27. Make sure that you're not getting high on your own supply - Dannagal G. Young

Late-Night Comedy, Far-Right Talk Shows, and Why You Might Be Wrong

In this episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, host David Beckmeyer interviews Dannagal G. Young, a communication expert who studies how the media influences our political beliefs. They discuss the similarities between late night comedy shows and far right talk shows, the impact of these shows on viewers, and the shared characteristics of their audiences. They also explore the demand side of wrongness and how our need for comprehension, control, and community can influence our beliefs. Young offers insights into how we can be more intentional about our online presence and embrace intellectual humility to combat misinformation.

Key Takeaways:

1. Late night comedy shows and far right talk shows have a similar impact on viewers, influencing their understanding of political events and reinforcing their beliefs.
2. Audiences of both late night comedy shows and far right talk shows are confident in their political beliefs, passionate about politics, and have strong social and cultural ideologies.
3. The demand for misinformation is driven by our need for comprehension, control, and community.
4. Intellectual humility is a key factor in combating misinformation, as it allows us to be open to the possibility that we may be wrong and encourages critical thinking.