In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, Nolan Higdon sits down with digital growth expert and ethical tech advocate Alessandra Di Lorenzo to decode the "Persuasion Economy." As Artificial Intelligence transitions from a novelty tool to a superhuman psychological architect, the duo discusses how generative models are being used to map human vulnerabilities and automate influence at an unprecedented scale.

From the rise of "synthetic sincerity" to the way AI-driven content moderation is quietly evolving into a new form of digital censorship, Nolan and Alessandra explore the invisible forces shaping our online reality. They break down the mechanics of the "IA" (Intelligence/Artificial) echo chamber—where algorithms don't just find what you like, they predict what will change your mind. Most importantly, they move beyond the alarmism to provide a toolkit for cognitive resilience, offering practical steps for citizens to reclaim their agency in a world designed to hack their attention.

• The Persuasion Economy 101: Understanding how personal data is weaponized by AI to create hyper-personalized "fake news."

• The New Censorship: How AI "gatekeepers" are increasingly used by platforms to govern public discourse under the guise of safety.

• Beyond the Bot: Why "synthetic media" is making it nearly impossible to distinguish between a human advocate and a digital ghost.

• The Literacy Defense: Alessandra’s strategies for building a personal "firewall" against algorithmic manipulation and data-driven propaganda.

• Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: Nolan Higdon Substack

• Support the Show: Disinfo Detox Patreon

• Official Site: NolanHigdon.com

• Learn More: Project Censored

#DisinfoDetox #PersuasionEconomy #AIEthics #MediaLiteracy #AlessandraDiLorenzo #DigitalAgency #GenerativeAI #CognitiveResilience #FakeNews #TechTransparency

Inside This Episode:Resources & Support:

Episode 1: ⁠https://youtu.be/f8g7hrpPDQM⁠Episode 2: https://youtu.be/jF4PhPYLsfs

Episode 3: https://youtu.be/HiW5FZH8yeA

Watch all of the episodes & purchase the book at 👉 Official Website: https://www.nolanhigdon.com/magacademy👉 Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/magacademy

Welcome to The Disinfo Detox, the channel dedicated to cutting through the noise and scrubbing propaganda from public discourse. In this episode, hosts Nolan Higdon and Sydney Sullivan continue the MAGAcademy series: a deep-dive exploration into the systematic transformation of the American university.

This series serves as the official companion to Nolan Higdon's book, MAGAcademy: How Corporatism Paved the Way for the Hostile Takeover of Higher Ed (Spring 2026).

For decades, bipartisan neoliberal reforms hollowed out our institutions, turning students into customers and faculty into disposable labor. This collapse wasn't sudden; it was a long-term decay that Donald Trump exploited to install an authoritarian brand of institutional life.

Episode 4: Students as Customers and Products — The Marketization of Learning. In this episode, Nolan and Sydney deconstruct the "amenities arms race" and the "disengagement compact" that have redefined the student experience. We explore how the shift from scholar-led education to administrator-led marketing has transformed students into consumers who feel entitled to a grade rather than an education.

Nolan shares his personal story of "corporatism disguised as pedagogy"—being forced to pay for an extra semester due to administrative "traps"—and discusses the rise of academic capitalism. We break down the "Great Disengagement," the explosion of grade inflation (where 60% of grades at Harvard are now A's), and how the "customer is always right" mentality has turned professors into service workers. From lazy rivers and luxury dorms to the "gilded age" of the GI Bill, we examine how the skyrocketing cost of tuition (up 84% in two decades) has created a crisis of debt and a hollowed-out intellectual culture.

📘 Get the Book Reclaim your understanding of higher education. Purchase MAGAcademy at:👉 Official Website: https://www.nolanhigdon.com/magacademy👉 Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/magacademy

📢 Support The Disinfo Detox If you value independent, critical media analysis, help us grow:

• Subscribe to The Disinfo Detox for more deep dives.

• Join the Gaslight Gazette on Substack for exclusive investigations.

• Like and Share to help others "detox" from mainstream disinformation.

