Shows
Adam's Favorite PodcastsOn the Media - Covering the Pentagon, from Sy Hersh to Laura LoomerThe New York Times has sued the Pentagon for restricting access to journalists. On this week’s On the Media, meet the new cast of right wing influencers and conspiracy theorists replacing the press corps in the Pentagon. Plus, a new documentary examines the life and work of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with Dan Lamothe, who covers the US military and Pentagon for the Washington Post, to talk about the Trump administration’s shifting narrative around a second strike that killed two survivors on a boat in the Caribbean. Lamothe used to have...
2025-12-061h 03KACCOn the Media - Covering the Pentagon, from Sy Hersh to Laura LoomerThe New York Times has sued the Pentagon for restricting access to journalists. On this week’s On the Media, meet the new cast of right wing influencers and conspiracy theorists replacing the press corps in the Pentagon. Plus, a new documentary examines the life and work of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with Dan Lamothe, who covers the US military and Pentagon for the Washington Post, to talk about the Trump administration’s shifting narrative around a second strike that killed two survivors on a boat in the Caribbean. Lamothe used to have...
2025-12-061h 03Adam Curry's PodcastsOn the Media - Covering the Pentagon, from Sy Hersh to Laura LoomerThe New York Times has sued the Pentagon for restricting access to journalists. On this week’s On the Media, meet the new cast of right wing influencers and conspiracy theorists replacing the press corps in the Pentagon. Plus, a new documentary examines the life and work of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with Dan Lamothe, who covers the US military and Pentagon for the Washington Post, to talk about the Trump administration’s shifting narrative around a second strike that killed two survivors on a boat in the Caribbean. Lamothe used to have...
2025-12-061h 03On the MediaCovering the Pentagon, from Sy Hersh to Laura LoomerThe New York Times has sued the Pentagon for restricting access to journalists. On this week’s On the Media, meet the new cast of right wing influencers and conspiracy theorists replacing the press corps in the Pentagon. Plus, a new documentary examines the life and work of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with Dan Lamothe, who covers the US military and Pentagon for the Washington Post, to talk about the Trump administration’s shifting narrative around a second strike that killed two survivors on a boat in the Caribbean. Lamothe used to have...
2025-12-061h 03
Posting Through It028: Jeffrey Epstein ain't going away!! feat. Anna MerlanAnna Merlan is a senior reporter at Mother Jones who covers disinformation, technology, and extremism. She joined us to discuss the Trump Administration's efforts to address the "Epstein Files" controversy and why calming supporters' anger over this issue has proven particularly challenging. We also explored how right-wing media has sought to downplay Ghislaine Maxwell's role in Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.Links for Anna:* Read her story in Mother Jones: How Does the Epstein Scandal End?* Check out her book: “Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power”* Follow her...
2025-08-0458 min
The KickerWill the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal Break MAGA Media?For the past few weeks, MAGA media and conservative podcasters have been torn apart over President Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein saga.Anna Merlan, a senior reporter at Mother Jones, joins The Kicker to talk about right-wing media’s efforts to change the subject—and whether their audiences will go along with it. Read more:*Anna Merlan on what happened the last time Trump’s team tried to satisfy right-wing media’s hunger for...
2025-08-0124 min
The Don Lemon ShowLEMON DROP | RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Policies Are DEADLY!Don sits down with Anna Merlan and Kiera Butler of Mother Jones for a deep dive into the dangerous world of RFK Jr. and the anti-vaccine movement he’s helped supercharge.
From wild conspiracy theories to outright misinformation, the so-called “MAHA” movement (Make America Healthy Again) has weaponized fear and pseudoscience, casting doubt on life-saving vaccines and public health efforts. Anna and Kiera have been on the front lines of reporting this disinformation campaign, and they’re here to break it all down.
This is a conversation about science, truth, and the real cost of conspiracy.
This episode is brought...
2025-07-3125 min
QAA PodcastNew Disinformation and Old Diseases feat. Anna Merlan (E328)Hundreds of people have been arrested in Los Angeles after days of protests, which are in response to aggressive immigration raids ordered by President Trump. When people took to social media to make sense of the events, they were confronted with fake, AI-generated videos of the protests and real photos that were labelled as out-of-context by AI. Thus breaking new ground in worthless, deceitful slop.
Plus, we speak to Anna Merlan at Mother Jones about her recent reporting on the RFK Jr.-connected “MAHA Institute.” That organization’s head, Leland Lehrman, has pushed extremist ideas for decades, including endorsing the conspi...
2025-06-151h 09
The Study Hall PodcastAnna Merlan on the "new state media"Daniel chatted with Anna Merlan, a senior reporter at Mother Jones. Merlan shared her experience covering the far-right media ecosystem, disinformation, and RFK JR..
She discussed why she believes Trump has used a “new state media” to spread his message.
Follow Anna Merlan on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/annamerlan.bsky.social
Find our more about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz
Music by KT The Terrible
2025-03-1247 min
Cary Harrison FilesGoebbels 101: America's New State-Controlled MediaLet’s blow a kiss to democracy—that fragile, battered thing, held together by the desperate hope that facts still matter and that the loudest voice in the room isn’t always the most unhinged. But here we are, in the age of the new court scribes, where the jesters get front-row seats in the palace and call themselves journalists. The so-called "new media" isn’t reporting so much as genuflecting, regurgitating the talking points of the powers that be like a well-trained parrot, minus the charm.To help us untangle this media labyrinth, we have the...
2025-03-0125 min
On the MediaThe New 'State Media.' Plus, Podcasters Are Running the FBI.Breaking from a century of tradition, the White House says it will seize control of the press pool covering the president. On this week’s On the Media, the new administration is prioritizing access for an array of far-right influencers and news outlets. Plus, what President Trump’s pivot toward Russia means for Ukraine after three years of war.[00:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with Anna Merlan, senior reporter at Mother Jones covering disinformation, technology, and extremism, to discuss the White House’s latest move to control the press pool covering the president.[00:00] Host Micah Loewin...
