Conspiracy Theories Are Having A Moment — It's Bad For Democracy
The NPR Politics Podcast
NPR
4.4 • 25.7K Ratings
🗓️ 21 July 2023
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
And the lead actor of a breakout Christian thriller — based on the dubious claims of an anti-sex trafficking organization — has spread a number of conspiracy theories as he's promoted the movie, which has been embraced and promoted by a host of establishment conservatives.
Why are malignant conspiracies finding such purchase in the American public — and what does it say about the health of our democracy?
This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior political editor and correspondent Ron Elving, and disinformation correspondent Shanon Bond.
The podcast is produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | G'day I'm out and I'm Kelly I'm Xavier and we're from Albion Park in New South Wales in Australia |
| 0:08.3 | And we're on our first ever well-watching cruise off the New South Wales South Coast at Jervis Bay |
| 0:13.2 | The conservationists say there's been the largest humpback migration in recorded history |
| 0:19.2 | At the time is? |
| 0:21.0 | 11.23 a.m. on Friday, July 21st |
| 0:24.4 | Things may have changed and the time this is recorded |
| 0:28.4 | But hopefully we'll have seen our first humpback whale ever |
| 0:33.0 | Okay, he's the show |
| 0:40.2 | Wow our timestamps sound so adventurous with an Australian accent |
| 0:44.6 | I want to be out there with the whales |
| 0:46.1 | Yeah, me too |
| 0:47.4 | Hey there, it's the MPR Politics podcast um season Davis I cover politics |
| 0:51.0 | I'm Ron Elving, editor for a spot |
| 0:52.6 | An MPR Shannon Bond joins us today. Hey Shannon |
| 0:55.6 | Hey guys |
| 0:57.1 | So Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is in the race for president. He is challenging president Joe Biden for the democratic nomination |
| 1:04.3 | He's 69 years old and he is of course a member of one of the most famous political families in our country's history |
| 1:10.8 | But this is actually his first foray into politics |
| 1:14.3 | He spent decades as an environmental lawyer before eventually becoming best known for his advocacy questioning things like the science and safety of vaccines |
| 1:23.6 | Among many other views that could be considered conspiracy theories involving the government and other institutions |
| 1:30.8 | Shannon give us a sense of |
| 1:33.0 | Kennedy's more controversial views and how widespread they are |
... |
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