Michael Shermer – A Skeptic's Guide to 2026

Support The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comVideo Links0:00 The crisis of belief and the crisis of speech4:30 Michael: Deport the criminals, leave the gardeners10:37 Michael’s list of the biggest, craziest, and most dangerous conspiracy theories15:47 When trust in institutions breaks down 22:06 Why well-meaning people make absurd claims26:01 Is Trump uniquely dangerous to American institutions?29:04 Where Michael gets his news31:49 How liberal institutions lost the plot36:15 The roots and appeal of QAnon 41:06 Down the Jeffrey Epstein rabbit hole44:47 Michael’s definition of truth 51:23 The stakes of religious belief58:47 Can we live with “I don’t know” as the answer to the big questions?Recorded January 19, 2026Links and ReadingsSkeptic magazineMichael’s new book, Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still MattersMichael’s book, Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the IrrationalMichael’s book, Denying History: Who Says the Holocaust Never Happened and Why Do They Say It?The Free PressGlenn’s most recent conversation with Charles MurrayMurray’s book, Taking Religion SeriouslyMartin Rees’s book, Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces that Shape the Universe This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit glennloury.substack.com/subscribe