iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 09/10/2026

It seems everybody today is a narcissist or knows somebody who is, which is exactly why the word has started to lose its meaning. Malignant narcissism, however, is something different. Read the full article to learn more: open.substack.com/pub/stevenha...

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 08/10/2026

What children are taught matters, but so does whether they’re being taught how to think for themselves. From my point of view, that kind of anti-intellectual, authoritarian approach can create dependency and obedience rather than critical thinking. 📹 @alaynaphipps @savv.labrant

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 04/10/2026

This development in the military is deeply worrying to me. What concerns me most is the possibility of creating a religiously oriented office that could bypass the checks and balances designed to ensure all service members are protected, regardless of their beliefs. 📹 @followtheleighder

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 03/10/2026

The danger isn’t just that Donald Trump lies. It’s what repeated lies can do to the way people process reality. When someone in authority speaks with certainty and confidence, the brain registers that certainty and confidence, even when the words themselves are false.

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 02/10/2026

If you’ve ever felt like something isn’t right with Trump, MAGA, or the way fear is being weaponized, you’re not imagining it. I’ve spent 50 years researching cults and authoritarian control, and I’m using my platform to break it all down for you. Follow along for more!

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 30/09/2026

You don’t think the left wing can use the same manipulation and mind-control techniques as the right? @jimpicariello.bsky.social here, and yes, I’m hacking Steve’s livestream again. Join me here today www.youtube.com/live/lezLEFP... at 2:00 PM EST.

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 28/09/2026

Is Social Media Teaching Us to Brainwash Ourselves? @friedrichmoser.bsky.social and I discuss how echo chambers can distort our model of reality by feeding us more and more of what we already believe. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/QSGVAI2V63U

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 27/09/2026

So many wonderful, beautiful people have died because of the Watchtower Society’s policies against blood transfusions. Now the policy has changed, and I’m thrilled about that. I always want authoritarian cults to reform extreme policies.

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 27/09/2026

Savannah makes an incredibly important point here! What happened in Nazi Germany was not simply the result of “insane” people. Her point about sociocultural disease deserves more attention. Video credit @savannahraecarreno

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 23/09/2026

The life of a Moonie was one of servitude and, in my experience, labor trafficking. But people who have been brainwashed, like I was, can wake up, get out, and build a life afterward. If you’ve left a high-control group, what part of everyday life was hardest for other people to understand?

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 21/09/2026

A 1950s potato chip truck driver could afford a house. Why can’t many college graduates today? Bill Keep, PhD, and I discuss soaring housing costs, shrinking opportunity, AI-screened resumés, and the economic pressures younger generations face. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/yb2Z639sYfE

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 20/09/2026

The Cult of Trump is far more than a cult of personality. And my thesis in The Cult of Trump, and my current thinking, is that this misses the larger structure around him. Do you think people underestimate the wider structure around Trump when they call it simply a cult of personality?

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 19/09/2026

What does Trump gain by calling AI safeguards a hoax? To me, this is about his narcissistic, malignant, solipsistic reality, where everything comes back to him. 📹: @cbseveningnews

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 14/09/2026

Finding love or providing data? The dark side of dating apps! In my conversation with Professor @carissaveliz.bsky.social we talked about something much bigger than dating apps! Watch the full video here: youtu.be/PJyfUZrqABA

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 14/09/2026

I’ve been focusing on the law and developing a scientific tool that can objectively identify brainwashing and mind control in trafficking cases, because simply asking whether somebody technically “consented” does not tell us the whole story. Video credit: @AppleTV @nbcsouthflorida

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 12/09/2026

This is what the new political elite on the right looks like. What do you think people should be paying more attention to when it comes to these global networks? Video Credit: @theguardian

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 10/09/2026

What does The Death of a Pastor’s Wife reveal when you watch it through the lens of mind control? This documentary checks so many boxes in my BITE Model of Authoritarian Control. Have you watched it yet? Video credit: @netflix YouTube

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 08/09/2026

Have you heard of ALLATRA, also known as Creative Society? They also have a front group called Spiritual Diplomats, and the cult is spearheaded by Trump’s personal pastor, Mark Burns.

