WIRED Politics Lab

The Conspiracy of Campus Protests

Campus protests over the war in Gaza have been going on for months at American universities. Now that they're at an all-time high, protests been getting a lot more attention— and tons of disinformation and conspiracies are spreading. Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we talk about some of that disinformation and what student journalists on the ground are doing to report the facts. Plus, we look at how foreign actors are exploiting the dissent. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . David Gilbert is @ DaithaiG...

May 09, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast

How Far-Right, Extremist Militias Organize On Facebook

Far-right militia, extremist groups are using Facebook to organize ahead of the US presidential election. After laying low for several years after the Capitol riot on January 6, militia extremists have been quietly reorganizing, ramping up recruitment and rhetoric on Facebook—with apparently little concern that Meta will enforce its own ban against them, according to new research by the Tech Transparency Project shared exclusively with Wired. These groups, which are set up locally, encourage mem...

May 02, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast

The TikTok Ultimatum Is Here

This might be the end of TikTok. President Joe Biden signed a bill this week which allows the US government to ban the platform if TikTok doesn't divest from it's China-based owner, ByteDance, within a year. Today on the show, we’re going to talk about what happens to TikTok now and how this new law affects the politicians and influencers who use TikTok. Leah Feiger is @ LeahFeiger . Tori Elliott is @ Telliotter . Makena Kelly is @ kellymakena . Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to s...

Apr 25, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast

RFK Jr.’s Very Online, Conspiracy-Filled Campaign

In the year since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially launched his presidential campaign, his extreme conspiracies and very online outreach tactics have added up to a pretty effective independent bid. Today on Wired Politics Lab, we look into how RFK Jr. continues to build a following. We talk about his recent VP pick, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan , his media outreach, and the staff behind it all. And, of course, how his push for ballot access in the US might make him a spoiler candi...

Apr 18, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast

How Election Deniers Are Weaponizing Tech To Disrupt November

Election deniers are mobilizing their supporters and rolling out new tech to disrupt the November election. These groups are already organizing on hyperlocal levels, and learning to monitor polling places, target election officials, and challenge voter rolls. And though their work was once fringe, it's become mainstreamed in the Republican Party. Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we focus on what these groups are doing, and what this means for voters and the election workers already facing threats an...

Apr 11, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast

WIRED Politics Lab Trailer

Politics has never been stranger – or more online. Each week on WIRED Politics Lab, our reporters guide you through the exciting, challenging and sometimes entertaining vortex of internet extremism, conspiracies, and disinformation. Expect in-depth analysis and conversations based on facts and research. Plus, we’ll give you information you can actually use to lift the fog of disinformation we find ourselves in today. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...

Apr 04, 2024•30 sec•Transcript available on Metacast

New Podcast: WIRED Politics Lab

Politics has never been stranger – or more online. Each week on WIRED Politics Lab, our reporters guide you through the exciting, challenging and sometimes entertaining vortex of internet extremism, conspiracies, and disinformation. Expect in-depth analysis and conversations based on facts and research. Plus, we’ll give you information you can actually use to lift the fog of disinformation we find ourselves in today. You can subscribe to the Wired Politics newsletter here . Learn about your ad c...

Mar 20, 2024•38 sec•Transcript available on Metacast

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Episodes