Unmasking Disinformation: A Deep Dive into Russian Information Warfare

"These things are as endemic to Russia as vodka, the ballet, and long winters." In this episode, host Paul Brandus discusses the pervasive issue of disinformation, particularly focusing on Russian efforts and the impact on global security. He interviews Nina Jankowicz, founder of the American Sunl…

No News Is Bad News

"Journalism is the only profession that is protected by the First Amendment... but private equity and hedge funds have been involved with disastrous consequences." In this episode, host Paul Brandus delves into the issue of the decline of local print journalism and news deserts, focusing on the…

The Intentions of the Adversary

"You have a direct pipeline, particularly with social media and with individuals. Essentially, all you're doing is figuring out who you want to target" In this podcast episode, host Paul Brandus discusses the growing concerns surrounding the upcoming presidential election, focusing on the threa…

OSINT, pt 2: Global Affairs and Speed & Accuracy

"Open-source intelligence is a critical way of helping not just governments, but the private sector form judgments about critical issues." This episode is the second in a series covering Open Source Intelligence (OSINT). Here, we focus on Bellingcat's investigative work into the 2014 shooting d…

OSINT: The Tools of Truthseeking In The Age of Disinformation

"The silence in these fields is that of a tomb, like sorrow and loss have isolated it from the war around it." In this episode, host Paul Brandus delves into the world of open source intelligence (OSINT), He discusses its importance in verifying information, especially in the digital era. The epis…

Hearts & Minds In Africa, Pt. II

"The United States government works at a great disadvantage because we tell the truth." In this episode, we refocus our sights on Russia's information warfare efforts in Africa, particularly spreading false claims about U.S. biological testing surrounding COVID-19. The Africa Initiative, backed by…

Nobody's Fool

"It's a kind of information that we find particularly appealing that people looking to fool us will use, but it can lead to innocent spreading" Host Paul Brandus explores the concept of truth bias and its implications in today's society with guests Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris, authors of…

Muddying The Waters

"This information is polluting the entire ecosystem under which we operate." In this episode of "Disinformation," Paul Brandus delves into the pressing issue of information pollution in the 21st century. With the rise of social media and artificial intelligence, discerning between truth, misinform…

Lest There Be Any October Surprises - Fighting Disinformation Before the Ballot Box

"The problem in America isn't so much what people don't know, the problem is what people think they know that just ain't so" In this episode of Disinformation, Paul Brandus discusses the prevalence of false campaign narratives and disinformation in elections around the world. He highlights the up…

Democracy Dies In The Dark Web: Combating Disnformation in The Internet's Darkest Corners

"The most common threat that the dark web poses for a disinformation point of view, however, is ...the fact that many marketplaces on the dark web host tools which can be used for disinformation. Manufacturing it, spreading it, monitoring it, so on and so forth." On this episode, host Paul Brandus…