meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Conspirituality

100: State of Disinformation (w/Imran Ahmed)

Conspirituality

Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker

Philosophy, Science, Society & Culture, Social Sciences

4.0 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2022

⏱️ 95 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In July 2020, just as we were finding our sea legs with this podcast, Imran Ahmed joined to discuss the state of disinformation occurring around the world. As the founder of the UK’s Center for Countering Digital Hate, he had just produced a report that found anti-vax organizations were reaching 58 million people on social media—and this was well before the COVID vaccines were developed. The total amount of money spent by anti-vax groups and advertisers targeting their followers on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube turned out to be roughly $1 billion.Imran’s group kept reporting and we kept covering them. You probably remember the Center thanks to its Disinformation Dozen report, which profoundly impacted awareness of just how much anti-vax leaders were monetizing their supplements, seminars, and other supposed COVID “interventions.” The report even reached the White House where Joe Biden called out the Disinformation Dozen during a press conference. What’s changed in the nearly two years since we had Imran on? Well, a lot—and in some ways, not much at all. Julian interviews Imran this time around after having met up in person at the Defeat the Mandates rally in downtown Los Angeles. Imran discusses what’s changed, what hasn’t, and how the bottom line remains the same: namely, the conspiritualist’s bottom line. They also talk about the nature of free speech in an internet filled with disinformation. Before hearing from Imran, Derek and Julian briefly discuss the state of disinformation and free speech online, which Derek frames in terms of urban planning and the concept of legibility.  -- -- --Support us on PatreonPre-order Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Health Threat: America | Canada Follow us on Instagram | Twitter: Derek | Matthew | JulianOriginal music by EarthRise SoundSystem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is a Glassbox Media Podcast.

0:06.0

Are you tired of the political podcasts peddling horse-paced and man supplements?

0:11.0

I thought so. Me too.

0:13.0

Here's the solution.

0:14.0

Listen to the bituation room with comedian and left-pundit Francesca Fiorentini.

0:20.0

I'm a big fan of Francesca. She's hilarious. She's smart. I love her show.

0:24.0

We've actually been on the show a couple times.

0:27.0

Each week, she welcomes experts and comics to break down and mock the week's news

0:33.0

and strategize about building a progressive movement in the US.

0:36.0

Guests have included authors like Naomi Klein, organizers like Bill McKibbin,

0:41.0

and comedians Trey Crowder and Roy Wood Jr. of the Daily Show.

0:46.0

So get the bituation room right to your ear holes wherever you get your podcast

0:51.0

because if we can't laugh, it's not my revolution.

0:57.0

Hey everyone, welcome to Conspirituality. I'm Derek Barris.

1:03.0

I'm Julian Walker. Matthew is working hard on the final touches of our book right now,

1:17.0

so we are going to handle this semi-solo.

1:21.0

I guess you can say.

1:25.0

So you can stay up to date with us on all of our social media channels.

1:29.0

Independently, we are all on Twitter at basically our names.

1:33.0

Derek Barris and Julian M. Walker is your new handle.

1:38.0

We are also on Instagram, where we mostly post occasionally up on YouTube and TikTok.

1:42.0

And of course, we are on Patreon at patreon.com slash Conspirituality,

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.