2025-03-0150 min
The DreamMAHA ForeverFive years ago, in season two of this show, we invited Mother Jones senior editor Anna Merlan on to talk about the rise of dangerous health conspiracies in the U.S. and now that a famous anti-vaxxer, RFK Jr., has been confirmed as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, we've sat down again to discuss what... like, WHAT?You can find more from Anna Merlan here:X: @annamerlanBluesky: @annamerlan.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-02-1746 min
Fast Politics with Molly Jong-FastAnna Merlan & Daniel NichanianBolts Magazine Daniel Nichanian details how the states are going to affect policy in 2025. Mother Jones Anna Merlan examines how RFK and his conspiracy-minded world are making a new conspiracy theory about a "pandemic."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024-12-2834 minOn the MediaFox News is Back at the White House. Plus, No Joke, The Onion Buys Infowars.Many of Donald J. Trump’s cabinet picks have something in common: a very close relationship with Fox News. On this week’s On the Media, hear about the revolving door from the conservative network to the White House. Plus, election conspiracy theories from Kamala Harris supporters go viral. And a satirical news site buys up Alex Jones’ Infowars. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters, about the re-opened revolving door between conservative media and the Trump administration. [11:52] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with Anna Merlan, senior reporter at Mother J...
2024-11-1650 minOn the MediaUsing Conspiracy Theories to Make Sense of a LossMany media outlets were prepared for conspiracy theories and lies to spread after the election. But many thought that it would be coming from Donald Trump or his supporters spreading the “Big Lie.” But since Donald Trump’s win, some social media posts from Kamala Harris supporters and people on the left have gone viral questioning the outcome of the election. Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Anna Merlan, senior reporter at Mother Jones covering disinformation, technology, and extremism, about the viral post-election delusions and how conspiratorial thinking can be expected from any losing party. Further reading:
2024-11-1422 minFast Politics with Molly Jong-FastJason Selvig & Anna MerlanThe Good Liars' Jason Selvig details what he saw on the road that led him to predict VP Harris’s loss. Mother Jones' Anna Merlan examines RFK Jr. and what we can expect if Trump actually adds him to his administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024-11-1140 min
RevealWhy Elon Musk Went Full MAGAJust a few years ago, Elon Musk seemed to be just another Silicon Valley billionaire with no true political compass. He once described himself as “half-Republican, half-Democrat” and often donated money to candidates from both parties. But all that seemed to change during the Covid-19 pandemic when Musk started taking much more right-wing stances about lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and many other divisive political issues, often spreading misinformation in the process.Today, Musk has donated almost $120 million of his own money to get Donald Trump reelected. He recently campaigned with Trump at New York’s Madiso...
2024-10-3021 min
Shelf MotivatedEpisode 16Come for the Crested Grebes, stay for the conspiracy theories! This time around on the podcast we check in with our own book-prize judge Sarah as her current Book Tube judging comes to an end, we get into the difficulty of discussing short story collections in book clubs, and broach the topic of the "glacially beautiful" in literature. Sharon provides a raft of Irish Writers for March, and Eric reads books debunking conspiracy theories, and a novel about the end of the home video rental era. Oh, and also… cats! Books discussed include: Long Time, No...
2024-04-0251 min
hakketak-podcastHakketak 82 26 maart 2024Een podcast van Jeroen Wielaert en Paul Wamsteeker over van alles en nog wat in het krachtenveld van politiek, wetenschap, media en publiek.
In deze aflevering aandacht voor oplaaiend antisemitisme, een aanslag in Moskou en Jeroen in New York.
In deze aflevering wordt gesproken over Russische martelingen. Het daarbij genoemde boek is: Stanislav Aseyev; Het concentratiekamp in de Paradijsstraat.
Over de brandstichting in het gebouw van de Rijksdag en het propagandistisch gebruik daarvan, kunt u onder andere lezen in: Anna Merlan; Republic of Lies.
Andere artikelen vindt u op de Hakketak Facebookpagina. www.facebook.com/hakketakpodcast.
2024-03-2634 min
Flaming Hydra Round TableEpisode 0004: Episode 4: Cult-y Level Marketing SchemeMaria is joined by Shirley Wang, Anna Merlan, Ben Ehrenreich, Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, and k.e. harloe. Joe MacLeod pressed the RECORD button.Special Guests: Anna Merlan, Ben Ehrenreich, Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, Shirley Wang, and k.e. harloe.Support Flaming Hydra Round Table
2024-03-2526 min
Foreign Policy LiveIs America Becoming Isolationist?The Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ annual survey of American voters shows that for the first time in nearly 50 years, a majority of Republicans prefer an isolationist approach to foreign policy. Before the Trump presidency, the Republican Party was more likely to support an active U.S. presence in the world.Former U.S. ambassador to NATO and the CEO of the Chicago Council Ivo Daalder joins Ravi Agrawal to discuss the survey and what it could mean for the 2024 election. You can listen to Daalder’s podcast, “World Review,” here.Suggested reading:Survey...
2024-03-0146 min
CYBERThe End of ViceVICE may be over, but Cyber is still here at the end of it all. Matthew, Emily, Anna Merlan, Tim Marchman and Mack Lamoureux are here to eulogize the company and explain what the fuck just happened.Thanks for listening over the years. And don’t worry—we’re not logging off for good. Matthew and Emily will be back sometime soon with a new podcast project. Stay tuned.Vice’s New Owners Prepare to Slash What’s Left of Its Work Force Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
2024-02-231h 06
QAA PodcastPERVERTS Episode 9: Goop feat Anna Merlan (Sample)GOOP GOOP GOOP GOOP GOOP GOOP GOOP GOOP. GOOP. Anna Merlan — senior staff writer at Vice and author of REPUBLIC OF LIES — joins us to explore Gwyneth Paltrow's Gooposphere including her Netflix show Love, Sex & Goop. Plus Liv and Julian take a quizz to figure out their "erotic blueprints".
For access to the full episode (+ all miniseries + all premium QAA episodes) go to https://patreon.com/qaa and subscribe for just $5 a month.
Anna Merlan: https://twitter.com/annamerlan / https://annamerlan.net/
Liv Agar: https://linktr.ee/livagar
Theme by Nick Sena. Additional music by Pontus Berghe. Editing by Corey Clot
2024-02-2010 min
WrestlenomicsWWE Investigations with Tim Marchman | POST x WrestlenomicsJohn Pollock and Brandon Thurston continue their coverage of the allegations against WWE including new information on the Ashley Massaro case.Joining us is Tim Marchman of VICE News, who has been reporting on these stories and learned of an NCIS investigation into the Massaro case following her death in 2019. Plus: Bruce Prichard’s comments on the Janel Grant lawsuit, the latest on Scott D’Amore’s exit from TNA, the Super Bowl audience, TV ratings & more.VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/XDJw-ST69ekReporting by Tim Marchm...
