Disinformation is deliberately generated misleading content disseminated for selfish or malicious purposes. Unlike misinformation, which may be shared unwittingly or with good intentions, disinformation aims to foment distrust, destabilize institutions, discredit good intentions, defame opponents and delegitimize sources of knowledge such as science and journalism.
The Conversation
Conservatives’ ‘Anti-Woke’ Alternative to Disney
U.S. conservatives are using action films, dramas and even kids’ cartoons to build their own alternative entertainment industry, one shielded from the alleged liberal biases of Hollywood. The most prominent recent efforts are two streaming entertainment platforms from right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro and “Lady Ballers” star Jeremy Boreing. But conservatives have a spottier record when it comes to entertainment, whether it’s feature films, pop songs or kids’ shows.
The Deeply Rooted Biases Biases Behind Transgender Athlete Bans
In 2023, 24 states had laws or regulations in place prohibiting transgender students from participating on public school athletic teams consistent with their gender identity. These bans mean that a person whose sex assigned at birth was male but who identifies as a girl or woman cannot play on a girls or women’s athletic team at a public school in that state. State-level politics and public biases against transgender people are largely to blame.
Taylor Swift, Influencer of the Year
Even before Taylor Swift was named “Person Of The Year” by Time magazine, politicians courted Swiftie voters. The idea that Swifties might be a key demographic in future elections is not far-fetched given their location and age. A majority of Swift’s fans live in the suburbs, the swing territory of American politics. Further, most are Gen Zers or Millennials. These groups encompass an increasing share of the electorate with each passing year.
Hate Crimes Are Up, But Charges and Convictions Are a Challenge
Hate crimes and hate murders are rising across the U.S., but long-term polling data suggests that most Americans are horrified by bias-motivated violence. They also support hate crime legislation, an effort to deter such attacks. Yet police and state attorneys often resist the quick classification of incidents as a hate crime.
The Benefits of Not Arresting Students Over Most School-Based Incidents
School-based arrests are one part of the school-to-prison pipeline, through which students – especially Black and Latine students and those with disabilities – are pushed out of their schools and into the legal system. Getting caught up in the legal system has been linked to negative health, social and academic outcomes, as well as increased risk for future arrest.
Need It Even Be Said? A Military Ethicist Explains Why All Civilian Lives Matter Equally.
As of Nov. 25, according to health officials in the Gaza Strip, more than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children. International humanitarian law prohibits direct attacks on civilians and wounded and surrendered soldiers and on civilian objects such as schools, religious centers and hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. There are exceptions. Israel is not abiding by either.
‘Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory”s Racist Origins
Dahl’s book is part of a long history of children’s books that feature racist stereotypes – a list that includes six Dr. Seuss books that were removed from publication in 2021. Other children’s classics, such as “Peter Pan” and “Mary Poppins,” have also been criticized for perpetuating racism.
The George Santos Calamity
How could a politician engage in such large-scale deception and get elected? What could stop it from happening again, as politicians seem to be growing more unapologetically deceptive while evading voters’ scrutiny?
The Rise of LGBTQIA+ Sanctuary Cities–Including, Possibly, Tallahassee
At least 15 states and cities have dubbed themselves LGBTQIA+ sanctuaries over the last several years. Sanctuaries are generally considered local refuges, where people who are afraid of persecution or discrimination have legal immunity from particular government policies or laws. Tallahassee, Florida, is among the places that is considering declaring itself a LGBTQIA+ sanctuary.