EPISODE

Tribe, Truth, and Technology: Barbara McQuade on the Disinformation Crisis

HEARSAY CULTURE RADIO

Episode 314

June 19, 2026

00:58:57

"]

Hosted by Dave Levine

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In this episode of Hearsay Culture, Dave Levine speaks with Barbara McQuade about her book Attack from Within, exploring how deliberate falsehoods spread through politics, media, and technology to manipulate public opinion and undermine democratic institutions. McQuade draws on her experience as a federal prosecutor to explain the differences between misinformation and disinformation, the psychology that makes people susceptible to both, and the growing role of social media platforms and algorithms in amplifying harmful narratives. The discussion also examines the tension between combating disinformation and protecting free speech, including the role of Section 230 and possible reforms focused on transparency and accountability rather than censorship. Recorded in August 2024, the conversation feels even more relevant today, as debates over AI-generated content, political polarization, trust in institutions, and the integrity of shared facts continue to shape public life in 2026.

“I think we have a lot of people who are willing to go along with the con to advance either a political agenda or … most often their own political career. And that to me is a very unpatriotic stance. I think fidelity to the truth is part of being a patriot.” — Barbara McQuade on Hearsay Culture

“The point of modern propaganda isn’t only to misinform or push an agenda. It is to exhaust your critical thinking, to annihilate truth.” — Gary Kasparov

Lead Photo by Prometheus 🔥 on Unsplash

Hearsay Culture Network

Tribe, Truth, and Technology: Barbara McQuade on the Disinformation Crisis

00:00 / 00:58:57

Extended Video Interviews

See premium videos for special episodes in this program, exclusively for members. To access premium video content sign-up here.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Barbara McQuade

Barbara McQuade is a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School, her alma mater, where she teaches courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, national security, and data privacy. She is also a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, and a co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw. From 2010 to 2017, McQuade served as U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Ms. McQuade was appointed by President Barack Obama, and was the first woman to serve in her position. Earlier in her career, she worked as a sports writer and copy editor, a judicial law clerk, an associate in private practice, and an assistant U.S. attorney. She and her husband, Dan Hurley, have four children and live in Ann Arbor.

HOST BIO

DAVID LEVINE

Dave Levine is the founder and host of Hearsay Culture. He is a Professor at Elon University School of Law and an Affiliate Scholar at the Center for Internet and Society (Stanford Law School). From 2014-2017, he was a Visiting Research Collaborator at Princeton University’s Center for Information Technology Policy. He is also the co-author of Information Law, Governance, and Cybersecurity (West 2019). A regular contributor to Slate, Dave has been published in leading newspapers, websites, and academic journals in the US and EU.