Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
Philosopher, martial artist, dog lover. Author of ON DISINFORMATION: HOW TO FIGHT FOR TRUTH AND PROTECT DEMOCRACY
Lee Cameron McIntyre is an American author, researcher, and academic. He is a research fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and an instructor in ethics at Harvard Extension School. He has published numerous nonfiction book and articles on the philosophy of the social sciences and attempts to undermine science. In 2023, he became a fellow with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. .. more
Philosophy
33%
History
11%
Opinion | Are We Losing Our Democracy?
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
Seven years ago I published a book called POST-TRUTH. Today's NYT makes clear just how far down the authoritarian road we've now traveled. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Hector's birthday today. My big beautiful boy. He would've been 17 today. I still miss him every day.
Pope urges news agencies to stand as bulwark against lies, manipulation and post-truths
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the “ancient art of lying” and manipulation.
apnews.com
THIS is how to be an ally for truth. Lovely to see Pope Leo taking such a clear stand against post-truth, picking up where Pope Francis left off. And he quotes Hannah Arendt! Bravo!
Opinion | Is it America’s fate to decline and fall? Here’s what history says.
The American experiment will soon turn 250. Is its time running out?
www.washingtonpost.com
Late in life my working man father got interested in why Rome fell. He loved the USA. Got his GED. Fought in World War 2. Believed in immigration as part of the American dream. Voted in every election. Hated bullies. I wish I could've shared this article with him. It's a good one.
I Took Bernie Into Deep Trump Country. Can He Win Them Over?
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
www.youtube.com
An amazing video that demonstrates once again the power of face to face conversation.
OpenAI’s Sora Makes Disinformation Extremely Easy and Extremely Real
www.nytimes.com
Another article specifically about disinformation.
OpenAI’s New Video App Is Jaw-Dropping (for Better and Worse)
www.nytimes.com
Brace yourselves. Sora will do for video what ChatGPT has done for text. The possibilities for video-based disinformation are now convenient and endless.
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Sep 28
Donald Trump says he is deploying troops to Portland, Oregon
Apparently misled by hyperbolic reporting from conservative outlets on a single small protest, president described peaceful city as ‘war ravaged’
www.theguardian.com
Trump didn't get what he wanted when he deployed troops to DC, so now he has targeted Portland. Things are peaceful here! Trump is trying to provoke a reaction so he can use it as an excuse to declare martial law. This is not a mistake; it's part of his overall plan.
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Sep 26
Lower Than Cowards
The surrender of America’s elites
www.theatlantic.com
Bravo Adam Serwer! "I want to distinguish between chickenshit and cowardice. Fear is part of human existence. Bravery is the overcoming of fear, not its absence. Acts of cowardice can be provoked by genuine danger...When you're chickenshit, you capitulate to avoid the mere possibility of discomfort"
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Sep 25
Hegseth orders rare, urgent meeting of hundreds of generals, admirals
The Pentagon has summoned military officials from around the world for a gathering in Virginia. Top generals and their staffs don’t know the reason for the meeting.
www.washingtonpost.com
Trump is consolidating power at an alarming clip. Soon he will exploit (or create) some crisis to declare martial law. Maybe this meeting is where he'll ask all of his generals and admirals to sign a loyalty pledge to him...or be fired. If so, this isn't the road to fascism. This is fascism!
How do you talk to people who disagree with you about Science? We talk to the man who wrote the book on it.
open.spotify.com
I'm so proud to share my conversation with Dr. Seema Yasmin on her outstanding podcast OUR BIG SHOT. Timely stuff here as the next wave of Covid now falls upon us.
MIT Reads: On Disinformation and Democracy with Lee McIntyre
calendar.mit.edu
Proud to announce that ON DISINFORMATION was chosen as the MIT Libraries "MIT Reads" fall selection. If you're in town, please come hear me talk about it live and in person on October 8th at the Hayden Library (1st floor) at 2 p.m. on the MIT campus. calendar.mit.edu/event/on-dis...
