I love to see young people get involved in public issues, but I'm afraid we have to ask what inspired their activism. Is it legitimate protest or was it a performance. I ask, given the news in my next tweet. 1/3
Turning Point Action, a conservative Republican organization was kicked off of Facebook and Twitter for flooding the platforms with disinformation. They didn't use troll farms. They paid young Americans to post bogus stories. 2/3
This kind of disinformation campaign has long been employed by Russia who also stage public events to confirm the fake stories they create. That is the definition of "Active Measures." That a political organization of young Americans adopts these tactics is terrifying. 3/3
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With schools back in session and mask requirements re-emerging with the rise in COVID cases across the country, I offer this brief tutorial--in pictures!--of the right ways and the wrong ways of wearing a mask. 1/x
I should note that this is NOT an exhaustive list of ALL the ways you wear a mask incorrectly. This is just based on what I've seen with my own eyes. 2/x
The "Chin Sling" is one of the most popular ways to wear a mask incorrectly. Apparently its users believe COVID is spread by chin-sweat. It's not. 3/x
When I lecture about disinformation, I spend some time talking about how to be a savvy consumer and purveyor of information--especially online. Here's 3 quick tips inspired by this beauty which waves so many red flags you'd think it was May Day! 1/x
Ask yourself 3 questions: 1) Is the source of information actually in a position to know what s/he claims to know? 2/x
In this case, it's impossible to assess the credibility of the source. Eric Trump says he got it "from a friend." I'm sure he has friends, but uncredited sources are not allowed in my classroom, they shouldn't be accepted in a debate on the integrity of our elections. 3/x
On 11/11/1918, the armistice that ended World War I came into force. A century later, an American president talks wistfully about nationalism and a return to the international relations practices of the 19th century--two ingredients that made World War I possible. 1/x
A century later, we know the toll of that war: an estimated 40 million military and civilian casualties; including 15 to 19 million dead. 2/x
The failure to achieve a meaningful and lasting peace after the armistice led to the Second World War and another 60 million dead. 3/x
Been watching the gyrations on #Iran and #JCPOA and find myself thinking like I've seen this movie, too. Some important cautions follow. #Thread 1/
After the 1991 Gulf War, the United Nations created an intrusive weapons inspection program for Iraq, known by the acronym #UNSCOM. 2/ cfr.org/backgrounder/i…
UN inspectors, complete with technological monitoring and human inspectors left little ambiguity about what Iraq had wanted to do prior to the 1991 war. 3/