2024-02-141h 27
POST WrestlingWWE Investigations with Tim Marchman | POST x WrestlenomicsJohn Pollock and Brandon Thurston continue their coverage of the allegations against WWE including new information on the Ashley Massaro case.Joining us is Tim Marchman of VICE News, who has been reporting on these stories and learned of an NCIS investigation into the Massaro case following her death in 2019. Plus: Bruce Prichard’s comments on the Janel Grant lawsuit, the latest on Scott D’Amore’s exit from TNA, the Super Bowl audience, TV ratings & more.Reporting by Tim Marchman:- WWE Wrestler Ashley Massaro Accused Vince McMaho...
2024-02-141h 27
CYBERWhat Happens When an Anti-Sex Trafficking Operation Goes WrongWhen “Alison” started working for Operation Underground Railroad, she wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids. She was a former Marine and social worker who’d seen the devastating effects that abuse could have on people. She wanted to stop it before it happened.She ended up with a broken orbital bone, bleeding and vomiting in a gym after a training exercise gone wrong. This week on Cyber, Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman walk us through their latest reporting on Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad.Stories discussed in this episod...
2023-11-201h 34
Wayward WandererEpisode 29 - Myth and ConspiracyCW: This episode deals with conspiracy theory, the origins of racism and whiteness, colonialism, genocide, anti-Semitism, and other related topics. Listener discrection is advised.Can myth, as it is understood in Heathenry and Paganism, help us better tackle the problem of conspiracy theory? Join your host and find out as we explore how myth can help us better understand conspiracy theories, why conspiracy theories are so appealing, and how they twist reality to reinforce themselves as shown by the history of the white genocide myth.Sources:Online:https://theintercept.com/2016/06/06/in-1971-muhammad-ali-helped-undermine-the-fbis-illegal-spying-on-americans/...
2023-11-081h 07
Knowledge Fight#865: Chatting with Anna MerlanToday, Jordan sits down for a chat with Anna Merlan, author of Republic of Lies, covering a whole host of issues, including the Conspiracy Cruise, bigot nuances, and the guy from the Sound of Freedom.
2023-11-011h 10
QAA PodcastEpisode 248: From the Cavortex Into the BallardZoneJim Caviezel is the moist-eyed actor who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ — and has since continued to do so in his own headcanon. He’s also a fan of QAnon, which is why we’ve covered him in the past: Episode 143, Enter the Cavortex, in which we found out how much of a nightmare he is on film sets, and Episode 238, Sound of Freedom, in which we explored his latest child trafficking summer blockbuster. The movie saw him play Tim Ballard, the head of tastelessly-named and questionably-run anti-child-trafficking non-profit Operation Underground Railroad ( OUR). But since the film was re...
2023-09-271h 30CYBEROperation Underground Railroad, Psychic Intelligence, and ‘The Sound of Freedom’This summer, a movie called The Sound of Freedom took America by storm. The hero was Tim Ballard, the founder of an organization called Operation Underground Railroad. The movie depicted Ballard as an avenging hero who rescued trafficked children from a life of slavery. The truth, we’re all finding out, is something more complicated and a lot less heroic.Ballard left the organization around the time Sound of Freedom premiered, following an investigation into his sexual misconduct. It’s a wild story involving the The Church of Latter Day Saints, a psychic channeling the Prophet Neph...
2023-09-251h 09
Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCartyEpisode 177: #Girlboss, Feminist Tees, & Other Desperate Acts, How fast fashion changed everything (part 3)In part three of three, Amanda explores fast fashion 1.0 and 3.0 through the lens of her career:How the industry uses things like #Girlboss, feminist tees, and cause marketing to sell you more stuff.When fast fashion becomes desperate and starts embracing greenwashing and new revenue streams like rental and resale.WTF is the de minimus rule and how is it benefitting fast fashion 3.0?We'll be talking a lot about Shein and its peers.Additional reading:"After Months of Reported Dysfunction, Nasty Gal Lays Off 19 Employees," Anna Merlan, Jezebel."'Everything Really Hit Rock...
2023-09-251h 56
Mormon Stories Podcast1814: New Allegations Against Tim BallardIn this interview with hosts John Dehlin and Gerardo Sumano, Tim Marchman and Anna Merlan discuss the controversies surrounding Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). They explore the origins of Vice News stories, scrutinize responses from Tim Ballard and the Mormon Church, and delve into troubling allegations against Tim Ballard. These include inappropriate behavior toward women and his association with M. Russell Ballard's name in connection with OUR. The discussion reveals the challenges of responsible journalism when tackling sensitive topics like human trafficking. Marchman and Merlan highlight the complexities of undercover trafficking investigations and question the...
2023-09-192h 42
Mormon Stories - LDS1814: New Allegations Against Tim BallardIn this interview with hosts John Dehlin and Gerardo Sumano, Tim Marchman and Anna Merlan discuss the controversies surrounding Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). They explore the origins of Vice News stories, scrutinize responses from Tim Ballard and the Mormon Church, and delve into troubling allegations against Tim Ballard. These include inappropriate behavior toward women and his association with M. Russell Ballard's name in connection with OUR. The discussion reveals the challenges of responsible journalism when tackling sensitive topics like human trafficking. Marchman and Merlan highlight the complexities of undercover trafficking investigations and question the...
2023-09-192h 42
For Fact's SakeDoes the latest box office hit promote child trafficking conspiracies?An independent film released in the UK this week has taken the US box office by storm, but has run into controversy. Sound of Freedom is the story of anti-child trafficking campaigner Tim Ballard, who founded charity Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). But the credibility of the claims made by Ballard and the organisation he once led have been called into question, and troubling links have been unearthed with conspiracy theories perpetuated by the US far-right. Vice News journalists Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman have been digging into the facts behind Ballard and OUR...
2023-08-3131 min
The Conditional Release ProgramEpisode 140 - Sound of Freedom - Part 1 - Bollocking Tim BallardThis one is the reason we haven't released for a couple weeks. Well, this one and the next one. What was meant to be a one part look at a few reasons why Ballard is a dodgy conman the rabbithole turned out too deep for one measly episode. Clocking in at over two hours it's one of our longer ones. Didn't even scratch the surface on this. The Sound of Freedom has been received by audiences that are not only squealing with joy - but also spreading the good word across the seas. For example, a woman...
