Anna Merlan
@annamerlan.bsky.social
Journalist at Mother Jones and elsewhere, author, writer of social media posts on micro-blogging sites. Tips to [email protected] or on Signal, username annamerlan.30
Reposted by Anna Merlan
"When Prophecy Fails" is gripping, an in-depth social study that has served as a key basis for the psychological concept of cognitive dissonance.
But a new study that examines the unsealed papers of one of the book's authors claims that Prophecy leans on lies and serious manipulation.
But a new study that examines the unsealed papers of one of the book's authors claims that Prophecy leans on lies and serious manipulation.
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM
"When Prophecy Fails" is gripping, an in-depth social study that has served as a key basis for the psychological concept of cognitive dissonance.
But a new study that examines the unsealed papers of one of the book's authors claims that Prophecy leans on lies and serious manipulation.
But a new study that examines the unsealed papers of one of the book's authors claims that Prophecy leans on lies and serious manipulation.
Highly specific siren: Nick Cave and Rod Dreher hung out
November 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Highly specific siren: Nick Cave and Rod Dreher hung out
Reposted by Anna Merlan
I've had my problems with 'Prophecy' since I actually read the thing - the percentage of the cult that were field researchers was Too Damn High - but I also remain skeptical of a debunking by a reactionary researcher who seems to have a bone to pick with the social sciences as a whole.
Great piece.
Great piece.
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I've had my problems with 'Prophecy' since I actually read the thing - the percentage of the cult that were field researchers was Too Damn High - but I also remain skeptical of a debunking by a reactionary researcher who seems to have a bone to pick with the social sciences as a whole.
Great piece.
Great piece.
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Excellent, nuanced overview of the new critique of ‘When Prophecy Fails.’ Being trained as a social psychologist, I would also note that almost none of us would cite WPF as the canonical empirical evidence for or demonstration of the existence of cognitive dissonance effects. (1/2)
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Excellent, nuanced overview of the new critique of ‘When Prophecy Fails.’ Being trained as a social psychologist, I would also note that almost none of us would cite WPF as the canonical empirical evidence for or demonstration of the existence of cognitive dissonance effects. (1/2)
Reposted by Anna Merlan
With every field, a major question we need to ask ourselves, at all times, is whether our forebearers were full of it, either intentionally or by accident. Because as we've seen with Zimbardo, Milgram, bystander effects, girls with ADHD, or anything on trans folks before 2010, they often were.
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
With every field, a major question we need to ask ourselves, at all times, is whether our forebearers were full of it, either intentionally or by accident. Because as we've seen with Zimbardo, Milgram, bystander effects, girls with ADHD, or anything on trans folks before 2010, they often were.
Reposted by Anna Merlan
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
As Twitter's new geolocation tool started to reveal accounts’ information, the effect was like watching the Scooby Doo kids pull one disguise after another from the villain of the week.
Hilarious and alarming though it all was, it's just the latest indication of one of the site’s oldest problems.
Hilarious and alarming though it all was, it's just the latest indication of one of the site’s oldest problems.
Twitter's foreign influence problem is nothing new
The platform's just-debuted geolocation tool illuminates a disturbing and persistent issue.
www.motherjones.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:35 PM
As Twitter's new geolocation tool started to reveal accounts’ information, the effect was like watching the Scooby Doo kids pull one disguise after another from the villain of the week.
Hilarious and alarming though it all was, it's just the latest indication of one of the site’s oldest problems.
Hilarious and alarming though it all was, it's just the latest indication of one of the site’s oldest problems.
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Many thanks for @annamerlan.bsky.social for writing this piece and integrating my historical perspective.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
November 24, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Many thanks for @annamerlan.bsky.social for writing this piece and integrating my historical perspective.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Twitter's new geolocation tool reveals not only how many men are interacting with fake accounts pretending to be attractive women, but highlights a disturbing and persistent issue that has long plagued the site:
Coordinated inauthentic behavior.
Coordinated inauthentic behavior.
Twitter's foreign influence problem is nothing new
The platform's just-debuted geolocation tool illuminates a disturbing and persistent issue.
www.motherjones.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Twitter's new geolocation tool reveals not only how many men are interacting with fake accounts pretending to be attractive women, but highlights a disturbing and persistent issue that has long plagued the site:
Coordinated inauthentic behavior.
Coordinated inauthentic behavior.
I also think it's quite noteworthy that Elon Musk has spent all weekend tweeting about voter ID laws and yet has not gotten around to saying a word about this new feature showing how many of his users are apparently not who they say they are!
