The Good Fight Michael Shermer on Truth and Conspiracy
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Apr 18, 2026 
Michael Shermer, founding publisher of Skeptic magazine and author on science and truth, joins to tackle conspiracy theories and how to tell plausible claims from wild ones. He outlines practical criteria for spotting real conspiracies. They also debate what truth means and how fallible science and evidence help us find it.
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Use Coordination Costs To Judge Plausibility
- Evaluate conspiracies by asking who must coordinate and why no one has broken ranks.
- Yascha Mounk notes large, dispersed conspiracies (thousands of journalists) are implausible because someone would pursue the story.
Rely On Institutional Investigations When You Can't Verify
- Outsource verification to credible institutions when you lack time or access.
- Shermer cites trusting investigations like Attorney General Bill Barr's probe into 2020 fraud as a practical offload.
Small Targeted Conspiracies Are More Credible
- Realistic conspiracies typically involve relatively few people and clear incentives.
- Shermer contrasts grandiose theories (Illuminati, Bill Gates world control) with targeted corporate or agency fraud like emissions cheating.
