It’s strange to think that, a little more than 25 years ago, the Fox News Channel didn’t yet exist. The network would go on to change televised news. But in October 1996, the new network had just been launched by Ailes, who ran it from the shadows. He quickly built the network’s credibility by hiring top […]
The Secret Force that Shapes Our Lives
Liars use math to trick people all the time. Knowing how to spot the potential for deception is half the battle. In The Math of Life and Death, mathematician Kit Yates demonstrates how math underpins everything from medical screening to newspaper articles. In articles and advertisements, for example, statistics might be used to inform or mislead readers. How […]
10 Predictions from Fareed Zakaria
Wondering what the world is going to be like post-COVID? Fareed Zakaria has two words for you: Buckle up. One thing that the pandemic has made clear is that as much as we are globally connected, each country is very much on its own. No one nation can shape the trajectory of the planet. Today, […]
The Two Sides of Kamala Harris
As the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States, Kamala Harris set a number of impressive records when she became vice president. Harris has made a point of avoiding what’s known as identity politics, an approach that is frequently favored by the left wing of her party. While Harris is deeply proud of […]
Say What You Think
The quest for truth should always be regarded as more important than the natural desire to be right. But according to Gad Saad, a friend and colleague of Jordan Peterson, that’s not always the case for people these days—especially at Western universities. The West is in trouble because it has lost its commitment to reason. […]
Why Kamala Harris Turned to Politics
At first, Harris thought the way to rectify injustice was to work as a lawyer. But after years of service as an assistant prosecutor, she realized that she didn’t have to wait for someone else to take the lead to make positive change. She began thinking about running for an elected office. Harris has spent […]
Why Beliefs Are Resistant to Change
Most of us regard our beliefs as rational. More often, though, moral reasoning is more like a politician than a scientist: it seeks justification and support, not the truth. This bias means that we’re heavily inclined to assume that our beliefs are correct—even when presented with evidence that proves otherwise. Psychologists call this phenomenon confirmation […]
Are We Coddling Our Kids?
On average, today’s college freshmen have met fewer developmental goals than previous generations. Kids in most countries are safer today than they were at any other point in history. Yet for a variety of reasons, American parents seem to believe that children should never be without adult supervision. By shielding kids from every risk they […]
Why Are There So Many Conspiracy Theories?
History tells us that deadly epidemics tend to bring about the spread of misinformation. The current pandemic has fueled many conspiracy theories regarding the nature of COVID-19 and its spread. Misinformation networks have been accelerated and extended by modern technology. That includes social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Bad information about the supposed cures […]
What People Misunderstand about Racism
There is no such thing as someone who is simply “not racist.” But American liberals and progressives often view themselves that way. While these well-meaning people might reject ethnic and cultural racism, they often still hold racist views. If they claim not to see race, for example, or if they believe that government policies should […]
