The Chatter Podcast: Flat Earth Beliefs and Conspiracism with Kelly Weill

David Priess
Thursday, February 9, 2023, 10:45 AM

Priess and Weill discussed the genesis of her interest in conspiracies; what drives people toward conspiracy theories; the origins of modern flat earth thinking in the 1800s and its links to r

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Flat earth beliefs have been spreading alarmingly in recent years. They offer plenty of fodder for punchlines, yes--but they also have ties to more nefarious conspiracy theories like QAnon and to other manifestations of political extremism.

As a reporter at the Daily Beast, Kelly Weill has been covering it all. And she has written Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything, a book that tells the history of flat earthism, relates many stories from and about its current adherents, and traces its connections to other forms of radical belief.

David Priess and Weill discussed the genesis of her interest in conspiracies; what drives people toward conspiracy theories; 9/11 trutherism as a "gateway drug" to other conspiracies; the origins of modern flat earth thinking in the 1800s and its links to religious fundamentalism; how flat earth believers took over and ran Zion, Illinois in the early 20th century; different flat earthers' conceptions of what's above, below, and around the ground; how online videos and social media helped drive a rise in flat earthism; what a flat earth conference is like; the negative impact that flat earth beliefs can have on individuals; how flat earth thinking intersects with other manifestations of conspiracism and with political extremism; how to help people who fall prey to conspiracy theories; and more.

Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by David Priess and Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. 

Works mentioned during this episode:

The book Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything by Kathy Weill

The book The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The documentary Behind the Curve

Kelly Weill's articles at the Daily Beast

The podcast Fever Dreams

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David Priess

David Priess

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David Priess is Director of Intelligence at Bedrock Learning, Inc. and a Senior Fellow at the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security. He served during the Clinton and Bush 43 administrations as a CIA officer and has written two books: “The President’s Book of Secrets,” about the top-secret President’s Daily Brief, and "How To Get Rid of a President," describing the ways American presidents have left office.

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