>The following research overviews and citations were strategically prompted by myself after the essay was written to provide additional context for the reader and are designed to give you resources to do your own research. Most prompts are based on academic or industry research I've been studying for years and were top of mind while writing. --- ### Media Agenda Setting Theory >AI Prompt : *History of media agenda setting theory by Shaw and Combs with 5 academic links. Please include some references to manufacturing consent by Chomsky. Media agenda-setting theory, first introduced by Donald Shaw in the 1970s, provides a crucial framework for understanding how information networks shape public perception and community response during crises. As evidenced in early 2025's weather and fire emergencies, the theory's core premise - that media doesn't just influence what we think, but fundamentally shapes what we think about - remains powerfully relevant in our digital age. The theory gained particular significance when examining how different platforms control narrative flow during breaking news events. As demonstrated in the Kansas weather emergency versus the LA fires of 2025, the way information networks handle crisis communication can either support or undermine community safety. Shaw's original framework helps explain why some hyperlocal information networks maintain their integrity while others rapidly deteriorate into what the document describes as "pipelines of disinformation, political spectacle and spam bot takeovers." The evolution of agenda-setting theory parallels the development of social media algorithms and their impact on information dissemination. This connection becomes particularly apparent when examining how platforms like Twitter, under different ownership structures, handle breaking news events. The theory helps explain why, as observed in the LA fires, certain hashtags rapidly devolved into political narratives while others maintained their utility for community safety. These observations align with Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman's work in "Manufacturing Consent," particularly regarding how media ownership influences information flow. The case study of Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition and its subsequent alliance with specific political interests demonstrates how ownership structures can fundamentally alter information delivery systems, especially during crises. The modern manifestation of agenda-setting theory is particularly visible in what the document terms "algorithm bubbles." These digital ecosystems show how conspiracy theories born within social media platforms eventually transform into mainstream talking points, affecting everything from family discussions to congressional debates. This process exemplifies what Shaw would later describe as the multi-level impact of agenda-setting in digital spaces. The comparative analysis of information networks during the Kansas blizzard versus the LA fires reveals how regional political demographics influence algorithm behavior and information integrity. This phenomenon demonstrates the contemporary relevance of agenda-setting theory in explaining how political biases embedded in algorithms can either preserve or destroy the utility of crisis communication channels. The theory's application to modern crisis communication, as seen in the document's analysis of the Watch Duty app and alternative information networks, shows how communities adapt when traditional information channels fail. This adaptation represents a new frontier in agenda-setting theory, where community-driven information networks emerge to counteract algorithmic biases. Suggested Academic Sources and Further Reading: 1. [Wikipedia: Agenda Setting Theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agenda-setting_theory) 2. Herman, E. S., & Chomsky, N. (1988). ["Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media"](http://www.chomsky.info/consent) 3. The Guardian (2018). ["Cambridge Analytica Files"](https://www.theguardian.com/news/series/cambridge-analytica-files) 4. McCombs, M. (2018). ["Setting the Agenda: Mass Media and Public Opinion in the Digital Age"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318471348_Setting_the_agenda_The_mass_media_and_public_opinion) 5. ["Platform Ownership and Information Flow in Crisis Events"](https://www.academia.edu/17520676/Information_flow_during_crisis_management_challenges_to_coordination_in_the_emergency_operations_center) ### Grievance Narratives & Insurrections Grievance narratives have become a defining feature of modern American political movements, evolving dramatically from the Tea Party's emergence to the 2024 election cycle. The Tea Party movement, initially framed as a grassroots response to government spending and healthcare reform, established a template for how perceived grievances could be amplified through media networks to mobilize political action. Jeff Sharlet's "The Undertow" critically examines how these narratives transformed into more radical forms of political expression. His analysis reveals how social media platforms became crucial amplifiers of grievance narratives, creating echo chambers where perceived injustices could rapidly evolve into calls for direct action. The period between 2016 and 2024 saw these grievance narratives intensify and merge with conspiracy theories, particularly around election integrity. The January 6th insurrection marked a critical point where online grievance narratives translated into physical action. These narratives often followed a similar pattern: identifying a perceived loss of power or status, attributing this loss to specific political opponents or institutions, and framing extreme responses as legitimate forms of "patriotic" resistance. By 2024, these narratives had become deeply embedded in certain political networks, with social media algorithms amplifying their reach and impact. The evolution from Tea Party protests to election denial movements demonstrates how grievance narratives can escalate from peaceful protest to challenges against democratic institutions themselves. Suggested Academic Sources: 1. Sharlet, J. (2023). ["The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undertow:_Scenes_from_a_Slow_Civil_War) 2. Skocpol, T., & Williamson, V. (2016). ["The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism"](https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/williamson/files/tea_party_pop.pdf) 3. Lepore, J. (2010). ["The Whites of Their Eyes: The Tea Party's Revolution and the Battle over American History"](https://scholar.harvard.edu/jlepore/publications/whites-their-eyes-tea-party%E2%80%99s-revolution-and-battle-over-american-history) 4. Mason, L. (2018). ["Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity"](https://press.uchicago.edu/dam/ucp/books/pdf/course_intro/978-0-226-52454-2_course_intro.pdf) 5. Hochschild, A. R. (2016). ["Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangers_in_Their_Own_Land)