Steven Hassan PhD

Comparing life to a chocolate chip cookie recipe oversimplifies the complexity of being human! We’re not meant to surrender our integrity & be blindly obedient to leaders, prophets, or institutions. We are meant to ask questions, reality-test our beliefs, & use reasoning abilities we all possess

People often imagine a cult as something extreme, obvious, or impossible to fall into. But many cults begin with community, healing, belonging, spirituality, love bombing, and emotional connection. Footage from @zolita on TikTok (she did a series and I highly recommend watching it!)

The Unchosen does a powerful job demonstrating the classic cult warning signs I’ve studied for years! Much of it aligns very closely with my BITE Model of Authoritarian Control. Click here cultexpert.myflodesk.com/bitemodeland... to learn more about what undue influence looks like! 📹 @netflix

I’m doing a livestream this Wednesday, May 27th from 2–3PM Eastern with a surprise co-host! We’ll be discussing the Pope’s recent statements, AI, the cult of Trump, Iran, the Epstein files, crypto, and more. Make sure to bring your questions, we’ve got lots to discuss.

Trump, Tucker Carlson, “literal spells,” and the Antichrist. @virginiaheffernan.bsky.social & I talk about why some people around Trump describe his influence in supernatural terms, while I see a psychological process of influence, loyalty, sunk cost, and coercive control 📹: youtu.be/X82cRXo6j88

What do you think about Burns and the symbolism of the Trump golden statue and these growing connections? If you want to learn more about undue influence and brainwashing, click here: cultexpert.myflodesk.com/bitemodeland... Footage from @thedailyshow

I’ve been warning for years about the influence Putin and Russia appear to have over Donald Trump. McFaul makes some powerful points about the similarities between Putin’s rise to power and what many people are now witnessing within MAGA politics in America. Video credit: @ambmcfaul

A MAGA influencer has been arrested, and he’s connected to Trump’s inner circle. When you look at this through the lens of criminal cults and conspiracy, it raises serious questions about the kinds of people operating within these networks. 📹: @couriernewsroom

This is what mind control looks like in real time. When people are more concerned with staying in favor with a leader than telling the truth that’s not independent thinking. That’s undue influence and mind control.

I’ve had cancer, and I’m 20 years cancer-free. I wake up grateful. Grateful for my family, my friends, for another day to work, to connect with people, to experience joy, to eat, to dance, to enjoy music, to enjoy nature, to be in real life. Life is a wonder. What are you grateful for right now?

What’s this about Trump saying he wants to create a company with his sons, like an Amazon for g*ns, to make it really easy to buy them? At the highest level, this is about demoralization and destabilization. Video credit: @aaronparnas YT: somoslosverdaderosunificac4038

“If Trump says it, MAGA supports it.” So what’s really going on here? This is about brainwashing, mind control, psychological warfare, and demoralization, and most people have not been educated on how these systems actually work. That’s why I do this work! 📹 @hasanminhaj

What if giving up on MAGA voters is part of the problem? In my conversation with filmmaker Deeyah Khan, we discuss broken friendships, Trump, extremism, and why many people are still reachable. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/mdvwNe0qSYY

Today marks the 50th anniversary of my waking up. Looking back now, I feel profound gratitude that my experience became the foundation for helping thousands of others affected by undue influence and coercive control. Wikimedia Commons. Image by Unification Church

10 things I wish I knew before being recruited into a cult. I’m sharing this because I want people to understand something important: anyone can be recruited under the right conditions.

What do you think about what Marjorie Taylor Greene said? So yes to the Epstein survivors. And thank you to Marjorie Taylor Greene for speaking out. But I also want to be very clear, I don’t trust her yet! Video credit: @couriernewsroom

A childhood with no privacy, no boundaries, and no escape. I spoke with author Ewan Whyte about life inside the Community of Jesus, where he says children faced forced worship, unpaid work, surveillance, and crushed boundaries. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/OxFM-kHj2Cc

Have you seen this new AI documentary with Tristan Harris? It brings together voices from across the political spectrum and highlights five key themes about AI, and I really want people to understand them. Video credit: @tristanharris

A lot of what you’re seeing online right now… isn’t real. We’re entering a phase where more than half of the messaging on social media may be AI-generated, fake accounts, coordinated narratives, and emotionally targeted content designed to influence how people think and feel. coming from.

