Episodes
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In this bonus episode, the Americast team gets together for an election inquest to examine what went right and wrong. Is Joe Biden to blame for Harris’ loss? Or did something else cause the VP to underperform with the voters she needed to win?
Was Trump’s straight-forward messaging a winning strategy? Or has there been a fundamental shift among American voters that goes beyond politics?
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In Why Do You Hate Me? USA, BBC disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring is investigating how what’s happening online can shape the 2024 presidential election. In this episode, Marianna goes deep inside the world of a particular kind of social media tribe: the fandom. These groups revolve around the love for celebrities from pop stars like Taylor Swift to billionaire Elon Musk. And now political activists are operating a bit like fandoms to boost the chances of their favourite candidate. So could the social media tactics used by mega fans change the minds of voters in the upcoming election? And can the dedication fandoms inspire exist without trolling and hate? Host: Marianna SpringProducers Daniel Wittenberg & Emma CloseStory Editor: Matt WillisEditor: Sam BonhamCommissioning Editor: Rhian RobertsSound Designer: Tony ChurnsideProduction Co-ordiantor: Katie Morrison
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Missing episodes?
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Few topics have caused as much division online as the deepening war in the Middle East. In this episode, Marianna is in New York investigating the experiences of students targeted on social media. They have been affected by doxxing – where their personal information is shared online triggering racist and misogynistic hate – by people wanting to make a wider political argument. The abuse that they have received has impacted each of their views in different but significant ways and potentially influenced their vote in the US presidential election. Marianna tracks down some of their trolls and confronts one of them.
Host: Marianna SpringProducers: Emma Close and Daniel WittenbergStory Editor: Matt WillisEditor: Sam BonhamCommissioning Editor: Rhian RobertsSound Design: Tony ChurnsideProduction Co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
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A headteacher at a school in small American suburb of Baltimore was a prominent member of the local community. But many in the neighbourhood turned on Principal Eric Eiswert, after an audio clip emerged of him appearing to make racist and antisemitic remarks. Except, what no one knew then was that another bombshell would transform what they thought of the headteacher – and of themselves. In this episode of Why Do You Hate Me? USA, Marianna investigates the network of posts and people that can make it so hard to know what’s really going on, even down the street. She explores a new tool at the disposal of conspiracy theorists, trolls, and bad actors at the 2024 presidential election, and interrogates the damage it can cause to tightly-knit communities. Host: Marianna SpringProducers: Daniel Wittenberg & Emma CloseStory Editor: Matt WillisEditor: Sam BonhamCommissioning Editor: Rhian RobertsSound Design: Tony ChurnsideProduction Co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
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What are the real-world consequences of the belief that almost anything and everything can be staged or rigged – from assassination attempts to elections? In Why Do You Hate Me? USA, BBC disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring is investigating how what’s happening online can shape the 2024 presidential election. In this episode, Marianna continues her journey through Colorado to hear about what happens when some people no longer trust systems and institutions – and then send hate to the people they see complicit in unproven plots and conspiracies. She meets the election workers who feared for their safety after Donald Trump and some of his supporters falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen and public officials were overwhelmed with abuse and threats online. Could it possibly get worse this time around? Host: Marianna SpringProducers: Daniel Wittenberg & Emma CloseStory Editor: Matt WillisEditor: Sam BonhamCommissioning Editor: Rhian RobertsSound Designer: Tony ChurnsideProduction Co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
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Meet Camille and ‘Wild Mother’. Both women love nature, animals, and the outdoors. Both women also believe the assassination attempts on Donald Trump were staged – but have very different political views. Why do people believe the things they do? And what role do social media sites – and their algorithms – play? In this series, BBC disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring travels to the United States to investigate the social media backdrop to the 2024 presidential election and explore the different ways in which what is happening online is influencing the campaign offline. Marianna starts her journey in Colorado, looking at how conspiracy theories have spread so far across the political spectrum in the US. She interrogates the consequences for Camille, ‘Wild Mother’, and the upcoming election. Host: Marianna SpringProducers: Daniel Wittenberg & Emma CloseStory Editor: Matt WillisEditor: Sam BonhamCommissioning Editor: Rhian RobertsSound Designer: Tony ChurnsideProduction Co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
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For the second series of BBC Radio 4’s Why Do You Hate Me, disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring heads to the USA. She investigates the social media backdrop to the presidential election, interrogating different online phenomena and cases of hate – looking at how they could potentially influence the way people vote.
