Populism, Media Revolutions, and Our Terrible Moment

[@vlogbrothers]

Bibliography Links (because people have been asking!) The Gutenberg Parenthesis: amzn.to/49bFN2A Invisible Rulers: amzn.to/3ALapLz High Conflict: amzn.to/3V7quSu How Minds Change: amzn.to/3AY59Em Cheap Speech: amzn.to/41k3rIn

[@YanaTanaka-i2x]

A crux of this case relies on how long it took to get to the enlightenment. David Graeber made an interesting case that the enlightenment actually came from Jesuits accounts of their experience living with native Americans in the new world. And that these writings influenced thinkers that then triggered the enlightenment. You should look into this to see how we can speed run by rediscovering the source of enlightenment again! The book where he described this is Dawn of Humanity.

[@PapaPilt]

#Appropriate

[@matthewmagda4971]

And just like that, the Overton Window shifted just enough where me and Hank are worried about the same things. I appreaciate hearing this from you, sir!

[@Jraijin]

Ugh... I paused and rewound for nothing... LOL. I should have checked the comments first. 😅

[@mymemeplex]

And the works of Terry Pratchett, who teaches you about the power of stories.

[@WillHirschUK]

Commenting on this pamphlet because the ideas in it are good and I think the algorithm should give more people copies of it

[@osmia]

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[@anton99413]

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[@saraandersson4002]

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[@edk1616]

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[@Carneyar_the_Druid]

Nice job, Sir!

[@celiafaux5514]

Historian here. I'm not a early-modernist, but I am working on a doctorate in European history, and my understanding of the twitter-like discourse around Luther (and to your question of "why didn't they just kill him?") is that Luther was specifically critiquing the parts of the Church that had to do with collecting and hoarding money, and his critique was appealing to a number of local lords and landowners who saw his theological movement as an opportunity to not pay tithes to what was essentially a foreign political power. In other words (and very simplistically--again, not an early-modernist), he was protected by the wealthy because his message served their interests.

[@pax6833]

So I'm guessing the reason he was protected and Jan Hus was not, is because Hus was not very useful to the nobles?

[@json9069]

"It's the economy stupid" 16th century edition. Always follow the money.

[@annafantasia]

Ahh, that would explain why he also supported them in killing the peasantry, which was another thing I was confused about :/

[@JonBerry555]

I would like to add the Luther specifically received the protection of Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony, a notable noble in the HRE.

[@Superstumpgrinder64]

The progression of the reformation also led to the relaxation and eventual abolition of bans on interest banking. Usury is no longer a sin, despite it being a serious one for the 1500 years of Christian doctrine prior.

[@DarthGardens]

I really feel aligned with that tweet “we were never meant to know what everyone else was thinking all at once”

[@NWPaul72]

Elmo learned. He learned hard.

[@snood4743]

Very much applies to 24/7 news coverage too. We are not mentally built to handle knowing every disaster, tragedy, and impending threat on the entire planet. It’s like giving a bunny the ability to sense the location of every hawk and fox on Earth. The poor thing would explode.

[@rigelb9025]

@@snood4743 I can tell you the location of the biggest hawk : Nashville, Tenessee. The thing was salivating.

[@explorateur8159]

That reminds me both of Bo Burnham's "Welcome to the Internet" & the movie "Everything Everywhere All At Once." I think many of us in this era are feeling overwhelmed by our expanded exposure & interactive consciousness.

[@jackhatten5160]

i think we are meant to know, because if everyone does actions based as closely to the newest set of information and statistics possible we will move closer towards whatever “utopia” is (if we move towards happiness as a metric)

[@erindaly4]

Hank! This librarian loves that you included a bibliography. Citing sources is part of how we tell the truth.

[@The8BitPianist]

Hank: *makes two videos in one week* John: "Hank, please don't do that again, this is too much for Vlogbrothers." Hank:

[@cosmopolitancoalition]

Yea But its something we need to talk about. We must fight to preserve our connected open world. And the Clock appears to be ticking really fast.

[@The8BitPianist]

@@cosmopolitancoalition Don't get me wrong, I loved this video and I will watch it again + read the books at the end. I just think the above is quintessential Hank (which is a very good thing)

[@cosmopolitancoalition]

@@The8BitPianist Aren't we so lucky. ☺

[@totalweirdo8538]

This video feels so hankschannel that I didn't realise it was on vlogbrothers

[@Lintukoko]

@@totalweirdo8538 After about 10 minutes, I was like, “Didn’t he bid a good morning to John at the start of this?” Then I saw it was indeed on this channel, indeed 8.5 Vlogbrothers videos in length, and indeed FANTASTIC.

[@louismyers8845]

This is a topic which is absolutely worthy of a 30+ minute video

[@Redxiii304]

I was a 4 min rule diehard, but this topic changed my mind

[@brendonelmore1743]

How the hell you leaving this comment 1 minute after the post

[@brendonelmore1743]

@@Redxiii304bro it’s been out 4 minutes, how you actin like you know yet

[@TheRatsintheWalls]

​@@brendonelmore1743 Because they appreciate someone covering the topic, or think the early minutes are profoundly good.

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

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[@elianna838]

Fun fact: my grandmother at 6 years old won a puppy answering a trivia question correctly on a radio show in the late 1940’s

[@FairFeline]

Aww!

[@julians4094]

What did she name the puppy?

[@nopesiedaisy]

This is a delightful story!

[@ramen_emperor5125]

What was the question?

[@AvaB-]

omg thats adorable

[@DarksideGmss0513]

What you said at 28:05 is how I felt ever since this happened "Im very suspicious of charismatic and powerful people who convince others that every system is bad and broken, and that they are the only thing that you can trust"

[@jenneylazzarino3902]

Like FDR? Who’s damages are still raw today 😅

[@itsanalaskanbullworm2937]

​@@jenneylazzarino3902 oh please let's here it. Oh but one little challenge I'll give you, while explaining you cannot imply any social darwinistic ideas that poor people deserve to die, deal?

[@petrichord.3319]

​@@jenneylazzarino3902 I don't think there's a politician who hasn't said that in some way. Like, western politics has never been free of predatory behavior.

[@Laslus_]

The bibliography, for everyone who also wants to! 1. "The Gutenberg Parenthesis" by Jeff Jarvis 2. "Wrong" by Dannagal Goldthwaite Young 3. "Invisible Rulers" by Renée DiResta 4. "High Conflict" by Amanda Ripley --> "The most importante book that anyone can read" Hank Green 5. "How Minds Change" by David McRayne 6. "Cheap Speech" by Richard L. Hasen

[@Asummersdaydreamer14]

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[@user50]

pinned plz

[@untappedinkwell]

+1 to the pin request!

[@drewlehmann90]

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[@Zuzu00000]

Bump! Thank you

[@yveje9720]

“Populism is not an ideology it’s a marketing strategy” okay now I get it.

[@KissSlowlyLoveDeeply-pm2je]

it is an ideology. the elite fears it.

[@BrightBlueJim]

It really is helpful. I was having trouble understanding just what populism IS, since some very diverse people have been labeled as populist.

[@minabotieso6944]

It’s not a marketing strategy. It is an ideology based around doing policies that are popular. Doing what regular people want and not what the rich and powerful want. The word has lost its meaning due to people losing their minds over Trump. The Dems should be populist but no the Dems don’t want to do any popular policies.

[@GroverJ83]

One could argue also a fail proof marketing strategy,with the exception of Biden in 2020 you can easily make the case every winner of the PE since 1992 is the one who ran the more Populist sounding campaign. The steady hand really only appeals in outlier crisis incidents like Covid and Major Intl Conflict.