I’m excited to share that Christine Marie & I will be doing a live stream together on Friday 1st May at 2pm EST, where we’ll go deeper into the documentary, share insights, & answer your questions directly. Do you have any questions you’d like us to cover?

Trump is looking beleaguered and this clip shows exactly why. How many reporters have you seen Trump attack when they ask questions that make him look bad? Video Credit: @CNN

Come join me on my livestream Friday, April 24th at 2pm EST! I’ll be joined by special guest Frederick Clarkson of Political Research Associates, someone I’ve known for over 40 years. There’s so much going on right now and many people are starting to question Trump. www.youtube.com/live/C323lMN...

Running into a Scientology center for a viral TikTok is a bad idea! I don’t believe Scientology is a legitimate religion, but the IRS designation matters, & actions like this can have serious consequences. Behaviour like this reinforces the cult programming, that the outside world is dangerous.

Come and join me LIVE today at 2pm EST! There is so much to talk about, so make sure to bring your questions. Join us here: youtube.com/live/BOn_a0VT9…

What many people miss when watching documentaries like this is that for so many survivors, healing happens through connection, through purpose, and through helping others. L There is no one way to heal. But for many, there comes a moment where helping someone else becomes part of that process.

Forcing survivors to “forgive”? Maria Esguerra and I take on a dangerous myth: leaving a cult does not make an abusive parent or caregiver safe. Survivors should not be pushed to center the people who harmed them. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/E5M_7w_PmZw

Is Mormonism an authoritarian cult? I came to understand Mormonism as an authoritarian cult in the late 1990s. It’s a journey, but understanding these patterns of influence, especially for those born and raised in high-control groups, is critical. Learn more: freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-co...

This documentary is an incredible opportunity to understand what mind control cults actually do to people. I’ve known Christine Marie for a long time & seeing her journey, along with the courage of survivors like Nomz really shows both the trauma and the possibility of healing & rebuilding a life.

Trump devotee Megyn Kelly is now dissing Donald Trump, and that’s significant. We’re seeing more and more of this. Influencers who once supported him are now saying enough of this deranged lunacy. That shift is huge! What do you think? Put your comments below. Video credit: @megynkellyshow

The fastest way to control someone? Cut them off from family. In my conversation with Keri Ladner, PhD, we break down why isolation is one of the oldest tools in authoritarian movements. Once outside voices are gone, accountability goes with them. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/Dfz6wzirSMI

Come and check out my live stream on Substack today, Monday April 13th at 2pm EST with Chris Sampson!

The MAGA movement is starting to turn on itself, and that’s an important development! This is what happens when cracks begin to form. More and more people are questioning what’s been going on.

Come and join me live today, Wednesday 8th April at 2pm EST and make sure to bring your questions! Click here to join us: www.youtube.com/live/Wfu7rl7...

I watched this documentary, and I was left wanting. I was disappointed they didn’t get into brainwashing, mind control, and psychological warfare, especially how our personal data is being hacked so AI can manipulate people’s minds. That’s a major omission, inexcusable

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and for those celebrating Passover, Chag Sameach!

2 + 2 = 5 isn’t just a phrase from a novel; it’s how mind control works. George Orwell warned us about this in 1984 and Animal Farm, and this new documentary 2 + 2 = 5 connects those insights directly to what’s happening today. ever about protecting our minds. Video credit: YouTube @EntractFilms

They turned empathy into an insult! @johnfugelsang.bsky.social and I break down how smear words are used to train people away from empathy and toward fear and outrage. This clip gets at something deeper than politics. It shows how language shapes belief. Full video here: youtu.be/fV-medb-Ou0

I just found out that The Cult of Trump is a New York Times bestseller, and I am so excited. I really want to thank everyone who has read the book, promoted it, created book clubs, I could not have done this without you. If you'd like to get your copy, click here freedomofmind.com/the-cult-of-...