Marianna travels from Colorado to Baltimore and New York, tracking down both those harmed and causing harm on social media. She investigates everything from extreme hate targeting officials and students, to online fandoms, deepfakes and corrosive conspiracy theories.
Over five episodes, she uncovers why people behave the way they do on social media during a heated presidential race. Each episode exposes the real-world consequences of what happens in this online world and its potential impact on society and democracy.
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This is the new home of Marianna Spring's social media and disinformation investigations for BBC Radio 4. Listen back to Death by Conspiracy, War on Truth, Disaster Trolls, Conspiracyland and Why Do You Hate Me? Plus, hear the new series, Why Do You Hate Me? USA, coming soon.
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Marianna investigates online abuse targeting Eni Aluko and tracks down one of her trolls.
In this series, Why Do You Hate Me?, Marianna Spring delves into her inbox to investigate extraordinary cases of online hate like this one. She meets the people at the heart of the conflicts, to see if understanding – even forgiveness is possible.
In this episode, she speaks to former footballer Eni Aluko and investigates the wave of online abuse directed at her. Marianna tracks down one of the people behind the abusive messages to understand why they do it.
If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Host: Marianna SpringSeries Producer: Emma CloseProducer: Ben CarterEditor: Sam BonhamCommissioning editor: Rhian RobertsSound Engineer: Neil ChurchillProduction co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
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The Premier League has told the BBC it’s fighting a rise in social media threats against both its players and their families, with a team dedicated to hunting down online trolls. The BBC’s Disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring goes inside the team for the first time, talks to striker Neal Maupay about social media abuse - and tracks down the man they helped convict for threatening him.
In this series, Why Do You Hate Me?, Marianna delves into her inbox to investigate extraordinary cases of online hate like this one. She meets the people at the heart of the conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding – even forgiveness – is ever possible.
Subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear the episodes first. And watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.
If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Host: Marianna SpringSeries Producer: Emma CloseProducer: Ben Carter Editor: Sam Bonham Commissioning editor: Rhian RobertsSound Engineer: Neil ChurchillProduction co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
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Last November, a faked audio clip of London's mayor went viral. Marianna Spring talks to Sadiq Khan about the impact it had and tracks down it's suspected creator.
The clip used artificial intelligence to create a replica of Mr Khan's voice saying words scripted by the faker, disparaging Remembrance weekend with an expletive and calling for pro-Palestinian marches to take precedence.
In this series, Why Do You Hate Me?, Marianna Spring delves into her inbox to investigate extraordinary cases of online hate like this one. She meets the people at the heart of the conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding – even forgiveness – is ever possible.
Subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear the episodes first. And watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.
If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Host: Marianna SpringSeries Producer: Emma CloseProducer: Ben Carter Editor: Sam Bonham Commissioning editor: Rhian RobertsSound Engineer: Tom BrignellProduction co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
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The online world can be a breeding ground for hate. But why do some people behave the way they do on social media?
In each episode, the BBC's Disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring - one of the most trolled BBC journalists - dives into her inbox and investigates a different extraordinary case of online hate to find out.
She meets the people at the heart of these conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding - even forgiveness - is ever possible.
You can listen to the first two episodes now on BBC Sounds and by listening to this trail you’ll get a sneak preview as to what’s coming up in the rest of the series.
You can watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.
If you have been affected by online abuse, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline
Host: Marianna SpringSeries Producer: Emma CloseProducer: Ben Carter Editor: Sam Bonham Commissioning editor: Rhian RobertsSound Engineer: Tom BrignellProduction co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
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Marianna Spring talks to a survivor of the mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017 about how posts on a social media account made him question an event he’d witnessed with his own eyes
Listen to more episodes of Why Do You Hate Me on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. For this series, Marianna Spring (one of the most trolled BBC journalists) dives into her inbox and investigates a different extraordinary case of online hate to find out. She meets the people at the heart of these conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding - even forgiveness - is ever possible. Subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear the episodes first.
And watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.
If you have been affected by online abuse, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline
Host: Marianna SpringSeries Producer: Emma Close Producer: Ben Carter Editor: Sam Bonham Commissioning editor: Rhian RobertsSound Engineer: Tom BrignellProduction co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
Cellphone footage courtesy of Lindsay Sherk
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When Julia Wandelt posted on social media that she believed she was Madeleine McCann, she became a lightning rod for online anger. In the first of a new series exploring extraordinary cases of online hate and the possibility of forgiveness, Marianna Spring, the BBC's Disinformation and social media correspondent, speaks to Julia about her motives and regrets.
