Think It Through: the Clearer Thinking Podcast

Episode 44--Misinformation, Disinformation, Bots, and Trolls

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1265189/open_sms] While it's always been the case that "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting its boots on," it's exponentially more true since the rise of the internet, particularly social media. In this episode, April looks at how and why misinformation and disinformation (which are not the same thing, btw) travel so quickly around our media landscape and affect the way we view the world. Episode 44 Show Notes (I have so many sources I can't put descriptions on them because I would go over the character limit, but they're generally in the order they are found in the episode): https://theonion.com/planned-parenthood-opens-8-billion-abortionplex-1819572640/ [https://theonion.com/planned-parenthood-opens-8-billion-abortionplex-1819572640/]  https://www.freedomforum.org/misinformation-vs-disinformation/#:~:text=Misinformation%20is%20false%20information%20disseminated,intentional%2C%20whereas%20misinformation%20is%20unintentional. [https://www.freedomforum.org/misinformation-vs-disinformation/#:~:text=Misinformation%20is%20false%20information%20disseminated,intentional%2C%20whereas%20misinformation%20is%20unintentional.] https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/north-carolina-man-sentenced-four-year-prison-term-armed-assault-northwest-washington [https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/north-carolina-man-sentenced-four-year-prison-term-armed-assault-northwest-washington] https://campaignlegal.org/results-lawsuits-regarding-2020-elections [https://campaignlegal.org/results-lawsuits-regarding-2020-elections] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/alex-jones-sandy-hook-settlement-supreme-court-appeal-00607361 [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/alex-jones-sandy-hook-settlement-supreme-court-appeal-00607361] https://shorensteincenter.org/research-initiative/the-hks-misinformation-review/ [https://shorensteincenter.org/research-initiative/the-hks-misinformation-review/] https://news.mit.edu/2018/study-twitter-false-news-travels-faster-true-stories-0308 [https://news.mit.edu/2018/study-twitter-false-news-travels-faster-true-stories-0308] https://som.yale.edu/story/2023/reimagining-social-media-news-sharing-research-finds-users-habits-key-safer-and-more#:~:text=One%20important%20aspect%20that%20contributes,professor%20of%20psychology%20and%20business. [https://som.yale.edu/story/2023/reimagining-social-media-news-sharing-research-finds-users-habits-key-safer-and-more#:~:text=One%20important%20aspect%20that%20contributes,professor%20of%20psychology%20and%20business.] https://www.imperva.com/resources/resource-library/reports/2024-bad-bot-report/ [https://www.imperva.com/resources/resource-library/reports/2024-bad-bot-report/] https://www.clrn.org/how-much-of-the-internet-is-ai-generated/ [https://www.clrn.org/how-much-of-the-internet-is-ai-generated/] https://theconversation.com/how-ai-bots-spread-misinformation-online-and-undermine-democratic-politics-234915 [https://theconversation.com/how-ai-bots-spread-misinformation-online-and-undermine-democratic-politics-234915] https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/media/2018/October/troll-farms-and-fake-news-social-media-weaponization#:~:text=Russian%20%E2%80%9Ctroll%20farms%E2%80%9D%E2%80%94groups,%E2%80%94literally%E2%80%94divide%20and%20conquer. [https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/media/2018/October/troll-farms-and-fake-news-social-media-weaponization#:~:text=Russian%20%E2%80%9Ctroll%20farms%E2%80%9D%E2%80%94groups,%E2%80%94literally%E2%80%94divide%20and%20conquer.] https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/ [https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/]

