Polarised Politics

2024 US Presidential Election

‘One inch from a potential civil war’ – near miss in Trump shooting is also a close call for American democracy

— A scholar of political assassinations says the US just narrowly avoided plunging into wholesale violence and potential civil war when Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt.

Populism

The maths of rightwing populism: Easy answers + confidence = reassuring certainty

— Right-wing populists thrive by simplifying messages in a noisy information landscape. Communication theory elucidates how misinformation polarises society, favouring certainty over complexity, especially on the political right.

Media

Four tips for a healthy news diet in 2024

— In the new year, consider improving your news diet. Be wary of biased algorithms on social media, seek diverse viewpoints, recognise attention-seeking, share balanced sources, and beware of emotional manipulation.

Climate Change

Rishi Sunak is introducing the polarised climate politics of the US, Canada, and Australia to the UK

— Rishi Sunak is using the short-term costs of green transition to justify a weakening of the UK’s climate policy, appealing to concerns about these costs. This strategy could polarise climate politics, and risk turning climate into a hotly contested political issue.