Fallacious Trump

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-ninth episode, we explore the Ethnocentric Fallacy, starting with Trump pretending Americans invented everything, and claiming everyone wants to do business with the US. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Nigel Farage boasting about how open-minded and accepting the Brits are, Kemi Badenoch ranking the cultures, and Boris Johnson harking back to an ima...

While Jim's away on holiday, in lieu of a regular episode, here is the audio of a talk Jim gave last Summer for the Skeptics in the Pub Online ( https://sitp.online/ ), who very kindly gave permission for us to share it with you here. Long-time listeners will no doubt already be aware of Jim's obsession with debunking Dinesh D'Souza's film about election fraud, but this is the firs...

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-eighth episode, we explore the Labelling Fallacy, starting with Trump labelling the Democratic platform, Kelly Loeffler incessantly labelling Radical Liberal Raphael Warnock, and Vivek Ramaswamy labelling himself and all his Republican primary opponents. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Liz Truss and Suella Braverman labelling everyone who disagrees...

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-seventh episode, we explore the Halo Effect, starting with Trump's constant comments on the attractiveness of pilots and generals, his amazement at Transport Secretary Sean Duffy's ability to climb both up and down trees, and his reluctance to hire John Bolton and Janet Yellen. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Peter Bone MP's defense of B...

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-sixth episode, we explore the Appeal to Outdated Data, starting with Trump getting Chicago gun laws wrong, and being disingenuous about Fauci's masking advice, then Musk pretending the press minimizes violence against white men. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Nigel Farage using old figures to claim the cost of aiming for Net Zero is too high. I...

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-fifth episode, we take another look at the Argument from Popularity, starting with Trump claiming millions of people voted illegally in 2020, and that 90% of people think his economy was better than Biden's, then Utah's state legislature pretending science isn't real if enough people think so. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Rupert Lowe...

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-fourth episode, we explore the Furtive Fallacy, starting with Trump blaming protests on George Soros, lying about USAID, and claiming the 2020 election was stolen from him. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Nadine Dorries implying various behind-the-scenes shenanigans in the Tory Party. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from Ch...

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-third episode, we explore Hypophora, starting with Trump showing his lack of foreign policy chops with regard to both Iran and Iraq, and then Donald Jr. minimizing COVID deaths. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Kier Starmer accurately describing Boris Johnson, Boris Johnson inaccurately describing parties, and Ed Miliband mocking an elitist Tory. In...

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-second episode, we explore the Jingoism Fallacy, starting with Trump quoting Napoleon and making transphobia a patriotism issue, and Dr. Carole Lieberman asking why Democrats hate America. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Starmer, Sunak, and Laurence Fox doing their best to sound patriotic, an insanely jingoistic ad for Brexit, and Nigel Farage wonde...

In the one-hundred-and-seventy-first episode, we explore the Golden Hammer Fallacy, starting with Trump trying to use tariffs to solve every problem and Dr. Oz recommending acupuncture for multiple ailments. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at the many problems Brexit was destined to solve, and the many Brexit-related problems that could be solved by rejoining the EU. In the Fallacy...

In the one-hundred-and-seventieth episode, we explore the Appeal to Common Sense Fallacy, starting with Trump ignoring the evidence on DEI, immigration, and crime. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Kemi Badenoch being confusing, Rishi Sunak denouncing elitism, Nigel Farage dismissing wokeism, and Baroness Fox celebrating the death of DEI. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we chec...

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-ninth episode, we take another look at the Inconsistent Comparison Fallacy, starting with Trump comparing Covid to the flu, Tucker Carlson being a Russian propagandist, and Candace Owens being an anti-vaxxer. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Kemi Badenoch being incredibly xenophobic, and Liz Truss being delusional. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, w...

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-eighth episode, we explore the Euphemism Fallacy, starting with Trump hiding the true evil of his Executive Orders, lying about pro-life activists he pardoned, and minimizing the Access Hollywood tape. In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Allegra Stratton struggling to come up with an excuse for parties at Number 10 during lockdown, and Boris kind of apolo...

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-seventh episode, we explore the Insignificant Cause Fallacy, starting with Trump getting the Soviet Union wrong, and Ross Clark denying climate change. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Tobias Elwood being wrong about why the Tories lost, and Kemi Badenoch being wrong about Nigel Farage and the Southport murders. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we ch...

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-sixth episode, we explore the Truth Rejection Fallacy, starting with Trump saying he's smart for not paying taxes, his history of buying political influence qualifies him to drain the swamp, and that his birtherism conspiracy theory peddling actually helped Obama. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Liz Truss claiming her disastrous mini budget was act...

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-fifth episode, we explore the Truth Rejection Fallacy, starting with Trump advocating torture (again). In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Theresa May on free market capitalism, Jeremy Kyle on refugees, and Nigel Farage on the NHS and gravy trains. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from Only Murders in the Building, Barney Miller, a...

Happy 2025! As a special New Year treat, here's part two of our breakdown of Louise Linton's comedy (?) thriller (?), Me You Madness - a film made by someone with far too much money and far too little talent. It's part scholarly film theory analysis, part snarky nitpicking, part exasperated diatribe. We did this for our Patrons a couple of years ago. Part one went out on Christmas Day,...

Happy Festivus! As a special bonus treat, here's our breakdown of Louise Linton's comedy (?) thriller (?), Me You Madness - a film made by someone with far too much money and far too little talent. It's part scholarly film theory analysis, part snarky nitpicking, part exasperated diatribe. We did this for our Patrons a couple of years ago. There's a LOT to hate about this film, so...

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-fourth episode, we explore Dysphemism, starting with Trump mischaracterizing the Inflation Reduction Act, immigration, and everyone he disagrees with. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Nigel Farage's attacks on Speaker John Bercow, Rachel Reeves' budget, and the EU parliament. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from House M...

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-third episode, we explore the Appeal to Probability Fallacy, starting with Trump lying about inflation, Muslims, and his odds of winning in 2020. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at several opinions of Nigel Farage, and then Farage's opinion on ChatGPT. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from Friends, Men in Black, and Sherlock....

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-second episode we take another look at the Non Sequitur Fallacy, starting with Trump claiming that anomalies in 2020 meant he won, and that Hillary was unfit to lead. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Boris Johnson and Liz Truss's final Prime Minister's Questions. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from Chocolat, The Simpso...

In the one-hundred-and-sixty-first episode, we explore Parade of Horribles, starting with Trump listing all the bad things that would happen if Kamala won the election. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at campaign speeches from Sunak and Starmer, Brexit arguments from Johnson and Cameron, and Nigel Farage's views on the dangers of immigration. In the Fallacy in the Wild section, w...

In the one-hundred-and-sixtieth episode we explore Glittering Generalities, starting with Trump promising to make things great again, win a lot, and stop bad people doing bad things. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at the first speeches of every British PM for the past 50 years! In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from a TikTok health influencer, Lord of War, an...

In the one hundred and fifty-ninth episode we explore Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, starting with Trump claiming more guns makes people safer, and Biden is responsible for high gas prices, and JD Vance pretending Trump isn't responsible for Iran's nuclear progress. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Rishi Sunak taking credit for halving inflation, and Boris claiming leaving the E...

In the one hundred and fifty-eighth episode we explore Calling Cards, starting with Trump accusing Democrats of playing the religion card against Amy Coney Barrett, Hillary of playing the woman card by... being a woman, and prosecutors of playing the insurrection card. In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Oliver Letwin and Lee Anderson being racist and Baroness Fox accusing people of p...