On Shared Reality, Epstein & Epistemic Collapse: A Conversation w Eliot Higgins, Emily Jashinsky & Astead Herndon

Today, we’re talking about a different kind of health: the health of our media and information diet. What information we consume, how we consume it, and whether today’s social media ecosystem has become so toxic that it threatens not only our well-being, but the health of our democracy itself.It’s no secret that trust in mass media has plunged to an all-time low, with the old top-down model of journalism—where a handful of outlets controlled the flow of information—losing its authority. So we’ve invited three major voices who operate on the front lines of this shift: Astead Herndon, formerly of The New York Times and now at Vox; Emily Jashinsky, of Breaking Points and now part of Megyn Kelly’s media offerings; and Eliot Higgins, founder of the investigative collective Bellingcat, who warns that in this fractured landscape where we can’t even agree on basic facts, democracy isn’t just wobbling; it’s breaking down.Today we ask: Are we in a crisis? If so, what will it take to secure the “information supply chains” that a functioning democracy depends on? And finally, if we can get things back on the rails, could this new, more democratized media ecosystem with individuals, not institutions, driving the flow of information, possibly lead us to a better, more trusted place?We talk Iraq War, 2016 and 2024 Elections, Covid, Epstein, and so much more. HostsBrinda AdhikariTom JohnsonMaggie Bartlett (off this week)Dr. Mark Abdelmalek (off this week)Guests: Eliot Higgins, founder,  Bellingcat, an open source investigative journalism networkEmily Jashinsky, host, After Party; Megyn Kelly wrap-up show; co-host Breaking Points; writes for UnHerdAstead Herndon, editorial director and host, Vox; former national political reporter The New York TimesSource:Verification, Deliberation, Accountability: A New Framework for Tackling Epistemic Collapse and Renewing Democracyhttps://demos.co.uk/research/verification-deliberation-accountability-a-new-framework-for-tackling-epistemic-collapse-and-renewing-democracy/Thanks for listening! If you like us, please leave a review, rate us, and please subscribe! Got questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]