[@brgessner]

​@@GroverJ83When you focus on the larger group of potential voters your more likely to win. I feel Kamala was really focused on smaller groups that she already had by large margins.

[@wheezywaiter]

This was fantastic and I'm going to read all those books. Though one of my favorite pastimes is to not read books I say I'm going to read so we'll see.

[@amumilibros1963]

I think Nexus from Yuval Noah Harari is pretty relevant as well. A lot of things from this video + what happens when the narrative is pushed not by a charismatic leader but millions of bots

[@astridexplorer5096]

Just in case you don't get to all those books, 'The Rest Is History' podcast hosted by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook did an excellent multi-part story on Martin Luther that manages to be both enlightening (couldn't help myself) and quite entertaining.

[@Queensburian]

Try audiobooks 😊

[@psychocomytic9778]

Do we need to check back in after a couple of months and see how it's going? I'll put it on my calendar now, unless the deadline will be its own issue.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

That is a good pastime.

[@underclocked]

Ive not had a video in a long time touch the ethos so directly of what I have been feeling. I am about 1/3 way through "High Conflict" and I am truly grateful for the recommendation in this video. The two together have really helped open my eyes to the gaps in conflict I am having with work, friends, and family. Thank you Hank, this has helped me far more than I thought it would. Please keep up the good work.

[@mtnbikesownu]

Either Hank keeps clicking on the vlogbrothers upload button instead of Hankschannel, or this has been some rebellion against the short form video apps taking over our brains. Either way I'm here for it.

[@nicolekenna8625]

I work in higher education and the infuriating thing about the weaponized politicization around higher education (and education in general) is that the problems are worse than people complain about but in a way that is more complicated than they have the context to understand. And some of the most inflammatory talking points are big wastes of time that don't actually help anyone. I will say, though, that any "simple" solution to complex problems will usually only cause different problems.

[@shakeyj4523]

The very WORST thing to happen to Higher Education was when Administrators stopped administrating (pushing papers FOR faculty) and started ruling. Education was better when it was run by educators, and not businessmen. Edit: Typo

[@silverandexact]

I'm very interested in the complexity of the problems. Lmk if there's a video or an article that you think explains it well. 💜

[@allthenewsordeath5772]

Administrative bloat, too much money, lack of integrity among certain faculty, and like 80% of humanities departments?

[@savorymarshmallows]

The stories are made up, but the problems are real.

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

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[@thempeopleoverthere13]

Thank you, Hank. I’m 22 years old. I have lived my life in distress and frustration for too long, and every Green brothers project has given me hope. You are a beacon in the darkness. Please keep going. Don’t give up. I agree with this video down to my soul and you couldn’t fathom how much I needed this today.

[@flyingeagle3898]

Im older than you but for some reason this comment spoke to me

[@hawkmore]

I end so many of these videos with this same feeling in my heart. I've tried so hard to keep to some optimism as I'm getting older and understanding the world better and it's so often, so difficult. I'm not sure exactly how impactful John and Hank have been in like... maintaining a positive yet well informed life outlook for me, but it sure feels like a lot. I can't imagine my life without it.

[@christiangraulau]

we have practically the same profile pic

[@whiteflagstoo]

I want to be bacon in the darkness.

[@Premium_jack]

I turned 22 last month so this was exactly what I’ve been feeling

[@fusionstar916]

Thanks for single handedly exercising my brain. It was starting to atrophy from all the noise.

[@Gigarayzor]

"The reformer is always right about what is wrong. He is generally wrong about what is right." -G.K. Chesterton It's strangely comforting seeing the parallels of today in history, even if the implications of that are bleak.

[@allthenewsordeath5772]

God I love Chesterton, I especially love him because of how much he shatters the whole left right mold of politics in which we find ourselves.

[@b.l.8755]

How should I get started reading Chesterton?

[@timothyernst8812]

​@@b.l.8755The Man Who was Thursday.

[@nessidoe8080]

​@@b.l.8755 I'd like to know that too

[@NandR]

@@allthenewsordeath5772I hate the idea that if I dislike a politician then I am right or left. People are individuals with individual tastes and dislikes. You’re not right or left. You’re a little of each. And forward. And back. And above and below. But once you fall in behind one persons messaging, you start to surrender your individuality and become a prisoner of the message.

[@CyphDragon]

Honestly Hank, I think the relaxing of the length rule you and John had for so long is one of the best things you've done. I appreciate the fact that you're able to do deeper dives into the subjects you both bring up, while still having it feel at least mostly conversational. I've been a fan for a long time, and I really appreciate the more nuanced, deeper takes being here and more visible than when they were tucked away on other channels.

[@BetwixtAllThings]

Hank, you and John do amazing work. As a high school teacher, I rely on you not just for content, but for wisdom like this that JUST MIGHT make this next generation smarter than us. Keep fighting the nerd fight!

[@caterini20]

As someone who also wants to be a high school teacher knowing you had enough money to give 15 dollars makes me feel so hopeful LOL . This video is one of the main reasons I want to teach!

[@geoffrygo]

@@caterini20 Literally lol how can we tip the tipper?

[@calliopeshif7581]

@@caterini20 i'm debating at the moment whether it makes sense to me as a life path, haha. It's just complicated because, on top of the usual difficulties of going into public education, I'm finishing my bachelor's a little late in life due to dropping out for a while (I'll be around 30 when I finish). Feels a little more pressing to start making money, so I don't know if I could pull off a master's program right after my bachelor's. Doesn't help that my GPA was very low prior to dropping out, so I would really have to convince a master's program to focus on my performance after re-entry, OOF. Anyway, sorry for going off on a personal ramble, haha. I just want to contribute as a proper support and pillar for the next generations, and it saddens me to know that it might not be feasible for me to do it directly. I have a more direct path into the educational technology space, which is hit-or-miss with how beneficial it can be. Who knows, life is weird and maybe my path will switch to teaching after some time in Ed Tech.

[@dianeyoung8130]

@@calliopeshif7581 you can probably get the school board to pay for most if not all of your master degree. I would hold off until you start teaching.

[@7PlayingWithFire7]

My main takeaway is that we are NOT putting enough responsibility on big social media corporations and their algorithms, who are pushing people into directions, who are incentivizing being inflammatory. What I do think this video highlights is the fact that this is maybe partially essential to the these systems.. I hope not ?

[@Dionysus-gv9lz]

You’re right, the population is descending into madness.

[@teyleen]

My grandfather passed away a few years ago at the age of 96. The changes he witnessed during his time are astounding. When he was little boy his family had a model T car, like the first one and at the end of his life there were electric cars that could travel hundreds of miles. ALSO ZIPPERS came out during his lifetime! imagine no zippers.

[@teyleen]

He was also a cryptographer in WW2 !

[@teyleen]

He would also talk about when milk became homogenized and how people were sooo afraid of it and said it was full of toxins

[@shakeyj4523]

My Uncle (who was actually my great uncle) was raised in his Father's butcher shop. He was the one who made deliveries, especially to stores and markets. He used to tell me how he was a Teamster, and I thought oh, Teamster's Union. He said no he drove a team of horses and a big wagon to make the deliveries. He also had a Goat Cart. I again misheard that as Go Cart at first. He thought I was funny. My dad's family had a model T and he said they had to back it up hills, because there were no fuel pumps in the early ones, and the gas would run back into the tank. And yes, Button flies were a thing. LOL

[@cheryllovestoread]

Zippers are underrated.

[@Virtuous_Rogue]

My dad had a pair of blue jeans with a button fly. This would have been in the late 90s, early 00s. It just now occurred to me how strange that was. It also occurred to me that most pj pants have button flies. ​@@shakeyj4523

[@Thebazilly19]

Learning that humans are always gonna human is one of the most reassuring and terrifying things about studying history. It's good to know that people have always been having these sorts of arguments, but also disheartening to think that means we'll maybe never grow out of them.