#TheDisinfoDetox #MAGAcademy #NolanHigdon #SydneySullivan #HigherEducation #StudentDebt #GradeInflation #AcademicCapitalism #EducationReform #PropagandaWatch #GaslightGazette #CollegeCosts #Neoliberalism #Marketization #StudentLife #HigherEdCrisis

Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox

Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com

As a government shutdown looms and federal agencies like ICE face unprecedented scrutiny, the machinery of state power is working overtime to manage the narrative. From border enforcement tactics to high-profile police brutality, how does the government maintain control when the public catches them in a lie?

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, Nolan Higdon is joined by world-renowned social scientist Professor Brian Martin of the University of Wollongong. Together, they dissect Martin’s "Backfire Model"—a clinical breakdown of the five stages law enforcement and government agencies use to minimize outrages and deflect accountability.

Whether it’s the historical beating of Rodney King or the tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Martin reveals the predictable patterns of distortion: cover-ups, devaluing the victim, reinterpreting the events, and using official channels to stall justice. This isn't just history; it is the blueprint used by modern agencies to survive scandals and maintain their grip on the public consciousness during times of political chaos.

• The Anatomy of a Cover-Up: Understanding the "Backfire Model" and why the first instinct of the state is always to hide the truth.

• ICE & Narrative Control: How federal agencies leverage political instability and shutdowns to bypass transparency and ramp up enforcement.

• The Rodney King Legacy: A deep dive into how the system rebrands brutality as "procedure" to avoid systemic change.

• Fighting Back: Professor Martin provides a strategic toolkit for activists and citizens to neutralize state propaganda and ensure that injustice actually "backfires" on the perpetrators.

Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox

Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com

#DisinfoDetox #GovernmentShutdown #ICE #BrianMartin #BackfireModel #PoliceAccountability #MediaLiteracy #StateControl #CivilLiberties #Whistleblower #NolanHigdon

Inside This Episode:Resources & Support:

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, Nolan Higdon and resident philosopher Dickey tear through the fog of 2026’s most explosive headlines. As the unredacted Epstein files finally see the light of day, the duo dives into the “Eight Names”—the alleged co-conspirators whose identities are sending shockwaves through the halls of power.

But the corruption doesn’t stop at the legacy of Jeffrey Epstein. Nolan and Dickey turn their critical lens toward the FBI and the swirling “fake news” surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Was it a procedural failure, or a calculated media distraction?

We also take a hard look at the state of the Fourth Estate under the current DNI. With Tulsi Gabbard at the helm, the line between “national security” and “press censorship” has never been thinner. We break down the latest reports of intelligence intercepts, whistleblower complaints, and the shifting landscape of free speech in the US. Finally, we tackle the “AI Infocalypse”—how synthetic media and generative AI are being weaponized to create a permanent state of digital forgery.

• The Epstein Unredacting: Analyzing the 8 names that the legacy media is still afraid to touch.

• The Nancy Guthrie Case: Separating FBI facts from the viral fictions clouding the investigation.

• Censorship at the DNI: Is Tulsi Gabbard’s “transparency task force” protecting the public or silencing the press?

• The IA (Intelligence/Artificial) Echo Chamber: How AI-generated “news” is making reality optional in 2026.

• Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: Nolan Higdon Substack

• Support the Show: Disinfo Detox Patreon

• Official Site: NolanHigdon.com

• Learn More: Project Censored

#DisinfoDetox #EpsteinFiles #GabbardDNI #NancyGuthrie #MediaLiteracy #AICensorship #NolanHigdon #TheEightNames #FakeNews2026 #PressFreedom

Inside This Episode:Resources & Support:

Episode 1: https://youtu.be/f8g7hrpPDQM

Episode 2: https://youtu.be/jF4PhPYLsfs

Watch all of the episodes & purchase the book at👉 Official Website: https://www.nolanhigdon.com/magacademy👉 Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/magacademy

Welcome to The Disinfo Detox, the channel dedicated to cutting through the noise and scrubbing propaganda from public discourse. In this episode, hosts Nolan Higdon and Sydney Sullivan continue the MAGAcademy series: a deep-dive exploration into the systematic transformation of the American university.

