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The Republican Party has learned how to pass state laws in the past few months. This time, it's not only on taxes and deregulation, but also social positions on education, sports, and abortion. What does this mean for future elections? For internal media and political power? How will narratives adapt?

Cactus returns to writing and podcasting with his thoughts on Afghanistan, Iraq, 2008, and COVID - and how they play into the narrative of an era. Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Callin: @cactusRead bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

There are two ways to come to a conclusion: through evidence and through social trust. The former is slow and the latter is easily abused. In what ways are social proofs responsible for the problems that we face? And is blockchain a true solution?Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Callin: @cactusRead bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

Over time, even in circles dedicated to nuance and compromise, one absolute seems to rise: the distrust in institutions. The self-reinforcing mechanism that binds other political groups also binds these new ones; with the uniting goal heading ever closer to a universal cynicism. This is the most dangerous force facing outsider movements.Most of you don't need to hear this, but there have been overzealous, bad-faith critiques on some of the individuals or groups critiqued in this episode. I sign on to none of the critiques other than my own.Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Join us on clubhouse @metapol.Read bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

In the past few decades, ideologies have become increasingly centered around oversimplified metrics. What does this mean for the world and the show? Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Join us on clubhouse @metapol.Read bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

Cactus dispels past ideals of liberalism that cannot stand in the current information environment. Familiar topics arise, such as exponential network effects, insularization, the hierarchy of power-centralization and optimism. Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Join us on clubhouse @metapol.Read bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

A very important episode. Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Join us on clubhouse @metapol.Read bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

Why do partisans believe their representatives hold starkly different views? Is superficial media playing a role? Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Join us on clubhouse @metapol.Read bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

Enron created shell corporations to hide a ponzi scheme. Media companies are doing the same with their trust and attention. Cactus debunks these tactics, and the actual racist conspiracy theory about the lab leak hypothesis, in this week's episode.Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Join us on clubhouse @metapol.Read bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

Liz Cheney's ouster shows the extent of insular activism in the Republican party - it isn't a Democratic Party - exclusive phenomenon. But it's much harder to remove this incentive from a party than a company, as the former requires activism to exist and gain influence. Across history, political parties have stabilized and kept these insular, cult-like factions out. How have they done it? Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Join us on clubhouse @metapol.Read bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.

Israel-Palestine is a conflict that has hungered to turn hot for decades. However, foreign influence leads to the PR and lobbying war becoming even more important than the military one. In an increasingly common occurrence, differing sides see different realities and information is more about the social network and the actual facts. Superficial centrism only adds to the problem, and true pragmatism seeks to fight back.

A cancer cell performs it's function, with one core exception: it doesn't know when to stop. Insular activism replicates this chaos, creating the confluence of uncontrolled radicalization, self-destructive incentives, and institutional sclerosis. Follow Cactus on twitter: https://twitter.com/meta_pol.Join us on clubhouse @metapol.Read bonus on substack: cactus.substack.com.