[@BenIsFiguringitOut]

Totally agree.

[@stevenlippold]

I think its less about growing out of them... I think humans being human is what I'm here for. I'm a big humanity fanboy. We don't need to defeat our lesser angels. We just need to find our better ones. It is an awareness game. These information revolutions level up humanity's collective consciousness. And something Hank didn't get into much is how each "revolution" has been less harmful than the last one. Granted, we only have a handful of examples but the statistics are solid. Each information revolution happened under a backdrop of more people and more complexity (more nations, more businesses, deeper economies, more "choice" for humanity, etc.) yet each one ended faster than the previous one and with less harm. Maybe this time is different. We're adding AI into the mobile (social) internet revolution which happened immediately after the original internet revolution. So... I am also aware of the factored revolution (what I am currently calling "revolution cubed") and how that alone is very different. Anyway... Humanity will be okay. You or I, maybe not.

[@morganburt2565]

i think abt the ancient nordic graffiti that says ‘this is very high’ a lot. gives me peace.

[@eszterk8394]

@@stevenlippold i used to believe in leveling up, not any more, not even a little bit - i think its a fairy tale we keep telling ourselves that has not much to do with actual reality and more to do with what we want to think of ourselves or the world we live in; if leveling up was a thing conmen like trump would have stopped existing ages ago and yet here we are

[@ThatOneScienceGuy]

Human beings are hopelessly flawed.

[@oddabandon]

Also Hank if you read this, there's someone on bluesky claiming to be your manager and giving out links, but you arent following her and she isn't following you, so massive doubt lmao

[@freedomishavingachoice3020]

Nice of you to warn. Bump for the sake of keeping your newest platform tolerable. ❤

[@Arelenedhel]

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[@anitramai]

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[@sharpieRulestheWorld]

Bump

[@R-zg4zg]

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[@dragontize]

"Does it make sense to do a bibliography at the end of a video?" um if we could popularize that, I think it'd be pretty neato tbh

[@captainjoy8976]

Adding to the trust part: we also lose a lot of trust in ourselves. There's a lot of information and we pretty much get proven wrong every other day. It wears you down after a while and puts your values into question. No wonder people keep to their bubbles and even if proven wrong stick to their mindset. It's a desperate try to stay true to themselves. It is getting to all of us. I've been on this world before social media and slowly I am realising that I fall more often for sensationalism and get drawn into these apps. I'm taking steps to get back some sense of self, rebuild my values and core beliefs and try as much as I can to consume content mindfully. But it's hard. Social media has such a huge grasp on everything nowadays..

[@noah__jd4883]

well said

[@arillusine]

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[@2ms2]

It's the natural consequence of living in a complex world with a brain that seeks simple answers. Only that now we're so connected and so much information available that it is imposible to ignore. Also that preassure of having to have an opinion about all recent topics.

[@calicobizz8056]

You are absolutely right. Capitalism is definitely taking advantage of our weak sense of self caused by the rapid boom in information caused by the technological advancements. I think Jonas ceika's video on Capitalism, Cultural Disintegration, and Buzzfeed expands more on this phenomenon.

[@magsimags]

this reminds me of a joke on tumblr where the og post says one thing and the next addition to it by someone else completely debunks it, and then the addition after that debunks the debunking, and so on. basically net information gain is zero. and it makes it really hard to not constantly second guess yourself. and on tumblr i kinda expect it so i take everything with a grain of salt but doing that in every area of your life is exhausting

[@iammrbeat]

The most powerful people in history were just better than their contemporaries at communicating.

[@graybonesau]

the GOAT commented on a hank video!!! you guys should collab!!

[@neutral_narr]

Yup, it is hard to see any other way

[@cptntwinkletoes]

I think an important distinction though is that they were better at communicating what people wanted to hear. It's not information (or even factual) communication, it's by definition populism.

[@spectacles-dm]

Perfectly said

[@geoffrygo]

I want to agree but I think we need to differentiate between "communicating" and "communication with the masses on an anti-intellectual level." It's like "teaching" vs "screaming."

[@ContraPoints]

that’s crazy

[@medievalastronaut5605]

concerning

[@JamEngulfer]

this!

[@Paulinemoke]

Natalie? Is this a Crossover Episode?!

[@Dantyx1]

Someone should look into this

[@urooj09]

Same Natalie same.

[@HarryDale-yq2hq]

This is one of those moments where you’ve been seeing some sort underlying pattern but you don’t have the knowledge nor the ability to explain it to yourself. But then you finally hear someone distill it down into an explanation that you can understand and you think ah yes there it is. Thank you Hank for giving me a better foundation for making sense of what is happening. PS. I’ve watched your videos since early high school and I’m now 25. Thank you for being who you are. And embracing the role of an educator and communicator. You have such a talent for it. The world needs you and trust in its institutions. Institutions can be bad. But they can also be designed with systems to change themselves when correction is needed. PSS. I hope you read this. Have a good day

[@confusedpenguin1992]

Just to point out, Luther was originally a Catholic priest (that's how he was literate). His pamphlets were aimed at other literate people. That revolution, as all revolutions, started as a fight between an entrenched upper class and a middle class whose position on the political hierarchy had been outpaced by their social and economic power. So they took more for themselves. This is also part of why Luther survived, he was useful to German princes looking to confiscate land from the church. I don't mean to be overly cynical, of course. The internet is different in many ways, and it does decentralise communication, but not necessarily economic and social power. And so it does not seem necessary (or even likely) that it will decentralise political power as well -- as you point out, trust will be eroded, but I fear trust in the wrong people and ideas will end up reinforced.

[@rigelb9025]

Maybe the printing press was their version of A.I.

[@williampan29]

I agree with your cynicism. Power is still concentrated in a few corporations. Amazon and Google just become wealthier. There's no decentralizing or redistribution of their wealth

[@ThyriaSharin]

I know this is a tiny thing, but thank you for the use of the word "partisan." Over the last several years, I've heard a lot of people using the word "political" when they mean "partisan." It's very nice to hear the right word used in this context.

[@FTZPLTC]

Yes, a lot of people say "political" when they mean "issue that one political party is currently obsessing over".

[@lewa18]

I like "reputational harm" as an alternative term for "canceling" since it is much more neutral and does a better job at reminding us what the motivations for causing reputational harm might be.

[@pcarrierorange]

Good idea. It also captures the nuance of "you can suffer reputational harm and still have a varyingly successful career", whereas being outright "cancelled" has a binary connotation that you're finished. Hence you see stuff like "Dave Chapel claims to have been cancelled but still has Netflix specials!".

[@TonyMiller423]

I never cared for the term canceling either, but it took off because it was catchy. Whereas reputational harm is, well, less so. Maybe disrep instead? *shrug*. Probably not going to make disrep happen, but I hope that makes sense.

[@colbyboucher6391]

I got into an argument with my dad about it, it was pretty wild. The idea of refusing to patronize someone because they did something you see as totally immoral just didn't compute in his head. It was really bizarre because he's generslly a smart, rational dude, but the idea of "cancel culture" has somehow wormed his way into his brain regardless.

[@colbyboucher6391]

​@@TonyMiller423Abbreviations like "disrep" are straight out of cyberpunk novels, I'm all for it

[@stormveil]

"Damaged their reputation" Dunno why we're acting like there aren't established ways to say this already.

