant for pro-Beijing disinformation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode of the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson reflect on recent reporting on Russian interference in the German and Romanian elections, the threat of AI-enabled individualized information campaigns, and the growing specter of tech billionaires operating in the information space in the same way we typically think of nation-states.  Ultimately, the two hosts consider a couple of recent proposals for fighting back--including to approach disinformation as an "organized crime."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hosts dive into China's strategic use of social media influencers to sway Taiwan, raising concerns about geopolitical tensions. They explore Russia's blend of hybrid warfare and marketing tactics, revealing the complexities of information warfare. A significant shift in Facebook's moderation approach is discussed, emphasizing the risks of misinformation. Ultimately, the conversation questions the effectiveness of traditional fact-checking methods, advocating for a narrative-driven approach to combat the disinformation crisis.

Discover the intricate web of hybrid warfare tactics as experts discuss Russia's election meddling and infrastructure assaults on NATO. Dive into the challenges Germany faces with upcoming elections and Russian disinformation efforts. Explore the alarming influence of billionaires in shaping political narratives and its historical implications. Learn about the U.S. Treasury's latest sanctions against election interference and the role of AI in spreading misinformation. The podcast offers a critical look at navigating these complex threats to democracy.

In this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson conclude the year and the first season of the podcast with a discussion of Romanian efforts to protect their presidential election from Russian interference; a look at Congress de-funding the U.S. Global Engagement Center; and then some context for the flurry of drone sightings in the Northeastern United States.  They end with a look back at disinformation in 2024 and a look ahead to 2025.Season 2 of the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast drops January 5, 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson review the latest reporting on Chinese cognitive warfare, Russia's multi-pronged efforts to undermine Western support for Ukraine, the limits of fact-checking to counter disinformation, and the unprecedented moment when the President of the United States and his principle funder both own popular social media networks--effective instruments for influence, attacks on enemies, and political mobilization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In their first episode back since election day 2024, Mark Jacobson and Jim Ludes take stock of the impact of foreign disinformation and generative AI in the U.S. election, turn their attention to various efforts to fight back, including for-profit companies and education, and then dive into the sabotage campaign Russia appears to be running across Europe, most recently taking the form of undersea cable cutting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voting in the 2024 U.S. election concludes this week with a race still too close to call. Steven Lee Myers, correspondent for The New York Times, joins hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson for a discussion of the foreign and domestic disinformation plaguing American politics. Those attacks include a sustained Russian effort to cast doubt on the integrity of American democracy while both Russia and Iran look intent to stoke political dissension, and possibly even violence, in the period after election day. This is the companion podcast to The Active Measures Newsletter No. 307.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss new reporting on disinformation targeting Spanish-language voters in the United States; anti-Semitic disinformation on the Spamouflage network; big trends in disinformation targeting Western Democracies, Russia undermining public health efforts in Africa, and what to make of EU election results and Moldova's referendum.The companion podcast to the Active Measures Newsletter No. 305.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Graphika Chief Intelligence Officer Jack Stubbs joins Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson for a discussion of the Spamouflage campaign and Graphika's most recent report "The #Americans."  Stubbs explains Graphika's most recent reporting, the evolution in the network's tactics, and the fine-line between informing the public and needlessly doing the work of adversarial information warriors.  In addition, Ludes and Jacobson unpack Thomas Rid's review of internal Russian documents, exposing the lies Russian propagandists tell themselves and their masters, as well as Josh Goldstein and Renee DiResta's piece on the sophistication of Russia's campaigns in 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.