I talked to Joan Donovan about Twitter's very old foreign influence problem, which was unmasked in the funniest possible way over the weekend: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Twitter's foreign influence problem is nothing new
The platform's just-debuted geolocation tool illuminates a disturbing and persistent issue.
www.motherjones.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I also think it's quite noteworthy that Elon Musk has spent all weekend tweeting about voter ID laws and yet has not gotten around to saying a word about this new feature showing how many of his users are apparently not who they say they are!
I talked to Joan Donovan about Twitter's very old foreign influence problem, which was unmasked in the funniest possible way over the weekend: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Twitter's foreign influence problem is nothing new
The platform's just-debuted geolocation tool illuminates a disturbing and persistent issue.
www.motherjones.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I talked to Joan Donovan about Twitter's very old foreign influence problem, which was unmasked in the funniest possible way over the weekend: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
the bsky experience in a sentence
I can’t believe I got blocked for this but I’m grateful nonetheless
November 24, 2025 at 12:15 AM
the bsky experience in a sentence
You’re not gonna believe who we’re talking about
November 23, 2025 at 10:25 PM
You’re not gonna believe who we’re talking about
I’m not picking now to pay for a man’s Substack, no offense
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I’m not picking now to pay for a man’s Substack, no offense
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Creepy or cool: The hack that puts you inside Epstein's inbox.
If you haven't played around with it yet, it's WILD.
If you haven't played around with it yet, it's WILD.
The uncanny Gmail clone that drops you straight into Epstein’s inbox.
A clever bit of digital wizardry turns the 20,000-plus email dump into a working Gmail parody you can search, sort, and star.
www.motherjones.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Creepy or cool: The hack that puts you inside Epstein's inbox.
If you haven't played around with it yet, it's WILD.
If you haven't played around with it yet, it's WILD.
"As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines" www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
A Battle with My Blood
When I was diagnosed with leukemia, my first thought was that this couldn’t be happening to me, to my family.
www.newyorker.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
"As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines" www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
In case this wasn't.... matchlessly clear... RFK Jr. told the New York Times he's personally responsible for the new CDC website page claiming that vaccines may cause autism. This is a lie and Kennedy employed tortured logic to try to justify it to the paper. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
RFK Jr. wants you to know he’s personally responsible for anti-vax misinformation on CDC website
He told the New York Times there’s no proof that vaccines don’t cause autism, which is a lie.
www.motherjones.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:12 PM
In case this wasn't.... matchlessly clear... RFK Jr. told the New York Times he's personally responsible for the new CDC website page claiming that vaccines may cause autism. This is a lie and Kennedy employed tortured logic to try to justify it to the paper. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Marjorie Taylor Greene no longer trusts the plan.
In her surprise resignation, she cast doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted.
In her surprise resignation, she cast doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted.
Marjorie Taylor Greene no longer trusts the plan
After feuding with Trump, the congresswoman resigns and casts doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted on her way out the door.
www.motherjones.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Marjorie Taylor Greene no longer trusts the plan.
In her surprise resignation, she cast doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted.
In her surprise resignation, she cast doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted.
Good morning from a blessed weekend shift 🫠 www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Marjorie Taylor Greene no longer trusts the plan
After feuding with Trump, the congresswoman resigns and casts doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted on her way out the door.
www.motherjones.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Good morning from a blessed weekend shift 🫠 www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Mamdani probably got home, turned to his wife, and let out the longest, loudest “this fucking guy” of all time
November 22, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Mamdani probably got home, turned to his wife, and let out the longest, loudest “this fucking guy” of all time
My man, Buddy Holly was right there! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Missouri Judge Who Wore Elvis Wig in Court Agrees to Resign
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:57 PM
My man, Buddy Holly was right there! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
“…if Condé can get away with this—and with President Donald Trump sabotaging the National Labor Relations Board, the company appears to be betting that it can—it will send a message to unions and employers across our industry that the foundations of labor law are collapsing.”
If Condé Nast Can Illegally Fire Me, No Union Worker Is Safe
The Trump administration is making employers think they can ignore their legal obligations and trample on the rights of workers.
www.thenation.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:42 PM
“…if Condé can get away with this—and with President Donald Trump sabotaging the National Labor Relations Board, the company appears to be betting that it can—it will send a message to unions and employers across our industry that the foundations of labor law are collapsing.”
Excellent piece: @msjpauly.bsky.social dug up docs that reveal the right-wing funders behind Riley Gaines' ascent and spoke to puzzled teammates who wonder what happened to her. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
How right-wing superstar Riley Gaines built an anti-trans empire
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Excellent piece: @msjpauly.bsky.social dug up docs that reveal the right-wing funders behind Riley Gaines' ascent and spoke to puzzled teammates who wonder what happened to her. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...