Signal Fire

How do people process misinformation and why do certain types of language feel persuasive even when they lack meaning? Cognitive psychologist Gordon Pennycook explains the difference between lying and what he calls “bullshitting,” where the speaker is indifferent to whether something is true. The conversation examines why people often share false information online, and why content is focused on engagement rather than accuracy. Pennycook also explains his research with Debunkbot, showing that structured conversations with AI, grounded in facts and evidence, can meaningfully reduce belief in conspiracy theories.

Lisa and John speak with political strategist and author Stuart Stevens, joining from Kyiv after several trips supporting Ukraine since the full-scale invasion. Stevens describes what daily life looks like inside a city at war and reflects on how Ukrainians view shifting American support. The conversation also examines the broader geopolitical moment, from the risks of expanding conflict in Iran to the changing role of the United States in the world. Along the way, Stevens discusses the transformation of the Republican Party, the influence of wealthy tech leaders on politics, and the pressures shaping political power in Washington.

In this episode of Signal Fire, Journalist and Author, James Fallows, joins the conversation to examine the collapse of local news and what it means for democracy. The discussion explores how storytelling shapes national identity, why the State of the Union has transformed into political spectacle, and how media institutions are struggling to adapt in an era of polarization and performance. Fallows reflects on the tension between objectivity and honesty, the economic unraveling of journalism, and the rise of citizen video as both a risk and a corrective.

Lisa Senecal and Jon Zieger sit down with Liz Minnella, founder of Connect Forward, to examine how influencers, algorithms, and culture are reshaping political power. Drawing on her background in marketing and organizing, Liz explains how trusted messengers and lifestyle creators have become central to modern persuasion, often succeeding where traditional institutions fail. The conversation explores how movements build infrastructure through wellness content, cultural flashpoints, and coordinated messaging campaigns that feel organic but are anything but accidental.

Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the carnage has not stopped. What has faded is the world’s attention. In this episode of Signal Fire, investigative journalist and founder of The Counteroffensive, Tim Mak, joins Jon and Lisa to discuss what happens when algorithms move on, when infrastructure becomes a weapon, and when empathy itself becomes a threat to authoritarian power. We examine the shifting economics of modern warfare, the fragility of democratic alliances, and why human-centered journalism may be one of the last defenses against dehumanization. When attention drifts, the cost of looking away only grows more costly.

The American justice system is being reshaped by power, money, and political loyalty. Former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence, Frank Figliuzzi, draws on decades inside the Bureau to explain how white collar crime enforcement has been weakened while pardons increasingly shield the well connected. The conversation explores what happens when accountability erodes inside institutions meant to protect the rule of law, and how those changes affect everyday Americans in ways that often go unseen. From the hollowing out of the FBI to the message sent by selective enforcement, this episode offers a clear, unsettling look at a justice system under strain.

This episode of Signal Fire examines how modern elections are undermined long before a single vote is cast. Author and politician David Pepper joins the conversation to unpack how ballot seizures, voter roll manipulation, and manufactured investigations create doubt without ever formally overturning results. The discussion connects recent state-level actions to a broader national strategy that relies on confusion, pretext, and asymmetric power rather than persuasion. Pepper also explains why statehouses have become the central arena for democratic erosion and what campaigns must do to counter it.

In this episode of Signal Fire, Jon and Lisa examine how modern authoritarianism no longer relies on ideology but on systems designed to exhaust, confuse, and undermine trust. Journalist and author Peter Pomerantsev traces how propaganda has evolved from persuading audiences to eroding their sense of reality and agency. The conversation connects historical examples with present-day media dynamics in the United States and abroad, showing how the same tactics reappear under different conditions.

Former political strategist Matthew Dowd reflects on what has changed inside American politics, journalism, and public trust, and why traditional ideas of balance no longer hold. The discussion moves beyond partisan framing to ask what democracy requires when shared reality itself is under threat.

In this episode of Signal Fire, veteran editor and reporter, Mark Jacob, examines how journalism is struggling to hold power to account in an era of intimidation, consolidation, and political pressure. Jon, Lisa and Mark unpack how official narratives are too often repeated without scrutiny, allowing false balance and euphemistic language to shape public understanding. The conversation explores where ethical lines should be drawn between protecting sources, challenging authority, and informing the public in real time. At stake is not just trust in the media, but the press’s ability to fulfill its core democratic role.