Today, Explained (Vox)

Episode: Battling Brain Rot
Date: January 25, 2026

Overview

This episode of Today, Explained—hosted by Jhlyn Hill—dives into the anxiety that modern life is making us dumber: the so-called “golden age of stupidity.” With insights from journalist Stuart Jeffries (author of A Short History of Stupidity) and neurologist Dr. Andrew Budson, the show unpacks whether our brains are truly rotting, why we feel dumber, the history and culture around “stupidity,” and what science says about keeping our minds sharp. The conversation blends science, philosophy, and cultural critique, all with a wry, self-aware tone—and real practical advice for reclaiming our brains.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Does Everyone Feel Dumber?

• [00:35–01:21]
  • Modern malaise: People report feeling less sharp, with “brain rot” blamed on everything from tech overload and decreased schooling investment, to AI summaries and info-overload.
  • Quote: “We were never, and I mean never, ever meant to hear the thoughts of this many stupid people in one day.” — Jhlyn Hill (00:38)
  • The episode sets up “willful ignorance”—not merely low IQ—as the true culprit.

2. Redefining Stupidity

• [01:50–02:50]
  • Quote: “The easy way is to say that if you get less than 100 in an IQ test…the more stupid you are. I want to push back against that definition. Stupid is the lack of will to stop being ignorant.” — Stuart Jeffries (01:50–02:50)
  • Stupidity is framed less as data or IQ, more as a moral or social phenomenon—a lack of curiosity or humility.

3. Are We Really in a Golden Age of Stupidity?

• [03:29–06:54]
  • Jeffries pushes back on tech panic, comparing today’s fears about AI to historical panics over new technology.
  • “Cognitive outsourcing” (ex: Google Maps) makes us feel dumber, but life’s complexity and bureaucracy also play a part.
  • Intergenerational reflection shows every era thinks the next is dumber; Jeffries cites his own daughter’s cleverness and kindness as evidence brains aren’t devolving.
  • Quote: “I think I’m cleverer and better now, partly because of the technology I use.” — Stuart Jeffries (06:34)

4. Critical Thinking and Democracy

• [07:09–08:06]
  • The problem, as discussed, is not raw intelligence but a “lack of critical thinking” and civic disengagement—which opens the door to demagogues.
  • But this isn’t new: “There was never a golden age where everybody was on top of democracy.” — Stuart Jeffries (07:09)

5. Historical & Cultural Perspectives on Stupidity

• [10:03–15:42]
  • From Socrates calling out a “stupid aristocrat” in ancient Athens to Buddhist and Daoist critiques of Western materialism, stupidity is contextual.
  • Jeffries: “It’s a social construct… always a reflection of what’s valued at the time.” (12:13)
  • Shakespeare’s “fools” show how folly is sometimes wisdom in disguise; 20th-century psychological theories (Freud, Jung) further upend simple definitions.
  • Hannah Arendt’s concept: stupidity as a lack of empathy, shown in her analysis of Eichmann.
  • Quote: “He had no empathy... that was, for her, a form of stupidity.” — Stuart Jeffries (15:28)

6. The Value of Humility and Self-Critique

• [15:52–17:08]
  • Humility—admitting mistakes, correcting oneself—emerges as a key marker of intelligence.
  • The shift to public corrections (like in newspapers) is cited as humiliating but ultimately constructive.

7. How to Reclaim Our Minds: The Neuroscience

• [19:34–29:17]
  • Dr. Andrew Budson details how memory works (role of the hippocampus, file cabinet metaphor, importance of the frontal lobes).
  • Neuroplasticity: Brains remain capable of new learning at all ages—“use it or lose it” applies here. (23:24)
  • Social interaction keeps brains healthy and is what our minds evolved for. Isolation literally shrinks brains; risk for dementia goes up. (23:33, 24:23)
  • Most “brain games” don’t translate into real-world improvements; instead, practice the actual skill you want to develop. (25:25)
  • Critical thinking is a trainable skill—slow down and be thorough when faced with complexity, and sleep on big decisions.
  • Quote: “If you want to get better at something…work on practicing that.” — Andrew Budson (25:26)
  • Overuse of digital navigation (Google Maps) can atrophy that brain part; TV-watching for more than an hour daily also shrinks the brain over time.
  • Quote: “It's important to use your brain. Our brains evolved for social interactions.” — Andrew Budson (28:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Defining Modern Stupidity:

  • "We all know we're getting dumber, right? Like, you feel it, I feel it." — Casual Participant (00:45)
  • "We are the most informed generation in history yet, so somehow the dumbest." — Casual Participant (01:21)

• Philosophical Depth:

  • "You're stupid because you don't realize that you're ignorant. And even if you did realize that you're ignorant, you wouldn't do anything about it because you're so full of pride." — Stuart Jeffries, paraphrasing Socrates (10:49–11:09)
  • "The reluctance to ever imagine what the other person is experiencing." — Jhlyn Hill, on Arendt's definition of stupidity/evil (15:20)

• Practical Wisdom:

  • "If you ever come across anybody who speaks with humility about themselves... that to me is such a sign of intelligence." — Stuart Jeffries (15:52)
  • “We all gotta hang out with our friends more. Doctor’s orders.” — Jhlyn Hill (29:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:35] Feeling "dumber" — what is "brain rot"?
• [01:50] What does stupidity really mean?
• [03:29] Is AI and tech making us dumb, or is it panic?
• [05:20] Technology as cognitive outsourcing
• [06:54] Generational intelligence: really declining?
• [10:03] Stupid through the ages—Socrates and beyond
• [13:06] Freud, Jung, emotional intelligence, and deeper meanings of stupidity
• [15:20] Stupidity and the roots of evil
• [15:52] Humility as real intelligence
• [19:34] Memory and brain function, with Dr. Andrew Budson
• [23:24] Brains as "use it or lose it" muscles
• [24:23] Social interaction and brain health
• [25:25] Why most brain-training games don’t work
• [26:11] Training critical thinking in daily life
• [27:36] Are we truly less intelligent today?
• [29:17] Final advice: social interaction as brain exercise

How to Reclaim Your Brain (and Avoid Rot)

• Practice what you want to improve—in real life, not just games.
• Prioritize social interaction over isolation; our brains are built for connection.
• Sleep matters: it helps cement memories and insights.
• Stay humble and open to correction—even seek it out.
• Don’t panic about AI or technology—use it thoughtfully, but know history has always fretted about “the next big thing.”
• Limit passive consumption (like TV); engage critically and intentionally.

Takeaway

You’re probably not dumber than every generation before—but modern life poses unique challenges to curiosity, critical thinking, and brain health. Lean into humility, social connection, and lifelong learning, and resist the urge to outsource your mind’s work to tech. In short: hang out with your friends, stay curious, and never stop reflecting on what it really means to be “smart.”