TikTok is a potent tool for the Chinese Communist Party’s psychological warfare against the United States. In this conversation, the Hudson Institute’s Michael Sobolik highlights how TikTok's algorithm can shape public opinion in the U.S., particularly among younger audiences, and raises concerns about national security. The discussion also covers the potential for crisis scenarios where the CCP could manipulate information during conflicts, such as a hypothetical situation involving Taiwan.  Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss other reporting about Russian actors trying to rhetorically divide Germany, again, while China has become active in exploiting the emerging divide over America’s future AI infrastructure.

TikTok is a potent tool for the Chinese Communist Party&rsquo;s psychological warfare against the United States. In this conversation, the Hudson Institute&rsquo;s Michael Sobolik highlights how TikTok's algorithm can shape public opinion in the U.S., particularly among younger audiences, and raises concerns about national security. The discussion also covers the potential for crisis scenarios where the CCP could manipulate information during conflicts, such as a hypothetical situation involving Taiwan.&nbsp; Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss other reporting about Russian actors trying to rhetorically divide Germany, again, while China has become active in exploiting the emerging divide over America&rsquo;s future AI infrastructure.

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

The TikTok algorithm's continued control by ByteDance poses national security risks. Public opinion on Israel-Palestine has shifted due to TikTok's influence. Crisis scenarios could see TikTok used to manipulate American perceptions. Social media platforms run experiments that can affect user behavior. The CCP could use TikTok to spread pro-China narratives during conflicts. U.S. leaders must effectively communicate the importance of Taiwan. Influencers on TikTok hold more credibility than the CCP. Foreign policy challenges are exacerbated by domestic political divisions. Mixed messaging from U.S. officials undermines the seriousness of the threat.

TikTok is a Potent Weapon of CCP Political Warfare with Michael Sobolik

AI is already writing more than half of X’s helpful Community Notes, and that changes everything about who gets fact-checked, what gets fact-checked, and what happens when “the community” starts looking a lot more synthetic. Alexios Mantzarlis, co-founder of Indicator and a self-described “recovering fact checker,” breaks down the surprising rise of AI-written notes, why bots sometimes outperform humans, and the bigger danger hiding underneath the numbers: a moderation system that can look healthier on paper while quietly losing human participation, language diversity, and political coverage.  Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also unpack the recent migrant crisis in Ceuta, Spain, and increasing evidence of adversarial manipulation.

AI is already writing more than half of X&rsquo;s helpful Community Notes, and that changes everything about who gets fact-checked, what gets fact-checked, and what happens when &ldquo;the community&rdquo; starts looking a lot more synthetic. Alexios Mantzarlis, co-founder of Indicator and a self-described &ldquo;recovering fact checker,&rdquo; breaks down the surprising rise of AI-written notes, why bots sometimes outperform humans, and the bigger danger hiding underneath the numbers: a moderation system that can look healthier on paper while quietly losing human participation, language diversity, and political coverage.&nbsp; Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also unpack the recent migrant crisis in Ceuta, Spain, and increasing evidence of adversarial manipulation.

AI bots are now writing more than half of X’s helpful community notes, and that shift may be quietly reshaping how truth is judged online. In this episode, Alexios Mantzarlis explains why machine-written fact checks can outperform humans in some cases, where they fail on breaking news and politics, and how platform design may be pushing AI contributors toward safer, less consequential targets. The conversation also explores who is building these bots, why Grok matters, and how tactics like “no notes needed” can be used to game the system. Together, the hosts unpack the growing tension between crowdsourced truth and the risk of automating it into something easier to manipulate.

AI Powered Community Notes on X with Alexios Mantzarlis

Propaganda was foundational to America's independence, from the direct appeal of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense to the black-propaganda of Benjamin Franklin’s scalp hoax.  Binghamton University Professor of History Robert Parkinson reveals the hidden power of newspapers, pamphlets, and even fake news in shaping independence. The patriots even consolidated early control over sources of news and information creating a strategic weapon that the British struggled to counter—a feature of the revolutionary era that might seem familiar today.  Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also highlight the contemporary vulnerability of authoritarian regimes to information attacks and, relatedly, the cost of killing the Voice of America.

Propaganda was foundational to America's independence, from the direct appeal of Thomas Paine&rsquo;s Common Sense to the black-propaganda of Benjamin Franklin&rsquo;s scalp hoax.&nbsp; Binghamton University Professor of History Robert Parkinson reveals the hidden power of newspapers, pamphlets, and even fake news in shaping independence. The patriots even consolidated early control over sources of news and information creating a strategic weapon that the British struggled to counter&mdash;a feature of the revolutionary era that might seem familiar today.&nbsp; Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also highlight the contemporary vulnerability of authoritarian regimes to information attacks and, relatedly, the cost of killing the Voice of America.

In this episode, historian Robert Parkinson explores the role of propaganda, influence, and information in the American Revolution, highlighting how media, strategic messaging, and psychological tactics shaped the fight for independence.

'Working the Political Engine': Revolutionary War-Era Propaganda with Robert Parkinson

That post you saw about Polymarket odds?  It very well may have been sponsored—paid for by the company that stands to gain the most from your wager.  Only the influencer making the post didn’t have to disclose their financial interest.  Political Reporter Jason Beeferman, with his colleagues at Politico, have blown the doors off the story, identifying influencers and nearly 500 social media posts they created in exchange for payment—without disclosing that arrangement to their followers.  In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson highlight reporting on China’s struggles with foreign malign influence campaigns and Russia’s propaganda efforts in Africa.

That post you saw about Polymarket odds?&nbsp; It very well may have been sponsored&mdash;paid for by the company that stands to gain the most from your wager.&nbsp; Only the influencer making the post didn&rsquo;t have to disclose their financial interest.&nbsp; Political Reporter Jason Beeferman, with his colleagues at Politico, have blown the doors off the story, identifying influencers and nearly 500 social media posts they created in exchange for payment&mdash;without disclosing that arrangement to their followers.&nbsp; In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson highlight reporting on China&rsquo;s struggles with foreign malign influence campaigns and Russia&rsquo;s propaganda efforts in Africa.

Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson explore the influence of predictions, manipulation of information, and the need for regulation in the age of AI and social media. They discuss how predictions are power moves, the impact of misinformation, and the importance of regulatory frameworks to protect democratic processes.

TikTok is a Potent Weapon of CCP Political Warfare with Michael Sobolik

The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast

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