This series serves as the official companion to Nolan Higdon's book, MAGAcademy: How Corporatism Paved the Way for the Hostile Takeover of Higher Ed (Spring 2026).

For decades, bipartisan neoliberal reforms hollowed out our institutions, turning students into customers and faculty into disposable labor. This collapse wasn't sudden; it was a long-term decay that Donald Trump exploited to install an authoritarian brand of institutional life.

Episode 3: From Scholar to Service Provider: The De-Professionalization of Faculty. In this episode, we explore the stark reality of the "Galactic Divide" within the ivory tower. Nolan and Sydney discuss how neoliberal governance transformed the academic profession into a tiered system of "haves" and "have-nots." We examine the transition from secure, tenured positions to a workforce dominated by 68% contingent, "freeway flier" adjuncts who face low pay and job insecurity. From the history of academic freedom and the 1947 UC loyalty oaths to the petty infighting fueled by "divide and conquer" management tactics, we unpack how the devaluation of knowledge has turned scholars into precarious service providers. This episode is a crucial look at how breaking faculty solidarity provided the scaffolding for the corporate takeover of higher education.

📘 Get the BookReclaim your understanding of higher education.Purchase MAGAcademy at:👉 Official Website: https://www.nolanhigdon.com/magacademy👉 Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/magacademy

📢 Support The Disinfo DetoxIf you value independent, critical media analysis, help us grow:

Subscribe to The Disinfo Detox for more deep dives.

Join the Gaslight Gazette on Substack for exclusive investigations.

Like and Share to help others "detox" from mainstream disinformation.

#TheDisinfoDetox #MAGAcademy #NolanHigdon #SydneySullivan #HigherEducation #AdjunctLife #AcademicFreedom #Tenure #EducationReform #PropagandaWatch #GaslightGazette #LaborSolidarity TheDisinfoDetox # MAGAcademy # NolanHigdon # SydneySullivan # HigherEducation # Adjunctification # Neoliberalism # EducationReform # AcademicFreedom # FacultyRights # TenureTrack # Precarity # CorporateUniversity # LaborStruggle # DeProfessionalization # UniversityCollapse # MediaLiteracy # GaslightGazette # RoadScholars # HigherEdCrisis

Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox

Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com

Description

In this episode of Disinfo Detox, Nolan Higdon and Dickey connect the dots between the elite shadows of the Epstein Ledger and the systemic rise of "Inverted Totalitarianism."

We kick off with a breakdown of Nolan’s latest report on the Epstein Dossier, exploring why the most damning revelations remain buried under layers of redactions and who is currently benefiting from this strategic silence. As mainstream pillars like the Washington Post crumble through mass layoffs, we look at how the disappearance of investigative journalism makes the "Unfinished Dossier" even more dangerous.

From 'Death Cards' to Secret WatchlistsThe discussion turns to the chilling tactics of modern enforcement—from federal agents leaving "Death Cards" at immigrant capture sites in Colorado to the exposed "Secret Watchlists" that target American citizens while officials deny their existence.

The Historical Mirror: Corporate ProfiteeringTaking a leaf out of Bertram Gross’s Friendly Fascism, we revisit the history of corporate complicity. We detail how industrial titans like IBM, Ford, and Chase Bank provided the infrastructure for 20th-century fascism, drawing parallels to how modern tech and AI companies are being integrated into the current state surveillance apparatus.

#EpsteinLedger #NolanHigdon #Dickey #DisinfoDetox # FriendlyFascism #JeffreyEpstein #SurveillanceState #CorporateFascism #IBM #SecretWatchlists #MediaCollapse # InvertedTotalitarianism #2026Analysis #EliteAccountability #GaslightGazette #CivilLiberties

Episode 1: https://youtu.be/f8g7hrpPDQM

Watch all of the episodes & purchase the book at

👉 Official Website: https://www.nolanhigdon.com/magacademy

👉 Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/magacademy

Welcome to The Disinfo Detox, the channel dedicated to cutting through the noise and scrubbing propaganda from public discourse. In this episode, hosts Nolan Higdon and Sydney Sullivan dive into the MAGAcademy series: a deep-dive exploration into the systematic transformation of the American university.

