– the twirling mustaches is coming for us all
We celebrate our 450th episode (wow!) live at QED 2024 (wow!!!) with the help of Brian and Claire! We also get special greetings from Annika and Jay Novella, who unfortunately could not attend. A slightly different format due to the occasion, but of course we have the news, which this time has the (not so) cheerful theme of Russian disinformation:
- SWEDEN: An apparent news site focusing on the 2026 election is in fact an AI-generated propaganda tool that mixes real stories with fake news (Pontus)
- RUSSIA / EUROPE: Heritage Foundation and the Congress of Families (Claire)
- UK: MI5 chief warns of Russian disinformation campaigns targeting UK as report warns Western support for Ukraine at risk (Brian)
- INTERNATIONAL: Doppelganger, the Russian disinformation agency and its recently revealed documents (András)
We end the show with a one-question quiz to find this weeks’ “Who’s Quacking?” candidate.
Enjoy!
Segments: Intro; Greetings; News; Who’s Quacking?; Farewell; Outro; Outtakes
0:00:00 INTRO
0:01:49 GREETINGS
- Greetings from Annika and Luna
- Congratulations from Jay Novella
0:09:23 NEWS
- SWEDEN: An apparent news site focusing on the 2026 election is in fact an AI-generated propaganda tool that mixes real stories with fake news (Pontus)
- RUSSIA / EUROPE: Heritage Foundation and the Congress of Families (Claire)
- European Parliament Forum: https://www.epfweb.org/node/837
- EU External Action: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/fimi-targeting-lgbtiq-people_en
- UK: MI5 chief warns of Russian disinformation campaigns targeting UK as report warns Western support for Ukraine at risk (Brian)
- INTERNATIONAL: Doppelganger, the Russian disinformation agency and its recently revealed documents (András)
- DisInfo.eu: https://www.disinfo.eu/doppelganger-operation/
- Forreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/lies-russia-tells-itself
0:40:25 WHO’S QUACKING?
- Name that quack: Paolo Macchiarini
0:43:07 FAREWELL
0:43:37 OUTRO
0:44:52 OUT-TAKES