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Aug 27
Greenland: Denmark summons top US diplomat over alleged influence operation
The aim was reportedly to infiltrate Greenland's society and promote its secession from Denmark.
www.bbc.com
So it looks like the USA was just caught in a covert influence operation in Greenland. This involved all the tools of information warfare including disinformation. Beware that this is the Russian "hybrid" model: it starts with weaponized information as a prelude to possible kinetic action later.
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Aug 22
Studying philosophy does make people better thinkers, according to new research on more than 600,000 college grads
Philosophers are fond of saying that their field boosts critical thinking. Two of them decided to put that claim to the test.
theconversation.com
Some goods news for a change today. At least for philosophers. How rare is that?!
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Aug 14
Where I grew up!!
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Mar 27
Three prominent Yale professors depart for Canadian university, citing Trump fears
History department power couple Timothy Snyder and Marci Shore and philosophy professor Jason Stanley will begin teaching at the University of Toronto’s renowned Munk School in fall 2025.
yaledailynews.com
This one hits close to home. Both Jason Stanley and Tim Snyder are friends of mine. And I think that when three prominent scholars of fascism, tyranny, disinformation, and propaganda all leave for Canada at the same time, it's worth taking note.
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Mar 26
Next up, I predict a round of "Whataboutism" regarding Hillary's emails. Not kidding.
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Mar 26
(5) Our national security has never been stronger. #ondisinformation
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Mar 26
Trump Goes After the Messenger
The president is privately upset with the sloppiness of his advisers. Publicly, he’s focused on attacking the press.
www.theatlantic.com
Classic demonstration of a Russian disinformation technique called the "firehose of falsehood." Trump doesn't like reality so he says: (1) We did nothing wrong. (2) The information wasn’t classified. (3)The guy who got it is a sleaze bag. (4) The magazine he published it in is weak and failing.
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Mar 20
www.wbur.org
I'm honored to have been mentioned and quoted on Dr. Francis Collins's interview on Robin Young's NPR program "Here and Now," discussing the recent MIT conference on how to build trust in science. www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
One Word Describes Trump
A century ago, a German sociologist explained precisely how the president thinks about the world.
www.theatlantic.com
Outstanding article by my friend Jonathan Rauch. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Feb 19
Wow! I'm honored you found my book.
The Chauncey DeVega Show: Ep. 425: The American People Are Being Targeted and Manipulated By a Disinformation and Propaganda War
Lee McIntyre is a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and a Senior Advisor for Public Trust in Science at the Aspen Institute. He is the author of...
thechaunceydevegashow.libsyn.com
So proud to appear on the Chauncey DeVega podcast...thank you for the great conversation! thechaunceydevegashow.libsyn.com/ep-425-the-a...
www.washingtonpost.com
Thanks so much to Jasmine Green at the Washington Post for this recent interview. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Jan 19
Noted thank you. I'll fix on the next printing. Thank you.
Lee McIntyre
@leecmcintyre.bsky.social
· Jan 18
Happy "gotcha" day to Gigi my wonderful German Shepherd. She had a terrible life before she was rescued at age 10 by Miracle GSD of Maine, from whom we adopted her a year later. Now she has a soft bed, treats, and tons of love. No finer dog ever. Can't believe it's already been four years.
Meta is ending its fact-checking program in favor of a 'community notes' system similar to X
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a series of major changes to the company's moderation policies and practices, saying that the election felt like a "cultural tipping point."
www.nbcnews.com
There is no greater gift to disinformers than to pretend that truth is a matter of consensus or that the protection of free speech requires giving a megaphone to liars.
Jimmy Carter would not tell a lie. Did his honesty doom his presidency?
When he began his presidential bid, Jimmy Carter vowed that he “would not tell a lie.” But historians say his honesty made it harder to get things done and stay in office.
www.washingtonpost.com
I seem to be quoted in this WAPO article, but can't open it because I cancelled my subscription when they wouldn't endorse in the 2024 election. Some sort of joke or irony here I guess....maybe someone else can tell me what it says?
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Afraid you may be right.