The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast

Best-selling author Annalee Newitz joins hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson for a discussion of Newitz's new book, Stories are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind. The discussion races from early cold warrior Paul Linebarger and his other life as a science-fiction author, to similarities between psyops and advertising, and the transfer of these technologies between military and civilian entities, culminating in a lengthy discussion of whether or not disarmament of munitions of the mind can be achieved. Ludes and Jacobson also share their top stories of the week--including the arrival of foreign governments using AI generated content to target Americans on the eve of election 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss the recent report from the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center documenting "synchronized shifts" in three consecutive U.S. presidential elections in which Russian assets sought to denigrate Democratic candidates within 90 days of election day. They then discuss a Tech Policy Press report on how the U.S. government struggles to counter these threats, before welcoming Paul Fagan, Director of Democracy Programs at the McCain Institute for a conversation about the new task force report he led, "Defending American Democracy in the Digital Age."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson unpack the viral, dangerous misinformation about immigrants and family pets in Springfield, Ohio; take a look at the disinformation targeting Latino voters in Michigan; and discuss new reporting about the leader of RT, on the one hand, and, on the other, the effort by former U.S. Senator Gordon Humprhey to build a social media channel that speaks directly to the Russian people.  All that and more as we celebrate the 300th edition of the Active Measures Newsletter!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, New York Times reporter Julian E. Barnes joins Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson for an in-depth conversation of the multiple indictments announced late last week by the U.S. Department of Justice exposing the scheme by Russian state-media to funnel $10 million to American right-wing influencers peddling divisive and anti-Ukrainian messages to American audiences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss the investigation of American citizens working for Russian state media; the potential of 'Green Cicada,' a newly identified AI-enabled network on X, to achieve strategic surprise in the information-space; legal and financial consequences for those using synthetic media in campaigns; Russia's likely use of "gendered disinformation" in the 2024 U.S. campaign; and the surrender of social media companies who were expected to police disinformation on their networks themselves while one of their owners uses his platform to stoke violent riots in a key NATO ally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special guest David Klepper, the intelligence reporter on the national security team for the Associate Press, joins Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson to discuss his recent reporting. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence recently briefed reporters on the actions of Russia, China, and Iran in the run up to the 2024 elections.  Each has an interest--but each is approaching the election in their own way.  In Russia's case, that includes the use of unwitting Americans to spread divisive messages. And as the Olympic flame fades, Klepper discusses the ways Russia has sought to sew division in the shadow of the Paris Olympics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week in the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson unpack why democratic elections continue to be the playground of autocratic malign influence; highlight the ODNI's recent assessment of threats to U.S. election security; examine Russia's hand in Venezuela's contested election, the far-right riots in the UK, and Israeli politics; and they take one last look (for now, at least) at how China sought to capitalize on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Mark Jacobson and Jim Ludes discuss a strategy--seemingly inspired by the film "The Untouchables"--to counter Russia's hybrid attacks on the West. They then move on to the dynamic environment around the Olympics; the latest in efforts to counter the Doppelganger campaign; Russia's efforts to target Moldova's upcoming election; and efforts in Canada and across NATO to fight back more effectively. Companion podcast to the Active Measures Newsletter No. 293.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss two weeks of heavy news: leaked plans documenting Russia's propaganda campaign against the West; the way Russian sources depicted the 75th Anniversary NATO summit; a U.S. Department of Justice take down of nearly 1,000 sock-puppet accounts on social media; and the way the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was spun, both internationally and domestically.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NATO leaders meet in Washington this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the alliance amidst as hostile an information environment as the alliance has ever known. We break down what's at stake at the summit, recent reports of Russian efforts to target French elections and the up-coming Olympics, evidence of disinformation in the UK election, and what health-related misinformation teaches us about the need for institutional integrity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.