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Shannon Bond Shannon Bond is a correspondent at NPR, covering how misleading narratives and false claims circulate online and offline, and their impact on society and democracy.
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Shannon Bond

Tuesday

How Russia is losing — and winning — the information war in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a patriotic concert in Moscow just ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 22, 2023. Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Ukraine invasion — explained

How Russia is losing — and winning — the information war in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine is also playing out online, where Russia is using propaganda, fake accounts, and manipulated videos and images to deflect blame and undermine support for Ukraine.

How Russia is losing — and winning — the information war in Ukraine

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Monday

World

A look at Russia's information war on Ukraine

In the year since Russia invaded Ukraine, the conflict has played out on the battlefield of information, too. Russia is using social media, traditional media and allies to push false narratives.

A look at Russia's information war on Ukraine

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Tuesday

The 26 Words That Made The Internet What It Is (Encore)

People wait in line this week at the U.S. Supreme Court. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

The 26 Words That Made The Internet What It Is (Encore)

How one man's legal fight turned 26 ambiguous words from a 1996 law into the shield big tech companies use today. This key part of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is at the heart of two cases being argued this week before the Supreme Court.

The 26 Words That Made The Internet What It Is (Encore)

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Wednesday

Ex-Twitter officials reject GOP claims of government collusion

With a poster of a New York Post front page story about Hunter Biden's emails on display, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, listen during a hearing before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Wednesday. The committee held a hearing on Twitter's short-lived decision to limit circulation of the Post story in 2020. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

Ex-Twitter officials reject GOP claims of government collusion

At a contentious House committee hearing, Republicans aired long-held grievances over what they say is Silicon Valley's bias against conservatives.

Wednesday

A pro-Russian social media campaign is trying to influence politics in Africa

A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest to support the Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces, in Ouagadougou, on Jan. 20, 2023. Russia has been trying to expand its influence throughout Africa in recent years. Olympia de Maismont/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Olympia de Maismont/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

A pro-Russian social media campaign is trying to influence politics in Africa

Researchers have identified a large network pushing pro-Russian themes and messages to French-speaking audiences around Africa, amid long-running efforts by Russia to gain influence in the region.

Monday

Can Facebook Still Be Trump's Fundraising Juggernaut?

Donald Trump participates in the first prime-time presidential debate hosted by FOX News and Facebook at the Quicken Loans Arena August 6, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Can Facebook Still Be Trump's Fundraising Juggernaut?

The site's parent company announced that Donald Trump would be able to return to the platform with new guardrails on his account. But will Facebook be as lucrative a fundraising tool for the former president given the new limitations on online ad targeting? And will Trump even choose to return to the site?

Can Facebook Still Be Trump's Fundraising Juggernaut?

Listen · 17:02
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Thursday

Business

Former President Trump will be allowed to return to Facebook and Instagram

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, says it will restore former President Donald Trump's accounts following a two-year suspension imposed after the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Former President Trump will be allowed to return to Facebook and Instagram

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Wednesday

National

Former President Donald Trump can return to Facebook. Will he?

Facebook parent company Meta is letting a two-year ban on Donald Trump, imposed after the then-president's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, expire.

Former President Donald Trump can return to Facebook. Will he?

Listen · 3:59
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Meta allows Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram

Suspending former President Donald Trump's account was the most high-profile and controversial content moderation decision Facebook parent Meta has ever made. Alon Skuy/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Alon Skuy/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Meta allows Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram

The social media company is letting a two-year ban, imposed after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, expire.

Meta allows Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram

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Wednesday

The Americas

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media

The attack on Brazil's Congress was organized publicly online. Despite being on high alert, social media companies missed signs that their platforms were being used to plan violence.

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media

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Tuesday

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media — and by Trump allies

Damage is seen at Brazil's Congress one day after supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in Brasília. The attack was planned by far-right groups on social media, according to Brazilian media and analysts. Andressa Anholete/Getty Images hide caption

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Andressa Anholete/Getty Images

Analysis

Untangling Disinformation

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media — and by Trump allies

The similarities are deep: In addition to aiming to subvert an election, some of the same U.S. voices that amplify former President Donald Trump are echoing Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro.

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media — and by Trump allies

Listen · 7:22
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Monday

World

A look at the transnational extremism behind Brazil's unrest and the U.S. Jan. 6 riot

Sunday's riot by supporters of Brazil's former president has parallels with what happened in the U.S. on Jan. 6, 2021. But it's also part of a global far-right movement that's opposed to democracy.

A look at the transnational extremism behind Brazil's unrest and the U.S. Jan. 6 riot

Listen · 7:22
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Monday

Technology

A look at the year social media companies had

From Facebook's troubled pivot to the metaverse to Twitter's management chaos to industry-wide layoffs, social media companies had a rocky 2022.

A look at the year social media companies had

Listen · 3:56
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Sunday

Technology

Turmoil on social media sites is driving users to smaller, more private alternatives

2022 has been a tumultuous year in social media and the coming year holds more uncertainties as U.S. outlets scramble to match the popularity of apps like TikTok.

Turmoil on social media sites is driving users to smaller, more private alternatives

Listen · 3:57
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Friday

From Twitter chaos to TikTok bans to the metaverse, social media had a rocky 2022

The TikTok logo is displayed outside a TikTok office on December 20, 2022 in Culver City, Calif. Congress passed legislation to ban the popular Chinese-owned social media app from most government devices. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

Analysis

Technology

From Twitter chaos to TikTok bans to the metaverse, social media had a rocky 2022

From Facebook's troubled pivot to the metaverse to Twitter's management chaos to industry-wide layoffs, social media companies have had a rocky 2022