178 - How COVID-19's Misinformation Storm May Impact the Election

Back in April, Dr. Brendan Nyhan, an expert in the politics of misinformation about health, talked with guest host Dr. Colleen Barry, chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management, about social media, scientific uncertainty, and COVID-19's misinformation storm. Today, he returns to the podcast to discuss what we've learned about misinformation since then, why—like the virus itself—it's so hard to eradicate, and a new threat: how COVID-19 misinformation may impact the upcoming election. Nyhan also talks about how misinformation may be threatening the very fabric of democracy, and what social media platforms and leaders should be vigilant about in the days and weeks to come to promote the integrity of the election. KEYWORDS: health communication; political science