14 chapters across the catalog
Strategy 23 involves controlling perceptions by mixing fact and fiction. The hosts discuss the Hunter Biden laptop story and the role of "50 intelligence leaders" in labeling it Russian propaganda. They also mention Taylor Swift as a figure used to control public perception and distract from more substantive political issues.
The hosts review the technical definitions of information disorder as categorized by the organization First Draft. They debate whether Scott Adams' actions constitute disinformation (intentionally false), misinformation (unintentionally false), or malinformation (true information used to cause harm). The conclusion reached is that Adams' behavior is best described as pure manipulation to prove a point about free speech.
The podcast examines the definitions of "information disorder" as categorized by the organization First Draft: disinformation (intentionally false), misinformation (unintentionally false), and malinformation (true information used to cause harm). The hosts argue that the term "malinformation" is particularly dangerous as it allows for the censorship of factual data if it is deemed "hurtful." This framework is seen as a tool to target the Manosphere and other dissident voices.
The creation of the DHS Disinformation Governance Board, led by Nina Jankowicz, is linked to Barack Obama's recent speeches on digital misinformation. The hosts suggest the board was established as a governmental response to the potential loss of corporate narrative control following the Twitter acquisition.
Barack Obama returned to Chicago to deliver a warning about systematic disinformation, defining it as a deliberate effort to suppress truth for political or financial gain. He argued that while a debate of ideas is healthy, the current information environment is destructive to democracy and requires new solutions.
A New York Times documentary, *Operation Infection*, explores the Soviet KGB's campaign to spread the story that the U.S. created AIDS at Fort Detrick. The hosts examine how the Soviets exploited existing social fissures in America to destabilize the West.
The hosts discuss how they "reverse engineer" mainstream news using collective memory tools like YouTube. They argue that the modern strategy for disinformation is to flood the zone with confusing material and label everything a conspiracy to hide the true causes of mortality.
Adam Curry reveals a recent report titled "Operation Secondary Infection" (with a K), which targets the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The hosts find the naming convention highly suspicious, linking it directly to the original KGB "Operation Infection" and suggesting a coordinated seating of the narrative.
A throwback clip from episode 15 features Joy Reed and Shireen Mitchell discussing how to identify "bots" pretending to be Black women online. They specifically target the ADOS and DOS hashtags as indicators of disinformation. Adam Curry credits this specific broadcast with sparking his initial interest in investigating the ADOS movement and eventually connecting with Mo Fax.
The hosts revisit a clip of Joy Reid on MSNBC where she characterizes the ADOS movement as a "black identity framework" potentially manipulated by Russian bots. Reid warns viewers to be skeptical of accounts using the ADOS hashtag or demanding "tangibles" for their vote. Adam Curry and Mo Fax recount their "origin story," where Mo Fax reached out to correct Curry's use of the term "DOS" (Descendants of Slaves) to "ADOS."
Dr. Safiya Noble discusses the "flood of disinformation" targeting Black voters regarding the criminal justice records of Biden and Harris. The hosts counter that highlighting their actual records is not disinformation but factual reporting. They also speculate on the potential use of the 25th Amendment to transition power from Biden to Harris should they win the election.
A clip from the 1990s shows Joe Biden advocating for more police, prosecutors, and prison cells to combat "violent thugs." The hosts point out the irony of current claims that discussing this history constitutes "disinformation." They argue that Biden's past rhetoric directly contributed to the mass incarceration policies that the Democratic Party now claims to oppose.
On MSNBC, Joy Reid suggested that social media accounts questioning Kamala Harris's heritage were "Russian bots" or disinformation agents. This theory was used to dismiss the ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) movement's legitimate critiques of Harris's record. Mo characterizes this as a "believable lie" designed to protect Harris from losing black support.
Joy Reid and Shireen Mitchell on MSNBC presented a list of "disinformation campaigns" targeting black voters, including ADOS, Blexit, and "Tangibles." They claimed that accounts using black vernacular to discuss reparations or criminal justice are likely "fake accounts" or bots. Mo and Adam react with disbelief, calling it a desperate attempt to tell black voters to ignore their own interests.
