The Disinfo Detox

In this urgent episode of The Disinfo Detox , historian and UC labor leader Trevor Griffey joins Nolan Higdon to unpack the chaos unfolding at the U.S. Department of Education under Trump’s second term. Six months in, the Trump administration has banned DEI programs, gutted Title IX protections, slashed nearly a billion in education research, reversed charter school oversight, and stopped investig...

In this powerful episode of The Disinfo Detox , historian and organizer Caroline Luce joins Nolan Higdon to unpack the disturbing reality behind recent ICE raids on LA garment workers, the long history of surveillance in labor movements, and how local communities are fighting back. We break through the media silence to spotlight what's really happening on the ground—and how you can help. Caroline...

In this eye-opening episode of The Disinfo Detox, economist and author Gary Smith joins Nolan Higdon to break down Apple’s bombshell June 2025 study, The Illusion of Thinking. The research quietly revealed a devastating flaw in the AI arms race: when faced with complex reasoning, large AI models don’t try harder—they simply give up. Smith, author of The AI Delusion, helps unpack why this study mat...

🎙️ Welcome to The Disinfo Detox – hosted by Nolan Higdon and the Media Literacy Wrecking Crew: Dickey and Sydney Sullivan! In this episode, we put on our media literacy goggles and break down four major stories dominating headlines: 🔥 Trump vs. Elon: A war of words with deep media and political implications. 🪧 National Guard vs. Protesters: What’s really going on behind the violent clashes in Ca...

🎧 Welcome to The Disinfo Detox: Media Literacy Wrecking Crew ! The podcast where media literacy meets the headlines—and fake news gets exposed. Each week, media literacy experts and practitioners join hosts Nolan Higdon and Sydney Sullivan to cut through the spin, uncover what’s missing from the mainstream narrative, and bring media literacy tools to the stories dominating your feed. 🛠️ This week...

Welcome to The Disinfo Detox —your weekly media reality check. This episode, host Nolan Higdon is joined by guest co-hosts Dickey (our resident philosopher) and Dr. Sydney Sullivan (an education expert focused on social media and mental health). Together, they cut through the chaos and expose what mainstream coverage leaves out. This week’s deep dive includes: 🧨 The Trump administration’s push of...

Hey Detoxers! In this episode of The Disinfo Detox ,I’m thrilled to be joined by Kathryn Bromwich—freelance journalist and formercommissioning editor and writer for the Observer New Review . We'rediving into her recent reporting on the growing visibility—andcontroversy—surrounding DINKs: dual income, no kids couples. 📌 What are DINKs, and whyare they suddenly a lightning rod for public critic...

🎙️ The Disinfo Detox — where spin meets its match. In this episode, host Nolan Higdon is joined by Professor Bill Yousman, communication & media scholar at Sacred Heart University, for a brutally honest breakdown of the week’s biggest media failures and political misdirection.👉 In this hard-hitting episode, they unpack:• The media chaos at CBS — from Trump’s $20B lawsuit over a Kamala Harris...

🎙️ Welcome to a brand-new kind of episode of The Disinfo Detox! Host Nolan Higdon and co-host Sydney Sullivan break down the most critical and controversial headlines from the worlds of tech, media, education, and politics — stories the corporate press often bungles or buries.👉 In this special episode, they dissect:Jake Tapper’s Original Sin and the media’s belated coverage of Biden’s cognitive f...

🎙️ In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, host Nolan Higdon sits down with award-winning investigative journalist and host of Full Measure, Sharyl Attkisson, for a sharp, wide-ranging conversation on the failures of the modern press and the rise of institutional distrust.👉 Together, they dissect the media’s inconsistent and often partisan coverage of Joe Biden and Donald Trump, exposing how select...

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, host Nolan Higdon welcomes renowned author and scholar Chris Hables Gray to dive deep into his thought-provoking new book, AI, Sacred Violence and War—The Case of Gaza.👉 In this conversation, we explore the unsettling intersection of AI and sacred warfare, examining how the use of artificial intelligence in modern conflicts signals a chilling glimpse of futur...

🎙️ In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, we discuss the strategic use of character assassination to silence dissent, discredit critics, and manipulate public opinion. Our guest, Sergey A. Samoylenko, expert in reputation politics and founder of the Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) Research Lab at George Mason University, breaks down the nuts and bolts of character assassinati...