[@ThatonedudeCR12956]

I went to Journalism school and it's infuriating seeing so much bias and misinformation in the media. I have worked in Public Relations, Advertising, and Government affairs and it's crazy to me how much disinformation is out there and how incapable so many people seem to be of just basic fact checking. Most of Journalism school is writing in AP style and history. It's not difficult to use google if something seems off. Yet, here we are. I am basically convinced that the people arguing the loudest do not actually believe the information they say they do. It's impossible for me to wrap my head around the level of cognitive dissonance that would require. I really appreciate your content though and it's nice to see other people who obsess over incredibly minor things like I do. You always have some great content about something I haven't considered yet and it's awesome

[@exyl_sounds]

well the world is getting insanely complex AND the complexity is increasing at a rate far above what we were biologically built to handle... Our brains aren't logical, we're emotional and biased

[@yewknight]

This is one of the greatest contributions to the internet. Ever. I said it. We need media literacy as a core component of English and civics classes.

[@Khronogi]

Yep.

[@colbyboucher6391]

We did get into media literacy when I was in HS a decade ago, although it wasn't for long. IMO the way to do it is to just make it a core part of "reading comprehension". Even in novels, start asking, what is this person communicating and do they gain from it? How likely is it that their bias is clouding their judgement? ...Of course that's assuming that anyone reads the novels which no one does

[@itisdevonly]

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[@mightywurm]

ever is actually insane it’s a good story with a good moral but i dont know about ever

[@Ludvig11]

But how can there be literacy if we're constantly distracted by so much random stuff on the Internet? People need to try learn to broadly stay OFF the Internet to study anything, in the real world, and get help learning patience and focus, calm mental flow state.

[@Phlucious]

Hank… not gonna lie, this could be the most important video you’ve ever made. Everything in here checks out, and it’s great context for what came before and what comes next. It’s both pessimistic and optimistic. Let’s hope that we give ourselves the chance to get to the other side.

[@andrewaverette5214]

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[@freaky108]

As a media studies student (now many years past) this is what I've been looking for for years. I need this in a billion different forms, on every channel and platform that can be mustered. This is the media intro this world DESERVES

[@philiphamming5145]

I thought the same thing.

[@peachyjejune]

Bump

[@noahkreb6827]

It’s literally 30 minutes of coping about the fact that a lot of people don’t hold the same beliefs as him

[@ethanhorton7166]

I’m 22 and just started my professional career as a local print journalist. Being good at communicating and having an allegiance to the truth is my entire job, and I strive to be good at it. But you make a great point, Hank - we can’t get stuck in our traditional modes of storytelling if we’re going to get out of this rut of populist untruth. We have to be innovative and tell stories the way people will receive them. Short-form video is a great start, and news organizations with tons of funding (WaPo, NYT, etc) have already jumped on that train - but it’s a lot more difficult for smaller organizations with closer ties to the people they cover and serve to innovate in that way, especially when money is flowing away from local (non-TV) news in a way it never has before. I have no idea what the future of the press looks like, but I’m still trying to hold out hope.

[@Souljahna]

Best of luck to you in your profession. We need people like you with the integrity and ambition to bring us the real story.

[@GordonChaffin]

"rut of populist untruth" is a great phrase

[@ethanhorton7166]

@@Souljahna appreciate it. I’ll do my best.

[@Storm-j8u]

You do not have an allegiance to the truth lmao want proof? Correctly define what a woman is

[@rigelb9025]

Why does the age of 22 seem to carry such relevance these days? (at least in this comments section).

[@frozenyogurth]

I really appreciate the bibliography at the end. With youtube videos it's always really hard pinpointing the sources for the information, and I really like that you're giving them in the video itself (especially cause I always enjoy a good book recommondation and hearing you talk about the books also helps!). It also makes it clear that you are trying to be transparent with the source of your info, which I also appreciate, makes it seem at least as if you're trying to be truthful.

[@TheTookyBird]

HELL YEAH MY OBSCURE MEDIEVAL PRINTING HISTORY THESIS AND I HAVE WAITED FOR THIS DISCUSSION TO HIT MAINSTREAM 😭💜 (trust nerdfighteria to be nerds)

[@TheKrispyfort]

Congratulations 🙂🥳

[@peterbalholm2138]

Tell me more about your thesis, please.

[@marykatetrausch7684]

Hah I’m about to send this to my sister whose undergrad senior comp (in 2019) was basically on the 2012-2019 info in this video.

[@al.kenzie]

I know, right? My thesis on the decentralisation of the press due to "new media" is so dated.

[@ajbiffl4695]

Ooooh +1 pls dish about your thesis

[@Myriadys]

"There's only one truth but there are infinite lies" is such a good line.

[@waterzero5461]

There's only one truth: that there are infinite lies.*

[@Storm-j8u]

Men can’t be women

[@rigelb9025]

But who's to say that line isn't but one of those 'infinite lies'. (which as a concept, sounds more like it alludes to the length of those lies on a timespan, than to the amount of them that exist).

[@waterzero5461]

@@rigelb9025 Really it's just a matter of perspective: There's one way to look at things: that there are infinite ways to look at things. So whether you look at things that one way, or you look at any number of other things, they're still all just things. Except that one way of looking at things lets you see more things. So it doesn't matter if the thing in and of itself is a lie or not, it has a unique utility of letting you see more on the infinite spectrum of lies. Even if it's also a lie by strict logical paradox, then it's one that aids in developing a larger perspective. Typically lies don't exactly aid people in seeing things, rather their inherent purpose is to obscure. Some lies however, in their attempt to obscure, inadvertently reveal other things. So if we say that what I said is a lie, then what we have done is say that I have obscured the naiveté of believing there is truth, and revealed what all of the lies are: infinite. It could be said to be a holistic statement that includes itself but also reveals more of itself. Truth and lie is really just two sides of the same coin. And this truth/lie is like a looking glass. Make sense?

[@danny234555]

Scientifically speaking there is only one real truth, but in reality and historically, truth is decided by the victor.

[@kevinmertel6108]

It breaks my heart that the people I love that need to hear your message, if they ever did, would not believe you.

[@jer9grant]

this internet stranger would like to send you a digital hug

[@MickSilva]

Ditto. But many will have their interest piqued. And it will stay with them. I'm continually reminded that the ability to have our hearts broken means we are still alive.

[@serazvi5387]

Yeah. That's the other facet of this: we can educate all day long but if someone is devoted to dismissing everything you're saying, none of it will get through. We should still do our best, of course; but there are elements to this situation which cannot be educated away.

[@David-ee1pi]

That's because he's utterly wrong. The true extent of US government corruption should come out in the coming years.

[@katelyncabe4438]

Hey, people never think critically about information they are never given.

[@stephenshilton9993]

I'm ancient (63) and now retired. This is my first view of Vlogbrothers, although I have listened to a fair wee bit of "Hank and John" with my daughter who has listened for years... I don't think I've ever heard anything which is as equally accessible as it is deep. I should also add the clarification that it is very accessible and deep. Haven't enjoyed something as much for a long time - thanks! I have no excuse not to read the bibliography but I have a pile of books I'm supposed to have read already... Nonetheless I will try... Incidentally, my country (Scotland) has been hugely affected by the reformation - arguably for good and bad. One might argue that had we not had our reformation under John Knox in the 16th Century, we'd still be independent. Despite that (and it's a big "despite") I'm grateful for it in terms of the theology I believe in which has hugely improved my life I think. Anyway, your work is extremely important - hard to overemphasise this - I've now subscribed. 🙏

[@maddiehuwe5201]

I feel so much more hopeful about the world when I listen to you. Simply because I feel less alone. Thank you for being here and for all the work you do.