2023-08-292h 07
Jacobin RadioMichael and Us: The Sound of Freedom EpisodeUnfortunately, there was no avoiding it. We finally went to see the right-wing human-trafficking blockbuster SOUND OF FREEDOM (2023) and had one of our more unpleasant viewing experiences. We discuss the film's astroturfed box office, as well as the reasons for its very real cultural resonance."Tim Ballard Has ‘Stepped Away’ From Operation Underground Railroad, Org Says" by Anna Merlan - https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z74x/tim-ballard-sound-of-freedom-operation-underground-railroad-stepped-awayMichael and Us is a podcast about political cinema and our crumbling world hosted by Will Sloan and Luke Savage. Host...
2023-08-0853 min
The Body of EvidenceThe Anti-Vaccine Movement, Then and Now (with Anna Merlan)Jonathan and Chris speak to Anna Merlan, a senior reporter with Motherboard and the author of the book Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power. How has the anti-vaccine movement changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? Its influencers deny the “mainstream narrative” on vaccine safety, which makes them prone to embrace other conspiracy theories. And what happens when one of their leading figures makes a run for the American presidency? (1:18) Today’s anti-vaccine influencers (7:09) Malice versus stupidity (8:20) The anti-vaxx media ecosystem (10:46) Doctors becoming anti-vaccine (12...
2023-07-1859 minCYBERThe False Claims Behind an Anti-Trafficking Group’s Hollywood MomentA movie about a Mormon anti-trafficking activist made headlines when it beat Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at the box office. But Sound of Freedom’s box office numbers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be and the group behind the movie, Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) has a long and troubled history.Motherboard Senior Staff Writer Anna Merlan joins us this week on Cyber to explain OUR and Sound of Freedom.Stories discussed in this episode:Tim Ballard Has ‘Stepped Away’ From Operation Underground Railroad, Org Says
2023-07-1446 min
Mormon Stories Podcast1787: Sound of Freedom, Tim Ballard & Underground Railroad: Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman of Vice NewsToday we will be covering the new hit movie Sound of Freedom - based loosely on the work of Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad. If you have first-hand stories of experiences with Tim Ballard and/or OUR, or other information that could be helpful to this episode, please email them to me at mormonstories@gmail.com. Joining us for the interview will be journalists Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman, who have both been heavily involved in coverage of this story. Human Trafficking Advocacy | Freedom Network USA Articles from Vice...
2023-07-143h 19
Mormon Stories - LDS1787: Sound of Freedom, Tim Ballard & Underground Railroad: Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman of Vice NewsToday we will be covering the new hit movie Sound of Freedom - based loosely on the work of Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad. If you have first-hand stories of experiences with Tim Ballard and/or OUR, or other information that could be helpful to this episode, please email them to me at mormonstories@gmail.com. Joining us for the interview will be journalists Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman, who have both been heavily involved in coverage of this story. Human Trafficking Advocacy | Freedom Network USA Articles from Vice...
2023-07-143h 19
QAA PodcastEpisode 238: Sound of Freedom feat. Dave Anthony, Anna Merlan, and Tim MarchmanAfter years of delays, the film “Sound of Freedom'' has finally hit theaters. The movie stars majorly pilled QAnon-promoting actor Jim Caveizel. He portrays Tim Ballard, the founder of the anti sex trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad.
This film is bound to be a big boon for Tim Ballard. He is a former Department of Homeland security agent, but starting about a decade ago he made a name for himself thanks to stories of bold, daring missions helping rescue abducted children and arresting traffickers. Sex trafficking is in fact a very real and serious problem that is being actively fought by...
2023-07-122h 17
There Are No Girls on the InternetElon Musk declares 'cis' a slur; Poll workers targeted by Trump+Giuliani exonerated; RFK Jr. and Joe Rogan say stupid things; Illinois bans book bans; Grammys are for humans; Zuckerburg vs. Musk cage match - NEWS ROUNDUPThere’s a heavy musk of Elon in this episode. He tries to redefine the word ‘cis’ to be a slur and says it will be considered harassment on his janky platform that encourages deadnaming; he inspires the CEO of Reddit to follow his lead and alienate his own users by charging for API access; and he challenges Mark Zuckerburg to an ill-advised cage match that seems like it might actually happen. RFK Jr. went on Joe Rogan’s podcast to rehash some tired old medical misinformation from 2020, then Rogan’s listeners got big mad when an actual scientist wasn’t int...
2023-06-2459 min
The Daily Beast PodcastFirst States to Enact Abortion Bans Have One Thing in CommonOn this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, talks about where we stand one year after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Then, Vice’s Anna Merlan weighs in on RFK Jr. and all the misinformation he’s spreading. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-06-231h 00
Conspirituality142: Destination Rabbit Hole (w/Anna Merlan)Do visiting inter-dimensional spirits and stowaway UFO passengers use the LAX Airport to touch down among us? Well they do if they're in town for the Conscious Life Expo, conveniently located at the LAX Airport Hilton for those who rely on otherwise mundane modes of travel.The Valentine's Day weekend crystals and angel cards fest of disjointed spirituality meets dodgy science just celebrated its 21st year as the premiere gathering point for awakened seekers choosing to come out of sovereign superposition and manifest in space-time reality.But, as visiting...
2023-02-231h 33CYBERThe Online Prophet Whose Followers Keep Getting ArrestedAn online prophet that claims to be god. A murder in the Alabama woods. A child holding a shotgun in the middle of a camp. Reptilians. Urine therapy. The American South. Police violence. Conspiracy. Robot birds. The uniquely American black esoteric tradition. This episode of Cyber is a big and surreal story about a New Age movement that’s spread through livestreams. Its followers are decentralized, driven by belief rather than any organizing principle, but at the center of it all is a prophet who claims to be god and is sitting in jail on some pre...
2022-12-0659 min
The BookstoreRepublic of LiesApologies for the late release! I would blame it on the holiday but that would be a lie. We discussed Corinne's pick for Nonfiction November, Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power by Anna Merlan. Most of the episode we spend talking about the depressing reality of how dangerous conspiracies have been allowed to flourish in the US, but we do get a little lighter near the end. The conspiracy chart by Abbie Richards we mentioned: https://conspiracychart.com/. Next time we will be discussing The Old Place by Bobby Fing...
