Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

Rick Shenkman is the author of "Political Animals:  How Our Stone Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics" (Basic Books, 2016). You can sign up for Rick's blog! Just click here:

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• 
  Apr 16, 2019
  

  I Stuck with Nixon. Here’s Why Science Says I Did It.

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  And what that reveals about Trump supporters.

  

• 
  Oct 3, 2018
  

  Why Can't Americans Accept the Fact that Columbus Was Not a Hero?

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  We should change the name of the the holiday, but don't dare. And no, it's not because Italian Americans would complain.
  

• 
  Jul 23, 2018
  

  Trump's treating his voters like chumps

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  Excerpts from an interview with Salon.
  

• 
  Jun 15, 2018
  

  The Psychology Behind the Trump Cult

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  Social psychology can explain the phenomenon.
  

• 
  Mar 30, 2018
  

  The Malcolm Gladwell Presidency

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  Why picking a president isn't like deciding what you want for breakfast. 

  

• 
  Mar 14, 2018
  

  Why This Was the Generation Cursed with a Donald Trump

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  The answer is not obvious. 
  

• 
  Feb 16, 2018
  

  Americans Have Again Ranked JFK Among the 3 Best Modern Presidents

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  Are they crazy?
  

• 
  Jan 31, 2018
  

  Why Stories Are so Important in Politics

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  Something every budding candidate for president in 2020 should keep in mind. 
  

• 
  Jan 19, 2018
  

  Is Facebook’s Decision to Downplay Politics Really a Blow to Journalism?

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  Facebook’s decision isn’t a big blow to the media. It’s an opportunity. All the media have to do is show the imagination to seize the moment. Carpe Diem!
  

• 
  Oct 3, 2017
  

  Country Guitarist Changes His Mind on Gun Control after Vegas: Why That's Not Surprising.

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  Evolution biased us to feel things we experience. In the modern world, that's a problem. 
  

• 
  Aug 11, 2017
  

  If We Go to War in Korea Trump's Poll Numbers Almost Certainly Would Go Up

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  How scary is that!
  

• 
  Jun 3, 2017
  

  When Will Trump Voters Realize They've Been Had?

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  History suggests we will have to wait awhile. 
  

• 
  May 5, 2017
  

  Don't Trump's Voters Care About the Truth?

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  The fact is few voters do.  
  

• 
  Apr 30, 2017
  

  No, Democrats Shouldn't Learn to Hate Like the Right

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  Anger closes peoples' minds and destroys democracy. 
  

• 
  Feb 15, 2017
  

  Russiagate

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  And what it means when we have a president who lies.
  

• 
  Oct 22, 2016
  

  Are Voters Easily Manipulated?

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  This election is helping answer this age-old question.
  

• 
  Oct 20, 2016
  

  Thank You Donald Trump. Seriously. Thank You.

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  For 8 years Rick Shenkman struggled to draw public attention to the problem of Low Information Voters without much luck. Then Donald Trump came along.
  

• 
  Sep 22, 2016
  

  How to Watch the Debates

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  An almost sure-fire method of determining how the candidates are trying to manipulate you. 
  

• 
  Aug 23, 2016
  

  How to Become Better Informed Politically

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  An interview with Rick Shenkman by AMFM Magazine.
  

• 
  Aug 18, 2016
  

  Democracy Failed Us in this Election. We Need to Admit that.

  by Stone Age Brain | Rick Shenkman

  But what can we do about it? That's the hard question.