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 07/09/2026

Why disagreeing with the leader can help the group @jayvanbavel.bsky.social and I discuss why even a wrong dissenter can break conformity, encourage others to speak up, and help a group reach better decisions. See the full video here: youtu.be/g3Qqjzt13cU

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 06/09/2026

Fear, irrational fear, is the universal mind control technique. I call it Phobia indoctrination and it is in the “E” of BITE Model! It’s the playbook that Trump is using, and that all mind controllers use. 📹: @foxnews @CNN @cspanofficial

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 05/09/2026

When I see Trump attempting to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” I don’t see it as just another headline or provocative gesture. I see a familiar pattern: create an enemy, reinforce a sense of victimhood, provoke an emotional response, and redirect attention toward a new conflict. @cbsnews.com

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 04/09/2026

Occasionally, there is good news that destructive cult leaders are being held accountable for their criminal activity. Hak Ja Han, the widow of Sun Myung Moon, has been sentenced to two years in jail for corruption in South Korea. Article from ABC News Video from @TheDailyShow

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 02/09/2026

Major Watson is a high ranking officer in our Air Force who, while in uniform, stood up and called for Donald Trump to be impeached. I want to get more eyes on this interview, and I want to thank him for having the courage to speak out. Thank you, Major Watson! 📹: @freespeechforpeople

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 29/08/2026

AI agents spreading mind viruses? AI is here, no doubt about it, and it’s very interesting to learn about this Anthropic paper, looking at how evolutionary algorithms programmed into AI agents can affect one another and mimic human mind viruses. Video credit: @wetclaude

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 28/08/2026

Who is Natalie Harp? Could she be a foreign asset for Russia, China, or Iran? How easy would it have been to co-opt her, possibly hypnotize her, & instruct her to keep feeding Trump disinformation? 📹 @Headquarters @cbsnews @CNN @dailymailpolitics

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 28/08/2026

I'm going LIVE today at 2pm EST with forensic psychologist @annespeckhard.bsky.social to discuss the Texas ICE protest convictions, Antifa, and her research on MAGA, ISIS, and terrorism. Join us here: www.youtube.com/live/CYhp01l...

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 27/08/2026

A constitutional right to buy arms by mail, but Trump wants to make a problem to vote by mail? We do not have a constitutional right to buy guns through the mail. People need to be properly vetted. 📹: @lawyer_oyer

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 21/08/2026

What does Donald Trump have in common with the infamous cult leader, Jim Jones? He ordered almost 1000 people to die at Jonestown, drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. A lot!! What patterns do you notice? Footage credit: @therecount @rotciv.ojuara1 @democrats @ctvnews

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 21/08/2026

I’m going live today, Friday August 21st from 2:00–3:00 PM EST with filmmaker Friedrich Moser, director of How to Build a Truth Engine, executive produced by George Clooney. youtube.com/live/BdKWmO9... bring your questions, and tune in today at 2:00pm EST!

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 20/08/2026

When people feel deeply connected to a group and a powerful leader, belonging feels more important than questioning, as that might cause you uncertainty, and people might turn on you. Have you witnessed this yourself? Video credit: @nowthisimpact

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 20/08/2026

In an authoritarian cult identity, a follower can become psychologically enmeshed with the cult leader to such an extent that they automatically project positive intentions. I experienced this mechanism myself when I was in the Moonies! 📹@kvuenews @tndtok @brutamerica

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 17/08/2026

“Wow, I’m free!” Ingo Michehl, a fellow survivor of the Moonies, tells me how discovering a contradiction between Moon’s teachings and the Bible sparked his critical thinking and ultimately led to a stunning realization: “Wow, I’m free.” Watch the full video here: youtu.be/3rJ4B_vqZe8

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 15/08/2026

It’s important to understand the meaning of terms, especially in politics, rather than allowing MAGA propaganda to turn every position on the left into “communism,” “Marxism,” or “socialism.” Footage credit @TheNationalDesk

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 14/08/2026

I’m seeing more people publicly describe their disillusionment with Trump and the MAGA movement as they begin questioning the narrative they once accepted as truth. They even call Trump a cult leader and MAGA a cult. 📹 @thedailybeast

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 14/08/2026

Scientology is in the news again! So this Friday 2-3pm est, I’m delighted to have one of my best friends and a leading authority on Scientology, Jon Atack, joining me live. We’re going to be talking about Scientology, this latest reporting, and much more. Join us here youtube.com/@drstevenhas...

