The Last Archive

Diving into the past to make sense of our bewildering present, The Last Archive examines the very idea of fact and fiction across time. This podcast, from Pushkin Industries, isn't just a history lesson; it's a deep exploration of how societies have determined what is real, and why that foundation feels so unstable now. Hosted by Ben Naddaff-Hafrey and born from the mind of historian Jill Lepore, each episode acts as a detective story, sifting through historical records and forgotten controversies to trace the roots of our so-called "post-truth" era. You'll hear how mechanisms of proof and deception have evolved, from early forensic science and secret government programs to the architecture of today's internet. The conversations and narratives within this podcast reveal that our current crisis over misinformation isn't an anomaly, but rather a chapter in a long, complicated struggle over evidence, authority, and belief. By placing our moment within a broader context, the series offers a clarifying, often surprising perspective on why it feels so difficult to know anything for certain anymore. It’s for anyone who finds themselves questioning how knowledge is built, dismantled, and weaponized, providing essential historical groundwork for understanding the daily noise.