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, host Nolan Higdon sits down with media literacy mavens Dr. Allison Butler (UMass Amherst) and Sydney Sullivan (San Diego State University) to crack open their brand new resource guide:👉 "Teaching Critical AI Literacy: Tools and Strategies for the Classroom" 👈https://www.nolanhigdon.com/teaching-critical-ai-literacy-tools-and-strategies-for-the-clas...

🎙️ In this episode of The Disinfo Detox , we expose what the corporate press won’t cover: the rising tide of censorship, political retaliation, and authoritarian drift in the United States—and how the media helps it all slide under the radar. While mainstream outlets chase culture war clickbait, the real threats to free speech and democracy go largely unreported. Our guest, Mickey Huff , Distingui...

This week on The Disinfo Detox, we're joined by media literacy expert Frank Baker to unpack a pressing—and too often ignored—question: Why isn’t media literacy a national priority in American schools? We kick off with a recent New York Times article that spotlights how unprepared teenagers are when navigating today’s complex media landscape. From viral misinformation to AI-generated content, s...

This clip is from a recent recording of Robert McChesney (1952–2025). We’ll miss you, Bob. Thank you for everything. Full episode:    • From Defender to Offender: When ‘Free...   In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, we dissect the White House’s contradictions on free speech and liberty. While the White House claims to champion the First Amendment, their track record tells a different story—one fi...

🎙️ In this episode of The Disinfo Detox , we expose what the mainstream media won’t touch: the devastating consequences of Department of Education budget cuts on faculty and students across the country. While headlines obsess over political theater and culture wars, the very foundation of public higher education is being dismantled—with little to no media scrutiny. Our guest, Katie Rodger , Presid...

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox , we dissect the Trump administration’s contradictions on free speech and liberty. While Trump and his allies claim to champion the First Amendment, their track record tells a different story—one filled with selective outrage, crackdowns on dissent, and an inconsistent stance on corporate censorship. Our guests, media scholars Robin Andersen and Steve Macek , e...

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, we dive deep into the biases, shortcomings, and future possibilities of artificial intelligence. As AI systems increasingly shape the way we consume information, make decisions, and interact with technology, critical questions emerge: Can we trust AI to be fair? Who controls the algorithms? And what does the future hold for AI-driven media, education, and gove...

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox , we uncover the growing threats to cybersecurity and digital privacy that put students and families at risk. From data breaches in edtech to the shady world of data brokers profiting off personal information, the dangers are real—and often preventable. Our guest, Claudiu Popa , cybersecurity expert and co-founder of KnowledgeFlow, shares insights on how school...

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox , we cut through the noise surrounding artificial intelligence, a topic filled with hype, headlines, and speculation. Silicon Valley and Big Tech are promising an AI revolution, but how much of it is truly groundbreaking, and how much is just smoke and mirrors? Join us as we sit down with Gary Smith, author of The AI Delusion , who’s spent years debunking the m...

Welcome to The Disinfo Detox , where we cut through the noise to bring you the stories that matter. In this episode, we’re exposing a growing crisis: fake science and the scientific illiteracy of media makers who shape public understanding of critical issues. As courts debate Trump’s efforts to cut funding for scientific research and health officials warn about rising measles cases , misinformatio...

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox , we cut through the noise to examine the deep ties between political power, economic wealth, and media influence in the early days of President Donald Trump’s second term. How do media conglomerates and elite networks shape policy and public perception? We’re joined by political sociologist Peter Phillips, author of Giants: The Global Power Elite and Titans of...

Welcome to The Disinfo Detox , where we cut through the media spin to uncover the real stories that matter. In this episode, we examine the media's response to a groundbreaking move: President Donald Trump's January 2025 executive order to declassify the remaining files on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This order also includes documents related to the assassinations of Ro...

In this special Eyes on Ed episode of Disinfo Detox, guest co-host Allison Butler joins the show to chat with Adam Bessie about his groundbreaking book, Going Remote . Together, they dive into the challenges facing education today, from the rise of surveillance tech in schools to the broader implications of remote learning. How are these shifts impacting students, teachers, and the future of educa...