[@jwiley171]

I feel like people who care about truth and science are like the jedi after episode III

[@KatyJohnsonVO]

+

[@trans_rights_ftw]

Gosh that puts it perfectly, I feel the same way

[@galacticrelic258]

Try those books / audiobooks he recommended out if you want more of this :)

[@jaltekruse]

Right at the end of the video I got an ad for someone pouring stuff on feet and saying "did you know type 2 diabetes is completely reversible", we have lots of work to do on this Hank.

[@Millionsofpeas]

You shouldn't be watching advertisements. Choose not to see them, use an adblocker.

[@Khronogi]

We should also report these things. Google ahould have to be responsible for the adervertisements it is pumping out.

[@colbyboucher6391]

​​@@MillionsofpeasSo... I'm of two minds on this. I understand the rhetoric. We're essentially "poisoned" by advertising at least every hour and it's pretty smart to try to avoid it. But the thing is- are you willing to pay for things? Are you willing to take that monthly subscription? The buisness model of pretty much every info-based website is to get companies bidding on ad slots, and as more people use blockers, that becomes less feasible. Running this stuff costs money and it needs to come from somewhere.

[@OutbackCatgirl]

For every person wise enough to block ads, there are a thousand who either aren't aware you can block ads or are so used to them that they seem perfectly normal and reasonable. And among those thousands are many people who get hit the most by misinformation and trust scams. Folk who are ready to believe things that aren't true. Ads in their current form are a fucking disease on the planet and google are complicit in their effects.

[@BlueRidgeBubble]

Type 2 is reversible in some cases, if you manage your weight

[@σκοτάδι-υ7σ]

We’re all watching this together 😊

[@Bluefalcon6154]

I got here a hour late

[@fairygurl9269]

*Because We're Here.❤

[@vlogbrothers]

This comment seems hopeful when you see it before the video, and devastating when you see it after...

[@fairygurl9269]

@@vlogbrothers Awe Still Hopeful~ish ♡

[@Bluefalcon6154]

@@vlogbrothers thank you for the long form it well much needed

[@kellymckenzie1935]

This video was so well done by the way. I was nervous to watch it I think just in my continued efforts to protect my peace. But I should have known better and trusted y'all to never do me wrong. This was thoughtful and thought provoking in the best way possible. Thank you so much for never forgetting to be awesome.

[@beardedcynic8213]

Thanks Hank! Trying to show gratitude more often, and I am extremely grateful we didn't lose you. Thanks for hanging in there.

[@ann5944]

totally 💜

[@evanrothwell1875]

Hank. Thank you for providing a bibliography. Sources need citing now more than ever and everyone should be demanding that. Be the change you want to see.

[@runningcow]

+

[@Kirkmania]

What a unbelievably prescient, heartfelt, honest breakdown of our current situation with historical context I did not have. I can genuinely hear the level up sound in my brain

[@geisaune793]

Yeah, it was 30 minutes long, but I'm glad I watched the whole video. It really put together in a coherent, narrative way a lot of the things that I (and many other people I'm sure) have observed and thought about but also brought up things I hadn't though about. It had never considered that new media is partly responsible for populist movements but the comparisons between the advent of the internet with the advent of radio and the printing press were really eye-opening.

[@EricSRiley]

This reality distortion is something that's so incredibly difficult to wrap our heads around. I'm a former librarian and we've always dealt with book challenges, but over the last few years there has been a coordinated effort to push book challenges across the nation. A recent Washington Post investigation discovered that out of 1000 challenges they reviewed the majority of them were done by only 11 people. That's just a handful of cranky folks making decisions for hundreds of thousands of other people who would almost certainly disagree that the library should remove those books. Similarly there are incredibly small advocacy organizations with an axe to grind with a similar agenda that market themselves as being representative of a much larger number of people that just aren't there. And they're taken seriously! So yeah, I'm not sure what the solution is here, other than finding ways to uncover the reality of these things and making it more widely known.

[@Caricanalisis]

At least I know whoever pushes for book burning and censorship is the bad guy

[@KalebPeters99]

To paraphrase Margaret Mead: Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed individuals to change the world, in fact it's the only thing that ever has...

[@shawnbottom4769]

Those people are determined to have their day no matter what. I say let them try. Yes, they can cause real damage and that sucks but history shows it never turns out well for them.

[@japjeetmehton9921]

What are book challenges?

[@EricSRiley]

@@japjeetmehton9921 When someone objects to the inclusion of a book in a library's collection and attempts to have the book removed (banned) so that other people aren't allowed to read it. This has been used for decades to remove books that deal with difficult subjects like race, gender, sexual orientation, and other topics.

[@jdwebb42]

“There’s only one truth, but there are infinite lies.” Never have I been so instantly tempted to get a VlogBrothers quote tattooed on my body

[@Paulinemoke]

I don't think it's right though - not like this. There is only one reality, but the truth it something that is a human communication about this reality, and that may be more plentiful than only one.

[@kateorgera5907]

There are objective facts we should be able to agree on, and I do think objective truth exists, sure, but the danger is, many different factions will claim there is only one truth: Theirs. And many of those perspectives may not even be lying knowingly - it's like the story of the blind men and the elephant. And I don't know if any of us have our eyes open.

[@KLBizzy1]

I’d say it’s more like “The one unknowable truth, and infinite misconceptions” As lies indicate intentional misdirection. Historical Astronomers might be wrong about suggesting the Sun orbits Earth, but it ultimately due to lack of means to attain evidence to falsify the geocentric model, heliocentrics and even those few who remarkably at the times believed most accurately that neither earth nor sun were stationary and that stars are suns, they may have been more accurate, but none of them could really know with lack evidence they could obtain at the time. That and of course religious doctrine that must insist that the human species as the center of the universe. So in the end it’s a battle between ideas that are falsifiable and accurate to unfalsifiable and less accurate concepts. Then it’s a battle between truth and human egocentrism.

[@sarahknehr1362]

Check out the book "Nexus" by Yuval Noah Harari. It's all about information and truth and AI.

[@mayaenglish5424]

@@Paulinemoke Someone may be speaking honestly but that does not make what they are saying true. If it doesn't line up with reality, it's not true. "Your" truth, "My" truth, all that stuff is nonsense. Something is either true or it isn't. Yes, perception is a subjective experience and so we can never 100% align it with base reality, but the goal is to get as close as possible. And yes, we have to have an open mind to other people's perspectives, we can have a piece of the truth and someone else can have a different, seemingly diametrically opposing piece of the truth, and we need to be able to learn to hold those things together and uncover a deeper understanding of the world.

[@lillianleader5095]

Thank you, Hank. I've been spinning in circles trying to put these patterns together for myself. I know this is one part of the puzzle, but it's a big one. I always appreciate your synthesis skills. It helps to understand the why of what is happening. Fingers crossed for all the kids that we get through this quick. It ain't their fault.

[@r3dp9]

It's not complicated. The likes or Trump, Rogan, Elon, RFK Jr, Jordan Peterson, all of these people with conflicting backgrounds and political persuasions, are ALL saying the same thing: The media lies. The politicians lie. They all lie, constantly. They don't listen to or respect their constituents. It's time to vote them out - be it with votes, views, or wallets.

[@Locadelly]

Hank, you so often provide the breath of sanity I (and probably many people) need when things are so confusing and awful. You rock.

[@geremietipsword6244]

connecting current populism to media revolution is genius... drawing the conclusions from the past is really insightful... frankly one of the best videos I've seen on youtube

[@JacobMoretti-NotABot]

One thing I think is good to add is that this process of media fragmentation didn’t start with the internet. The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine and proliferation of talk radio in the US enabled an increasing fraction of the population to live in their own information bubbles, and a lot of these new media outlets did not have the same standards for truth as mainstream journalism. Also, a lot of the people who gravitated to these new media were people who were already distrustful of institutions

[@klaxonerjlt]

Also cable tv with loads more news channels

[@FTZPLTC]

Even before then, when people started being able to record media at home, you suddenly couldn't know what someone might be watching or listening to at any given time.