This series serves as the official companion to Nolan Higdon's book, MAGAcademy: How Corporatism Paved the Way for the Hostile Takeover of Higher Ed (Spring 2026). For decades, bipartisan neoliberal reforms hollowed out our institutions, turning students into customers and faculty into disposable labor. This collapse wasn't sudden; it was a long-term decay that Donald Trump exploited to install an authoritarian brand of institutional life.

Episode 2: The Neoliberal Roots of Systemic Decay in Higher Education. In this episode, we trace the origins of the university’s collapse back to the 1970s and the rise of neoliberalism. Nolan explains how this corporatist approach transformed higher education from a public good into a private, for-profit machine. We unpack how neoliberal ideology colonized the university, replacing intellectual rigor with corporate managerialism and fueling the "administrative bloat" of non-teaching staff. By hollowing out the institution from the within, this neoliberal logic provided the scaffolding for the eventual downfall of the academy. Understanding this history is essential for anyone looking to grasp the broader social and institutional decay explored throughout the MAGAcademy book.

📘 Get the Book Reclaim your understanding of higher education. Purchase MAGAcademy at:

👉 Official Website: https://www.nolanhigdon.com/magacademy

👉 Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/magacademy

📢 Support The Disinfo Detox If you value independent, critical media analysis, help us grow:

Subscribe to The Disinfo Detox for more deep dives.

Join the Gaslight Gazette on Substack for exclusive investigations.

Like and Share to help others "detox" from mainstream disinformation.

#TheDisinfoDetox #MAGAcademy #NolanHigdon #SydneySullivan #HigherEducation #MediaLiteracy #AcademicFreedom #Neoliberalism #EducationReform #PropagandaWatch #GaslightGazette

Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox

Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com

Is the Trump administration’s recent military escalation in South America a masterstroke of law enforcement, or a lethal distraction from a public health crisis at home? In this episode of Disinfo Detox, Nolan Higdon sits down with Dr. Charles LeBaron, a former CDC scientist and award-winning author, to pull back the curtain on "Operation Absolute Resolve."

As the administration boasts that kidnapping Nicolás Maduro will save tens of thousands of American lives, Dr. LeBaron—who spent 28 years at the CDC—explains why the science tells a different story. We explore the "Drug Bust Paradox," the gutting of federal health agencies under RFK Jr., and the historical patterns of using foreign intervention to mask domestic policy failures.

• Operation Absolute Resolve Exposed: Why attacking Venezuela has almost zero impact on the illicit fentanyl trade, which primarily flows through official ports of entry via Mexico and China.

• The "Drug Bust Paradox": How supply-side military interventions often lead to increased overdose deaths as users are forced toward more dangerous, unpredictable sources.

• RFK Jr. and the Gutting of the CDC: An inside look at how budget cuts and personnel losses at SAMHSA, NIDA, and the CDC are dismantling the nation’s ability to fight addiction.

• "Greed to Do Good": Dr. LeBaron discusses his latest book, exposing the institutional failures within the CDC that helped detonate the initial opioid explosion.

• The Political Playbook: Analyzing whether the Venezuela takeover is a "spectacle" designed to bolster polling numbers while the real war on drugs is being lost in American communities.

#DonaldTrump #OperationAbsolute Resolve #CharlesLeBaron #GreedToDoGood #Venezuela #NicolasMaduro #CiliaFlores #DrugBustParadox #DrugWar #OpioidCrisis #Fentanyl #CDC #RFKJr #SAMHSA #NIDA #PublicHealth #DepartmentOfHealthAndHumanServices #OverdosePrevention #HarmReduction #SupplySideIntervention #Narcoterrorism #OperationAbsoluteResolve2026 #USMilitaryIntervention #MedicalEpidemiology #NolanHigdon #DisinfoDetox #PoliticalPhilosophy #PublicPolicy #MedicalHistory #ScienceAversion #BudgetCuts #HealthCrisis #LatinAmericanPolitics #OilPolitics #ForeignPolicy #AmericanLives #AddictionTreatment #MentalHealthGrants #ScientificExcellence #Epidemiology #WarOnDrugsFailure

Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox

Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com

In this episode of Disinfo Detox, Nolan Higdon and resident philosopher Dickey tackle the escalating violence in Minnesota, the collapse of the federal narrative, and a historic bipartisan break against the Clinton legacy.

