Political polarization increases identity threat during social interactions. This study examines how liberals and conservatives respond to politically and apolitically negative comments. Results show different types of identity threat emerge depending on context, with both groups experiencing similar levels overall. Findings highlight the complexity and nuance of identity threat in political engagement.

The speaker revisits the 1912 Marconi insider-trading scandal, showing how unfounded allegations spread through fringe media triggered national uproar and revealed elite anxieties about power, technology, and public discourse. Their archival research argues that the real scandal was elites losing control of information—an issue echoed today in social media, misinformation, and democratic instability.