Podcast Summary: TRIGGERnometry

Episode: How They Lie & Why They Do It - Konstantin Kisin
Date: February 3, 2026
Host(s): Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster

Episode Overview

In this episode, Konstantin Kisin takes on the subject of manipulation in media and politics, exploring how misrepresentation and deliberate dishonesty shape public debate. Through recent examples in the US and UK, he argues that selective editing, misleading framing, and outright smears are increasingly used to distract from engaging real arguments. The episode is a direct and pointed commentary on the dangers of media echo chambers, the rise of alternative media, and the importance of seeking out full and accurate information.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Instrumental Media Manipulation: The Charlottesville Example

• Charlottesville Media Hoax: Kisin details how President Trump’s comments after the Charlottesville incident were distorted by the media to paint him as defending neo-Nazis. In fact, Trump clarified, “I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and white nationalists because they should be condemned totally.” (03:00)

• Long-lasting Impact: The deliberate misquoting persists, with millions still believing the distorted version.

  “To this day, millions of people believe this lie.” (03:47)

2. Political Smears: The Matt Goodwin & Question Time Incidents

• Clipping Out of Context: A recent incident in UK politics involved the Labour Party clipping comments by Matt Goodwin to make it seem he criticized Manchester, when he was actually criticizing the Conservative conference held there (04:20).

• Manipulation by Politicians: Kisin recounts his own experience on “Question Time” where Labour Minister Douglas Alexander accused him of bigotry by selectively presenting his remarks on British and English identity.

  “You said Rishi Sunak isn’t English because he’s a brown Hindu, was his retort. This is a skillful lie on several levels…” (05:35)

• Breaking Down the Tactic:

  • Concealing Context: The actual discussion was about British vs. English identity.
  • Ignoring Self-Reference: Kisin applied his view to his own son as well.
  • Suppressing Full Debate: The other discussant, Fraser Nelson, disagreed but called it “a perfectly fair point.”
  • Shifting Blame: Fraser, not Kisin, brought up Rishi Sunak in the debate.
  • Ignoring Self-Identification: Sunak has described himself as “British Indian.”

3. Why They Lie Instead of Arguing

• Avoiding Real Debate: Kisin asserts that smears and misrepresentations are used because his actual arguments are difficult to refute.

  “Because it’s easier than addressing the arguments I’m making on Question Time.” (09:10)

• Kisin’s Main Points on Question Time:

  • Net zero policies are “industrial suicide” for Britain.
  • Both Labour and Conservative governments have overseen more immigration since 1066–1950 combined.

4. The State of Public Discourse & Media Ecosystem

• Cancel Culture & Alternative Media: Attempts to ban Kisin from mainstream platforms are part of abandoning debate for echo chambers.

• Rise of Alternative Outlets:

  “You’ve had the monopoly on the microphone for a long time and it’s made you lazy and it’s made you arrogant... our show is part of a massive ecosystem of alternative media, which is the reason the legacy media is dying.” (11:00)

• Prescription for Opponents:

  “If you really hate my views and what I stand for, there’s only one thing you can do. Make better arguments. Good luck. You’re going to need it.” (12:35)

5. On Being Called a Grifter & Selective Information

• Accusations of “Grifter”: Kisin responds with irony, pointing listeners to his platforms.

6. Being Selectively Informed: Introducing Ground News

• Media Blindspots: Most people are “selectively informed,” as modern media decides not just what’s told, but what’s omitted (13:40).

• Ground News App: Touted as a tool to see coverage across the political spectrum and expose what each side is missing.

  “The Blindspot feed is one of my favorite features. Every day it flags upwards of 20 stories that are being ignored either by the left or the right.” (14:20)

• Examples:

  • Missed by right: Drop in Republican confidence in Trump’s economic leadership.
  • Missed by left: UAE dropping UK from scholarship list over concerns about campus radicalization.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Media Distortion:
  “The media cut his comments out of context and ran headline after headline claiming he was defending the very people he just condemned.” (03:09)
• On Political Smears:
  “These dirty tricks are sadly part of the ugly game of politics. More troublingly, they are now increasingly spreading to the arena of public debate...” (04:45)
• On Cancel Culture:
  “You can keep trying to cancel people from the conversation to maintain your echo chamber, but even if you succeed, all that will achieve is driving more people into our arms.” (11:30)
• On the Alternative Media Ecosystem:
  “More than 2 million people now watch and listen to trigonometry. 100,000 read my substack every week.” (10:40)
• On Informed Citizenship:
  “Most people think they’re informed. In reality, they’re selectively informed.” (13:55)
• On Media Literacy Tools:
  “Ground News puts all of this in one place. Headlines, bias, breakdowns, ownership and context. So you can actually understand what’s going on, not just react to what you’re told.” (15:20)

Timestamps For Key Segments

• 01:12 – Introduction to Charlottesville incident and media misrepresentation
• 04:20 – Matt Goodwin controversy and political tactics in the UK
• 05:35 – Kisin’s personal experience of being misrepresented on Question Time
• 09:10 – Rationale behind smears and refusal to debate
• 10:40 – The rise of alternative media and responses to cancel culture
• 13:40 – Selective information and the Ground News solution
• 15:20 – How to access unbiased information with Ground News

Tone & Language

The episode is characterized by Kisin’s direct, confrontational style—equal parts skeptical, indignant, and sardonic. He mixes analysis with pointed barbs at both media and political figures, fostering a sense of urgency about the manipulation of public discourse.

For Listeners

If you want a trenchant critique of how misrepresentation and deliberate dishonesty now permeate media and politics—and tips on how to better inform yourself—this episode offers a comprehensive, hard-hitting perspective straight from the source.