Some Liberal podcasters or their guests also shared false or unsubstantiated statements, including statements by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about child poverty or immigration that fact-checkers rated as “false” or “largely false.”
But dr Economist said conservative broadcasts far outpaced liberal ones in relaying misleading information. Many podcast hosts, she said, are using the fear of the pandemic to hook concerned Americans. A list of anti-vaccination activists and armchair pundits have been promoting unsubstantiated theories about the coronavirus and Covid-19 vaccines. They said Covid could be treated or cured with ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, two existing drugs. despite evidence that they were not effective.
“In the end, everyone is a health professional just because they’ve seen a study,” said Dr. economist.
Mr. Bannon, for example, frequently pressed for evidence in interviews with guests, reflecting an apparent search for the truth. But as clips of these interviews show, he often gave his guests the final say, rarely took opposing views, and rarely admonished his audience to wait for more information.
“Perhaps there is some nuance or debate in the conversation,” said Dr. Economist, but Mr. Bannon leaves the audience with the clear impression that officials and institutions are “totally lying to you,” she added.
“I would agree with that characterization of the world,” said Natalie Winters, co-host and editor-in-chief of War Room, in an interview. She added that the show’s goal is to “compete against the mainstream narratives to provide a counterpoint to it.”
Mr Bannon appeared confused in one episode after Steve Kirsch, a tech mogul and founder of the Vaccine Safety Research Foundation, an anti-vaccine group, said it was not known what was in the vaccine.
