Doing Democracy: What We Get Wrong About Political Misinformation

Americans famously hang on to false ideas about politics, even after being presented with the facts. Part of the problem, of course, is misinformation. But according to political scientist Emily Thorson, people also tend to assume that they already know how existing policies work…and they are often wrong. In her new book, “The Invented State,” Thorson argues that providing facts and context in the right way can correct common policy misconceptions. She’ll join us as part of our Doing Democracy series, which examines what democracy means and how it is practiced, to talk about the book, and the latest research on misinformation.

Guests:

Emily Thorson, assistant professor of political science, Syracuse University; author, "The Invented State: Policy Misperceptions in the American Public"