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 12/08/2026

Mike Johnson’s speech is a useful example of how authoritarian tactics can shape the way people perceive political opposition. Understanding these psychological techniques is essential to protecting democracy. 📹 @itsalovelylife

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 11/08/2026

AI replicates lots of the traits of a cult leader. Technology is not neutral when it can use our personal data, algorithms, and attention to shape what we see, how we feel, and ultimately how we think. I love Oxford University professor Carissa Veliz's work! 📹 @wonderstruckpod

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 10/08/2026

Caring questions from friends helped him escape! Chris Vishoot shares how love bombing, secrecy, exhaustion, and constant pressure reshaped his thinking, and how the people who finally helped him wake up were friends asking simple, honest questions. Full video here: youtu.be/U8kQsWW37K4

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 10/08/2026

I greatly respect the work Jennifer and Angie are doing, and I would love to join them on their podcast to explore this further, especially how leaving high-control groups could help us communicate more effectively with people caught in these dynamics. 📹 @ivehaditpodcast

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 09/08/2026

What can psychologically explain JD Vance’s dramatic shift from strongly criticizing Trump to becoming one of his most prominent defenders? Footage credit @dailymail @girobotnews

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 07/08/2026

I’m genuinely encouraged by this development. A California appeals court allowing Leah Remini’s case against Scientology to move forward could create an important opportunity to bring greater scrutiny to an authoritarian cult and its leadership.

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 03/08/2026

“I felt like a prisoner.” Anthony Forte believed that if he left his church, God would curse him. Isolated from “outsiders” and trapped in an arranged marriage, he felt like a prisoner in his home. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/uRMrXSFqr28

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 02/08/2026

Why do people freeze when someone says or does something completely unexpected? It's because our brains are wired to make sense of patterns, and when normal patterns or scripts are suddenly disrupted, we become more vulnerable to suggestion. 📹: @NBCNews

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 01/08/2026

The idea that humanity revolves around one race, one gender, or one sexual orientation isn't a universal truth. It's a belief system, and belief systems can be shaped by authoritarian ideologies that divide people into us versus them. The antidote is expanding our perspective. 📹 @nowthisimpact

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 31/07/2026

Every time Donald Trump publicly insults or demeans women reporters, it's about far more than one interaction. It's a pattern that normalizes misogyny, rewards intimidation, and conditions everyone else in the room to stay silent. That is how undue influence works. @FactPost @nowthisimpact

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 31/07/2026

Today at 2-3pm EST I’m joined by a whistleblower, Rebecca Solesburg who was inside the cult Tulsi Gabbard was raised in. She’s been featured in The Washington Post & has detailed insights into the group & its wider connections. 📹: www.youtube.com/live/StKukG8...

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 30/07/2026

I'm so encouraged by the Parliament of Victoria's inquiry into coercive high-control groups and its recommendations to better protect vulnerable people, especially children. Special thanks to ex COG Maria Esguerra and ex-JW Lara Kaput! and others! 📹: @parliamentofvictoria

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 26/07/2026

One of the strongest warning signs I look for when evaluating a potential cult leader is the narcissist's need for constant praise, admiration, and validation. Video credit: @cnn @foxnews @raisedinpennsylvania @toviamedia @reema.news

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 25/07/2026

Techniques associated with hypnosis and NLP can interrupt our normal patterns of thinking, creating moments where people are more susceptible to suggestion. These psychological principles aren't inherently good or bad, but in the wrong hands they become dangerous! 📹: @NBCNews

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Steven Hassan PhD @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com · 24/07/2026

I've spent years studying trafficking, learning from expert survivors like Carissa Phelps and Rachel Thomas as we developed EndingtheGame.com. Andrew Tate studied books like Pimpology! These techniques align with well-known cult tactics. Video Credit: @CNN

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