Given the state of… things (imagine us gesturing wildly as we say this) as they currently are, Jonah figured that this might be an apropos time to bring back a popular guest for his second showing: Joseph Uscinski, a political scientist and professor at the University of Miami specializing in how conspiracy theories spread. Buckle up for the discussion of Jewish space lasers, QAnon, Frazzledrip, and much more. They also discuss why the conspiratorial tendency never seems to go away, thanks to its basis in personality type, as well as the fact that “politicians … use [them] as a cudgel to go around accusing their opponents of the worst things possible.” We’re sure you can imagine just what Joe is talking about with that one.

Show Notes:

-Joseph E Uscinski - University of Miami

-Our previous episode with Joseph

-Birtherism

-Every conspiracy theory promoted by Trump

-Conspiracy theories are for losers

-9/11 truthers

-70 percent of Republicans don’t think the election was free and fair

-Eric Voegelin and the roots of conspiracy theories

-The God of the gaps

-Conspiracy theories and evolutionary psychology

-The Koch brothers control everything

-Bernie and the rigged economy

-Alienated America by Tim Carney

-“Frazzledrip”???

-6 percent of Republicans and Democrats believe in QAnon

-NYT: Biden should appoint a “reality czar”

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