"People think facts are evidence of wokeism" - Nish Kumar meets Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales (pt 3)

How do you keep facts front and center in a world where reality itself is under siege? This revealing conversation pulls back the curtain on the fragile state of public trust and why Wikipedia’s purpose is so different from platforms driven by polarization and bias. Hear Jimmy Wales defend Wikipedia’s mission against accusations of political agenda, describe how even facts themselves are now seen as “evidence of wokeism,” and explain why “reality will win—even if it takes awhile.” The discussion dives into viral misstatements from world leaders, the dangerous rise of weaponized misinformation, and what happens when tech giants enter the knowledge arena. Get ready for sharp debate, personal stories, and a surprisingly hopeful take on the future—where the battle for facts may be tough, but dedicated nerds, thoughtful dialogue, and public accountability still matter most. Event description: Comedian Nish Kumar joins Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales to ask: in the post-truth age, can we save the resource that powers both Wikipedia and our democracy? Two decades ago, Jimmy Wales founded Wikipedia and transformed the world’s access to knowledge. Today, people view Wikipedia 11 billion times every month in the English language alone. Nish Kumar is one; in fact he loves the site so much that, before he was known as the UK’s preeminent political comedian, he used to present his own Nishipedia feature on Radio X. In an age of ‘alternative facts’, conspiracies and disinformation, the foundations of Wikipedia are increasingly under threat: and the problem at the heart of it all extends to the whole of society. Trust: like water, like electricity, our society can’t function without it. It’s a treasure, a living thing that can be cultivated and grown. But it can also wither and die, and it is increasingly under threat. Without it, we have no knowledge, and without knowledge, we can’t fight back. Derived from decades of observation, participation and discussion with leaders across the world, Jimmy and Nish will share clear, actionable rules for building trust in business, leadership and life. Bringing together an icon of the digital age with one of our greatest living comics, this is an unmissable live event for anyone interested in the future of knowledge and turning the tide against our age of disinformation. Praise for Jimmy Wales’s The Seven Rules of Trust: ‘Fascinating … Should be required reading everywhere’ – Stephen Fry ‘An important book … Both hopeful and practical’ – Yuval Noah Harari ‘Where trust has been lost, Jimmy Wales offers routes to its rediscovery’ – Alastair Campbell ‘Thank you to Jimmy Wales for founding Wikipedia and now, for the first time, telling us how he did it!’ – Simon Sinek