Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics

Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics

Author: Cato Institute September 28, 2018 Duration: 1:31:18

The internet and social media were supposed to radically democratize news and information — yet many observers now worry that they are undermining the preconditions for healthy democracies. Misinformation peddled by conspiracy theorists, unscrupulous clickbaiters, and even intelligence agencies spreads around the globe at the speed of light, while in the United States, citizens increasingly retreat into distinct media ecosystems so divergent as to be mutually unrecognizable. Can liberal democracy function in a world in which voters no longer inhabit the same universe of facts?

We’ll take up these questions with renowned scholar Yochai Benkler, coauthor of the important new book-length study Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics. We’ll take a close look at the dynamics of how propaganda, misinformation, and “fake news” propagate across modern information networks. Rebecca MacKinnon, author of Consent of the Networked: The Worldwide Struggle for Internet Freedom, and Cato senior fellow Julian Sanchez provide commentary.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step inside the Cato Institute's renowned Washington, D.C. events without leaving your desk. The Cato Event Podcast brings the lecture hall and briefing room directly to you, featuring unfiltered audio from live policy forums, author discussions, and Capitol Hill briefings. Each episode captures the substance of these gatherings, where scholars, policymakers, and leading thinkers engage in detailed conversations about liberty, governance, and current affairs. You'll hear substantive debates and thoughtful commentary that cut through the noise of daily headlines, offering deeper analysis on the issues shaping legislation and public discourse. This isn't a produced studio show; it's a front-row seat to the kind of candid exchanges that happen when experts gather to challenge conventional wisdom. The Cato Institute, through this podcast, provides a direct conduit to these discussions, emphasizing a perspective rooted in individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Tune in for a raw, intellectual experience that goes beyond soundbites, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the foundational ideas behind today's political news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 102

Cato Event Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Presidential Tariff Authorities and the Need for Reform [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:33
Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution grants Congress the sole power to “lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises” and to regulate commerce with foreign countries. Today, however, Congress has broadly del…
Competencies in Civil Discourse: Episode 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:38
In this episode, Erec Smith speaks with Andrew Hartz, a practicing clinical psychologist and Founder, President, and Executive Director of the Open Therapy Institute. Hartz and Smith discuss the detrimental effect that i…
Dissolving the Education Department: The Role of Congress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:38
One of the hottest topics on the Hill is the future of the Department of Education and the current administration’s education priorities. As national conversations grow around school choice, federal overreach, and the ro…
US Immigration Policy in 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:51
The current administration has enacted the most active immigration policy in American history, issuing unprecedented executive orders, attempting to deport one million people a year, and imposing new restrictions on lega…
Removing Barriers to Capital Formation Panel II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:58
Join us for an afternoon dedicated to discussing barriers to capital formation and the solutions to break through them. Small businesses are central to the US economy. Not only are small businesses the primary generators…
Removing Barriers to Capital Formation Panel I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:31
Join us for an afternoon dedicated to discussing barriers to capital formation and the solutions to break through them. Small businesses are central to the US economy. Not only are small businesses the primary generators…
AI Policy Today and Beyond: A Fireside Chat with Rep. Rich McCormick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:34
Join us at the Cato Institute for an in-depth fireside chat featuring Congressman Rich McCormick and Matt Mittelsteadt, Cato policy fellow in technology. This timely conversation will explore the evolving landscape of ar…