Disinformation
Conspiracy Theories, Culture, Disinformation, Education, Social Media
Facebook Discussions as Displays of Ignorance, Fallacies, and Marginal Literacy
by JOHN ADAMS • • 3 Comments
In communities in the Whitewater area, assorted Facebook pages (particularly) are a significant means of messaging about politics, culture, etc. Too often, these messages are evidence of ignorance, fallacies, and are poorly written (to the point of only marginal literacy). Over time, as these rural communities have suffered relative economic decline, they have also experienced a…
Disinformation, Foreign Affairs, Sen. Ron Johnson
Sen. Ron Johnson: Launderer of Foreign Disinformation?
by JOHN ADAMS •
Natasha Bertrand, Kyle Cheney, and Andrew Desiderio report Dem leaders demand FBI briefing on ‘foreign interference campaign’ targeting lawmakers. There’s a possible Wisconsin connection: Among the Democrats’ concerns is that a Senate investigation being led by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has become a vehicle for “laundering” a foreign influence campaign to damageDemocratic presidential nominee Joe…
Conspiracy Theories, Coronavirus, Culture, Disinformation, Education, Free Markets, Public Health
The Price of Ignorance is Widely Paid
by JOHN ADAMS •
As nationwide chains take sensible measures to require masks, ordinary workers at those chains find themselves the underserving recipients of abuse. Kelli Weill reports Walmart Workers Are Terrified of Enforcing Mask Rules: Even in a time of record unemployment, some of Dan’s colleagues at an Indiana Walmart have walked off the job. They aren’t quitting over…
Coronavirus, Covidiocy, Disinformation, Mendacity, Public Health, Trump
Trump’s Excuses as COVID-19 Cases Continued to Rise
by JOHN ADAMS •
Disinformation, Mendacity, Propaganda
Thomas Rid on ‘Active Measures,’ Part 2
by JOHN ADAMS •
Disinformation, Mendacity, Propaganda
Thomas Rid on ‘Active Measures,’ Part 1
by JOHN ADAMS •
Babbittry, Boosterism, Coronavirus, Corporate Welfare, Disinformation, Economy, Mendacity, Newspapers, Opioids, Public Health
A Newspaper’s Boosterism During a Pandemic
by JOHN ADAMS •
A worthy person – a man or woman committed to reason, honesty, and seriousness of purpose – would have little respect for the Janesville Gazette. This critical view is not a new one, truly: the paper’s work has been inferior during the Great Recession, during an opioid crisis, during cheerleading for countless state and local…
Disinformation, Mendacity, Speaker Vos
Assembly Speaker Vos: Disinformation Troll
by JOHN ADAMS •
Speaker Vos shared a video this weekend that appeared to show Joe Biden saying “we can only re-elect Donald Trump.” This is what Biden really said. pic.twitter.com/vnn6bm34mD — UpNorthNews (@UpNorthNewsWI) March 9, 2020
Disinformation, Mendacity, Propaganda, Putin, Trump
Kasparov on Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt
by JOHN ADAMS •
Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63), the former chess champion and longtime human rights activist, recently described the role of propaganda in creating fear, uncertainty, and doubt. The thread from Twitter is below (linked here from the first tweet) in the thread: As you watch Trump’s defenders lie, deflect, and distract today and in the coming weeks, remember…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Crime, Disinformation, Fact Checking, Marketing, Mendacity, Misconduct, Police, Press Release, University
UW-Whitewater’s Administration Covers Crap with Catsup
by JOHN ADAMS •
For months, UW-Whitewater has publicized on its website a sham study from a burglar-alarm company as confirmation that Whitewater has the safest campus in Wisconsin. The study is a shabby fraud, with a methodology so far below proper academic standards that it taints the serious work of faculty and students at the school, in the UW…
Bad Ideas, CDA, City, Disinformation, Government Spending, Local Government
Buying Whitewater a Present
by JOHN ADAMS •
A man wants to impress his girlfriend, someone he professes to love, so he asks her what she’d like for a present – anything at all she might want. She tells him that she’s been thinking about getting a car. “That’s wonderful,” he exclaims. “I’ll get you something special!” Before she can even suggest a…
Disinformation, Espionage, Foreign Affairs, Putin, Russia
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Opening Remarks, 3.30.17
by JOHN ADAMS •
Opening remarks of Sens. Richard Burr, North Carolina (Chairman) and Mark Warner, Virginia (Vice Chairman) preceding testimony on Disinformation: A Primer in Russian Active Measures and Influence Campaigns, U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.