Theory of Change
How right-wing media became the glue that holds the Republican party together
Historian Nicole Hemmer discusses how reactionary media have radicalized millions of Americans since the 1940s
By Matthew Sheffield
More in Theory of Change
Low-quality pundits are getting rich telling people what they want to hear, inside the economics and psychology of how it works
By Matthew Sheffield
‘Decoding the Gurus’ co-host Matthew Browne on how the tools of acquiring knowledge are being used to destroy it
Right-wing comedy isn’t funny, but it sure is effective
By Matthew Sheffield
Authors Matt Sienkiewicz and Nick Marx discuss their new book about why lefties need to take right-wing comedy seriously
Will progressive and moderate Christians stand up against extremists politicizing their faith?
By Matthew Sheffield
Singer and podcaster Malynda Hale talks about why progressive and moderate Christians need to defend the faith from within
How Pentecostal Christianity is taking over the world of religion, and why it matters
By Matthew Sheffield
Author Elle Hardy discusses her book about the history of Pentecostalism and how it’s displacing other faiths across the globe
Latino evangelicals are reshaping American politics, politicians and parties should take notice
By Matthew Sheffield
Sociology professor Gerardo Martí discusses how the rapid growth of evangelical faith among Latinos seems to be eroding a traditional Democratic constituency
How far-right media manipulated a father — and a nation
By Matthew Sheffield
Jen Senko discusses her book and film, ‘The Brainwashing of My Dad,’ and how to help people escape from conspiracist media
Centrist elites have stalled political change and made room for the reactionary right
By Matthew Sheffield
Luke Savage discusses his new book, ‘The Dead Center: Reflections on Liberalism and Democracy After The End Of History’
How much do political party elites know about their own voters?
By Matthew Sheffield
Pollster and demographer Daniel Cox discusses why cultural issues often dominate U.S. politics, and how much surveys can actually tell us about public opinion
Do Joe Biden and his team realize who they’re dealing with?
By Matthew Sheffield
Salon.com columnist Heather Digby Parton discusses how Democratic leaders seem to think flowery speeches are sufficient against hardcore reactionaries
The January 6th Capitol attack was the inevitable product of the Christian Right’s hatred of America
By Matthew Sheffield
Journalist and researcher Bruce Wilson discusses how religious hatred for a ‘fallen nation’ fueled a presidential coup attempt
Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA are building a reactionary cult for young people, does anyone on the center-left care?
By Matthew Sheffield
Rhetoric professor Matthew Boedy describes how a far-right group is radicalizing young Christians, and how little center-left groups are doing in response
Media elites have missed the damage caused by free trade, and how millions felt betrayed by Democrats
By Matthew Sheffield
Journalist Farah Stockman discusses her new book on the meaning of work, and how educated elites have ignored the problems of others
The John Birch Society and the birth of the far-right rage machine
By Matthew Sheffield
American politics is arguably the product of Robert Welch, a far-right activist who was mostly ignored by conventional journalists and historians
America’s polarization is ultimately an epistemic problem
By Matthew Sheffield
Former libertarian writer and policy wonk Will Wilkinson discusses how many far-right Christians and secular libertarians have decided that facts are optional and evidence does not matter
Technology alone cannot solve the problems of social media
By Matthew Sheffield
David Adams, founder and publisher of OSNews, discusses the cyclical nature of technology and the implications of computing’s return to the network
How the ‘Steele Dossier’ confused the public and ended up helping Donald Trump
By Matthew Sheffield
Journalist and author Barry Meier discusses how private spy agencies manipulate the media and intimidate whistleblowers for wealthy clients
The disinformation economy isn’t invincible, meet two women working to end it
By Matthew Sheffield
Nandini Jammi and Claire Atkin of Check My Ads want to make publishing lies unprofitable, while also helping advertisers protect their brands
Trump supporters will make it difficult for the GOP to copy Glenn Youngkin
By Matthew Sheffield
Never Trump commentator Jim Swift on why Trump and his fans won’t allow the Virginia gubernatorial candidate’s strategy to be copied
White nationalists and jihadists are starting to realize they have a lot in common
By Matthew Sheffield
Extremism researcher Moustafa Ayad talks about how religious extremists from across the world are starting to come together, and what that means for the rest of us
Far-right Christians think they’re living in a Bible story, and that you are as well
By Matthew Sheffield
Literature professor Christopher Douglas discusses the modern-day rewriting of Biblical apocalyptic literature as a justification for political extremism