How did political affiliations in America transform into competing lifestyles—complete with their own heroes, costumes, and shared language?
Join us for a conversation with writer and media scholar Danielle Lee Tomson, author of the forthcoming book Under the Influence: What's Real When America Feels Fake. Drawing on her research into conservative media influencers who create alternative visions of America on- and offline, Tomson joins Adam Davis to explore how our fragmented media landscape shapes our sense of reality.
This event will take place at the Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland (3000 NE Alberta St.) and will be streamed live on YouTube. It is part of our 2026–27 Consider This series, What Do We Trust?
About our guest
Danielle Lee Tomson is a writer, scholar, and strategist. She is a sought-after expert in topics related to political social media influencers, populism, online political subcultures, performative politics, nationalism, "scammers," political polarization, tech platform policy, "disinformation," propaganda, narrative change, rumors, and civic tech.
Currently, she serves as the research manager at the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington. She leads a team of researchers primarily studying institutional communication, as well as rumors about the processes and procedures of US elections.
She was raised on a horse farm in a family of scrap metal dealers in Western Pennsylvania.
Tickets
Tickets are $15 and are available through the venue website.
To ensure that everyone who wants to attend is able to, a limited number of tickets are available for free. Use this form to request a free ticket.
Other ways to participate
Can't make it in person? Tune in from anywhere! The conversation will be streamed live, for free, on our YouTube channel, and will remain available for viewing after the program.
About the venue
Mobility access: The Alberta Rose Theatre is a wheelchair-accessible venue. Anyone who uses a wheelchair or other mobility device can reserve an accessible seat at the venue by emailing house@albertarosetheatre.com in advance of the event. Accessible bathrooms are to the right of the theater entrance.
Parking: Free parking is available in the neighborhood around the theater. Parking spaces often fill up quickly. There is one disabled person parking space less than one block away on NE 30th Ave., in front of Emmanuel Church of God in Christ United, but the space does not have a curb cut or ramp. The closest disabled person parking space with curb cuts is four blocks west, at the southwest corner of Northeast 26th Avenue and Northeast Alberta Street. A map of disabled person parking spaces is available from the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
Public transit: The TriMet Line 72 bus stops in front of the theater. Lines 70 and 17 have stops within four blocks of the venue.
Food and drink: Beverages and limited food are available for purchase and may be consumed anywhere in the theater during the event. Outside food and beverages are not permitted.
Lighting: The venue has appropriate overhead lighting before and after the conversation. During the conversation, lights are dimmed with staged lighting facing the stage. Lights in the lobby/bar remain on during the program. The auditorium does not have floor lighting in the aisles.
Sound: There will be music at a moderate volume before and after the event.
Read more about the Alberta Rose Theatre.
If you need accommodations to participate in this event, please email programs@oregonhumanities.org by September 15.
Thanks to our sponsors
Consider This is made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Oregon Cultural Trust.
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