9 chapters across the catalog
Archival clips of Malcolm X explain how those in power use the press, radio, and television to control the thoughts of the masses. The hosts apply this to modern doctors who are rebranded as "providers" and forced to follow rigid protocols. They discuss the professional consequences for those who dissent, including deplatforming and the loss of medical licenses.
The media's use of John Legend to criticize Kanye West is analyzed, with the hosts noting how the media flipped their professional history to make Legend appear more prominent. They recall West's 2016 stage rant about Hillary Clinton and the "new day in America," which was immediately followed by his forced hospitalization. This is cited as a real-world example of how the industry handles "assets" who go off-script.
Analysis of a 2018 Barack Obama rally for Andrew Gillum suggests that media outlets like MSNBC used audio editing techniques, such as noise gates, to enhance the impact of Obama's speech. The discussion explores the theory that hecklers at these events are sometimes staged to allow the speaker to appear more charismatic and "fired up" in response. This tactic is viewed as a form of psychological "spells" cast by the mainstream media on the audience.
Professor Meredith D. Clark discusses how Black Twitter drives pithy conversations that define the broader platform. The hosts argue that this influence makes it the most manipulated part of the internet, serving as a "Black AP" for refined political narratives that are often manufactured for specific electoral outcomes.
The segment explores how both the media and university activists used Crystal Mangum as a pawn for their own ideological goals. The hosts discuss the "Animal House" collegiate culture and the objectification inherent in the escort industry, while noting that the activists were equally guilty of objectifying Mangum to "carpet bomb" the patriarchy. They contrast the American college experience with the more normalized view of sex work in the Netherlands.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) provides a critique of the Newberg Sting, labeling it a "manufactured" event designed for media consumption. Witnesses at the local mosque describe the informant as a suspicious "blowhard" who was ignored by most congregants until he found a vulnerable target. The hosts discuss how the media works with three-letter agencies to create "scoops" that fuel public fear and justify government expansion.
Artistic Culture as Propaganda and the Civil Rights Narrative
The hosts compare "A Raisin in the Sun" to the television show "The Jeffersons," noting how both shaped public perception of black upward mobility. They suggest that the televised version of the Civil Rights movement was a highly manipulated form of propaganda designed to push specific social memes.
Mo analyzes an ABC News backgrounder on the Guyger case, highlighting the use of "creepy" background music and dramatic editing as tools for psychological manipulation. The segment examines Guyger's 911 call, where she repeatedly states she thought she was in her own apartment. The hosts discuss whether the recording sounds scripted or staged and how the media targets specific demographics to drive ratings.
The viral chicken sandwich debate reached a peak when local news stations in Atlanta conducted taste tests, further fueling the social media frenzy. The hosts examine the discomfort associated with breaking cultural codes and how corporate social media accounts use "woke" language to engage users. This level of engagement is presented as evidence of sophisticated advertising expertise in manipulating public discourse.
