Political Scientist Joe Uscinski is the guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is the co-author of the new book American Conspiracy Theories.
It is now 14 years since the tragedy of September 11th. In this episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, Professor Uscinski and Chauncey discuss the conspiracy theories that have come into existence about that tragic day, how they function as a type of alternative belief system more generally, and the relationship between political values and a given person's propensity to believe in them.
Chauncey and Joe also dialogue about the role race plays--or not--in anti-Obama "Birtherism" and other related matters.
Dr. Uscinski's ability to bring rigorous empirical techniques to the discussion of what is often empty conjecture and emotion about American conspiracy theories is refreshing and exciting.
In this episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, Chauncey also does some sharing about his feelings of decrepitude on his birthday, offers up some "fun" conspiracy theories about a brand of tropical punch that supposedly made black men sterile, relays his own 9/11 memories, reads some Slavoj Zizeck, and gives a really good reason for why folks should wash the clothes they buy before wearing them.
