THE BIG STUPID: Trump’s Devastatingly Effective War on Knowledge (Part 3 of 3)
Wed Feb 04 2026
SHOW NOTES
We're witnessing civilization-scale destruction in real time. A single leader is systematically dismantling America's knowledge infrastructure—firing thousands of scientists, defunding research institutions, attacking universities, purging cultural repositories, and creating a permission structure where ignorance becomes a point of pride. This isn't chaos—it's strategy. And the damage will compound across generations, reshaping how we solve problems, govern ourselves, and address planetary crises.
By the end of this episode, you'll understand how stupidity was transformed from a bug in the system into a feature of political control. You'll see how the attention economy made us vulnerable, how Trump weaponized that vulnerability, and how his assault on knowledge ensures the destruction can never be fully documented or reversed.
More importantly, you'll learn what you can do about it. Because while the forces of technological, economic, and political stupidity assume we'll scroll our way to extinction, resistance is still possible. The fight to preserve human intelligence is the defining battle of our century—and it requires knowing who's fighting and how to join them.
Two "LET'S TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PLANET" Databases:
A Call to Act: The World's Most Comprehensive Database of Eco-Solutions. The most effective climate action happens in communities. A Call to Act helps you find local environmental groups, climate action meetups, and volunteer opportunities that create real change in your backyard and beyond.
Trumping Trump: A new survival guide for maintaining focus and sanity while avoiding outrage fatigue. TT is a database of 300+ strong organizations, many with local chapters in your area, united together to fight against the insanity spewing out of 'The Whiter House' that is going to be with us for years.
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SHOW NOTES We're witnessing civilization-scale destruction in real time. A single leader is systematically dismantling America's knowledge infrastructure—firing thousands of scientists, defunding research institutions, attacking universities, purging cultural repositories, and creating a permission structure where ignorance becomes a point of pride. This isn't chaos—it's strategy. And the damage will compound across generations, reshaping how we solve problems, govern ourselves, and address planetary crises. By the end of this episode, you'll understand how stupidity was transformed from a bug in the system into a feature of political control. You'll see how the attention economy made us vulnerable, how Trump weaponized that vulnerability, and how his assault on knowledge ensures the destruction can never be fully documented or reversed. More importantly, you'll learn what you can do about it. Because while the forces of technological, economic, and political stupidity assume we'll scroll our way to extinction, resistance is still possible. The fight to preserve human intelligence is the defining battle of our century—and it requires knowing who's fighting and how to join them. Two "LET'S TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PLANET" Databases: A Call to Act: The World's Most Comprehensive Database of Eco-Solutions. The most effective climate action happens in communities. A Call to Act helps you find local environmental groups, climate action meetups, and volunteer opportunities that create real change in your backyard and beyond. Trumping Trump: A new survival guide for maintaining focus and sanity while avoiding outrage fatigue. TT is a database of 300+ strong organizations, many with local chapters in your area, united together to fight against the insanity spewing out of 'The Whiter House' that is going to be with us for years.