[@abedint1]

Absolutely true. Rush Limbaugh was the beginning of the end.

[@tw8464]

Yes this started with the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine. And talk radio went insane in the 90s then all the same grifting transferred to the internet

[@vazzmatazz]

I swear, half the modern world's problems trace back to Ronald Reagan (he vetoed Congress's attempt to save the Fairness Doctrine).

[@alyssao.9577]

I really appreciate this. Part of my family is pretty heavily republican and some had doubts in the voting system. In effort to understand our voting system, I volunteered to be an election officer and found it to be very informative. I'd like to encourage people who are doubting a particular system to try to do volunteer work with it. Most systems go from national -> state -> county -> local. So volunteering can help you understand how they function and allows you to build trust in the people who are responsible for it. If those people are not acting responsibly then it gives you the chance to influence their decisions through conversation (as long as your nice) by nudging them twords the facts and possible effects of their decisions. If that doesn't work? Well, you can share the information you learned as a volunteer and hopefully address whatever the issue is or get the attention of someone who can.

[@JossThomas-Jones]

Thank you, this is good advice. I'm a socialist and find myself having distrust in many of the systems around me but I'm going to be in the social work sector soon and I hope I can keep an open mind.

[@PitLord777]

See, I'm not necessarily speaking about your family but most complaints I hear about the voting system are about segments of the population being allowed to vote.

[@alyssao.9577]

@@PitLord777 parts of my family watch too much fox news and far right talk shows. Of course, they haven't made any negative comments about the security of our elections since the results of the election.

[@NWPaul72]

​@@alyssao.9577I'm sure that's just coincidence.

[@Khronogi]

​@@alyssao.9577show the dominion case where it was proven in court that fox was lying to your family in order to increase ad revenue.

[@TheIgnoramus]

I’ve been watching you since highschool, and I’m in the 30’s now. Thank you for always being a voice of nuance, reason, open mindedness, and history.

[@sams1982]

Did not expect to stick around for the full 34 minutes, but I did. Interesting and thought-provoking video!

[@jeffcallahan5467]

I like to think that educational content creators, such as yourself, have a sort of calming effect on many creating a sort of “haven” against this kind of idea storm. A sort of refuge from which people can venture out into the greater internet and return regularly as a sort of check on the ideas they’ve been exposed to. All you have to do is keep encouraging knowledge and consideration.

[@themicrowave4410]

Excellent statement there at the end.

[@The_GuyWhoNeverUploadsAnything]

Wish I could like this comment more than once. After seeing too much bipartisan, very poorly researched and hostile content which is directly or inidrectly just aimed at getting more clicks, it's so nice to return to Hank and other creators who take the time to provide more balanced, researched content that makes you think about things and actually teach you something that is most likely not completely wrong.

[@ecab992]

Pirate software is another guy that falls into this category for me

[@margaret7536]

This is excellent, Hank. Helps me organize my thoughts around this whole media realignment. I teach 8th grade social studies, and helping kids learn to navigate the world of information is HARD.

[@TheLoki1983]

Teach them how to understand narratives and facts and self interest.

[@Elina_M2k]

We need more educators like you more than ever. Thank you for your service.

[@Claire-tk4do]

Yes bibliography. Yes 30-minute video. Yes to all of this. Thank you for contextualizing this so, making it more accessible, and providing places to learn more. I'm going to look up High Conflict now at my library

[@verablack3137]

What worries me the most about things is, people believe things that are not only untrue, but would have huge ramifications if true. Some people on the right tell me that Seattle was destroyed during the BLM protests and it is a lawless wasteland. Yet, all of these major corporations didn't leave Seattle, FEMA was never deployed, you never hear about refugees coming from Seattle, you can easily find videos of the city on KZbin. It would have been a very big deal if millions of people had their city destroyed, so how could one believe such a thing? Are we truly so far gone as a society that we have abandoned even the pretense of thinking critically about things?

[@3countylaugh]

Well... living in Seattle there are people here who believe it too. There are still large swaths of downtown that are still boarded up, but there's a misattribution to why. Seattle was great at staying home during peak pandemic, so lots of things closed and have stayed closed and have not been replaced. The geeks who used to flood downtown wth demand may be come in 3 days a week at most. The homeless are very visible as is on street drug use. For about a dozen blocks. Guess where folks without a lot of means congregate? Streets that contain the remaining public services and safety net systems. The main public bus lines. Etc. Yes BLM things happened at the same time and many here, despite data to the contrary, seem to mark that as causal. To me it looks like Seattle is a big city, wth big city problems, and just the shear increase of people means things look "worse" even if the per capita proportions are identical. That's my interpretation of how that could be believed, even by people looking at it every day. We interpret what we see the way we understand the world.

[@defenestrated23]

Emotional truth, aka "truthiness", is a wild thing

[@seanmcmurphy4744]

I live near Seattle and beyond a few boarded up entrances none of that is true. Some things to remember: 1) Due to high tech the West Coast cities are a major engine of prosperity for the country; Seattle and San Francisco have very high incomes. All this money attracts homeless people and drug users. 2) Rural areas, particularly the Red states, have higher rates of crime than cities.

[@itisdevonly]

"Are we truly so far gone as a society that we have abandoned even the pretense of thinking critically about things?" Unfortunately, I believe the answer is yes.

[@danabanana4408]

yes they genuinely believe their feelings over facts

[@DamagedPotential]

Sociologists take notes! This is one of the best vids Hank has done thus far (he has a lot btw). The Green Brothers always give me hope no matter how the world is cracking to be like

[@nateb7780]

Completely agree, I'm here for the hope.

[@daphnea5447]

This is one of the most important videos on the internet

[@mimipeahes5848]

Saying “sociologists take notes” when the bibliography is full of sociologists is a great example of the lack of trust in institutions and an increased trust in individuals.

[@ewokpants4891]

This crazy time instilled something in my father that I guess took us by surprise to what degree it reached. He is in his mid 80s, and was never a good person (if you can think of a bad "-ism", he's dabbled in it), not religious but easily duped, just no critical thinking happening upstairs which has led to a lifetime of mistakes perpetuated by consistant shifting of blame from him to everyone and everything else. Then Trump appeared and Fox News decided to be his personal, 24/7 PR team selling the world's sleaziest imbecil as the new messiah of humanity, other aligned media outlets followed. My father was in love and quickly became insufferably unhinged from reality, constantly trying to convince everyone that Trump's opponents were trying to destroy the world like cartoon villains and Trump himself is the coolest, best president ever. We have a recording of him echoing the "haitians eating dogs" claim without a hint of skepticism. Facts are downplayed, ignored, mostly challenged, he's become often aggressive and threatening and obsessed. Every single day, he watches Right-wing stuff, listens to the podcasts! the man cant figure out his own phone but he will now stumble through the internet to track down podcasts. We do not even live close to America. Now, at least I know the Guttenberg press and Martin Luther are responsible for my family's current suffering.

[@HelloIAmJo]

Thank you for making this video, Hank. I've loved you and John for more than a decade, and I still get a wave of pride whenever I hear your voice coming out of one of the classrooms in the university building I work in.

[@igopod12]

Dziękujemy.

[@Piratejackyar]

I have noticed that one side effect of all the populism and misinformation is that a lot of people have ignored all information and only trusted their immediate circumstances. They remember where their last stimulus check came from and nothing more. So if we want a party to be popular they have to do good so strong and so loud that it can not be ignored.

