Episodios

  • Episode 69: Connectomes

    Episode 69: Connectomes
    Aug 13 2025
    Liars are using the media to overwhelm people’s minds -- and not just consciously. To understand how deep this problem runs, we need to learn how the news impacts the unconscious mind. Today, Josh speaks with a woman who has exceptional insight, and has coined the term “Brand Connectome.” You’ll learn how people manipulate our brains, and what we can do about it. Along the way, you’ll hear about new data on violent crimes that fly in the face of Trump’s claims; a type of crime that has reached historic levels; a photographer who stages images; and an interviewer who does nothing when a lying terror supporter justifies atrocities. Plus, Josh answers a listener’s question about presidents and the national debt.
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    30 m
  • Episode 68: Drama Over Comedy

    Episode 68: Drama Over Comedy
    Aug 6 2025
    The recent uproar over comedian Stephen Colbert left Americans with a false impression. Today, Josh explains what the cancellation of The Late Show and CBS’ payout to settle a Trump lawsuit really say about legacy media, the power of corporations, and the news and commentary Americans receive. Also, how the coverage ended up whitewashing the failures of CBS News. Plus, a huge number of Americans now get news from comedians. Hear Patton Oswald explain why he hates the idea that his profession now has this role. And while few fact checkers take on comedians, someone did take on John Oliver, after an episode he did about trans people.
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    31 m
  • Episode 67: Truth-icide

    Episode 67: Truth-icide
    Jul 30 2025
    A New York Times column took quotes out of context to construct one of the most incendiary accusations possible. Today, Josh digs into this “journalistic trickery.” He shows how the original context was ignored, creating a false impression. This could happen to you, or anyone. In this case, an Ivy League professor was given a “holy grail” platform to accuse Israeli leaders of wanting to carry out a “genocide.” But the Times wasn’t done there. It went on to use a doctored photo to create the false impression that Israel is inflicting a famine on Gaza. Josh runs the numbers showing how the Times gives relatively little or not attention to the raging famines around the world. This isn’t journalism, he explains; it’s what propagandists do.
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    33 m
  • Episode 66: Truth Keepers

    Episode 66: Truth Keepers
    Jul 23 2025
    Profound media failures and AI are making a global misinformation crisis even worse. But there's a place working to hold onto proof of what’s real. It has 11 floors, takes up half a million square feet, and includes a huge underground section that keeps out oxygen, so robots do the work. Today, Josh takes you there. You’ll hear from a team working to document the truth about a crucial story -- and a very difficult one to grapple with. They discuss ethical questions, and what it takes to also document false propaganda. This place shows what could be built in any society that values truth. One of the women Josh interviews is a global leader in making that happen. You’ll also hear from civil rights leader Mamie Till. Plus, a surprise audio “conversation” that an AI tool presented Josh with — and what his kids said about it.
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    31 m
  • Episode 65: Mega-Debt/ Meme War

    Episode 65: Mega-Debt/ Meme War
    Jul 16 2025
    Americans worry about the national debt. A majority say they’re “very” concerned about it. So it’s no surprise that the media has been talking about what the “One Big Beautiful Act” will do to the debt. But the reports conflict with each other. Today, Josh looks into what’s true, and probes the track records of places that make predictions. He also explains what the media should be making clear right now, including Trump’s track record and the votes of so-called “deficit hawks.” Then, a guest joins Josh to explain how and why U.S. culture has shifted so dramatically. How did people become so radicalized that they celebrate terrorists and believe lies pushed by Iran? Jason Korman discusses how memetics spur culture change without people realizing it.
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    30 m
  • Episode 64: Mamdan-gerous

    Episode 64: Mamdan-gerous
    Jul 9 2025
    A man seeking the highest office in a government says he would carry out an illegal arrest -- something dictators are known for. In this case, the man making that threat is a Democrat. Today, Josh highlights this big story the mainstream media is ignoring. Zohran Mamdani, who won a New York City mayoral primary, is making the threat even as he goes after Trump for extrajudicial arrests. It shows not only hypocrisy, but a growing appetite for antidemocratic actions on both ends of the political spectrum. Mamdani described what he would do an act of “courage,” and drew a false comparison to same-sex marriage. To help you understand all this, Josh dispels myths about “international law” and discusses how in a democracy, the rules must apply to everyone no matter how people feel about them -- in this case, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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    29 m
  • Episode 63: Emergency Abortions/ Iran Leak

    Episode 63: Emergency Abortions/ Iran Leak
    Jul 2 2025
    When healthcare workers get false information from the news, people’s lives can be in danger. That has happened recently, as big media misreported a step the Trump administration took involving women who need emergency abortions to save their lives. Today, emergency physician Dara Kass joins Josh to explain. Meanwhile, big news agencies have suddenly been paying attention to a source on Iran that they were ignoring before. Worse, they’ve been playing up a leaked preliminary report while ignoring reporting that the agency stands behind. Josh explains how this affects your safety. Plus, Josh welcomes people from numerous countries. And for Americans, some new patriotic music for July 4th!
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    32 m
  • Episode 62: Iran Intel/ Stunning Prediction

    Episode 62: Iran Intel/ Stunning Prediction
    Jun 25 2025
    If there's any time the media should be especially careful about providing fact-checked information and context, it should be when people are saying they're scared of World War III. Instead, in the wake of U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, we’ve been getting a rush of talking heads spouting all kinds of claims. Today, Josh explains what the media has failed to make clear about the intelligence on Iran’s nuclear capabilities; presidential powers; actions by previous U.S. administrations, and more. Meanwhile, just days before Israel attacked nuclear sites in Iran, the head of a group that follows the Middle East closely predicted what was about to happen. Yet much of the media refuses to hear from him. Gregg Roman of the Middle East Forum joins Josh to discuss some of the biggest media fails.
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    31 m