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Why people accept repeated political lies, guest says: being heard can matter more than truth
Summary
Jay Fidell and Ken Birtness discuss why tens of millions accept repeated falsehoods; Birtness says acceptance often arises from emotional choice, forgetfulness and prioritizing being listened to over factual accuracy.
During the program, Jay Fidell asked why large groups accept repeated falsehoods from political figures. Fidell said he was "thinking of Jim Jones... and Hitler" and asked what makes people surrender free will.
Ken Birtness answered that acceptance of lies often reflects a pragmatic choice: followers prefer someone who listens and appears to act. "I think what happens is that, we want, that to happen. And if it doesn't happen, at least we got listened to," Birtness said. Fidell added that some leaders lie regularly and that followers sometimes forget or rationalize previous statements; the conversation stressed memory limits and selective rationalization as drivers of continued support.
Both speakers treated these explanations as psychological and social processes rather than claims of legal or institutional wrongdoing.