[@r3dp9]

I mean, when my personal circumstances that I personally witnessed, were blatantly lied about in the media, I'm not exactly going to give the media the benefit of the doubt. Same goes for when a paper rights contradicting headlines within a week without bothering to explain the change. Our personal experiences won't always be accurate, but they are much harder for malicious actors to compromise than what we see on a news channel.

[@SantaCoppelia]

As a Comms and Social Studies professor, I absolutely adore your work with this video. You summarized a good block of information that took us half a semester to explain in a very clear and concise way. A+ to you! (and my future students will be watching this!)

[@ThatOneScienceGuy]

He's really good at summarizing info and tying it all together. His ASAP science courses are gold.

[@rigelb9025]

@@ThatOneScienceGuy Could there be a possible connection with Asaph, the Levite? (I did notice he doesn't abstain from making some biblical references here and there).

[@SpammoJohnson]

BS field of “study”

[@ThatOneScienceGuy]

@SpammoJohnson Oh look we got a MAGAt straight over from the Joe Rogan Podcast. Hi bro! Tell us about the degree you got from the big open internet! Do you trade crypto on your free time and refer to yourself as an "investor"? Do you like spending your time bashing vaccine science and doctor Fauci? I think you're on the wrong page bro!

[@SpammoJohnson]

@@ThatOneScienceGuy I’m not a “MAGAt” but thanks for playing. Also, I have a masters in computer science.

[@RichardX-s3s]

Radio was magical in my youth. 1979 was my 15th year and the radio was my constant companion. Cassette tape and vinyl records were treasured.

[@UnbeBleeder]

I once again sit here at 1am thinking way too hard about topics they've talked about since the start of civilization. On one hand, its nice knowing that so many others have and still are fighting that same fight. On the other hand, its unfortunate that I may never live the "simple life", and like so many before me, am subject to the push and pull of good and evil. To be forgotten, or to be free. Hank, thanks for understanding the bigger picture, because the frustration can be overwhelming. See you when I'm popular. ✌

[@bensroka413]

Hi Hank and folks reading this, For myself, I am looking to pursue higher education to help better my community. The simple conclusion I've come to is it won't change if I sit on the sidelines hoping someone will change it for me. If you are able to help your community, and it doesn't need to be a big thing (pick up trash, smile at someone you pass on the street, volunteer, etc), you are making this world better. I am in an extremely fortunate position to do these actions and hopefully better myself with education to help my fellow man. Not that this video or the election is the reason I'm doing this but it is a catalyst. I just want you to know folks are out there doing this. Maybe not seeking attention but, just out here wanting other people to join in and help make this world even more beautiful! Cheers, Ben

[@86fifty]

Thank you, I needed to hear this :,) I do small things like that all the time! Chat with people at bus stops, pick up trash, thank the cashiers in stores. It's been real hard to feel like the small things I do make a difference when the problems are so big, so, I appreciate hearing from ray of sunshine people like you that truly believe it does.

[@thethirdchimpanzee]

Back in the early to mid 1990's, a friend of mine who was/is an engineer/computer geek/literal rocket scientist, told me back then that "the computer is a printing press on every desktop!" - and he didn't mean just the printer - but the ability to disseminate information and ideas online, world-wide. And when he said that, blogs and things like CNN online were new...and social media were years and years in the future still - however, BBS'es and Usenet groups were ubiquitous, and served as sort a digital version of the ancient Agora, and the speaker's corner, and the literal town square bulletin board, and town hall, where ideas were posted and discussed and debated. On a good day Usenet (before the infamous day where AOL joined up and it all went to hell) was like the old cafe in Paris or Amsterdam, were the artists and philosophers and scientists and other intellectuals all got together over coffee and whole next schools of thought were conceived. Of course the reality of the situation has been far more disappointing than the optimistic predictions, made in the 80's and 90's by people like James Burke in the last episode of his TV series, "The Day the Universe Changed", were he mused optimistically about the home computer and computer networks helping create global direct democracy, with EVERY citizen being highly informed and knowledgeable1😊

[@StrangebirdE]

This is the most elucidating and strangely comforting intake of information I've had in a very long time. I've been losing so much sleep for so long, concerned about how to process recent events. I hope this helps others too.

[@FlorianFahrenberger]

Dang, this was powerful. Maybe this way, it gets spread to some more people. Can't hurt.

[@V1sual3y3z]

Oh, your clarification of populism was so helpful to me! I really struggled with the framing of it as an ideology; it just didn't makes sense to me that way. Thanks for the new perspective. edited to add: I would like a bibliography at the end of most informative videos.

[@disquo1686]

Love you Hank, keep it up. Bibliography was a brilliant idea - people need a “For Further Reading” on your brain!

[@frooples]

Amen, brother. I’m using this in my university media course next spring so that they get the message from someone who’s better looking. Well done.

[@TodayIFoundOut]

One of your best videos out of so many thousands. :-) -Daven

[@MisterCatLady]

Hank, thank you for using your voice to educate - and therefore set free - the masses. We are in your debt.

[@matthewmagda4971]

And just like that, the Overton Window shifted just enough where me and Hank are worried about the same things. I appreaciate hearing this from you, sir!

[@rigelb9025]

As the Overton window shifts, the Underton cellar is filled.

[@toaster1279]

Hank, you are always very well spoken and knowledgeable. Thank you for making the content you do ❤️

[@MichaelMaitlen]

I think it's safe to say that destruction is always easier then creation. Thanks Hank for putting so much time and effort into this topic...just wish we could figure out a way to get it in front of every human.

[@r3dp9]

Sort of. It's far harder to repeal a law or institution than it is to remove it. By contrast, it's far EASIER to corrupt an institution than to reform it. Hence, DOGE.

[@ReSilverKiento]

Hank, you are a force for good and a modern hero for what you do. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together. You kept the attention of an ADHD Millennial for 33 whole minutes without breaking a sweat.

[@dhayes5151]

I love how you hope we speedrun this because we are absolutely primed for that to happen.

[@slm613]

how? i'm feeling pretty pessimistic and would appreciate your perspective

[@LilithLi13]

You too are remarkable--you have made my day! Don’t know why it took me this long to discover you, but I sure am glad I have. Thank you for applying your big brains to our social quandaries and difficulties in what feels like an unbiased, fair and nonjudgmental way. 🎉❤🎊

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Been following you guys casually for years but never read any of your books. I've been thinking of changing that soon, but you got me distracted in your bibliography and now I've purchased High Conflict. I've very much appreciated how you and your brother have handled speaking about this particular moment we're in in a minimally inflammatory and highly introspective way. Great stuff, keep it up! I also feel like Kathryn Schulz's work on 'being wrong' (which was formational in changing my own treatment of others when in disagreement) becomes more potent with every passing year.

[@wickedk47]

I also think (speaking as a journalist) that it takes institutions longer to catch up and create norms and guardrails on new media. And so, during that gap, people fill it with less regulated content while we figure out what good quality news looks like in a new form. I see that with TikTok, but we also saw this with every other form of media. As you mentioned, with radio things were all over the place and now we have NPR. It just takes time to settle into new media, but we don't seem to have that time. New media comes out seemingly every few years. You should hear the talk about the journalistic transition from Twitter to Bluesky right now.

[@NWPaul72]

I never Twittered but I've been thinking about bluesky

[@Storm-j8u]

Imagine thinking anyone has a right to “regulate” content

[@Storm-j8u]

Blue sky is a pdfile haven lmaooo you all definitely should go over there

[@Storm-j8u]

@@NWPaul72 yup, all the PDfiles are going there, join your brethren

[@RanDStClair]

"..and now we have NPR". Was that meant to be ironic, like NPR is even worthy of existing?