2022-11-2651 minThe Bookstore134 - Shine Bright by Danyel SmithFirst up for Nonfiction November is Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith. It's part memoir, part musical history of the often invisible, always culturally significant Black women who made pop music what it is. Corinne has COVID and also a bit of trouble with her audio up top, so yeah, It's her, hi, she's the problem, it's her. Next time we will be discussing Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power by Anna Merlan. You can find it at your local bookstore...
2022-11-0846 min
DOOMED with Matt Binder233: Debunking Nonsense About the Alex Jones / Sandy Hook Trials (w/ Anna Merlan)Anna Merlan of Vice's Motherboard and author of the book Republic of Lies joins DOOMED with Matt Binder to discuss the Alex Jones trials, what he's actually on trial for and why its not just because he "questioned Sandy Hook," the years of harassment he put the Sandy Hook parents through, the differences between the Texas trial and the Connecticut trial, how InfoWars covered the trials, and what the future looks like for Alex Jones and his InfoWars conglomerate. (Episode from the 10/25/22 livestream show.)
Check out Anna's Motherboard reporting: https://www.vice.com/en/contributor/anna-merlan
Support the show: http...
2022-10-311h 05
On the NoseYeIn the last week and a half, Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, has appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show on Fox News, been photographed with far-right provocateur Candace Owens wearing a “White Lives Matter” shirt, and tweeted that he was going “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” (which landed him in social media jail). Redacted footage from the Fox interview revealed that Ye made a number of antisemitic comments there too, referring to Hannukah as a vehicle for “financial engineering” and casting Black people as the real Jews, with non-Black Jews as imposters. In the wake of these comments...
2022-10-2035 min
Pot PsychologyThe Ballad of Desiree JenningsDesiree Jennings—the woman who inspired a bunch of memes, galvanized the anti-vax movement, and is a Pot Psychology certified Diamond Girl—changed her name and went into hiding after gaining media attention when she claimed a flu shot gave her a host of strange symptoms. But Tracie found her! A lawsuit reveals Desiree's medical history and how Jenny McCarthy's autism organization, Generation Rescue, turned her into a media sensation to promote its bogus anti-vax claims and to sell its pricey and medically-debunked "cures."Read all about Generation Rescue's deceptive practices in Anna Merlan's investigative piece here. ...
2022-09-231h 21
Black Mass Appeal: Modern Satanism for the MassesEpisode 127 - Mark of the BeastOn your MARKS, get set, go! We all know those fateful numbers 6-6-6 by heart, but most people's assumptions about what they really mean don't add up. To help us decipher this inscrutable integer, we're joined by Beverly, longtime record-breaking member of our own Mark of the Beast club. SHOW LINKS Only Sky: After legal threats, Kansas school board repeals 'Satanism' ban in dress code Revelation 13 Against Heresies, Irenaeus (180 CE) A Commentary Critical & Explanatory of the Entire Bible: Revelation 13, Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown (1876) International Bible Commentary, William Farmer (1998) The Antichrist: A New Biography, Philip Almond (2020...
2022-09-061h 48CYBERInside the Alex Jones TrialAlex Jones, the slowly bloating Texan broadcaster, is currently on trial in Austin for peddling conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre. Jones has already lost—the trial will eventually set damages. Amid this, Jones’ companies are filing for bankruptcy and a new documentary about him is playing the festival circuit. He says this is all about the First Amendment. In a way, he’s right. Defamation cases are about the First Amendment. On this episode of Cyber, Motherboard Senior Staff Writer Anna Merlan comes on to discuss all things Alex Jones. Merlan has writ...
2022-08-0235 minCYBERThe Reply Guy From HellReply guys. Maybe you’ve got one, maybe you are one. If you’re a public person online, and especially if you’re a woman, you tend to attract a few fans or detractors who respond to every single thing you post. Sometimes those interactions can be obnoxious. Sometimes, they can be so much worse.Today’s Cyber is about a reply guy from hell, a person who—for almost two decades—has used the internet to wage sustained harassment campaigns against multiple women. It’s a bizarre and disturbing story that involves Twitter DMs, revenge porn, and Anim...
2022-06-1636 min
Blocked and ReportedEpisode 118: Every Podcaster is Bi. You Just Have To Figure Out If It's Polar Or SexualAfter Jesse issues a very deep and personal apology about an egregious error, the hosts discuss the endlessly swirling media shitstorm surrounding Felicia Sonmez. To discuss this episode with other premium subscribers, click here.Show notes/Links:JournoList: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2010/06/the-washington-posts-dave-weigel-resigns-following-strange-semi-scandalEmily Yoffe on Jonathan Kaiman: https://reason.com/2019/08/23/im-radioactive/Anna Merlan on Emily Yoffe on Jonathan Kaiman: https://jezebel.com/emily-yoffe-is-back-on-her-b******t-heres-what-an-alleg-1837679900Anna Merlan: “'Is the UVA Rape Story a Gigantic Hoax?' Asks Idiot”: https://jezebel.com/is-the-uva-rape-story-a-gigantic-hoax-asks-idiot-1665233387 Kobe Bryant thing: https://www...
2022-06-1351 min
ICYMIWe Tried TikTok’s Disgusting Vinegar “Coke”On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison dabble in some TikTok approved ASMR. Later they’re joined by Vice Senior Staff Writer, Anna Merlan, for an interview about political ads and the left leaning campaigns that pay influencers to produce policy based content - despite TikTok’s stringent rules.Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Madison Malone Kircher, Rachelle Hampton, and Kevin BendisSupport ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See ac...
2022-06-1129 min
Global I.Q. PodcastConspiracy Theories - Why Will People Believe AnythingReporter Kelly Weill has spent most of her journalism career covering misinformation and conspiracy theories. As a recent college graduate in 2016, Weill entered the media world at a time of immense change, when terms like “fake news” and “disinformation” became part of the mainstream American vocabulary. Coinciding with this time was the rise in “Flat Earthers,” a group of people who support the idea that “we all live on a flat plane, under a solid dome, ringed by an impossible wall of ice.” In Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything, Weill sets out to explain where...
2022-03-1159 min
the baby in the bathwaterEpisode 8: Recovering from new age spirituality and cults with Andey Fellowes (part 1)Part 1 of a chat with Andey Fellowes, ex-New-Ager and online cult survivor. Annie and Andey delve deep into the toxicity and conspiracism of New Age ideology including Andey's experience with Teal Swan and how to reconcile life and spirituality after leaving the cult. Part 2 is available (with other bonus episodes) when you subscribe to The Baby in the Bathwater here: https://anchor.fm/annie-mccasland-pexton/subscribe.
