Technocracy for Dummies

Critical Scrolling with Renée DiResta

How do we identify trustworthy information? What does the modern-day propaganda machine look like? In this episode of Technocracy for Dummies, Sam talks with Renée DiResta, a researcher and professor at Georgetown University, about the information sphere. We cover topics like identifying trustworthy images and videos, mob movement online, and how liberal institutions have failed in gaining the trust of the American people. We also think about ways to engage more thoughtfully with the content that affects us. Slowly but surely, we're going to turn Technocracy into a tool for Smartypants. More on Ampliganda [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/10/disinformation-propaganda-amplification-ampliganda/620334/?ref=reneediresta.com] TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff. Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

Track or Treat: Spooky Surveillance with Andrew Couts

Host Sam Simon talks with Andrew Couts, senior editor of cybersecurity and surveillance at bastion-of-sanity tech mag Wired. While not conceived as a Halloween episode, boy is it relevant! From Andrew, we learn about the extent to which anyone with a phone and internet access is being surveilled - by actors from the social media industry to hackers to international governments. It’s pretty spooky. We also talk about what it’s like to be a tech journalist with integrity in technologically-accelerated end times. At least we still have freedom of the press! Mike Masnick article mentioned briefly at the beginning. [https://www.techdirt.com/2025/03/04/why-techdirt-is-now-a-democracy-blog-whether-we-like-it-or-not/] TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff. Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

With vs Versus with Baratunde Thurston

How can we find accountability without shame for our dependence on Big Tech? Where can we take action in our communities on- and offline? On this episode of Technocracy for Dummies, Sam is joined by host, writer, speaker, and exemplary lifer Baratunde Thurston [https://www.baratunde.com]. We have lots of fun chatting about ethical and functional use of technology in an (impending? or are we already there?) age of digital feudalism. Conversational links! Dr. Joy Buolamwini on AI bias [https://www.ted.com/talks/joy_buolamwini_how_i_m_fighting_bias_in_algorithms] What’s Gamergate? [https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/23/us/gamergate-harassment-reddit-twitter-cec] How To Look at Social Media [https://etymology.substack.com/p/how-to-look-at-social-media]: TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/technocracy4dummies/] Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

Technocracy How? with Jennifer Pahlka

What is technocracy? Are we in one? If so, how did we get here? In the first episode of Technology for Dummies, host Sam Simon talks with Jennifer Pahlka, former Deputy CTO and founder of Code for America. We chat about the US government's dysfunctional relationship to technology, past accumulating into the present. It's hard to move fast and break things when the systems already move slowly and are broken. TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff. Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