Topic: Data Trends

One of the hosts announces the deactivation of their Facebook account due to a lack of perceived value and concerns over platform toxicity. The decision was mirrored by family members who only maintained accounts for familial connectivity, though the move does not yet extend to Instagram, which remains a primary platform for younger demographics.

AC Thompson identified three major trends in ProPublica's data: a surge in anti-Semitism, a "rash" of anti-immigrant sentiment, and incidents where perpetrators invoke President Trump's name. The project tracks lower-level harassment that does not meet the federal legal definition of a hate crime. The hosts discuss the expansion of the "hate crime" category to include non-criminal behavior and speech.

Media outlets report a spike in Google searches for "What is the EU?" following the referendum, suggesting voters did not understand their ballots. Max Keiser and ABC News use this data to claim an "accidental revolution" and widespread buyer's remorse. The hosts contest this narrative, suggesting the search data is being manipulated to paint Leave voters as ignorant.