Episode 43: Agnotology--the Study of Ignorance and Manufactured Doubt

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1265189/open_sms] In this episode, April explains that ignorance and stupidity are not the same thing. But when doubt is deliberately created as a strategic ploy by powerful entities, the ignorance that results can be not only stupid, but dangerous. Episode 43 Show Notes Definition of "epistomology:" https://www.britannica.com/topic/epistemology [https://www.britannica.com/topic/epistemology] Good explanation of agnotology by Dr Mark Crislip: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/agnotology-the-study-of-ignorance/ [https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/agnotology-the-study-of-ignorance/] Dr Robert Proctor on Alie Ward: https://www.alieward.com/ologies/agnotology [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/agnotology] The post-truth world: https://theconversation.com/scientists-have-a-word-for-studying-the-post-truth-world-agnotology-71542 [https://theconversation.com/scientists-have-a-word-for-studying-the-post-truth-world-agnotology-71542] Medium article https://medium.com/@porlando_84392/agnotology-the-study-of-ignorance-351ba8ae432d [https://medium.com/@porlando_84392/agnotology-the-study-of-ignorance-351ba8ae432d] Find out about, and buy, Merchants of Doubt here: https://www.merchantsofdoubt.org/ [https://www.merchantsofdoubt.org/] Great article on "the science of spin:  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7996119/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7996119/]  Michael Facciani's website: https://www.matthewfacciani.com/ [https://www.matthewfacciani.com/] Agnotology explains why social media platforms don’t investigate the negative impacts of their messaging: https://www.cigionline.org/articles/social-media-platforms-and-upside-ignorance/ [https://www.cigionline.org/articles/social-media-platforms-and-upside-ignorance/] Changes to social media sites involving previously banned content: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/everything-to-know-about-meta-political-content-update/737123/ [https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/everything-to-know-about-meta-political-content-update/737123/] Yes, scientists do agree on climate change: https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/faq/do-scientists-agree-on-climate-change/ [https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/faq/do-scientists-agree-on-climate-change/] Jake Scott's Senate testimony: https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Scott-Testimony.pdf [https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Scott-Testimony.pdf] Here are a few good sources I didn't have time to discuss: How scientists deal with what they don’t know https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/evan.21303?msockid=1e22d990d6c764bc2523cc64d77d65db [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/evan.21303?msockid=1e22d990d6c764bc2523cc64d77d65db] How agnotology might work to fight disinformation https://www.wired.com/story/agnotology-misinformation-opinion/ [https://www.wired.com/story/agnotology-misinformation-opinion/] Agnotology and political rhetoric https://www.aaronhuertas.com/invisible-messaging-the-power-of-agnotology-in-political-rhetoric/ [https://www.aaronhuertas.com/invisible-messaging-the-power-of-agnotology-in-political-rhetoric/]

Episode 42: Why We Are So Good At Fooling Ourselves--Understanding Motivated Reasoning

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1265189/open_sms] In this episode, April explains how this biased form of reasoning keeps our identities and emotions safe from the harsh glare of reality. Using justifications to support what we really want to be true lies at the heart of motivated reasoning, so the next time you eat a whole sleeve of Ritz crackers and wash it down with chardonnay, remind yourself that you exercised that morning, so it's ok.* *note--when she says you, she means herself... Episode 42 Show Notes: The News Literacy Project article on motivated reasoning: https://newslit.org/educators/resources/in-brief-confirmation-bias-motivated-reasoning/ [https://newslit.org/educators/resources/in-brief-confirmation-bias-motivated-reasoning/] Science Direct is a scientific, health, and technical literature database containing millions of peer-reviewed articles on a wide variety of topics: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/motivated-reasoning [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/motivated-reasoning] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026137941400105X [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026137941400105X] Mental Health Matters is a website devoted to mental health conditions and disorders: https://mental-health-matters.org/2024/12/12/an-overview-of-motivated-reasoning/ [https://mental-health-matters.org/2024/12/12/an-overview-of-motivated-reasoning/] Matt Grawitch's substack page, The Eel-Filled Hovercraft, is full of great information about psychology and decision-making: https://mattgrawitch.substack.com/ [https://mattgrawitch.substack.com/] Information about climate change beliefs: https://epic.uchicago.edu/insights/2024-poll-americans-views-on-climate-change-and-policy-in-12-charts/ [https://epic.uchicago.edu/insights/2024-poll-americans-views-on-climate-change-and-policy-in-12-charts/] Excellent article about the link between conspiracy theories and motivated reasoning: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajps.12234?msockid=1e22d990d6c764bc2523cc64d77d65db [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajps.12234?msockid=1e22d990d6c764bc2523cc64d77d65db] Nobel prize winner Gordon Pennycock talks about why conspiracy theorists think that their beliefs are widespread: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/07/conspiracy-theorists-think-their-views-are-mainstream/ [https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/07/conspiracy-theorists-think-their-views-are-mainstream/] This Psychology Today article, also by Matt Grawitch, discusses the problems that can occur when goals and values collide: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hovercraft-full-eels/202106/the-collision-among-goals-and-accuracy [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hovercraft-full-eels/202106/the-collision-among-goals-and-accuracy] Ivan Jureta's article about avoiding motivated reasoning when making corporate decisions: https://ivanjureta.com/motivated-reasoning-how-to-detect-and-mitigate-its-risks/ [https://ivanjureta.com/motivated-reasoning-how-to-detect-and-mitigate-its-risks/] This vs That's article on critical thinking vs reflective thinking: https://thisvsthat.io/critical-thinking-vs-reflective-thinking [https://thisvsthat.io/critical-thinking-vs-reflective-thinking] YouGov article about popular conspiracy theories and the numbers of Americans who believe them: https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48113-which-conspiracy-theories-do-americans-believe [https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48113-which-conspiracy-theories-do-americans-believe]

