Topic: Russian Trolls

Late-night host Stephen Colbert discusses the measles outbreak and cites reports claiming that Russian trolls promoted anti-vaccination propaganda to sow discord in the U.S. The hosts mock this narrative, pointing out that the media blames Russia for various social issues while ignoring similar outbreaks from previous years. They argue that social media platforms like Twitter exacerbate distrust without foreign interference.

The Senate Intelligence Committee released two reports detailing Russian interference in the 2016 election via the Internet Research Agency. NPR reports that these findings suggest Russian trolls specifically targeted African-American communities to suppress voter turnout. The data indicates that Instagram saw higher engagement for fake Russian content than Facebook, though the hosts question the validity of "engagement" metrics.

An academic paper titled "Weaponizing the Haters" claims that negative buzz surrounding the film *Star Wars: The Last Jedi* was amplified by Russian trolls. The hosts dismiss the study, arguing that the film was simply poor in quality and that the media is using "Russian trolls" as a scapegoat for genuine fan disappointment.

Twitter notified over 600,000 users that they had interacted with accounts linked to the Russian Internet Research Agency. The platform announced new partnerships with organizations like Common Sense Media to improve "media literacy" and combat automated propaganda.

The hosts showcase community-created album art, specifically "The Russian Troll Factory" by Steven St. Clair. They announce the second installment of their 10th-anniversary "two-fer" promotion, where donors receive double credit for their contributions. They also mention the No Agenda Art Generator website as a hub for listener creativity.