I want to thank Trevor Noah for having me on his podcast Brainwashing is a dissociative disorder, splitting your identity between your real self & your cult self. As dissonance increases between those two, people leave. That’s why it’s so important to interact curiously with friends, family & MAGA

Tucker Carlson says Trump betrayed his followers, but let’s look at what’s really going on. He says this war goes against “America First,” but his agenda is documented pro-Putin, pro-Russia, & not putting America first. He says he loves America. Don’t believe it for a minute.

You’ve been sold a fantasy crisis. The facts tell a different story. Bill Eddy and I talk about the lie behind anti-immigrant fear messaging, and what the research says about crime, work, and the economy. This is about manipulation, not safety. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/7XquEpUpt1w

The Epstein files, the Iran war, talk of Armageddon, a “Holy War.” What is really going on?

Should Ghislaine Maxwell be released from prison? Absolutely not. Maxwell needs to be sent back to the high-security prison she was sentenced to! Never released! What do you think? Put your comments below. Video credit: 60 Minutes Australia YouTube.

I view trafficking networks as commercial cults, with a guru at the top, the trafficker, who is a malignant narcissist, the stereotypical profile of cult leaders. They control Behavior, Information, Thoughts, and Emotions (BITE) to create dependency and obedience.

Come and join me and Author, Craig Unger on Friday, March 13th at 2pm EST. We're going to be focusing on Russia's co-option of Donald Trump. It's going to be really valuable! Bring your questions. I'll see you there!

Robert De Niro remains one of my heroes for speaking boldly against Trump. And when he calls people to take to the streets, I want to remind everyone that the next No Kings Day is March 28th! It needs to be the largest national and international protest against Trump & authoritarianism. 📹@reuters

“Unexpected money” out of nowhere? Authors Holly Pivec and Doug Geivett break down how prosperity gospel is framed as “restored truth,” then uses declaration-style prayer before offerings to reinforce the promise. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/YM5BBJuIW0Y

Our military being told that Trump is “anointed by God” and that this is a Holy War should alarm everyone, especially Americans. What do you think about this push toward a ‘Holy War’ narrative? Put your comments below.

A lot of people are asking for my thoughts on the attack on Iran, and there’s a lot to unpack. What do you think about the timing and impact of this attack? Put your comments below.

Elon Musk’s huge social media platform X (Twitter) is a plague. Musk's latest behavior is a masterclass in projection, and John Oliver nailed it. Video credit: @lastweektonight

When even Nobel Laureate in economics Paul Krugman calls crypto a cult, it’s worth paying attention. Click here: open.substack.com/pub/stevenha... to read the full article breakdown on this! Video credit: @hmdk

They smile in person, then hate her online. @pamhemphill53.bsky.social and I talk about what happens when you treat people like humans, then confront the betrayal after. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/Dw6w84c8dtk

Jimmy Kimmel’s humor might land for many of us, but it won’t necessarily pull a true believer out of the cult of Trump.

Here is a perfect example of how the big lie works. Trump’s “we’re winning too much” routine! What do you think when you hear him make claims like this? I’d love to hear your thoughts below. Video Credit: @cbsnews

I'm excited to invite you to join me on a live stream tomorrow, February 27th at 2pm EST with a man named Amir Essalhi who has very recently left Scientology and who was also in charge of Scientology's TikTok account. He has lots to share and it's going to be very controversial!

Trump plastering his face on the DOJ isn’t “making America safe again”, it’s a warning sign. While he pushes this propaganda, he's also moving battleships and aircraft carriers toward Iran, allowing ICE to victimize people, & inhumane warehouses are being bought up to detain people

Trump's name has been documented to be in the Epstein files over 1000 times (so far). Trump claiming he’s “exonerated” by the Epstein files is just another example of his escalating pathological lying, and people are finally starting to see it. Video Credit: @cnn.com

More and more Trump followers are finally realizing something is deeply wrong, and they can’t look away anymore. Thank you @janiceacomstock and everyone finding the courage to speak out for women’s rights, children’s rights, and basic morality despite pressure, threats, or fear of being ostracized

I’m so excited that my podcast interview with Trevor Noah and his friend Eugene just came out on their podcast, What Now? With Trevor Noah. Please check out the interview and let me know what you think, and if you find it valuable, please like and share it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ulv...

