6 chapters across the catalog
Professor Matthias DeSmet originally developed the theory of mass formation to explain collective behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Robert Malone later added the term "psychosis" during an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, which the hosts describe as an inflammatory addition. Google reportedly censored search results for the term, leading users to alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo.
The hashtag is identified as a user-invented tool that Twitter officially adopted years after its creation to facilitate searchable communities. Data from 2009 shows how Black Americans became power users of the feature, transforming the "pound sign" into a symbol of cultural connectivity and digital patrolling of news outlets.
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.
The concept of algorithmic bias is explored through examples of technology failing to serve non-white users, such as Nikon cameras misidentifying Asian eyes as blinking and Google Photos mislabeling Black people. The discussion posits that while mathematics itself is neutral, the humans who program and feed data into AI systems introduce their own biases. These technological failures are contrasted with the companies' public support for social justice causes.
Kanye West publicly declared his support for Donald Trump during a 2016 concert in Sacramento, California, shortly after the election. During a 17-minute rant, he criticized Google and Facebook and suggested that black people should stop focusing on racism. Following this controversial appearance, West was hospitalized for sleep deprivation, which some interpret as industry-led damage control.
The concept of "nudging"—subtly planting ideas in the public consciousness—is explored through the lens of Obama's Social and Behavioral Science Team. Created by Executive Order 13707 and led by Maya Shankar, the team focused on behavioral intervention. The discussion links this to modern "native ads" and the way media shapes consumer and political behavior.
