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Episode 12 of the Fool Me Twice podcast features hosts Bradford Oakes and Steve Van Aperen discussing deception in politics, focusing on how politicians lie, why they do it, and how those lies shape public perception. The conversation opens with lighthearted banter about accents and impersonations before shifting to the central topic: the prevalence of lying in politics. Steve defines a lie as "knowingly misleading someone with factually incorrect information". Both hosts note that many people have become so accustomed to dishonesty from politicians that they now expect it, raising questions about societal standards and accountability.
They begin with a contemporary example from Victoria involving claims that government officials reported corruption within the CFMEU union. According to Steve, conflicting statements from political leaders and a lack of police records illustrate how politicians sometimes backtrack when confronted, often framing false statements as “misspeaking” rather than deliberate deception.
The hosts then examine several historical examples of political lies. Richard Nixon is discussed in relation to the Watergate scandal, where he denied wrongdoing before evidence from secret White House tapes revealed obstruction of justice. Steve highlights Nixon’s famous statement, “Your president is not a crook,” pointing out behavioral cues, such as contradictory body language, that can signal deception.
They also revisit Bill Clinton’s denial of sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, using it to illustrate how deceptive individuals exploit ambiguity. Steve explains that poorly worded questions can allow someone to technically tell the truth while still misleading others, even potentially passing a polygraph test.
The discussion expands to international politics, including claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq promoted by the US and UK governments. The hosts argue that these claims, later shown to lack evidence, demonstrate how large-scale political narratives can shape public support for major actions like war.
And then Steve drops a bombshell. Focusing on the 2001 “Children Overboard Scandal" in Australia, Steve recounts conducting a polygraph test on public servant Mike Scrafton, who said he informed Prime Minister John Howard that there was no evidence asylum seekers threw children into the sea. Despite this, the claim was publicly promoted during an election campaign and later disproven, ultimately damaging Scrafton’s career before he was vindicated.
The hosts conclude by reflecting on how deception permeates politics, media, and society. They argue that politicians lie for strategic reasons, such as protecting reputations, winning votes, or shaping narratives, and invite listeners to share examples of political deception they have observed.
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