For this month’s discussion meetup, we will be discussing the all-encompassing Epstein conspiracy theory—as well as some meta-discussion on conspiratorial thinking. We don’t tend to do things this topical and inflammatory, so let’s see how this goes.
Please feel free to come even if you haven’t done the readings, you’re worried it will be awkward, or you aren’t the “typical person who comes to a Rationality meetup!”
READINGS/MEDIA
- Ross Douthat interview with an investigative journalist whose work led to Epstein’s final arrest. Pretty good background on what he was accused of and what’s likely to be true:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S7doGgjlvY
- Ezra Klein interview with an ex-WAPO reporter who studied right wing conspiracies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6MzrXuadAY&ab_channel=TheEzraKleinShow
- Michael Tracey article: pretty much the biggest reasonable skeptic of Epstein conspiracies (by conspiracy I mean that he trafficked minors to powerful men as part of a blackmail operation facilitated by intelligence agencies) https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-idiocy-of-the-epstein-mythology/
- Tim Dillon interview with Alex Jones: I think this is a good look into the contemporary discourse around Epstein. Right wing podcasters (and most of their audiences) take it for granted that this grand, dark conspiracy is true. And this podcast demonstrates that well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8_AekFgybg&ab_channel=TheTimDillonShow
DATE & LOCATION
- Date: Saturday, 8/2 @ 2pm–4:30pm (roughly)
- Location: South Loop Strength & Conditioning – upstairs in the mezzanine 645 S Clark Chicago IL 60605
- Note: Todd owns this gym so that’s why there’s a Rationality meetup at a gym 🙂