[@AidanXavier1]

I think the bibliography makes sense to have on this video, and I like the format of presenting it directly instead of just having sources in the description

[@MrQueerDuck]

Love your work, thank you for shining light on these topics with data.

[@d_dave7200]

When you talk at the end about how populism can lead to bad reactions to things. This is true. But we also have no choice. As of this moment, the right wing have successfully channeled people's very righteous anger into all of the wrong places. We have two choices: try to convince them they're wrong and the systems are great actually, or try to channel that anger at the CORRECT enemies, at the REAL problems leading to their suffering. And only one of those paths has any realistic chance of succeeding. Populism doesn't have to be inherently strong-man-ish. Perhaps it does need some degree of hero worship. But look at Bernie Sanders -- yes, folks that like him truly revere him. I love the guy. I think he's a voice of moral clarity in the darkness, and I have no problem using those kinds of emotive, dramatic words. I think he's amazing. On the other hand, what does he talk about? "Not me, us." That we're all in this together. Maybe he doesn't think the "us" includes the elite of the elites, but it sure as heck includes the working and middle class of every race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. etc. It's inherently a message of solidarity, not division. And that IS ALSO populism.

[@AliceinEntropy]

So why is the FDA doing great work actually, and who is the real enemy? (For an example, you say this but don't provide an example of how that actually acts out.)

[@alexhanna2445]

I will say though, Bernie is clearly giving people something/someone to channel their anger towards - the 1%. I agree with him 100% and this isn’t a criticism. But Bernie is so effective bc he is saying to people ‘hey you have more in common than what separates you’ and unlocks a class consciousness instead of one of race or gender or something, and then says ‘here are the people doing you wrong’. I think Bernie has just decided that it’s better to direct people’s hate towards income inequality than immigrants or trans people (which I agree with)

[@mayaenglish5424]

The populism is what turned me off of Bernie years ago even though I do genuinely like him, but unfortunately, I think you're probably right. If some form of populism is going to be necessary in the future, I suppose his is the least bad version I can think of.

[@ancientspark375]

@@AliceinEntropy 1) Did they refer to the FDA at any point specifically in their point? 2) You're going to have to be more specific on what you'd want to talk about regarding the FDA. The FDA is incredibly broad in terms of responsibilities; it's not practical to argue either for or against them unless you're willing to go through points one by one and 3) But as a general point, the FDA has been historically extremely underfunded and underemployed. It's hard to get a gauge on whether their results are efficient simply because of how little resources they are given compared to how massive their tasks usually are.

[@danilthorstensson8902]

Politics is all about choosing the enemy’s because there is always an enemy. Liberals are inherently anti-political and this is why people like Bernie and Trump have caught fire in popularity. People do not trust the anti-political institutionalism of neoliberalism anymore.

[@caseyleichter2309]

I've already reserved "High Conflict" from the library, and will work my way through the others. Thank you for this, Hank. It's helping me emerge from the nihilistic rage-fog I've been in since the election.

[@ince55ant]

finding refuge on the internet has largely been sabotaged and it makes me very sad

[@Storm-j8u]

Good, cry more

[@rigelb9025]

@@Storm-j8u I have a feeling you're saying this in a demeaning way, but you may have accidentally given this person a sound bit of advice.

[@Storm-j8u]

@@rigelb9025 I’m always here for real advice that daddy never gave :)

[@rigelb9025]

@@Storm-j8u Whatever floats your boat !

[@bmocbruhistotle339]

​@@Storm-j8urot for an eternity

[@HeadCannonPrime]

This is honestly one of the most thoughtful and thought provoking speeches I have ever listened to about the rise of populism. And I took college level Poly Sci classes at U of M!

[@Bazookatom]

This is a great video. The feeling of needing a bibliography speaks a lot to the "why" this dilemma will take longer than we want to work itself out. Many don't have the time or the desire to dive deep into the mores of a complex issue they may not actually believe to be a problem when their ambivalence, in and of itself, contributes greatly to the root cause.

[@TacticusPrime]

Luther's real message boiled down to "less power to the church and more power to the princes" so you can guess which important people backed him and protected him. The princes. First and most importantly, Elector Frederick III of Saxony.

[@SecretFiri]

I studied international relations and all you talked about was so on point that it was scary how much better you are at words than I am. Then I remembered I graduated 7 years ago and didn't practice it. Also, I have done less writing than I wanted and less reading than I wanted. I just want to say that, maybe you should put your bibliography in your dooblidoo so that it is easier to search it.

[@NWPaul72]

Some kind nerdfighter left it in the comments if it helps

[@deadbeetz9553]

Always love hearing from you! Please never stop!!! Your crash course stuff got me through school! Youre the best!!!

[@dcseain]

I've watched this channel from the get-go, all those years ago. Yall have used this platform for so very much good. Yall are still pleasant, and know the power you wield, and yall both wield it thoughtfully, and not infrequently, with vulnerability, grokking that it takes many of us together to make a positive difference in the world. Yall, cooperatively with us, yall's viewers, to create Nerdfighteria, and I'm proud to remember when we adopted that name. I'm thrilled at everything we've achieved collectively and individually. Thank you far sticking with this.

[@andrevann7849]

Um... You Just Solved IT. The bibliography. The ability to SEE where information comes from is why Wikipedia is trusted (and should be, if you are willing to look deeply) is the bibliography. Making things less complex is helpful, but seeing the origin is even better. Good Job.

[@subhav]

Wikipedia is easily the healthiest social media platform, but it didn't get that way simply through references. (Though I think KZbin could use a feature like that.) Wikipedia has _editors_, some of whom have been granted admin-level powers, who verify that things are accurate and let users know when they're not and lock down contentious pages and elevate the good stuff and organize community meetups and more.

[@Chex_Mex]

​@@subhavand it also falls prey to the exact same problem. The jazz Wikipedia says that it's derives from "European melody and African rhythm" which is just patently false. All the original jazz musicians had access to was European instruments they could get for cheap because Confederate soldiers were selling them off. They had no European classical training, no European mentors or teachers, and so they learned by playing the instruments and from teaching each other and hearing music in their own lives. Wikipedia is great for some things but it is also is a very eurocentric perspective of the world, much like most other resources out there

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

@@subhav Wikipedia is also not a social media platform, so that helps.

[@OsthatoAlfakyn]

@@Chex_Mex The jazz Wikipedia makes no such claim, and to say it does is misinformation ('patently false', as you say). The section you're referring to says it derives from European *harmony*. And it does! It's based on on 12-tone equal temperament, symmetry, major and minor heptatonic scales, and so on, none of which just appeared out of thin air. If it did come about without any outside influence, we wouldn't see any of this - and indeed, non-European musical traditions like Indian or Turkish music are radically different in these aspects. Furthermore, the page goes quite in-depth on jazz history, including on how early black musicians "used to parody European dance music" - unsurprisingly, there actually was a bunch of cultural interchange! How would there not be!? Honestly, the idea that people hearing 'music in their own lives' will always just so happen to arrive at Western musical theory is quite sad, really.

[@Chex_Mex]

@@OsthatoAlfakyn "the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, hymns, marches, vaudeville song, and dance music" Blues, ragtime, spirituals, hymns, and vaudeville song are all derived from the exact same place. Fine, I'm not saying European music didn't have some impact but there is some articles written by the like of Dave Brubeck himself which have assumed that the success of Jazz is due to its western influence and despite its African influence. I just want to challenge this thought and it's a very inequal balance The western influence is minor to defining what Jazz is

[@Alyss93]

It's videos like this (and the diverse comments under it) that make me proud to have followed the vlogbrothers for over a decade.