Books referenced:
* Eric Hoffer's 'The True Believer'
* Anna Merlan's 'Republic of Lies'
Websites referenced:
https://www.patreon.com/AndeyFellowes
https://www.instagram.co...
2022-02-161h 05CYBERThe Decentralization of Disinformation (with Anna Merlan)Motherboard Senior Staff writer Anna Merlan joins to talk about where disinformation comes from and whether we can stop it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-02-0835 minCYBERThe Anti-Trafficking Movement and AfghanistanWhen America withdrew from Afghanistan it left people behind. Interpreters, aid workers, allies, and even some U.S. citizens remained in the country as the Taliban took over. Since the official U.S. military exit, dozens of groups have sprung up to try to help people safely flee the country. Not all of them are competent, but most of them are asking for money.Vice Motherboard features editor Tim Marchman and senior Staff Writer Anna Merlan looked into this for a piece titled The Anti-Trafficking Movement Is Pivoting to Afghanistan. Marchman is here t...
2021-10-1428 min
Blocked and ReportedEpisode 84: Frederick Joseph, As Himself, In: The McKaren Park Karen, And An Interview With Paige Harden About GeneticsFrederick Joseph is the unluckiest man in New York City: After dealing with a Satanic AirBnB host, a racist woman on the street, and racist editors and producers, he is the victim of the latest Central-Park-Karen-style incident. The hosts discuss his super real and honest stories. Then: Jesse interviews Kathryn Paige Harden, the author of The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality, about her research and the perils of debating fraught scientific and societal subjects online. (Note: Due to a minor scheduling snafu I'm late getting you your patrons-only episode, but I'll have it for y...
2021-10-011h 10
The PR Wine DownLee Caraher - The Old, The New and The NewsThis week on the PR Wine Down, our hosts are joined by Lee Caraher. She's the CEO of Double Forte, a national independent PR and communications agency, and an acclaimed communications strategist. She's wining down this week on the show to discuss the work Double Forte is doing to close the gender "Say Gap" in PR, evaluate how PR has changed over recent decades and discuss what small brands can do to make a splash in the news media today. April and Laura also deliver a new Anonymous PR Horror story featuring an account coordinator who offered inappropriate advice...
2021-09-241h 02
Technology PillSummer ReadingThis week we come back from our break to chat to PI staff about what we've been reading or plan to read this summer.
Links
Lucie's recommedations
- A history of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russel
- John le Carré
- La Horde du Contrevent by Alan Damasio
- The Right to Choose by Gisèle Halimi
Clara's recommendations
- Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
- Republic of Lies by Anna Merlan
- Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout by Laura Jane Grace...
2021-09-1746 min
VICE News ReportsInside A Mysterious Anti-Sex Trafficking GroupThe anti-child sex trafficking group Operation Underground Railroad has become increasingly popular in the age of QAnon, and has been buoyed in part by President Trump. But not all of the stories OUR tells its donors hold up to scrutiny, and some of its so-called "missions" to save women and children from sex trafficking have been described by insiders as amateurish at best. Reporters Tim Marchman and Anna Merlan of VICE’s Motherboard go deep on their months-long investigation into this popular, shadowy group. This episode was produced by Julia Nutter and Sam Eagan.I...
2021-08-2640 min
Fever DreamsTrumpy Anti-Trafficking Group Relies on Psychic for Tips FT/ Anna Merlan & Tim MarchmanA tough-talking anti-human-trafficking organization with ties to Donald Trump relied on a tip from a psychic for at least one of its failed “raids” in Haiti, according to reporters who have tracked the group. “They have defended the use of psychics and made it sound like something that law enforcement does all the time, which they might do, but that doesn’t make it a good idea,” Vice senior staff writer Anna Merlan said on the latest episode of The Daily Beast’s Fever Dreams podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2021-05-2651 min
The Saucer LifeRead These Books! Now! Well, soon!Episode Notes
We're looking at some great books--some old, some very new--that shed light in one way or another on flying saucers and related fun. You can get the books at the links below and, in doing so, help support the show.
Casebook on the Men in Black by Jim Keith
Republic of Lies by Anna Merlan
Saucers, Spooks, and Kooks by Adam Gorightly
Kooks by Donna Kossy
A shorter episode this week, for reasons (good reasons!) I mention in the episode. Thanks, as always, for listening.
Support The Saucer Life!
2021-04-1429 min
VICE News ReportsConspiracy, USAA QAnon promoting mayor. Armed vigilantes looking to scare off antifa. And a heated fight over... an opioid treatment center? Reporter Jen Kinney takes us to one small town in Washington State, where the paranoid style of American politics is turning even the most everyday, local issues into conspiracy theories.For more on this story, check out VICE Senior Staff Writer Anna Merlan's reporting.VICE News Reports is produced by Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, Jen Kinney, Janice Llamoca and Julia Nutter. Our senior producers are Ashley Cleek and Adizah Eghan. Our associate producers are...
2021-03-0453 minConspirituality39: How to Talk about Conspiracy Theories (w/Anna Merlan)What are we learning about conspiracies, conspiracy theories, and those who hold them? How are we maintaining our optimism that facts are real, that they can be discovered, and shared? How will we continue to communicate with those who are confused? In this episode, we continue our rich conversation on the proximity of conspiracism and spiritual paths and the ways in which we fall into and climb out of fever dreams. In the Jab, Julian looks at concerns about vaccines and pregnancy. In a Ticker segment, Matthew ponders the British Wheel of Yoga’s “neutral” stance towards the CO...
2021-02-191h 58
The Adulting Well PodcastEpisode 37 with Anna MerlanAnna Merlan is a New Mexico-born, Los Angeles-based journalist, specializing in subcultures, alternative communities, conspiracy theories, crime, belief, death, sexual violence and women’s lives. She is currently a reporter on the Features desk at VICE. She was previously a reporter at the Special Projects Desk, an investigative division within Gizmodo Media Group, a senior reporter at Jezebel, and a staff writer at the Village Voice and the Dallas Observer. Her work has also appeared in Rolling Stone, BBC Travel, Topic, and on the op-ed page of the New York Times. She has been accused of being both a li...
