# Can you outsmart the fallacy that started a witch hunt? - Elizabeth Cox

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/can-you-outsmart-the-fallacy-that-started-a-witch-hunt-elizabeth-cox
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/can-you-outsmart-the-fallacy-that-started-a-witch-hunt-elizabeth-cox.md
Podcast: [TED-Ed](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430)
Published: 2026-07-16T08:37:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG4637768654.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG4637768654.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ted-ed-7859430/episodes/can-you-outsmart-the-fallacy-that-started-a-witch-hunt-elizabeth-cox
Duration seconds: 368

## Resource

Dig into the burden of proof fallacy, which assumes that something is true unless proven false and relies on arguments from ignorance.--It’s 1950. Anti-communist sentiment in the United States is at an all-time high. Senator Joseph McCarthy claims he has a list of communists who are influencing government policy. He makes his first accusation without providing any legitimate evidence, yet the senate committee still schedules a hearing. Can you spot the problem with this hearing? Elizabeth Cox explores the burden of proof fallacy.Lesson by Elizabeth Cox, directed by Pazit Cahlon and Hector Herrera.Animator's website: https://wearetogether.ca/Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterSupport us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagramView full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-outsmart-the-fallacy-that-started-a-witch-hunt-elizabeth-coxThank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Pavel Maksimov, Victoria Soler-Roig, Betsy Feathers, Samuel Barbas, Therapist Gus, Sai Krishna Koyoda, Elizabeth Parker, William Bravante, Irindany Sandoval, Mark wisdom, Brighteagle, Beatriz Inácio, Mighterbump, Pamela Harrison, Maija Chapman, Liana Switzer, Curtis Light, The Brock, Dianne Palomar, Edgar Campos Barrachina, Maria Lerchbaumer, Ever Granada, Marin Kovachev, Ravi S. Rāmphal, Penelope Misquitta, Tekin Gültekin, Jhuval, Hans Peng, Gaurav Mathur, Erik Biemans, Tony, Michelle, Katie and Josh Pedretti, Vaibhav Mirjolkar, Thomas Bahrman, Allan Hayes, Aidan Forero, Uday Kishore, Mikhail Shkirev, Devesh Kumar, Sunny Patel, Anuj Tomar, Lowell Fleming, David Petrovič, Hoai Na…

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