Listen to more episodes of Why Do You Hate Me on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. For this series, Marianna Spring (one of the most trolled BBC journalists) dives into her inbox and investigates a different extraordinary case of online hate to find out. She meets the people at the heart of these conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding - even forgiveness - is ever possible. Subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear the episodes first.
And watch the episodes on BBC iPlayer too.
If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Host: Marianna SpringSeries Producer: Emma Close Producer: Ben Carter Editor: Sam Bonham Commissioning editor: Rhian RobertsSound Engineer: Tom BrignellProduction co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
Archive credits: Peteski Productions distributed through CBS Media Ventures.
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The online world can be a breeding ground for hate. But why do some people behave the way they do on social media?
In each episode, the BBC's Disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring - one of the most trolled BBC journalists - dives into her inbox and investigates a different extraordinary case of online hate to find out.
She meets the people at the heart of these conflicts, and in some cases brings them together, to see if understanding - even forgiveness - is ever possible.
Producers: Emma Close and Ben CarterCommissioning Editor: Rhian RobertsEditor: Sam Bonham
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Marianna travels to Dublin to investigate a court case unfolding against the Irish Light conspiracy theory newspaper. Edel Campbell and her lawyer have been targeted by an extreme campaign of abuse after suing The Light which falsely claimed Edel’s son Diego died from a Covid vaccine, when in reality he had died by suicide. Conspiracy theorists worldwide have used dozens of tragic deaths to spread vaccine misinformation. This case is thought to be the first where a relative has sued. And what is the cost of taking action like this?
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In this bonus episode, the BBC’S International Editor Jeremy Bowen and Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring talk about their respective new podcasts: Frontlines of Journalism and Marianna in Conspiracyland. They reflect on the obstacles that stand between journalists and the truth and the conspiracy theory movement that seems to have boomed in the UK after Covid. Exploring the similarities and differences of their journalistic specialisms, they discuss techniques to hold interviewees to account – especially when their position is based on disinformation - and the significance of social media in modern journalism.
Host: Marianna Spring Producers: Georgia Catt, Emma CloseProducer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan Jones Senior news editor: Sam BonhamCommissioner: Rhian Roberts
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What will happen next in Conspiracyland? In the final episode, Marianna is back where she started, in the Devon town of Totnes. With the help of locals, she makes sense of the legacy left by the conspiracy theory newspaper and the wider movement all over the UK.
Host: Marianna SpringProducers: Philip Marzouk and Olivia Lace-EvansProducer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan JonesTechnical Producer: Alex Portfelix Series producer: Emma CloseSenior news editor: Sam BonhamCommissioner: Rhian Roberts
New episodes released every Monday. If you're in the UK, listen to the whole series first on BBC Sounds.
And please get in touch with Marianna by emailing at: [email protected].
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Do you know someone who’s fallen down the rabbit hole? During the investigation, Marianna’s inbox has been filled with messages from people sharing their stories about those they know and love who’ve been sucked into conspiracy theories. With the help of social psychologist Karen Douglas, Marianna explores how people find themselves in Conspiracyland, why they stay, and how some managed to escape.
Host: Marianna SpringProducers: Philip Marzouk, Olivia Lace-EvansProducer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan JonesTechnical Producer: Neva Missirian Series producer: Emma CloseSenior news editor: Sam BonhamCommissioner: Rhian Roberts
If you’ve been impacted by any of the issues that have come up in this podcast, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.
And please get in touch with Marianna by emailing at: [email protected].
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Could people in the UK conspiracy theory movement ever become violent? Returning to the UK, BBC disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring meets possibly the only person outside of the movement who has read as much of the Light as her: political scientist at King’s College London Dr Rod Dacombe. What insights will he have for Marianna from his years studying The Light and the conspiracy theory movement in the UK?
Host: Marianna SpringProducers: Philip Marzouk and Olivia Lace-EvansProducer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan JonesTechnical Producer: Tom Brignell and Neva Missirian Series producer: Emma CloseSenior news editor: Sam BonhamCommissioner: Rhian Roberts
New episodes released every few days. If you're in the UK, listen to the whole series first on BBC Sounds bbc.in/42x5sO5
And please get in touch with Marianna by emailing at: [email protected].
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