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What happens when we no longer consume scarce information through trusted, verified institutions, but instead through an abundance of unbundled content without context or curation? John Green, rising star in political science from Duke University, takes us on a tour of the rapidly evolving  landscape of political information.

Green challenges conventional wisdom about how ideologies function, arguing they're not so much coherent philosophical systems as they are socially shared belief networks. In these networks, most people specialize in just one or two issues they deeply care about, while adopting their coalition's positions on everything else. This creates an environment where signaling group loyalty becomes crucial—explaining why people sometimes make outrageous claims not despite their falsity, but precisely because the willingness to say something costly signals authentic commitment.

The conversation takes an illuminating turn when Green unpacks his groundbreaking research on "curation bubbles." Unlike echo chambers or filter bubbles, these environments emerge when people strategically share content based on its utility for their side, regardless of source. A conservative might enthusiastically share a New York Times article criticizing Democrats, while generally dismissing the publication as biased. This selective curation creates information environments that are neither completely closed nor genuinely diverse.

Perhaps most troubling is Green's insight about misinformation in the digital age. The real danger isn't simply false claims from unreliable sources, but rather the strategic repurposing of true information to create misleading narratives. When accurate statistics or facts are stripped of context and woven into deceptive frameworks, traditional fact-checking approaches fall short.

As we navigate this unbundled media landscape, the question remains: can we rebuild institutions that verify and curate information effectively? The answer may determine the future of our shared reality and democratic discourse.

LINKS

Jon Green at Duke

Green, et al on "Curation Bubbles" in APSR

Converse on Belief Systems

Munger on "Direction of Causation"

Munger on Pub Cost, Curation, and Verification

Letter Response:

Sweden is NOT socialist!  (If you don't believe me, believe Andreas Bergh...)

Book’o’da Month:  

• Alexander Kirshner, Legitimate Opposition, 2022, Yale University Press.  ISBN:  9780300243468. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300243468/legitimate-opposition/
• Excellent podcast with Kirshner on the book.

If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at [email protected] !

You can follow Mike Munger on Twitter at @mungowitz