Topic: New Republic

Author Anna Merlin's book "Republic of Lies" is discussed for its thesis on the rise of conspiracy theories in American politics. The book suggests a pipeline where "fringe" ideas move from sites like InfoWars to Fox News and eventually to the President. The hosts mock the mainstream media's focus on "right-wing" conspiracies while ignoring similar behavior on the left.

Author Anna Merlin discusses the rise of conspiracy theories in her book Republic of Lies, tracing the path of misinformation from fringe sites like InfoWars to Fox News and the presidency. The discussion includes the theory that state-backed disinformation from Russia aims to make objective truth appear unknowable.

The New Republic faces backlash after publishing and then retracting a graphic article about Pete Buttigieg written by a gay author. The controversy led to several sponsors pulling out of a planned climate summit associated with the magazine.

Speculation from medical professionals in the New Republic suggests Donald Trump's behavior could be linked to neurosyphilis or early-onset Alzheimer's. This is compared to 1986-era claims from the Christic Institute regarding Ronald Reagan's mental health during his second term. The segment includes a historical tangent about the origins of syphilis in Europe and its supposed link to explorers in South America.

Environmentalist Bill McKibben wrote an article for the New Republic arguing that climate change should be viewed as a global war requiring World War II-scale mobilization. He characterizes natural disasters, droughts, and the spread of the Zika virus as "attacks" by an unseen enemy. The rhetoric is criticized as an alarmist attempt to justify radical economic and social shifts.

Julia Ioffe of the New Republic provides media commentary on the MH17 downing, describing the perpetrators as "boneheads with surface-to-air missiles." The hosts critique her characterization of the conflict and her role in the media circuit. They suggest her rhetoric is part of a broader effort to simplify a complex military situation for American audiences.

MSNBC host Ronan Farrow and New Republic contributor Sean Wilentz have intensified their rhetoric against Edward Snowden, labeling him a traitor. Wilentz claimed that Snowden is protected by Vladimir Putin's lawyer while Russia launches cyber attacks against Ukraine. The commentary is characterized by critics as state-aligned propaganda designed to discredit the whistleblower.

Donors from around the world, including the Czech Republic, Australia, and Belgium, are thanked for their contributions. The hosts discuss a proposal to create a "job section" on the No Agenda Forums to help listeners find employment within the community's sub-economy. The "karma factor" of donating to the show is touted as a way to improve one's professional luck.