Gullibility and ideology in America
By following the gap between the news and talking points dominating current political discourse, it’s clear that America is living through a crisis of gullibility.
This may be attributed to an alarming lack of skepticism and inquisitiveness, brought on by societal discourse being replaced by one-sided smartphone-driven news feeds, particularly among Gen Z, progressive activists, and the aging ranks of the Democratic Party.
This phenomenon is not merely anecdotal; new studies link populist attitudes with increased gullibility, regardless of education or socioeconomic status. The result? A fertile ground for radical ideas and dangerous policies that echo failed experiments of the past.
We are witnessing a surge in support for radical politicians — figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Zohran Mamdani, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Presley, Jasmine Crockett, and Summer Lee — whose policies often lack the historical context or lived memory to appreciate why similar experiments failed in previous eras. The policies espoused often ignore the lessons of the Cold War, the devastating “crack explosion,” and Clinton-era policy failures leading to a deadly wave of Islamist terror from the late 1990s through 9/11.
Rather than encouraging healthy debate and intellectual rigor, segments of the American public embrace these ideas without scrutiny — sometimes even dismissing valid criticism as conspiracy or bad faith.
This blind allegiance to radical policies has not just shifted public opinion; it has had measurable, often tragic results. Most notably, progressive prosecutors like Philadelphia’s own Larry Krasner, backed by funding from George Soros-linked organizations — have presided over a sharp rise in homicides and violent crime throughout the last decade. Cities with these prosecutors saw homicide rates spike dramatically, with the largest single-year increase in American history in 2020, followed by sustained high murder rates. In these cities, the victims are mostly minorities, and the promises of reform have proven illusory.
Meanwhile, the same funding groups have been linked to a surge in campus antisemitism, riots, and unlawful protests. Organizations like the TidesFoundation and Tides Center, backed by Soros and other progressive donors, have helped bankroll numerous activist groups involved in anti-Israel campus activity and destructive protests such as those targeting energy infrastructure projects. Congressional investigations have revealed that the Tides Foundation acts as a “dark money” conduit, hiding the identity of donors supporting radical and sometimes illegal activities.
Further scrutiny has exposed USAID as a partner funneling millions to the Tides Center, with allegations that these funds supported unlawful activismand possibly even a large-scale money laundering scheme. Millions that were earmarked for development instead went to groups engaged in trespassing, vandalism, and organized civil unrest, including the infamous Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
As Americans, especially younger generations, lose the ability or inclination to critically interrogate ideas and sources, they become more susceptible to manipulative algorithms, echo chambers, and propaganda. Gen Z is particularly vulnerable, with exposure to online misinformation and conspiracy theories at unprecedented levels.
This erosion of critical thinking and blind loyalty not only promotes failed policies but also emboldens antisemitic movements and possible criminal conspiracies, threatening the very fabric of civil society.
Americans must confront this moment with renewed skepticism and intellectual curiosity—regardless of political affiliation. The price of gullibility is too high to pay: rising crime, fading democratic norms, and the growing acceptance of extremist ideologies that threaten us all.
Based in Philadelphia, A. Benjamin Mannes is a consultant and subject matter expert in security and criminal justice reform based on his own experiences on both sides of the criminal justice system. He is a corporate compliance executive who has served as a federal and municipal law enforcement officer, and as the former Director, Office of Investigations with the American Board of Internal Medicine. @PublicSafetySME
