The Dark Shining Moment Countercast

Latest Episodes:

The Kremlin's warping of AI chatbot results with McKenzie Sadeghi Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

The Pravda network generates over three million articles a year designed to shape the results of AI chatbots created and used in democracies. McKenzie Sadeghi from New York-based Newsguard researched the latest Russian effort to taint Western sources of knowledge and information.

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Counterculture in the era of Donald Trump with Pat Thomas Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

The MAGA movement presents itself as anti-establishment, but with Donald Trump as president, it is the establishment. A look back at what counterculture once meant in democratic society - including the lives of Jerry Rubin, Allen Ginsberg and Eldridge Cleaver.

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The China, Russia and U.S. narrative contest in Southeast Asia with Kean Wong Jan 02, 2025

Show notes

In the current stage of emerging great power competition, influence is eveything. When it comes to influencing a targeted society, there are multiple paths: some overt, some more subtle and nuanced.

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US Election Proves to be 'World Cup' of Interference with Jed Willard Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

There has been a surge of foreign interference aimed at the US during the presidential campaign between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Foreign powers such as Russia, China, Iran seed bad information into the domesitic information flow of democracies in order to exploit real life emotions, shape perceptions, and where possible, influence outcomes on the ground.

Host: Chris Zappone

Executive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

Guest: Jed Willard

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A Longer View of Russia, Colonialism and the West, with Kyle Wilson Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Amid the current clash in geopolitical narrative, former Australian diplomat and analyst Kyle Wilson discusses the history and culture of Russia, imperialism and the right to self-determination of smaller countries.

Host: Chris Zappone

Executive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

Guest: Peter Tesch

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US Blames Russia for Interfering in 2024 Election via RT, Faked News, with Matt Sussex Sep 28, 2024

Show notes

The US Department of Justice reveals an influence campaign run through Russia’s international propaganda arm, RT. The US also seizes 32 internet domains used in the "Doppelganger" disinfo campaign: https://coldwardaily.com/2024/09/23/us-doj-doppelganger-indictment-all-277-pages/

ANU professor Matt Sussex discusses the larger impacts.

Host: Chris Zappone

Executive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

Guest: Matt Sussex

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US Accuses Russian Media Outlet RT of Covert Activity, with Peter Tesch Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

The US accuses RT, Russia's propaganda outlet, of conducting influence operations, cyber activities, and even fund-raising. Peter Tesch, Australia's former ambassador to Russia, discusses the impact RT has on democracies.

Host: Chris Zappone

Executive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

Guest: Peter Tesch

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Dark Shining Moment Episode 6: The Moment That Never Ends Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

After the election, society is altered with many people left angry and distrustful of each other. Russian subversion is aimed against both left and right. Hints about Trump’s collusion with Russia abound, terrifying one half of the country and infuriating the other.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Marty Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

Special thanks to Taisiya Payne, Jeff Megahan, Slava Grigoriev

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Dark Shining Moment Episode 5: Evil at Scale Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

With a shared understanding of the presidential campaign shattered, information chaos reigns. Into the narrative vacuum, fantasies replace realities and Donald Trump is elected president.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Marty Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

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Dark Shining Moment Episode 4: Murky World Battle Space Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

An enormous noise is generated online, turning Malcolm Nance’s attention from terrorism to bots, trolling, Russian hacks and leaks. The chaos targets Democrats, Republican candidates in the primaries, and journalists, disrupting the media’s ability to report on Trump.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Marty Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

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