Oct 30, 2026 · 1h 1m
Election disinformation collides with voter intimidation and AI expansion
Death Throes (feat. John Fugelsang)
The episode connects election manipulation claims, threats to marginalized voters, and unchecked AI infrastructure to the stakes of civic participation before the midterms.
- 1Deceptive anti-trans messages, Russian deepfakes, and ballot-seizure efforts show how disinformation can target both candidates and voters.
- 2John Fugelsang argues that manufactured election confusion and authoritarian backlash depend on scapegoating minorities and discouraging participation.
- 3The discussion links AI’s political risks to data-center demands for energy, water, and public subsidies.
Don't miss
John Fugelsang’s discussion of ballot stacking explains how similarly named candidates can be used to manufacture confusion and undermine a legitimate election result.
The brief
Allison and Dana open with a crowded pre-midterm threat landscape: deceptive anti-trans mailers, Russian deepfakes, voter intimidation claims, and attacks on Mary Peltola.
The hosts examine efforts to seize or set aside ballots, arguing that unproven claims and flawed data could disenfranchise voters while weakening state control of elections.
John Fugelsang joins to discuss ballot stacking in Alaska, the manufacture of electoral confusion, and a broader authoritarian pattern of declaring elections rigged after losses.
The conversation turns to turnout among disillusioned voters, new citizens, and younger men, then connects AI risk disclosures and data-center expansion to energy, water, and political power.
The episode closes with community good news and canceled Trump rallies, leaving civic participation alongside care for neighbors and the planet as its practical answer to political exhaustion.
Books & mentions
Some links are affiliate links — PodLume may earn a commission if you buy.
Fake Christians
Fugelsang’s upcoming book extends the conversation about religious hypocrisy and the political use of Christianity.
Separation of Church and Hate
His debut book offers a related critique of Christian nationalism and the political misuse of biblical teachings.
The John Fugelsang Show
The related SiriusXM Progress program provides more of Fugelsang’s political commentary.
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