Belief in Simple Motives

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Vaccinating against conspiracy theories can be done by introducing a simpler conspiracy theory, involving just a single person profiting from lies. This approach, akin to Occam's razor, suggests that complex conspiracies are unnecessary when a straightforward motive, like personal enrichment, is present. Such narratives are compelling and easy for people to grasp and believe in, making them a common journalistic theme.

This is the fifth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro.

This week, Roman and Elliott also sit down with Brandy Zadrozny, a senior reporter for NBC News who covers misinformation, conspiracy theories, and the internet. Brandy recently finished The Power Broker, and she’s got a great perspective on what the book says about the press and its relationship to power, what has changed in journalism, and what has remained the same.

On today’s show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the last section of Part 4 of the book (Chapter 21 through Chapter 24), discussing the major story beats and themes.

The Power Broker #5: Brandy Zadrozny

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