3 chapters across the catalog
The conditions for groupthink—insulation, stress, and external pressure—are applied to the history of Jim Crow in the American South. The hosts note that "othering" based on visual characteristics is a global phenomenon, citing the treatment of Pakistanis in the UK, Moroccans in the Netherlands, and the religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland.
The hosts discuss Steven Hassan’s model of mind control, which exists on a spectrum from healthy influence to destructive deception. Mo applies this to the COVID-19 lockdowns, arguing that physical isolation and the use of masks are classic cult tactics used to break down an individual's defenses. They note that the "target audience" for these tactics is often single, isolated individuals who are constantly inundated with media messaging.
In a 1994 interview with Tabitha Soren, Tupac Shakur describes the isolation of being a successful black man who cannot live in poor neighborhoods due to crime but feels unwelcome in wealthy white neighborhoods. The hosts discuss the lack of a cohesive "black community" zip code and the inherent distrust fostered by systemic issues.
