Why don't fact checks stop fake news from spreading?

In this episode of UnSpun Journal Club, I break down research by Carlos Diaz Ruiz from the Hanken School of Economics that argues disinformation spreads not just because people believe it, but because digital media markets reward it.

We look at how attention turns into money. How platforms, advertisers, and influencers all benefit when content spreads fast—whether it’s true or not. From Macedonian fake news sites during the 2016 U.S. election to modern social media algorithms, this episode explains the problem when disinformation pays.

We also explore the role of the First Amendment, global platforms like X, and why regulating misinformation is harder than it sounds—especially when U.S. tech companies operate across borders.

Find Dr. Ruiz's paper here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14614448231207644

Political change doesn't start with politics. Evidence suggests something else happens first.

In this episode of UnSpun, we look at how media attention, repetition, and trust quietly shape what ideas feel acceptable long before policy is written. And news events like shooting protesters in Minneapolis can get liberals talking about gun rights and conservatives advocating for the right to protest a republican government.

Using real research and real-world examples,, explore how

• Media environments shape what politicians think voters want

• Repetition turns controversial ideas into “common sense”

• Attacking the press weakens accountability

• Social pressure locks new norms into place

This episode isn’t about telling you what to think.

It’s about helping you notice how the conversation itself gets shaped.

Stay sharp.

Most efforts to stop misinformation focus on helping people recognize what’s wrong. But new research suggests that knowledge isn’t always the problem. Sometimes people share misinformation on purpose—because it feels useful, political, or appealing.

This editon of UnSpun journal club breaks down Moral Deliberation Reduces People’s Intentions to Share Headlines They Recognize as “Fake News” by Daniel A. Effron Judy Qiu, Deborah Shulman

These authors report on a reason why people might sometimes share information they know isn't true and found a way to discourage it.