3 chapters across the catalog
The public health director of Nueces County, Texas, reported that 85 infants tested positive for COVID-19 in Corpus Christi. This report is identified as "fear porn" because it failed to clarify that the 85 cases were a cumulative total since March 2020 rather than a sudden spike. Media outlets further conflated these statistics with the county's total death toll of 82 to imply high infant mortality.
Fear vs. Embarrassment, Global Trump Support, Public Perception
During a cab ride in Belfast, Adam Curry noted that the driver was surprised to hear any support for Donald Trump from Americans. The hosts debate whether the lack of public support for the president is due to embarrassment or a genuine fear of social repercussions. They conclude that the media's constant programming creates an environment where honesty about political leanings is discouraged.
Speculation arises that future domestic incidents, such as gas explosions, may be reclassified as IED attacks to maintain public fear. The hosts suggest that the anonymous nature of IEDs makes them an ideal tool for staged events to justify the OBP's budget and the Tripwire surveillance system.
