Why voters fell for ex-Rep. Santos

+ 'gentle parenting' takes a toll on moms and dads US Edition - Today's top story: Santos expelled from House not because of what he said but how he said it [View in browser]( US Edition | 2 December 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Before the House voted to expel U.S. Rep. George Santos, I knew exactly whom to ask to write about it: David Clementson of the University of Georgia. I wanted him to share his understanding of [how lying works in politics]( with our readers. It’s essential to understanding Santos – and to understanding American politics. “The trustworthiness of politicians is judged almost entirely from perceptions of their demeanor, not the words they utter,” writes Clementson. “Santos’ success demonstrates a mastery of something more than just pathological lying,” he explains. And then Clementson drops a bombshell: Santos got elected not because of, or despite, the lies he told. He got elected because voters fell for how he looked, what he wore, his charm and his confident demeanor. Consider that the next time you are about to vote. This week we also liked articles about a [surprisingly popular video game]( that’s hard to learn, constraints on [global efforts to reduce plastic pollution]( and who is still [getting infected with HIV]( despite medical advances that could be doing a better job of slowing its spread. [ [Get a global perspective on the news, with the best of The Conversation’s journalism from around the world, twice weekly.]( ] Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Democracy Rep. George Santos in the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 7, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images [Santos expelled from House not because of what he said but how he said it]( David E. Clementson, University of Georgia A scholar of political deception says there is something especially deceitful about George Santos, and his success getting elected demonstrates mastery of something more than just pathological lying. The role-playing game has sold millions of copies since its August 2023 release and is one of the highest-rated video games of all time. Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images [‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ became the surprise hit of 2023 by upending conventional wisdom about what gives video games broad appeal]( James Dawes, Macalester College For years, the biggest video game publishers have operated under the assumption that compelling stories and captivating characters don’t offer a good return on investment. Plastic litters a beach in Manila, Philippines. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images [As plastic production grows, treaty negotiations to reduce plastic waste are stuck in low gear]( Sarah J. Morath, Wake Forest University A central question remains unresolved in the draft treaty: Is plastic pollution basically a waste management problem, or can it be solved only with a cap on production? - [Who is still getting HIV in America? Medication is only half the fight – homing in on disparities can help get care to those who need it most]( Angel Algarin, Arizona State University Two-thirds of new HIV infections are among gay and bisexual men. Although cases have decreased among white men, they have stagnated among communities of color. - [Gentle parenting can be really hard on parents, new research suggests]( Annie Pezalla, Macalester College The gentle parenting movement has exploded in popularity on social media. But is it good for kids or parents? - [COP28: 7 food and agriculture innovations needed to protect the climate and feed a rapidly growing world]( Paul Winters, University of Notre Dame Food systems are increasingly disrupted by climate disasters, while also being a major contributor to climate change. World leaders at COP28 are vowing to do something about it. - [Why all civilian lives matter equally, according to a military ethicist]( - [Massive planet too big for its own sun pushes astronomers to rethink exoplanet formation]( - [The challenges of being a religious scientist]( - [Edward Blum’s crusade against affirmative action has used the legal strategy developed by civil rights activists]( - [Unwrapping Uranus and its icy secrets: What NASA would learn from a mission to a wild world]( - [Next on the United Auto Workers’ to-do list: Adding more members who currently work at nonunion factories to its ranks]( - [3 ways AI can help farmers tackle the challenges of modern agriculture]( - [Why the Fed should treat climate change’s $150B economic toll like other national crises it’s helped fight]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( The United Nations meeting known as COP28 began in Dubai on Nov. 30. What does COP stand for? - A. Climate Oversight Proceedings - B. Census of Partners - C. Conference of the Parties - D. Come On, People! [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon](• [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](