Yes, even I got scammed by an AI-generated supplement ad. At a vulnerable moment, anyone can fall victim. Even experts can get fooled. The key is to slow down, verify, and check with trusted people before buying into anything online. Have you or someone you know been targeted by an AI scam?

Come and join me LIVE today, Wednesday February 18th at 2pm EST!

Trump’s latest animation stunt isn’t just childish, it reveals exactly who he is. This behavior isn’t funny. It’s not “owning the libs.” It’s another example of his long, well-documented racist background and his pattern of demeaning others for sport.

I couldn’t stay quiet about Trump’s comments on Bad Bunny because the contrast says a lot!

If you want a window into what's really going on, join me for a live stream with my colleague and friend, Dave Troy, today - Friday February 13th at noon EST. Dave is a fountain of knowledge and one of the most knowledgeable people that I go to on current events. Bring your questions!

Trump and his inner circle are terrified of the Epstein files and this clip makes it obvious why. Epstein had the goods on him, and they know it. Video credit: Brut

Come and join me for my live stream today, February 11th at 2pm EST. And make sure to bring your questions!

Kaitlan Collins showed exactly how you stand up to a bully, and Trump couldn’t handle it. When she pressed him about the Epstein survivors who still haven’t received justice, he didn’t answer. He attacked her smile, attacked her professionalism, and attacked CNN. Classic cult like behavior. 📹 CNN

If free & fair elections, accountability, & human rights mean anything, then the people responsible, & the systems enabling them, must be stopped and held accountable. The world is waking up. And hopefully more Americans who once supported Trump and MAGA are starting to question what they were sold

Trump’s Truth Social rant after the Grammys tells us everything we need to know about how mind control works. Trump’s behavior follows the same pattern I saw when I realized my former leader was lying to me. Once the lie cracks in a person's mind, the entire illusion begins to crumble.

This Friday, February 6th we’re going to tackle one of the most important conversations of this moment. I’m going live at 3:30 PM Eastern across all my social media platforms with a very Adam James, PhD, many of you know him as @epistemiccrisis.bsky.social I’d love for you to join us!

Your psychedelic facilitator is NOT your friend. In this clip, Erica Siegal and I break down why bonding, oversharing, and blurred boundaries can become undue influence when you’re in a highly suggestible state. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/8J5-BJ4Livo @panderica.bsky.social

Check out my recent livestream collaboration with THE LEFT HOOK Wajahat Ali! See the full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qELX...

This is what happens when obedience and fear replace accountability. In Minneapolis, federal immigration agents have now fatally shot two U.S. citizens in January, first Renee Good, then Alex Pretti, who was unarmed and filming agents before he was tackled and shot dead.

That “confidence” might be a mask. Narcissism expert Frank George, PhD explains how pathological narcissism can be driven by deep insecurity. And when the mask cracks, they’ll do anything to protect it. Sound like anyone you know? Watch the full interview here: youtu.be/gzvPC6tKS5Q

Did you see Special Counsel Jack Smith testify before the House Judiciary Committee? As Smith's very strong prosecutable case is shared with the public, I want people to stay focused not only on Jack Smith’s work but also on the Epstein files, pedophilia, and trafficking issues. Video: @pbsnews

Leigh McGowan is absolutely right to call out Scott Jennings for minimizing the importance of the trafficking cover-up of the Epstein files. We have to resist normalization. We have to resist minimization. And we have to stay focused on the victims who have been ignored for far too long

Moments like this are exactly why I stress caution. With so much disinformation and fake AI content circulating, we all need to resist confirmation bias and wait for credible, verifiable reporting. Be careful what you like, share, and amplify. In moments like this, discernment matters.

