ICFRC presents: Propaganda and Disinformation - Social Media, Podcasts, AI, and Cable News

The City of Iowa City hosted a public program on September 24, 2026, presented by the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, focusing on propaganda and disinformation in social media, podcasts, AI, and cable news. The event featured expert speakers from the University of Iowa's School of Journalism and Mass Communication who discussed the influence of extremist podcasts and synthetic media on political polarization, misinformation, and democratic backsliding. While the meeting did not include procurement or contracting discussions, it highlighted the challenges posed by AI-generated deepfakes and misinformation campaigns, emphasizing the need for media literacy, platform regulation, and government action to protect democratic processes. The program also previewed an upcoming session on democratic backsliding and its impact on elections.