Today, Explained — “Meme Warfare” (March 24, 2026)
Podcast: Today, Explained
Hosts: Noel King, Sean Rameswaram
Guests: Nick Cole (USC Annenberg, propaganda historian), Will Aremus (technology writer, Washington Post)
Theme: The transformation of modern war propaganda into meme-driven, gamified, and viral digital content — and the consequences for how conflicts and legitimacy are understood.
Episode Overview
In “Meme Warfare,” Today, Explained investigates how war propaganda has evolved into something “dumber, weirder, and more memetic” than ever before, especially in the context of the U.S.-Iran conflict. With analysis from propaganda scholar Nick Cole and reporting by Will Aremus, the episode explores the U.S. government’s embrace of meme formats, the rise of AI-generated and viral fake videos as propaganda tools by both state and non-state actors, and why this new style has significant effects domestically and globally.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Ancient and Ever-Evolving Role of Propaganda in War
[02:17]
- Nick Cole outlines the classic objectives of wartime propaganda:
- Rally your own population
- Persuade and strengthen alliances
- Demoralize the enemy (psychological warfare)
- Propaganda aims to craft compelling narratives on the eve of military action (World Wars, Iraq, etc.), historically appealing to universal ideals like democracy and freedom.
Quote:
"Propaganda has three objectives in wartime... rally your own population... persuade allies... and demoralize your enemy. Some people would call that cyber psychological warfare."
— Nick Cole [02:30]
2. From Serious Messaging to Bombastic Memes
Historical Examples:
- Past U.S. war messaging: solemn, idealistic, structured around principles (Wilson on democracy, FDR’s Four Freedoms, Bush Sr. on international order).
- Pop culture has always been leveraged (e.g., the “Bomb Iran” parody to the tune of “Barbara Ann”), but new methods are even more outlandish.
Current Turn:
- Recent U.S. government videos mix real battle footage with video games, movie scenes, and even SpongeBob memes.
- Trump’s administration leans heavily into this “memeification and gamification of war,” appealing to niche online cultures instead of broad, consensus-building messaging.
- Notably, these memes are divisive and seem targeted toward a young, male, already-supportive audience rather than the whole country.
Quote:
"What we're seeing from the Trump White House are videos that integrate footage from video games... and with great declarations of kaboom. There's even one with SpongeBob."
— Nick Cole [07:08]
3. Propaganda’s Real Audience & Strategic Consequences
- The new propaganda isn’t aimed at winning over doubters but at energizing true believers.
- Echoes historical patterns: propaganda is most effective when tapping into preexisting ideas and resentments (e.g., Hitler and German antisemitism/victimhood).
Nick Cole’s Analysis:
- These meme-driven messages behave like “visual and cultural language specific to a generation.”
- This approach sidelines those outside the target group and inadvertently cedes diplomatic legitimacy to adversaries like China, who appear more “adult” in contrast.
Quote:
"If you ask me who benefits most from this tone in U.S. propaganda, my feeling is that it benefits China because it makes the Chinese look like the adults in the diplomatic room."
— Nick Cole [11:44]
4. The Global Meme War: Iran’s AI Deepfakes and Propaganda on ‘X’
[16:52]
- Will Aremus describes how networks of pro-Iran accounts are spreading viral content, including:
- AI deepfake videos (e.g., a fake, harrowing video of Trump with blindfolded young girls, referencing Epstein)
- Standard war propaganda (Iranian "victories," U.S./Israeli setbacks), much of it unverified
Why It’s Effective:
- The Epstein content draws enormous traffic because it doesn’t look like Iranian propaganda; it fits existing American conspiracy narratives and divides.
Quote:
"The Epstein stuff isn't obviously pro Iran propaganda. And that is the stuff that's actually resonating..."
— Will Aremus [19:29]
- These accounts also traffic in antisemitic content, using Holocaust references to shock and offend.
5. Who Really Runs These Accounts?
[21:51]
- While messaging and talking points mirror official Iranian channels, the exact operators are unknown.
- “Verification” (blue check) on X doesn’t mean authenticity; most are just premium accounts.
6. Official Response: The White House vs. Its Own Tactics
[22:58]
- The White House deflects, warning about “fake news media” falling for pro-Iran fake content.
- Yet, Trump himself has circulated similar deepfake and AI-altered videos—arresting Obama, appearing as the Grim Reaper, racist caricatures.
Quote:
"Some might question what ground the president is standing on when he criticizes Iran for using AI to spread disinformation."
— Will Aremus [24:14]
7. Do Memes and Fake Videos Actually Change Minds?
[24:30]
- Host skepticism: Can viral disinformation really sway opinion, or does it just echo preexisting biases?
- Aremus’ answer: These tactics rarely flip people’s core views, but they solidify, energize, and deepen pre-existing divides. The most resonant content leans into what audiences already suspect or believe, intensifying rifts and polarizations.
Quote:
"The stuff that resonates the most is not something that just comes out of the blue. It's usually something that's picking up on an existing rift in the culture or in our politics... It's playing on it, it's exploiting that."
— Will Aremus [25:48]
- The Iranian narrative (the war as “Operation Epstein Fury”) gains ground simply because official U.S. motives are unclear, and the American public is predisposed toward skepticism.
Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes
-
On meme-ification:
"I think it's a memeification of war, a gamification of war, an appeal—warlike images that are bizarrely taken out of context."
— Nick Cole [07:36] -
On propaganda targeting:
"These videos [are] created by young men for young men... articulating a visual and a cultural language specific to a generation."
— Nick Cole [10:27] -
On the danger for U.S. credibility:
"It makes the Chinese look like the adults in the diplomatic room..."
— Nick Cole [11:44] -
On deepfake virality:
"One of them got nearly 7 million views on its post. This is an inordinate amount of traffic for pro Iran propaganda. And it's probably because it doesn't look like pro Iran propaganda."
— Will Aremus [19:20] -
On the real impact:
"It's more like sharing a political cartoon or a meme. It makes your point for you in a vivid way, but it was something that you already believed."
— Will Aremus [25:15]
Timestamps: Important Segments
- [02:17] – What propaganda is for in wartime
- [04:05-06:21] – Historical U.S. war messaging; “Bomb Iran” song example
- [07:08-08:25] – Trump’s meme-driven videos: gaming, Hollywood movies, SpongeBob
- [09:28-11:44] – Propaganda as amplification of preexisting beliefs, targeting
- [16:52-19:29] – Iranian meme warfare, AI deepfakes on X (including Epstein/Trump video)
- [21:51] – Antisemitic and false content from the same networks
- [22:58-24:14] – The White House’s response, accusations, and own use of similar tactics
- [24:30-27:43] – Evidence on whether memes/disinfo truly sway public opinion
Conclusion
“Meme Warfare” pulls apart the ways state propaganda has adapted to the fast-mutating languages and logics of the digital age. The line between virality, entertainment, and serious political messaging blurs, creating both confusion and polarization. Most crucially, the episode underscores that both American and Iranian propaganda now fuel and amplify the divides within the U.S., weaponizing memes, deepfakes, and conspiracy theories not to persuade, but to incite, mock, and further fragment audiences, all in plain sight.
Listen for:
- Powerful insights on how propaganda works—not as top-down mind control, but as the weaponization of what people already fear or suspect.
- Eye-opening explanations on how meme culture and deepfakes have entered the international arena.
- Stark warnings about the long-term costs for legitimacy, unity, and global standing.
Recommended for:
- Anyone interested in how digital media, politics, and international relations intersect today.
- Listeners curious about the real effects of online disinformation, memes, and the new propaganda arms race.