Outrage is the easiest way to hijack your mind, and it’s being weaponized daily. Former Oath Keeper @jasonvantat.bsky.social & I explain why anger shuts down critical thinking & why America needs “exit ramps” for people to come back to themselves. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/GcAGpzyyxYM

Authoritarians thrive on distraction, outrage cycles, fear & MAGA leadership has been using classic cult tactics: flooding the zone with chaos so people stop looking at the truth that actually matters. Have you noticed the political noise drowning out talk of the Epstein files? 🎥: @hilarieburton

Come and join me for my live stream today, Wednesday January 14th at 2pm EST! We have a lot to talk about, so make sure to bring your questions!

The Cult of the Housewife has finally premiered, and I’m already hearing from people who watched it and said my contribution was powerful. Video Credit: @TLC

Come and join me for my live stream today at 2pm EST and let's start the New Year out right!

Jack Smith’s testimony lays out something very important: the timeline shows Trump refused to stop the violence on January 6th, even when people he trusted were calling him. That alone is powerful evidence of intent.

If you want a chance at keeping your relationship strong, lead with compassion, patience, & genuine curiosity. Love is stronger than mind control. What’s been the hardest part for you as a parent trying to stay connected to a MAGA-involved child? I’d really like to hear @jimpicariello.bsky.social

After the Bondi Beach attack, I’ve been thinking again about how many extremist groups have used The Matrix to recruit & radicalize people online The film’s “red pill” metaphor is powerful, but it’s been deliberately twisted to pull people away from reality, grounding, relationships, & their values

Marjorie Taylor Greene admitting she was naive is a powerful reminder that even the most fanatical followers can come to terms with being lied to. For 2026, I encourage you to reach out to family & friends involved in MAGA. I believe millions can leave the Cult of Trump if they feel safe to do so

This heartbreaking interview shows how quickly Trump's inhumane immigration /ICE program can turn an innocent mother into a criminal, illegal alien. Video credit: @cnn

Telling your MAGA loved one that you hate who they’ve become just pushes them away. What actually works is asking questions. Bring them back to memories of who they were before they were recruited & help them reconnect with parts of themselves that previously existed! @jimpicariello.bsky.social

A rom-com about cults? That’s the premise of The Cult of Us, a funny, dark & surprisingly educational film about how cults recruit, how people stay trapped, and how they break free. Watch the full video: youtu.be/x2r846Sgop8 @jimpicariello.bsky.social

Most people go into political conversations with their MAGA family ready for a debate. But debate is the fastest way to push someone deeper into the movement. There is a better way.

Come and join me for my live stream today Wednesday December 10th at 2pm EST

“Shame is the human nuclear weapon.” In this powerful clip, Dr. Lisa Diamond breaks down the real psychological damage caused by conversion therapy and why shame hits the human brain like a threat to survival itself. Watch the full episode here: youtu.be/BCipDRmEk3o

Hinton is talking about real, immediate dangers of AI: widespread job automation, deepfake videos that could destabilize elections, autonomous weapons, engineered viruses & the longer-term threat of superintelligent systems acting beyond human control. These are not abstract concerns, they’re real!

The interview Stephen Bartlett did with Tristan Harris was incredibly rich and ended on a hopeful note. But hope only matters if we act. We need ethical structures and a clear understanding of undue influence before AI systems begin shaping people’s realities at scale.

Trump sold himself as the man who would fix the economy, but 312 days into his presidency, The Economist says his rating is already negative 19% percent. The cracks are beginning to show!

Scientology was made to block Jesus’s return. Jon Atack and I break down the bulletin Hubbard had to pull within a week: his Lucifer claims, the rituals with Jack Parsons, and the bizarre mythology he only revealed to high-paying insiders. 📹: youtu.be/8TjOhQsCqTQ @jonatack.bsky.social

My goal with this video is to support you in having a Thanksgiving that does not explode into confrontation or distance. If you want a deeper breakdown of what to avoid and what to do instead click here: stevenhassan.substack.com/p/5-phrases-... @jimpicariello.bsky.social

Come and join me for my live stream today, Wednesday 19th November at 2pm EST!