Episode 41: Fallacy Watch: No True Scotsman, Argument from Repetition, and "I'm Entitled to My Opinion"

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1265189/open_sms] April confesses to being a "big ol' nerd" while discussing three sneaky fallacies that sidestep evidence and shut down discourse. Episode 41 Show Notes: It's a study guide about the No True Scotsman fallacy! Hey, they're good for adults too: https://studylatam.com/no-true-scotsman-fallacy-in-philosophy/ [https://studylatam.com/no-true-scotsman-fallacy-in-philosophy/] Another good article about No True Scotsman: https://practicalpie.com/no-true-scotsman/ [https://practicalpie.com/no-true-scotsman/] Rational Wiki is always a good go-to for fallacies: https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/No_True_Scotsman [https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/No_True_Scotsman] What's cognitive ease? Here you go: learning-mind.com/cognitive-ease/ [https://www.learning-mind.com/cognitive-ease/] Great article on the illusory truth effect: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/illusory-truth-effect [https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/illusory-truth-effect] Patrick Stokes' article in The Conversation on why he's so tough on his philosophy students: https://theconversation.com/no-youre-not-entitled-to-your-opinion-9978 [https://theconversation.com/no-youre-not-entitled-to-your-opinion-9978] Stephen Rainey's blog that discusses the concept of our "entitlement" to opinions: https://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2019/03/entitlement/ [https://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2019/03/entitlement/] *I have begun using ChatGPT to organize and outline my episodes--it does a great job clarifying my ideas. I still do the writing, though, so I can't say it saves a lot of time!

Episode 40: Why Good Data is Essential for Good Thinking (And What Happens When It's Taken Away)

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1265189/open_sms] In this episode, April talks about why good data (current, accurate, and trustworthy) is so important to good thinking. She is perturbed about the current administration's deliberate attempts to delete, change, or hide critical government data. However, she is also hopeful that the many efforts to protect and preserve this data will be successful. Episode 40 Show Notes--just citations because my explanations took up too much data...  https://www.getrightdata.com/blog/why-quality-matters-the-10-biggest-data-quality-disasters [https://www.getrightdata.com/blog/why-quality-matters-the-10-biggest-data-quality-disasters] https://www.smorescience.com/data-driven-life-how-information-shapes-our-daily-decisionsexamples-of-data-in-everyday-life/ [https://www.smorescience.com/data-driven-life-how-information-shapes-our-daily-decisionsexamples-of-data-in-everyday-life/]  https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2025/05/06/newark-airport-radio-radar-failures/83471323007/ [https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2025/05/06/newark-airport-radio-radar-failures/83471323007/]  https://abcnews.go.com/Health/white-house-covid-web-page-page-supporting-lab/story?id=120956514 [https://abcnews.go.com/Health/white-house-covid-web-page-page-supporting-lab/story?id=120956514]  https://insideclimatenews.org/news/31012025/trump-administration-war-on-science/ [https://insideclimatenews.org/news/31012025/trump-administration-war-on-science/] https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/climate-change-transparency-project-foia/2025-02-06/disappearing-data-trump?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/climate-change-transparency-project-foia/2025-02-06/disappearing-data-trump?utm_source=chatgpt.com]  https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/news/key-cdc-health-websites-vanish-following-trump-orders/?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/news/key-cdc-health-websites-vanish-following-trump-orders/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/removal-pages-cdc-website-brings-confusion-dismay?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/removal-pages-cdc-website-brings-confusion-dismay?utm_source=chatgpt.com] https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/06/nx-s1-5288113/cdc-website-health-data-trump [https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/06/nx-s1-5288113/cdc-website-health-data-trump] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/20/trump-missing-murdered-indigenous-peoples-report-removed?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/20/trump-missing-murdered-indigenous-peoples-report-removed?utm_source=chatgpt.com] https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-data-hoarders-resisting-trumps-purge [https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-data-hoarders-resisting-trumps-purge?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com%2Fnewyorkermag%2Flibrary%2Fmedia%2F512206113] https://libguides.umn.edu/c.php?g=1449575&p=10778647 [https://libguides.umn.edu/c.php?g=1449575&p=10778647] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Government_watchdog_groups_in_the_United_States [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Government_watchdog_groups_in_the_United_States] https://journalistsresource.org/home/researchers-rush-to-preserve-federal-health-databases-before-they-disappear-from-government-websites/ [https://journalistsresource.org/home/researchers-rush-to-preserve-federal-health-databases-before-they-disappear-from-government-websites/]