We open the show by addressing our Hate Mail, responding to critics who accuse the show of partisan bias. Nolan breaks down the legal reality of a police officer's "duty to protect" and why bystander video remains the most vital tool for accountability in 2026.

The Minnesota Mirage: Operation Metro Surge

We dive deep into the disinformation campaign surrounding "Operation Metro Surge." From the tragic killing of Renee Good to the detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, we analyze how federal agencies are using "absolute immunity" and character assassination to shield agents from scrutiny.

The Killing of Alex Pretti: We examine the video evidence that dismantled the administration's "terrorist" narrative against a Minnesota ICU nurse.

The Second Amendment Paradox: Why has the Pretti case caused a massive fracture between the NRA and the Trump administration?

Institutional Fissures: We discuss the resignations of federal prosecutors and the blistering condemnation from conservative legal titan John Mitnick.

The Clinton Contempt

In a stunning turn of events, "rebel" Democrats have joined Republicans to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Epstein investigation. We discuss what this shift means for the future of the Democratic Party and the pursuit of elite accountability.

Censorship & Media Roundup

TikTok Glitches: Is it technical issues or ICE-related censorship?

Lawsuit Mania: Trump’s legal war against the NYT and NY Magazine.

CBS & Tony Dokoupil: Analysis of the "fawning" interview with Marco Rubio and the failure of mainstream fact-checking.

Support the Show & Stay Informed: #DonaldTrump #Fascism #MinnesotaProtests #ICE #ReneeGood #AlexPretti #InsurrectionAct #NolanHigdon #DisinfoDetox #ClintonContempt #SecondAmendment #UmbertoEco #TimothySnyder #CivilLiberties #HumanRights #2026News #PoliticalAnalysis

Watch all of the episodes & purchase the book at👉 Official Website: https://www.nolanhigdon.com/magacademy

👉 Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/magacademy

Welcome to The Disinfo Detox, the channel dedicated to cutting through the noise and scrubbing propaganda from public discourse. In this episode, hosts Nolan Higdon and Sydney Sullivan dive into the MAGAcademy series: a deep-dive exploration into the systematic transformation of the American university.

This series serves as the official companion to Nolan Higdon's book, MAGAcademy: How Corporatism Paved the Way for the Hostile Takeover of Higher Ed (Spring 2026).

For decades, bipartisan neoliberal reforms hollowed out our institutions, turning students into customers and faculty into disposable labor.

This collapse wasn't sudden; it was a long-term decay that Donald Trump exploited to install an authoritarian brand of institutional life.

Episode 1: An Introduction to MAGAcademy In the series premiere of The Disinfo Detox, Nolan Higdon introduces the foundational concept of the "MAGAcademy." This episode serves as a roadmap for the journey ahead, outlining how the American university system was prepared, not by chance, but by design, for an authoritarian takeover. Nolan provides a preview of the upcoming series, teasing the critical investigations into how the MAGA movement transitioned from political rhetoric to a physical and ideological occupation of campus life. This introduction sets the stage for a broader conversation about power, propaganda, and the future of higher education.📘 Get the BookReclaim your understanding of higher education. Purchase MAGAcademy at:

👉 Official Website: https://www.nolanhigdon.com/magacademy

👉 Substack: https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/magacademy

📢 Support The Disinfo DetoxIf you value independent, critical media analysis, help us grow:

Subscribe to The Disinfo Detox for more deep dives.

Join the Gaslight Gazette on Substack for exclusive investigations.

Like and Share to help others "detox" from mainstream disinformation.

#TheDisinfoDetox #MAGAcademy #NolanHigdon #SydneySullivan #HigherEducation #MediaLiteracy #AcademicFreedom #Neoliberalism #EducationReform #PropagandaWatch #GaslightGazette