Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · 3d

An amazing video that demonstrates once again the power of face to face conversation.

I Took Bernie Into Deep Trump Country. Can He Win Them Over?

YouTube video by More Perfect Union

www.youtube.com

1 2

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · 5d

Another article specifically about disinformation.

OpenAI’s Sora Makes Disinformation Extremely Easy and Extremely Real

www.nytimes.com

1

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · 5d

Brace yourselves. Sora will do for video what ChatGPT has done for text. The possibilities for video-based disinformation are now convenient and endless.

OpenAI’s New Video App Is Jaw-Dropping (for Better and Worse)

www.nytimes.com

1 2 2

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · 7d

Finally some good news!!

You want chocolate. You need flavanols. — Harvard Gazette

Research strengthens evidence for role of inflammation in disease – especially as we age.

news.harvard.edu

1

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · 11d

Trump didn't get what he wanted when he deployed troops to DC, so now he has targeted Portland. Things are peaceful here! Trump is trying to provoke a reaction so he can use it as an excuse to declare martial law. This is not a mistake; it's part of his overall plan.

Donald Trump says he is deploying troops to Portland, Oregon

Apparently misled by hyperbolic reporting from conservative outlets on a single small protest, president described peaceful city as ‘war ravaged’

www.theguardian.com

2 3

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · 12d

Bravo Adam Serwer! "I want to distinguish between chickenshit and cowardice. Fear is part of human existence. Bravery is the overcoming of fear, not its absence. Acts of cowardice can be provoked by genuine danger...When you're chickenshit, you capitulate to avoid the mere possibility of discomfort"

Lower Than Cowards

The surrender of America’s elites

www.theatlantic.com

1 1

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · 13d

Trump is consolidating power at an alarming clip. Soon he will exploit (or create) some crisis to declare martial law. Maybe this meeting is where he'll ask all of his generals and admirals to sign a loyalty pledge to him...or be fired. If so, this isn't the road to fascism. This is fascism!

Hegseth orders rare, urgent meeting of hundreds of generals, admirals

The Pentagon has summoned military officials from around the world for a gathering in Virginia. Top generals and their staffs don’t know the reason for the meeting.

www.washingtonpost.com

1 4

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Sep 5

I'm so proud to share my conversation with Dr. Seema Yasmin on her outstanding podcast OUR BIG SHOT. Timely stuff here as the next wave of Covid now falls upon us.

How do you talk to people who disagree with you about Science? We talk to the man who wrote the book on it.

open.spotify.com

1 4 8

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Sep 3

Proud to announce that ON DISINFORMATION was chosen as the MIT Libraries "MIT Reads" fall selection. If you're in town, please come hear me talk about it live and in person on October 8th at the Hayden Library (1st floor) at 2 p.m. on the MIT campus. calendar.mit.edu/event/on-dis...

MIT Reads: On Disinformation and Democracy with Lee McIntyre

calendar.mit.edu

2 3 6

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Aug 27

So it looks like the USA was just caught in a covert influence operation in Greenland. This involved all the tools of information warfare including disinformation. Beware that this is the Russian "hybrid" model: it starts with weaponized information as a prelude to possible kinetic action later.

Greenland: Denmark summons top US diplomat over alleged influence operation

The aim was reportedly to infiltrate Greenland's society and promote its secession from Denmark.

www.bbc.com

3 3

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Aug 22

Some goods news for a change today. At least for philosophers. How rare is that?!

Studying philosophy does make people better thinkers, according to new research on more than 600,000 college grads

Philosophers are fond of saying that their field boosts critical thinking. Two of them decided to put that claim to the test.

theconversation.com

1 2

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Aug 14

Where I grew up!!

3

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Mar 27

This one hits close to home. Both Jason Stanley and Tim Snyder are friends of mine. And I think that when three prominent scholars of fascism, tyranny, disinformation, and propaganda all leave for Canada at the same time, it's worth taking note.

Three prominent Yale professors depart for Canadian university, citing Trump fears

History department power couple Timothy Snyder and Marci Shore and philosophy professor Jason Stanley will begin teaching at the University of Toronto’s renowned Munk School in fall 2025.

yaledailynews.com

1 6 15

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Mar 26

Next up, I predict a round of "Whataboutism" regarding Hillary's emails. Not kidding.

3

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Mar 26

(5) Our national security has never been stronger. #ondisinformation

1

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Mar 26

Classic demonstration of a Russian disinformation technique called the "firehose of falsehood." Trump doesn't like reality so he says: (1) We did nothing wrong. (2) The information wasn’t classified. (3)The guy who got it is a sleaze bag. (4) The magazine he published it in is weak and failing.

Trump Goes After the Messenger

The president is privately upset with the sloppiness of his advisers. Publicly, he’s focused on attacking the press.

www.theatlantic.com

3 3 13

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Mar 20

I'm honored to have been mentioned and quoted on Dr. Francis Collins's interview on Robin Young's NPR program "Here and Now," discussing the recent MIT conference on how to build trust in science. www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

www.wbur.org

2 3

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Mar 3

Outstanding article by my friend Jonathan Rauch. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

One Word Describes Trump

A century ago, a German sociologist explained precisely how the president thinks about the world.

www.theatlantic.com

2

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Feb 19

Wow! I'm honored you found my book.

1

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Feb 6

So proud to appear on the Chauncey DeVega podcast...thank you for the great conversation! thechaunceydevegashow.libsyn.com/ep-425-the-a...

The Chauncey DeVega Show: Ep. 425: The American People Are Being Targeted and Manipulated By a Disinformation and Propaganda War

Lee McIntyre is a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and a Senior Advisor for Public Trust in Science at the Aspen Institute. He is the author of...

thechaunceydevegashow.libsyn.com

2 4

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Feb 4

Thanks so much to Jasmine Green at the Washington Post for this recent interview. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

www.washingtonpost.com

1 3

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Jan 19

Noted thank you. I'll fix on the next printing. Thank you.

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Jan 18

Happy "gotcha" day to Gigi my wonderful German Shepherd. She had a terrible life before she was rescued at age 10 by Miracle GSD of Maine, from whom we adopted her a year later. Now she has a soft bed, treats, and tons of love. No finer dog ever. Can't believe it's already been four years.

12

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Jan 7

There is no greater gift to disinformers than to pretend that truth is a matter of consensus or that the protection of free speech requires giving a megaphone to liars.

Meta is ending its fact-checking program in favor of a 'community notes' system similar to X

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a series of major changes to the company's moderation policies and practices, saying that the election felt like a "cultural tipping point."

www.nbcnews.com

1 4 10

Lee McIntyre @leecmcintyre.bsky.social · Jan 6

I seem to be quoted in this WAPO article, but can't open it because I cancelled my subscription when they wouldn't endorse in the 2024 election. Some sort of joke or irony here I guess....maybe someone else can tell me what it says?
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Jimmy Carter would not tell a lie. Did his honesty doom his presidency?

When he began his presidential bid, Jimmy Carter vowed that he “would not tell a lie.” But historians say his honesty made it harder to get things done and stay in office.

www.washingtonpost.com

3