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What Stephen Hawking Teaches Us About Online “Truth”
A worldview that explains only a few things its proponents want isn’t a model—it’s a story. Here's how to spot the difference.
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Christopher Gerlacher
Inside the Left's Response to Trump-Era Populism
From Elizabeth Warren’s research to AOC’s activism, these are the leaders pushing the Democrats toward a working-class populist revival.
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Christopher Gerlacher
How a White Nationalist Changed His Mind
Derek Black was set to inherit the white nationalist movement. Instead, he came to reject the ideology that he was raised on.
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Christopher Gerlacher
This is How to Write Convincingly
A former New York Times op-ed editor explains how to put a persuasive piece of writing together.
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Christopher Gerlacher
Has Fascism Really Come to America?
Describing fascism is one thing, but seeing it ingratiate itself into a formally healthy political system is another.
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Christopher Gerlacher
In Plain Terms, this is What Fascism Means
Many people understand the vibe they want to invoke when they describe something as "fascist", but the precise meaning is more clarifying.
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Christopher Gerlacher
How to Tell Which Forecasters to Take Serously
Forecasting is a tricky business, and there are a few ways to tell which people are worth paying attention to and which are noisy pundits.
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Christopher Gerlacher
How to Productively Challenge What Others Think
Christopher Hitchens imparted a lot of wisdom in how to be a contrarian without falling for any conspiracy you cross paths with.
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Christopher Gerlacher
How to Predict Unpredictable Events
Expanding your view of what could go wrong will prepare you for new emergencies, but trying to guess the next specific disaster is a fool’s errand.
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Christopher Gerlacher
How the South Reinstated Slavery After the Civil War
Slavery didn't end when the Union won the Civil War. It ended when federal law was clarified and enforced in the early to mid-1900s.
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Christopher Gerlacher
How to Tell Real Skepticism from Lunacy
Skeptics make sure their beliefs are well-supported. That means embracing doubt instead of claiming to be without out.
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Christopher Gerlacher
An Exploration of Hope, Death, and Sanity
Dostoyevsky's The Idiot brings some of the most interesting existential conversations to life.
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Christopher Gerlacher
© 2025 Christopher Gerlacher
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