During the first presidential debate, moderator Chris Wallace mischaracterized Kamala Harris's concerns about vaccinations under Trump. I wrote about it recently: "Harris did not promote any conspiracy theory; she chose her words carefully: '*If* the past is prologue,...
Health and Medicine
Texas Hospital Finds ‘Covid Party’ – Or Legend
As if on cue! Following my recent CFI article “The Truth About Covid Parties” and Squaring the Strange podcast episode on ‘covid parties,’ titled “Tonight We’re Gonna Party Like It’s Covid 1999” there’s a news article suggesting they’ve been confirmed!...
The Truth About ‘Covid Parties’
Recent rumors and news reports have circulated claiming that COVID-19 is being spread intentionally in clandestine “covid parties.” In mid-March, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear made national headlines when he stated that part of the rise in coronavirus infections in...
Where Racism, Anti-Vaccination, And COVID-19 Conspiracy Meet
The twin plagues of COVID-19 and racism have come to the fore globally over the past few months, and as with any such afflictions there’s a social desire to scapegoat, finding someone (or some group) to blame. Parallels between the pandemic and racism are not hard to...
Where Racism, Anti-Vaccination, And COVID-19 Conspiracy Meet
The twin plagues of COVID-19 and racism have come to the fore globally over the past few months, and as with any such afflictions there’s a social desire to scapegoat, finding someone (or some group) to blame. Parallels between the pandemic and racism are not hard to...
‘Plandemic’ Asks Questions—But Won’t Answer Them
Last month, a YouTube video for an (apparently) upcoming documentary titled Plandemic was released by Mikki Willis (credited onscreen as “father/filmaker” [sic]). The video features a lengthy interview with virologist Judy Mikovits, who offers scattershot...
‘If You Disagree with Me, Are You Stupid or Dishonest?’
With all the recent news, here's a timely passage from a recent article I wrote: "One element of conspiracy thinking is that those who disagree are either stupid (gullible 'sheeple' who believe and parrot everything they see in the 'mainstream media') or simply lying...
Fear Itself: COVID-19, Media Literacy, And Social Media Distancing
There’s a natural—almost Pavlovian—tendency to follow the news closely, especially during times of emergency such as wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. People are understandably desperate for information to keep their friends and family safe, and part of that is...
COVID-19 Fears: Overreaction, Underreaction, And Unity
There have been many pandemics throughout history, but none have taken place during such a connected time—both geographically and via social media. There’s a tendency to follow the news closely during times of emergency; especially when separated during isolation and...
Data Divisions: Projections, Uncertainty, And Unknowns, Part 2
My article examines uncertainties in covid-19 data, from infection to death rates. While some complain that pandemic predictions have been exaggerated for social or political gain, that's not necessarily true; journalism always exaggerates dangers, highlighting dire...