Unspun

Amanda Sturgill
  • 4.7 (121)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Unspun is critical thinking about the news. Hear real examples, past and present, of newsmakers attempting to mislead you and understand how they manipulate the truth. Learn how to avoid being swayed by fake news and misinformation. Get Unspun, because you deserve the truth.

  1. How social media markets reward fake news; UnSpun Journal Club 2

    2D AGO

    How social media markets reward fake news; UnSpun Journal Club 2

    Why don't fact checks stop fake news from spreading? In this episode of UnSpun Journal Club, I break down research by Carlos Diaz Ruiz from the Hanken School of Economics that argues disinformation spreads not just because people believe it, but because digital media markets reward it. We look at how attention turns into money. How platforms, advertisers, and influencers all benefit when content spreads fast—whether it’s true or not. From Macedonian fake news sites during the 2016 U.S. election to modern social media algorithms, this episode explains the problem when disinformation pays. We also explore the role of the First Amendment, global platforms like X, and why regulating misinformation is harder than it sounds—especially when U.S. tech companies operate across borders. Find Dr. Ruiz's paper here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14614448231207644 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    12 min
  2. How Ideas Go From Unthinkable to Obvious (And Why Politicians Follow)

    FEB 3

    How Ideas Go From Unthinkable to Obvious (And Why Politicians Follow)

    Political change doesn't start with politics. Evidence suggests something else happens first. In this episode of UnSpun, we look at how media attention, repetition, and trust quietly shape what ideas feel acceptable long before policy is written. And news events like shooting protesters in Minneapolis can get liberals talking about gun rights and conservatives advocating for the right to protest a republican government. Using real research and real-world examples,, explore how •               Media environments shape what politicians think voters want •               Repetition turns controversial ideas into “common sense” •               Attacking the press weakens accountability •               Social pressure locks new norms into place This episode isn’t about telling you what to think. It’s about helping you notice how the conversation itself gets shaped. Stay sharp. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    24 min

  3. JAN 27

    The moral side of misinformation: UnSpun journal club

    Most efforts to stop misinformation focus on helping people recognize what’s wrong. But new research suggests that knowledge isn’t always the problem. Sometimes people share misinformation on purpose—because it feels useful, political, or appealing. This editon of UnSpun journal club breaks down Moral Deliberation Reduces People’s Intentions to Share Headlines They Recognize as “Fake News” by Daniel A. Effron Judy Qiu, Deborah Shulman These authors report on a reason why people might sometimes share information they know isn't true and found a way to discourage it. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    9 min

  4. JAN 15

    Why Social Media Makes You Feel Informed (Even When You’re Not)

    ou probably don’t go looking for the news anymore. It finds you. A post. A clip. A friend’s reaction. A meme that feels like a headline. Before you’ve read a single article, you already have an opinion. In this episode of UnSpun, look at how social media has quietly changed what news feels like — and what that change does to trust and understanding. Drawing on recent research, we explore why feeds can make us feel informed without giving us context, why trust shifts from institutions to individuals, and why following real journalism on social platforms can actually make a difference. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    27 min
  5. "Don't tell me what to think" : Why we push back against truth

    11/18/2025

    "Don't tell me what to think" : Why we push back against truth

    Why do people reject information meant to help them? In this episode of UnSpun, we explore psychological reactance — the instinct to resist control — and how it shapes our reactions to fact-checks, corrections, and even each other. From COVID-19 warning labels to social-media fatigue and holiday-table arguments, DrSturg traces how the need for freedom can make truth feel like pressure. And she offers a better way to get people to stop rejecting facts. Topics covered: – What psychological reactance is – How social media architecture amplifies defiance – Why corrections often backfire – How to talk to friends or family who reject facts – The emotional balance between truth and autonomy #Reactance #Misinformation #MediaLiteracy #UnSpunPodcast #SocialMediaPsychology Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    27 min
  6. Invisible weapons: How media makes you a casualty in a hybrid war

    11/05/2025

    Invisible weapons: How media makes you a casualty in a hybrid war

    In today’s wars, the battlefield is more than land, sea, or air—it’s information. This episode of UnSpun examines how media has become both a weapon and a target in the age of hybrid warfare. From Russian deepfakes in Ukraine to meme wars in U.S. politics, information has become the terrain where global power is contested. Learn how disinformation systems are built, how governments—both authoritarian and democratic—deploy them, and how ordinary citizens can defend themselves. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    30 min
  7. From Knitting Codes to Encrypted Chats: The Evolution of Resistance Communication

    10/21/2025

    From Knitting Codes to Encrypted Chats: The Evolution of Resistance Communication

    In this episode of UnSpun, we trace the invisible architecture that keeps truth alive when communication is forbidden. From Phyllis Latour Doyle’s coded knitting in Nazi-occupied France to encrypted mesh networks during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, “The Geometry of Trust” reveals how humans build secret systems of meaning under surveillance. This episode explores how communication itself becomes resistance when power demands silence. 🔗 Check my book on the #AltGov resistance movement here: https://amzn.to/4qDapCv🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    22 min
  8. Is nationalism the new religion?

    10/07/2025

    Is nationalism the new religion?

    In this episode of UnSpun, we examine a phenomenon hiding in plain sight — the rise of civil religion. From stadium memorials that look like worship services to presidents who sound like preachers, faith and politics have fused into something new — and dangerous. We trace how America’s patriotic rituals became sacred texts, how global leaders have learned the same language, and what happens when dissent becomes heresy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    32 min
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4.7
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About

Unspun is critical thinking about the news. Hear real examples, past and present, of newsmakers attempting to mislead you and understand how they manipulate the truth. Learn how to avoid being swayed by fake news and misinformation. Get Unspun, because you deserve the truth.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Sturgill
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    89
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Unspun
  • Show Website
    Unspun

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