A Debater’s Guide to Toxic Rhetoric: How to Decode Populism, Fake News, and Online Manipulation

Описание: A Debater’s Guide to Toxic Rhetoric: How to Decode Populism, Fake News, and Online Manipulation

Populist rhetoric, media manipulation, and misinformation thrive in moments of uncertainty—by simplifying reality, exploiting emotion, and turning disagreement into tribal conflict. In this lecture, I examine how toxic rhetoric works, why it is often so persuasive, and what can actually be done to counter it.

The talk is structured around three core areas:
00:00 - Introduction
06:00 - Populism
40:00 - Media manipulation
57:00 - Misinformation and conspiracy beliefs
What tends to fail when engaging with believers—and what has a better chance of changing minds
Drawing on professional debate tools, alongside insights from communication theory, psychology, linguistics, and politics, the lecture offers practical ways to recognize manipulation, respond more effectively, and engage in conversations that strengthen—rather than corrode—democratic norms.

Recorded live: January 9, 2026

Event: Think & Drink Amsterdam

Venue: The Book Nook, Amsterdam

About me

I’m a debate coach and expert in persuasive communication with over 14 years of experience. My work is grounded in deep theoretical and practical expertise in communication and persuasion, and informed by cutting-edge research in fields such as linguistics, philosophy, psychology, and politics. I help people think more clearly, argue more precisely, and use words more effectively in high-stakes professional, personal, and public contexts.

Continue the conversation

I work with individuals in 1:1 persuasion and debate coaching, with teams and organizations on effective communication and argumentation, and with conferences and institutions seeking lectures and keynotes.

If this talk resonated, I bring the same rigor, clarity, and care to helping people and organizations achieve their goals through words.

Website: [https://monicaforman.com](https://monicaforman.com/)

LinkedIn:   / monica-forman  

Thanks: Think & Drink Amsterdam

The Book Nook, Amsterdam

Copyright
© Monica Forman. Please don’t re-upload full recordings without permission.

#populism #rhetoric #persuasion #criticalthinking #medialiteracy #misinformation #debate