2020-11-021h 05
The Distraction: A Defector PodcastCollecting Villains is the Fun Part (w/Anna Merlan)Drew and Roth talk to Anna Merlan of Vice about good truck stops, and conspiracy theory enthusiasts. Plus, the usual shenanigans, like the Funbag! Anna's excellent book, Republic of Lies is available now. Visit defector.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2020-10-2253 min
Lars og PålEpisode 82 USA etc, med Thor SteinhovdenI denne episoden har Lars en lang prat med USA-kommentator Thor Steinhovden om USA, om landets politikk, men også dets varierte kultur, nyere historie, og nåtidens temmelig kompliserte medielandskap. Etter å ha dekt presidentvalget i USA i 2016 og mellomvalget 2018 ga Thor Steinhovden i 2018 ut boken Det amerikanske marerittet. Hvordan USA ble et splittet land (Res Publica). Her forteller han noe av forhistorien for det som har skjedd de siste årene i mulighetenes rike. Hvordan skal vi forstå årsakene til dagens polarisering, som ledet opp til valget av Trump i 2016? Trump er ikke den som har skylde...
2020-09-111h 09
Making It Up128: Parenting as gardening and Silicon Valley on tech mediaCharis and Eugene discuss the modern approach to parenting and misunderstandings of childhood. They also talk about Silicon Valley’s attitude towards tech media as well as the issue of privacy in digital conversations.
00:02:58 Parenting
00:23:36 Tech Media
Meet the parenting expert who thinks parenting is a terrible invention by Irene Caselli and Lynn Berger
Silicon Valley Elite Discuss Journalists Having Too Much Power in Private App by Jason Koebler, Anna Merlan, and Joseph Cox
www.maekan.com
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Send in...
2020-07-1945 min
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcastThe 2011 South Florida UFO IncidentJessica Smetana and Paul Rigney join for a look at whether or not unidentified aerial phenomena might have been involved with the 2011 season opener and how that sighting fits into the United States' history with UFOs. Footage. HuffPost story. NYTimes on Pentagon videos. Chicago Tribune on O'Hare sighting. Washington Post on Roswell investigation. Wired on the Times reporting. Republic of Lies by Anna Merlan. Gerald Ford UFO papers. Area 51 by Annie Jacobsen.
2020-05-2940 min
Mad World ThursdayThe Non-Conspiracy Theory, Conspiracy Theory Episode -3 Mad World ThursdayThe ladies of Mad World Thursday interview Dave Johnson, a journalist for How-to Geek magazine about 5G conspiracies and the coronavirus.
They also discuss two anti-conspiracy theory books for this episode. Republic of Lies by Anna Merlan and The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory by Jesse Walker
2020-04-172h 17
Podcast Gold with Sonny & Lars"The DevaCurl Ultimatum" with SonnyOver the past few months, there has been a civil war brewing in the online curly hair community. In this episode, Lars's wife Sonny joins him to hunt for gold in a conversation about hair, hair products, and the crisis that could tear the hair influencer world from its roots. For more background on DevaCurl scandal, please read Anna Merlan's piece in Vice: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/k7e733/influencers-allege-that-a-famous-curly-hair-brand-is-damaging-their-hair
2020-02-1200 min
LIVE! From City LightsAnna MerlanAnna Merlan discussing the subject of her new book, Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power, published by Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt & Co.
A riveting tour through the landscape and meaning of modern conspiracy theories, exploring the causes and tenacity of this American malady, from Birthers to Pizzagate and beyond.
Anna Merlan is a journalist specializing in politics, crime, religion, subcultures, and women's lives. Merlan is a senior staff writer at Vice features. She was previously a senior reporter at Jezebel and staff writer at the Village Voice and the Dallas Observer. Republic of Lies...
2019-12-271h 03
Binnall of AmericaBoA 2019 Holiday Season: Anna MerlanJournalist Anna Merlan joins BoA to discuss conspiracies and the world of conspiracy theorists.
2019-12-181h 05
Embark On The Full Audiobook That Keeps Story Seekers Hooked.Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power by Anna MerlanPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/398019to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power
Author: Anna Merlan
Narrator: Suehyla El-Attar
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 10 hours 25 minutes
Release date: November 21, 2019
Genres: Social Science
Publisher's Summary:
From UFOs to the New World Order, the inside story of how conspiracy theories won over America. In November 2017, a serial climate change denier and anti-vaxxer was elected President of the United States. The rise of Donald Trump marked the beginning of a new American epoch: the age of the conspiracy theorist. Now, Anna Merlan goes undercover...
2019-11-2110h 25Download Best Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Social ScienceRepublic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power by Anna MerlanPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/398019to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power
Author: Anna Merlan
Narrator: Suehyla El-Attar
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 10 hours 25 minutes
Release date: November 21, 2019
Genres: Social Science
Publisher's Summary:
From UFOs to the New World Order, the inside story of how conspiracy theories won over America. In November 2017, a serial climate change denier and anti-vaxxer was elected President of the United States. The rise of Donald Trump marked the beginning of a new American epoch: the age of the conspiracy theorist. Now, Anna Merlan goes undercover...
2019-11-2110h 25
Positively Pop CultureEpisode 01: Get to Know Carrie and K.W.Carrie and K.W. talk their favorite things, the National Women's Hockey League, A Simple Favor, Gentleman Jack, and Anna Merlan's Republic of Lies.
2019-10-1636 min
Weird ReligionBONUS: ANNA MERLAN ON REPUBLIC OF LIESIn this episode we talk about the religious angle of conspiracy theories with Anna Merlan – journalist and author of Republic of Lies, a fascinating new book on American conspiracies – what they are, where they come from, and what they mean for the religious landscape of the U.S.A. Along the way we talk conspiracy theory cruises, U.F.O.s and much much more… listen in. We know “THEY” already are!!
2019-10-0827 min
The Mother Jones PodcastEpstein, QAnon, and the Conspiracist in ChiefJust hours after financier Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent death by suicide, President Donald Trump retweeted a conspiracy theory alleging the Clinton family’s involvement in killing the accused sex trafficker. So what better time to bring you this in-depth conversation with writer Anna Merlan, whose book "Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power" has only become more and more relevant as the conspiracist in chief amplifies yet another sinister lie. Merlan has spent years diving deep into the world of conspiracy theories. The result is a meticulously researched firecracker of a book, documenting incidents as ear...
