On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Jen Senko, an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose documentaries focus on socio-political themes with the intent of inspiring discussion and fomenting change, most notably, The Brainwashing of My Dad, which tracks the disturbing rise of right-wing media.  We speak with Jen today about her films, her activism, disinformation tactics used by conservative media outlets, and why and how a free press and educated populace is an essential component of a functioning democracy.

During our conversation, Jen and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• How her father’s increasing obsession with right-wing media and Fox News inspired her to make the film
• The research of Kathleen Taylor, author of the book, Brainwashing:  The Science of Thought Control
• Albert Biderman’s “Chart of Coercion” which was discussed in our interview with Jess Hill about her book, See What You Made Me Do
• The influence of Rush Limbaugh on Jen’s father’s behavior and thoughts towards women
• Fox News’ use of the term “fair and balanced” to portray itself as fact-based and objective and legitimate journalism
• Edward Bernays’ reframing of bad things as good as an advertising tactic to sell products, such as calling cigarettes “torches of freedom”
• How Trump uses brainwashing techniques like those described in the film as depicted in the book The Cult of Trump:  A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control, by Steven Hassan
• Dave and Erin Ninehouser’s work to help reclaim America’s brain from media manipulators and agenda-driven demagogues through their organization, Hear Yourself Think
• The importance of media literacy, a free press, and citizen demand for media accountability to our democracy
• The significance of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 in opening up the path towards media oligarchies

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