News & Politics

How to Be Smarter About the News | TED Explains the World with Ian Bremmer

Political scientist Ian Bremmer (@GZEROMedia) has access to the rooms, conversations and world leaders who make the news of the day. So how does he stay on top of everything that’s going on? In conversation with TED’s Helen Walters, Bremmer opens up about how he thinks about sources, how he avoids getting spun — and…

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Political scientist Ian Bremmer (@GZEROMedia) has access to the rooms, conversations and world leaders who make the news of the day. So how does he stay on top of everything that’s going on? In conversation with TED’s Helen Walters, Bremmer opens up about how he thinks about sources, how he avoids getting spun — and what we can all do to think more clearly about the news. (This interview was recorded on May 20, 2026.)

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9 Comments

  1. @doubleuenbeeeh

    May 22, 2026 at 11:10 am

    Step 1: ignore anything Ian bloviates about

  2. @Comenta-san

    May 22, 2026 at 11:15 am

    “The only good news channel is no news channel” – Lao-Tzu

  3. @zenmaster-x2b

    May 22, 2026 at 11:25 am

    One important takeaway here is that in today’s world, access to information is no longer enough — the real skill is knowing how to filter noise, verify sources, and think independently.

    Ian Bremmer highlights something powerful:
    Staying informed is not about consuming more news, but about understanding context, incentives, and global patterns without being emotionally manipulated by headlines.

    In an AI-driven and fast-moving world, critical thinking may become one of the most valuable skills anyone can develop.

    Definitely an important conversation worth listening to.

    • @peterp5099

      May 22, 2026 at 11:51 am

      @zenmaster-x2b It’s also important to understand the ramifications of the news they don’t want You to understand. A.E. that going to war doesn’t pay off for the average Ukrainian drafted to the trenches, and that it’s much better to be one of the guys who took their families and fled on time to a different country. That’s what there is to learn in case war comes to Your country, and what the politicians really don’t want us to comprehend. 😉

  4. @nomandad2000

    May 22, 2026 at 11:38 am

    Did y’all catch the interview with the general who was wearing the weird mask? What do we make of that?

  5. @ericsynchrona5495

    May 22, 2026 at 11:49 am

    Everything from Iran to Israel is a tiny amount of the dictionary.

  6. @laserhobbyist9751

    May 22, 2026 at 11:55 am

    I do not trust TED after they continually suppress speakers.

  7. @KQSZLOK

    May 22, 2026 at 12:07 pm

    Ground News is a good way for lay people to do this for themselves.

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