2019-08-1420 min
The TLS PodcastHow to be modern: conspiracy theory, free will and the avant-gardeJill Lepore traces the history of conspiracy theories and the conditions that allow them to thrive; Tim Crane talks us through whether we have free will or not, and why it is still a problem; Michael Caines looks at non-traditional approaches to criticismBooksCONSPIRACY THEORIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THEM, edited by Joseph E. Uscinski CONSPIRACIES OF CONSPIRACIES: How delusions have overrun America, by Thomas Milan Konda THE STIGMATIZATION OF CONSPIRACY THEORY SINCE THE 1950s: ‘A plot to make us look foolish’, by Katharina ThalmannTHE AMERICAN CON...
2019-08-0851 min
Inside the HiveQAnon, UFOs, and America’s Craziest Conspiracy TheoriesWhen the hell did American politics get so weird? Investigative journalist Anna Merlan joins Nick to talk about her new book, “Republic of Lies,” which details all of the conspiracy theories currently floating around the U.S., including Pizzagate, the Pee Pee Tape, secret CIA programs, and “Q.”
Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
2019-07-1253 min
Past Due with Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike EagleInfiltrating UFO Culture with Anna MerlanThis week Anna Merlan (@annamerlan) helps us Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) parse America’s increasingly conspiratorial culture. Anna spent eight years covering conspiracy groups and just came out with a book, Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power. Join us as we discuss vaccinations, UFOs, spying on Quakers, and finding a path forward. Also, check out our bonus mega-mix of Anna Merlin, Will Sommer, Heather Armstrong, Tommy Orange, Will Sommer again, and Vann Newkirk and their most ridiculous secret beliefs. (We had to end Conspiracy Month in the strangest way possible.)Thanks to...
2019-06-2859 min
The Maris ReviewEpisode 6: Anna MerlanAnna Merlan is a New Mexico-born, New York-based journalist, specializing in politics, crime, religion, subcultures, conspiracy theories, and women’s lives. She is currently a reporter at the Special Projects Desk, an investigative division within Gizmodo Media Group. She has previously worked as a senior reporter at Jezebel, and as a staff writer at the Village Voice and the Dallas Observer. Her work has also appeared in Rolling Stone, BBC Travel, Topic, and on the op-ed page of the New York Times. She has been accused of being both a lizard person and a CIA agent, but never at th...
2019-06-1330 min
This WreckageProletkult 2: Bezos v. Musk, Jamie v. Skinwalkers, and Delonge v. Icke w/ Anna MerlanIn episode 2 of PROLETKULT Andy, Jamie, and Sean continue to talk with Anna Merlan about her new book: REPUBLIC OF LIES, specifically the chapter about UFO Politics. Jamie and Sean reveal their believer power levels, Andy and Anna propose a theory for the Navy UFO flap, and we talk about the culture of the Mutual UFO Network, strange southwest desert stories, and the Son of the Godhead himself, David Icke.
Show notes:
Bezos vs. Musk feud:
https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-jeff-bezos-feud-rivals-spacex-blue-origin-2019-5
Bezos's O'Neill Colonies:
http://www.astronomy.com/news/2019/05/oneill-colonies-a-decades-long-dream-for-settling-space
https://www.citylab.com...
2019-06-0702 min
This WreckageEp 53 - Vaxx don't care about your feelings w/ Anna MerlanThe Illuminati are back, baby! This week, the crew is joined by Anna Merlan (@annamerlan), author of "Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power," to discuss where all these conspiracy theories came from and how to defeat #fakenews once and for all.
Jamie and Anna recap how they met at an RNC-adjacent punk show. The crew's favorite conspiracy theories. The history of conspiracy theories in America. What is it about the U S of A that makes it such fertile ground for conspiratorial thinking? The kinds of conspiracy theories believed by the...
2019-05-2900 min
RocketConspiracy EntrepreneursThe Rocket Rule is not a conspiracy. This week we discuss Samsung's FOLD FIASCO, which happened a few days after we recorded Rocket last week, sad face. Then Anna Merlan, author of Republic of Lies, joins us to talk about conspiracy theories and their rise in popularity! Finally, it's the Game Boy's 30th Anniversary. We're old!
This episode of Rocket is sponsored by:
Linode: High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
eero: Never think about WiFi again. Get $100 off the ‘Eero base unit and 2 beacons package’, and a year of e...
2019-04-251h 06
Posting Through ItWe've Been Muelling This Over...In episode 54 of sh!tpost, host Jared Holt and co-host Jack discuss THE REPORT, changes coming to KickStarter and Indiegogo, and a resurgence in accelerationist thinking among racist extremists. Anna Merlan joins us from the desert (where we presume she is hunting aliens) to talk to us about her new book about conspiracy theories in America. We’re going to a brief break next week, so we’ll see you in May.SHOW NOTES: https://www.shtpostpodcast.com/episode-54-weve-been-muelling-this-over/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subs...
2019-04-231h 05
Posting Through ItWe've Been Muelling This Over...In episode 54 of sh!tpost, host Jared Holt and co-host Jack discuss THE REPORT, changes coming to KickStarter and Indiegogo, and a resurgence in accelerationist thinking among racist extremists. Anna Merlan joins us from the desert (where we presume she is hunting aliens) to talk to us about her new book about conspiracy theories in America. We’re going to a brief break next week, so we’ll see you in May.SHOW NOTES: https://www.shtpostpodcast.com/episode-54-weve-been-muelling-this-over/ This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at shtpost.substack.com...
2019-04-231h 05
Power-Up With: This Vivid Full Audiobook For Story Seekers.Republic of Lies by Anna MerlanPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/131799to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Republic of Lies
Author: Anna Merlan
Narrator: Suehyla El-Attar, Anna Merlan - introduction
Format: mp3
Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
Release date: 04-16-19
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 291 ratings
Genres: 21st Century
Publisher's Summary:
American society has always been fertile ground for conspiracy theories, but with the election of Donald Trump, previously outlandish ideas suddenly attained legitimacy. Trump himself is a conspiracy enthusiast: from his claim that global warming is a Chinese hoax to the accusations of “fake news”, he has fanned the flames of suspicion. But it was not by t...
2019-04-1610h 24
Glitter & DoomConspiracy Theory 101Conspiracy theories used to be about the existence of Sasquatch, the Lock Ness Monster, or aliens! They were fun or funny, but now, not so much. Today, troubling conspiracy theories flourish like measles in a Marin County Montessori. How did the extreme go mainstream? We talk to Anna Merlan, who went above and beyond the call of duty, spending years of her life talking to conspiracy theorists from coast to coast while researching her new book, Republic of Lies - American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power.
2019-04-152h 02