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Maria Ressa discussed the fight against authoritarian algorithms and the weaponization of social media for political consolidation in a Daily Show interview titled "Maria Ressa - Fighting Back Against Trump’s Authoritarian Algorithm With Truth" on September 19, 2025 [00:00]. She drew parallels between her experiences in the Philippines and the situation in the United States, emphasizing how institutions can collapse rapidly under authoritarian rule [01:35].

Key points from the discussion include:

• Speed of Institutional Collapse: Ressa noted that in the Philippines, institutions collapsed within six months under Rodrigo Duterte's presidency [01:50]. She believes a similar rapid decline occurred in the US during the first 100 days of a previous administration due to executive orders [02:02].
• Compliance and Inaction: She observed that in both the Philippines and the US, legislative and judicial branches became compliant through inaction, leading to the erosion of the rule of law [02:34]. Individual judges and justices became targets, making it harder to uphold legal principles [03:53].
• Erosion of Facts and Free Speech: Ressa highlighted how attempts to fact-check were labeled as curbs on free speech, and the definition of free speech was redefined to mean speech that supports the president [04:27]. She argued that tech CEOs and government officials became intertwined in this process [05:08].
• Weaponization of Social Media: She explained that social media platforms, particularly Facebook in the Philippines, were used as testing grounds for mass manipulation tactics, which were then ported to other countries [06:20]. Lies spread six times faster on these platforms by design [08:36], and when laced with fear, anger, and hate, they go viral [08:54].
• Ultra-Processed Speech: Ressa introduced the concept of "ultra-processed speech," comparing algorithms to ultra-processed foods that bypass biological signals to make people sick [10:21]. This "ultra-processed speech" is designed to manipulate emotions, change perceptions, and influence voting behavior [09:09].
• Global Authoritarian Trend: As of March 2025, 72% of the world is under authoritarian rule, with illiberal leaders being democratically elected due to insidious manipulation [09:34]. Ressa stated that there is a "dictator's playbook" that is being followed globally [07:42].
• Optimism Amidst Struggle: Despite the grim situation, Ressa expressed optimism, viewing the current period not as an "information apocalypse" (the end), but as an "information Armageddon" (a battle) [13:48]. She emphasized the importance of standing up and continuing to do one's job, citing her own experience where Rodrigo Duterte was eventually arrested for alleged crimes against humanity [15:28].

The interview underscored the critical role of journalism and truth in combating the spread of disinformation and authoritarianism in both the physical and virtual worlds.

For more information, you can watch the full interview here: Maria Ressa - Fighting Back Against Trump’s Authoritarian Algorithm With Truth | The Daily Show.

Maria Ressa - Fighting Back Against Trump’s Authoritarian Algorithm With Truth | The Daily ShowThe Daily Show · 808K views