"These things are as endemic to Russia as vodka, the ballet, and long winters."

In this episode, host Paul Brandus discusses the pervasive issue of disinformation, particularly focusing on Russian efforts and the impact on global security. He interviews Nina Jankowicz, founder of the American Sunlight Project, who emphasizes the importance of building societal resilience and promoting information literacy to combat false narratives. The conversation delves into the role of government in addressing disinformation and the upcoming challenges in the 2024 election. Meredith Wilson from Emergent Risk International provides insights on the evolving landscape of disinformation, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and high-quality information sources in business decision-making.

[00:01:18] Russian information warfare efforts

[00:07:21] American Sunlight Project.

[00:12:30] Media literacy education in Finland.

[00:18:01] Russian weaponizing societal divisions.

[00:26:15] People defending dishonesty from power.

[00:33:04] Challenges of disinformation and AI.

[00:40:15] Importance of quality information.

Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to our guest Nina Jankowicz, and the NATO-Stratcom Center in Latvia, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Journalism is the only profession that is protected by the First Amendment... but private equity and hedge funds have been involved with disastrous consequences."

In this episode, host Paul Brandus delves into the issue of the decline of local print journalism and news deserts, focusing on the impact of hedge funds and private equity firms acquiring newspapers. Guest Margot Susca, an assistant professor of journalism, sheds light on how these financial entities prioritize profit over responsible journalism, leading to the decline of local news coverage. There is also a correlation between news deserts, voter apathy, and susceptibility to disinformation, particularly in marginalized communities. The episode also explores the alarming spread of disinformation and Islamophobia in India, where the government's control over media exacerbates the dissemination of false narratives. Along with insights from Pearl D'Souza on the challenges faced by Indian citizens in accessing unbiased and factual information amidst a landscape dominated by propaganda and disinformation.

[00:01:40] Hedge funds and journalism industry.

[00:07:06] Hedge fund ownership in journalism.

[00:10:38] Hedge funds impact on journalism.

[00:13:28] Pink Slime journalism.

[00:17:45] Misinformation in immigrant communities.

[00:24:12] Crackdown on media and dissent.

[00:30:10] Islamophobia in political narratives.

[00:32:25] Islamophobia and population growth.

Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to our guests Margot Susca and Pearl D'Souza , our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael Dealoia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"You have a direct pipeline, particularly with social media and with individuals. Essentially, all you're doing is figuring out who you want to target"

In this podcast episode, host Paul Brandus discusses the growing concerns surrounding the upcoming presidential election, focusing on the threats posed by disinformation, false narratives, and foreign interference. He interviews Marek Posard, a military sociologist, and Brady Roberts, the COO of Emergent Risk International, to delve into the potential perfect storm of risks facing the election infrastructure. The challenges of combating disinformation, the impact of AI on spreading false narratives, and the need for critical thinking and media literacy education is needed to empower individuals to discern fact from fiction. Brandus underscores the importance of proactive measures, scenario-based planning, and a whole-government approach to safeguard against the influence of disinformation in the upcoming election.

[00:02:36] A potential perfect storm.

[00:05:06] Election system vulnerabilities.

[00:08:56] Adversaries exploiting division in elections.

[00:14:09] Impact of artificial intelligence.

[00:17:17] Deepfakes and election influence.

[00:19:35] Election falsehoods in narrow-margin states.

[00:25:54] Education on critical thinking.

[00:31:02] Teaching media literacy to youth.

Got questions, comments or ideas or an example of disinformation you'd like us to check out? Send them to paulb@emergentriskinternational.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to our guests Marek Posard and Brady Roberts, our sound designer and editor Noah Foutz, audio engineer Nathan Corson, and executive producers Michael DeAloia and Gerardo Orlando. Thanks so much for listening.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.