Tired of living in a “post-truth” political world where lies become “alternative facts” and social media facilitates the spreading of nonsense faster than ever before? Worried about the way we often find ourselves, and others, in walled-off political and cultural silos, only hearing things that reinforce our pre-existing assumptions? Concerned about the way our brains seem almost wired for irrationality? You’re not alone. And luckily, things are not hopeless! 

On today's episode, I speak with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, a professor at Ohio State University who specializes in the science of irrational decision making, and is committed to fostering fact-based inquiry and rationality in our daily and political lives. As co-founder of the “Pro-Truth Pledge,” Tsipursky is pushing for a renewed commitment to accuracy, fact-checking and honesty in our daily discourse, whether on social media or in politics. And as Tsipursky explains, there are strategies we can employ to foster the search for truth, short-circuit our own tendencies to irrational thinking, and encourage the same in others.   

This episode also features my commentary on the “post-truth” claims of conservatives and Republicans, to the effect that “they are the party of civil rights and anti-racism,” in which I explain the historical deception behind such a claim.