Zero Sum Fallacy - FT#128

Zero Sum Fallacy - FT#128

Author: Jim & Mark July 25, 2023 Duration: 1:32:02

In the one hundred and twenty eighth episode we explore the Zero Sum Fallacy, starting with Trump getting trade wrong again and dismissing Black lives mattering, followed by the Supreme Court annihilating affirmative action.

In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Rishi Sunak and Oliver Dowden's zero sum based trade theories, and Rishi's attack on 'useless' university degrees.

In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from House, Northern Exposure and This Great Beast That Is The Global Economy.

Jim and Mark go head to head in Fake News, the game in which Mark has to guess which one of three Trump quotes Jim made up.

Then we talk about the target letter Trump received from Jack Smith.

And finally, we round up some of the other crazy Trump stories from the past week.

The full show notes for this episode can be found at https://fallacioustrump.com/ft128

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Ever find yourself in a conversation where something just sounds off, but you can't quite pinpoint the flawed reasoning? That's the territory Fallacious Trump explores, though it stretches far beyond a single figure. Hosts Jim & Mark have built this podcast around a simple, potent premise: using glaring public examples, primarily from Donald Trump's rhetoric but also pulled from UK politics and everyday pop culture, to dissect the formal logical fallacies that shape so much of our discourse. Each episode isolates one specific fallacy-like ad hominem attacks, false dilemmas, or appeals to emotion-and breaks down how it works. You'll hear the actual clips and statements, followed by a clear explanation of why the logic fails. It’s not just about identifying these tricks in others; the discussion always turns toward practical self-defense. Jim & Mark dig into the psychology of why these fallacies can be so persuasive, offer advice on how to avoid using them yourself in heated debates, and suggest effective strategies for countering them when they’re deployed against you. This makes the show a unique blend of current events, philosophical logic, and social commentary, delivered with a mix of exasperation and wit. For anyone looking to sharpen their critical thinking and navigate today’s chaotic news and culture landscape with a more discerning ear, this podcast provides an engaging, often darkly humorous toolkit.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 220

Fallacious Trump
Podcast Episodes
Gish Gallop - FT#28 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:59
In the twenty-eighth episode we explore the Gish Gallop, with examples from Trump's interview with the New York Times and a single day of tweets from Charlie Kirk.In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Nigel Farage…
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In the twenty-seventh episode we explore the Single Cause Fallacy, with examples from Trump tweeting about the stock market, and blaming violent video games for the Parkland shooting.In Mark's British Politics Corner we…
Kettle Logic - FT#26 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In the twenty-sixth episode we explore Kettle Logic, with examples from Trump tweeting about tax fraud, and Giuliani arguing in the alternative.In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Theresa May on TV complaining a…
Special Pleading - FT#25 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:46
In the twenty-fifth episode we explore the Special Pleading Fallacy, with examples from Trump talking about hiring foreign workers and Sean Spicer on golf.In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Theresa May avoiding…
Ignoratio Elenchi - FT#24 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:18
In the twenty-fourth episode we explore the Ignoratio Elenchi Fallacy, with examples from Trump talking about Charlottesville and impeachment.In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Theresa May avoiding a question a…
Poisoning the Well - FT#23 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:03
In the twenty-third episode we explore the Poisoning the Well Fallacy, with examples from Trump talking about Democrats, Mueller's team of angry Democrats, and election rigging (by Democrats).In Mark's British Politics C…
Executing Babies and Straw Men (Bonus Episode) - FT#22a [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:43
This is a special episode inspired by a Twitter conversation. It's only 20 minutes and has none of the usual sections, so the notes below are simply links to things I talked about in the episode.The twitter conversation…
Cherry Picking - FT#22 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:57
In the twenty-second episode we explore the Cherry Picking Fallacy, with examples from Trump talking about unemployment, poverty and those violent illegal immigrants.In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at both side…
Ad Hominem - FT#21 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:47
In the twenty-first episode we explore the Ad Hominem Fallacy, with examples from Trump dismissing Senator Elizabeth Warren and lying about the lies of Senator Richard Blumenthal.In Mark's British Politics Corner we look…
Hyperbolic Fallacy - FT#20 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:46
In the twentieth episode we explore the Hyperbolic Fallacy, with examples from Trump talking about his great memory and a selection of the things that he's the best in the world at.In Mark's British Politics Corner we lo…