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Poker players often claim they can spot a bluff from a mile away, but the latest episode of The Tough Call asks whether that skill extends to detecting misinformation in today’s media landscape. The podcast, hosted by PokerStars Ambassadors Maria Konnikova and James Hartigan, explores connections between poker, business and politics.
Released on Election Day, the second episode features a conversation recorded in Las Vegas with Jon Ralston, CEO and founder of The Nevada Independent. The trio discussed trust in journalism, media narratives and the challenges of predicting election outcomes.
Konnikova brings a unique perspective to the topic, having written extensively about psychology and deception. Her 2015 New Yorker article, “How Stories Deceive,” examined how con artists exploit storytelling to manipulate audiences.
The conversation also touched on Ralston’s inaccurate forecasts during the 2024 presidential election, a subject closely tied to election analytics expert Nate Silver, Konnikova’s former co-host on Risky Business, who previously broke down his own 2024 predictions on the PokerNews Life Outside Poker podcast.
Ralston further discussed Nevada’s recent midterm elections, which some have called a “blue tsunami” after Democrat Aaron Ford’s victory. He was notably critical during the race of independent candidate Danielle Ford, who has ties to the poker community and ultimately received about 3% of the vote.
The full 50-minute episode is available on YouTube and major podcast platforms. It follows the show’s debut episode with high-stakes pro Jason Koon, with future guests including Bill Perkins, David Epstein, Mark Goffman and Samm Hunter expected throughout the ten-episode season.
