Large language models can be corrupted by disinformation seeded online, causing them to repeat false claims as fact. But NewsGuard COO Matt Skibinski offers a solution: NewsGuard AI, a news-focused chatbot designed from the ground-up to draw language from sources rated for reliability cross-referenced against a continuously updated database of false claims.  It’s a powerful tool that puts AI to good use, particularly in the context of a mid-term election awash with disinformation from both domestic and international sources. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss the spate of bomb-threats targeting European airlines and initial assessments of foreign malign influence in the mid-term elections.

Large language models can be corrupted by disinformation seeded online, causing them to repeat false claims as fact. But NewsGuard COO Matt Skibinski offers a solution: NewsGuard AI, a news-focused chatbot designed from the ground-up to draw language from sources rated for reliability cross-referenced against a continuously updated database of false claims.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s a powerful tool that puts AI to good use, particularly in the context of a mid-term election awash with disinformation from both domestic and international sources. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss the spate of bomb-threats targeting European airlines and initial assessments of foreign malign influence in the mid-term elections.

From the Pell Center at Salve Regina University and the creators of the Active Measures Newsletter, a weekly dive into the latest trends in political warfare, influence, and information campaigns. 

From the Pell Center at Salve Regina University and the creators of the Active Measures Newsletter, a weekly dive into the latest trends in political warfare, influence, and information campaigns.

A weekly dive into the headlines in the Active Measures Newsletter from the Pell Center at Salve Regina University.

The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast

Large language models can be corrupted by disinformation seeded online, causing them to repeat false claims as fact. But NewsGuard COO Matt Skibinski offers a solution: NewsGuard AI, a news-focused chatbot designed from the ground-up to draw language from sources rated for reliability cross-referenced against a continuously updated database of false claims.  It’s a powerful tool that puts AI to good use, particularly in the context of a mid-term election awash with disinformation from both domestic and international sources. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss the spate of bomb-threats targeting European airlines and initial assessments of foreign malign influence in the mid-term elections.

An AI Chatbot Built to Fight Disinformation with Matt Skibinski

Russia's influence campaigns aimed at the 2026 U.S. midterms seek, ultimately, to undermine confidence in the vote, not to change votes themselves. In this episode, Darren Linvill, professor of communication and co-director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University walks through two Russian campaigns: Matryoshka—which makes AI-altered fake news videos for a limited audience—and Storm 1516, a more effective campaign that pays real influencers to spread invented stories of corruption and scandal, mostly about Democratic candidates. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss new evidence about Russia’s role in Brexit and the current reporting about Moscow’s efforts in the 2026 U.S. midterms.

Russia's influence campaigns aimed at the 2026 U.S. midterms seek, ultimately, to undermine confidence in the vote, not to change votes themselves. In this episode, Darren Linvill, professor of communication and co-director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University walks through two Russian campaigns: Matryoshka&mdash;which makes AI-altered fake news videos for a limited audience&mdash;and Storm 1516, a more effective campaign that pays real influencers to spread invented stories of corruption and scandal, mostly about Democratic candidates. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss new evidence about Russia&rsquo;s role in Brexit and the current reporting about Moscow&rsquo;s efforts in the 2026 U.S. midterms.

Russia, China, and the 2026 U.S.  Elections with Darren Linvill

Washington keeps misreading the politics of foreign aid, and that misunderstanding is reshaping U.S. power. Rachel A. George of Stanford University breaks down why Americans are far less hostile to aid than politicians claim, what the Trump-era USAID shutdown actually changed, and why the real fight is over accountability, transparency, and strategy - not whether aid should exist at all.George explains how the collapse of USAID sent shockwaves through the global aid system, why the damage extended well beyond Washington, and how European donors responded by pulling back too. Co-hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss Russian efforts to intervene in the mid-terms as well as Russian efforts to weaponize history itself.

Washington keeps misreading the politics of foreign aid, and that misunderstanding is reshaping U.S. power. Rachel A. George of Stanford University breaks down why Americans are far less hostile to aid than politicians claim, what the Trump-era USAID shutdown actually changed, and why the real fight is over accountability, transparency, and strategy - not whether aid should exist at all.George explains how the collapse of USAID sent shockwaves through the global aid system, why the damage extended well beyond Washington, and how European donors responded by pulling back too. Co-hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss Russian efforts to intervene in the mid-terms as well as Russian efforts to weaponize history itself.

Washington keeps misreading the politics of foreign aid, and that misunderstanding is reshaping U.S. power. Rachel A. George of Stanford University breaks down why Americans are far less hostile to aid than politicians claim, what the Trump-era USAID shutdown actually changed, and why the real fight is over accountability, transparency, and strategy - not whether aid should exist at all.George explains how the collapse of USAID sent shockwaves through the global aid system, why the damage extended well beyond Washington, and how European donors responded by pulling back too. She also untangles what counts as "foreign aid" in the first place, from humanitarian assistance and global health programs to economic development, military aid, and concessional finance.

Don't be Fooled by the Domestic Politics of Foreign Assistance with Rachel A. George

The gap between imagined and actual threats to elections is vast.  Where the public is focused on hacking electronic voting machines, the actual threat, says Votebeat Editorial Director Jessica Huseman, is unlikely to change actual votes. Still, there are real threats, from the 100 suspicious letters sent to election offices this week to the everyday cybersecurity challenges facing local officials. To complicate things further, the second Trump administration has unwound the tremendous work done in the first Trump administration to create a federal capacity to protect elections. What remains are patriotic, local election workers committed to serving their communities and ensuring democracy works. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss the viral claims about Ukrainian strikes on Russian data centers and the British Prime Minister’s recent remarks about Brexit.

The gap between imagined and actual threats to elections is vast.&nbsp; Where the public is focused on hacking electronic voting machines, the actual threat, says Votebeat Editorial Director Jessica Huseman, is unlikely to change actual votes. Still, there are real threats, from the 100 suspicious letters sent to election offices this week to the everyday cybersecurity challenges facing local officials. To complicate things further, the second Trump administration has unwound the tremendous work done in the first Trump administration to create a federal capacity to protect elections. What remains are patriotic, local election workers committed to serving their communities and ensuring democracy works. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss the viral claims about Ukrainian strikes on Russian data centers and the British Prime Minister&rsquo;s recent remarks about Brexit.

The gap between imagined and actual threats to elections is vast.  Where the public is focused on hacking electronic voting machines, the actual threat, says Votebeat Editorial Director Jessica Huseman, is unlikely to change actual votes.  Still, the challenges and threats are real, from the 100 suspicious letters sent to election offices this week to the everyday cybersecurity challenges facing local officials. To complicate things further, the second Trump administration has unwound the tremendous work done in the first Trump administration to create a federal capacity to protect elections.  What remains are patriotic, local election workers committed to serving their communities and ensuring democracy works.  Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss the viral claims about Ukrainian strikes on Russian data centers and the British Prime Minister’s recent remarks about Brexit.

An AI Chatbot Built to Fight Disinformation with Matt Skibinski

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