On this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss the pattern that emerges when you look at the divisive issues being injected into diverse Western media environments--including Canada, Switzerland, and Germany--where a looming election in February is liberal-democracy's next test against a familiar pattern of ethno-nationalist grievance and promises of national renewal.  They also discuss the Chinese AI phenom DeepSeek and its penchant for pro-Beijing disinformation.

On this week's Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss the pattern that emerges when you look at the divisive issues being injected into diverse Western media environments--including Canada, Switzerland, and Germany--where a looming election in February is liberal-democracy's next test against a familiar pattern of ethno-nationalist grievance and promises of national renewal.&nbsp; They also discuss the Chinese AI phenom DeepSeek and its penchant for pro-Beijing disinformation.

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

An Ethno-Nationalist International?

This week on the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson review the decision by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to shutter the surviving office countering foreign disinformation on the grounds that it was actually censoring American voices.  The conversation then turns to the nominee for the U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia and his failure to disclose more than 150 appearances on Russian state-run media; the health of the Canadian information ecosystem in the run-up to the country's election; Russia's efforts to capitalize on the end of American support for independent media in Ukraine; and tremendous reporting on Russia's Pravda Network and its global reach.

This week on the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson review the decision by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to shutter the surviving office countering foreign disinformation on the grounds that it was actually censoring American voices.&nbsp; The conversation then turns to the nominee for the U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia and his failure to disclose more than 150 appearances on Russian state-run media; the health of the Canadian information ecosystem in the run-up to the country's election; Russia's efforts to capitalize on the end of American support for independent media in Ukraine; and tremendous reporting on Russia's Pravda Network and its global reach.

Counter Disinformation or Censorship?

This week on the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson search the tea-leaves left behind by DOGE cuts to try to understand the grand-strategy and intention behind gutting American soft-power and threatening NATO allies. Then, they turn their attention back overseas for a reminder that America's adversaries continue to operate political warfare campaigns despite America's unilateral disarmament.  Finally, they look at the potential for AI-created deepfakes to undermine public confidence in what we know and the danger of search engines to respond to our own biases.

This week on the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson search the tea-leaves left behind by DOGE cuts to try to understand the grand-strategy and intention behind gutting American soft-power and threatening NATO allies. Then, they turn their attention back overseas for a reminder that America's adversaries continue to operate political warfare campaigns despite America's unilateral disarmament.&nbsp; Finally, they look at the potential for AI-created deepfakes to undermine public confidence in what we know and the danger of search engines to respond to our own biases.

Tea Leaves

This week on the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson dissect a raft of moves by the U.S. government that can't be explained as either accident or intentional act, but paint a picture of a strategic realignment with Russia. They also discuss a new report from CSIS about foreign governments targeting corporations with mal-information, while China increasingly employs so-called "Gray Zone" tactics.  

This week on the Active Measures Newsletter Podcast, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson dissect a raft of moves by the U.S. government that can't be explained as either accident or intentional act, but paint a picture of a strategic realignment with Russia. They also discuss a new report from CSIS about foreign governments targeting corporations with mal-information, while China increasingly employs so-called "Gray Zone" tactics.&nbsp;

An Ethno-Nationalist International?

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