The Gaslighting of America, with Professor Mathias Risse

What is fueling the post-truth era in American politics, and why is it working? Professor Mathias Risse of the Harvard Kennedy School argues that "gaslighting " —"persuasion through systematic besmirching, belittling, and the inversion of shared norms"—has become a dominant rhetorical force in American politics. Embraced by leaders such as Donald Trump and JD Vance, this disingenuous approach erodes the very fabric of civic life and good-faith exchange—two essential pillars for a functioning democracy. In this episode, host Kevin Maloney and Professor Risse explore: How does gaslighting work? Why is it so effective? And what are the short- and long-term impacts on the United States? Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: More on gaslighting from Professor Risse: Stock media provided by four_track.

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The Gaslighting of America, with Professor Mathias Risse is an episode from Carnegie Council Podcasts by Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.

This episode is 38:31 long.

This episode was published on Apr 2, 2026.

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