What “Pluribus” reveals about economics

Jan 8th 2026|5 min read

The funniest scene in “Pluribus”, a hit show from Apple TV, arrives in the fourth episode, when the heroine, Carol Sturka, discovers that the rest of humanity can no longer lie. Carol starts the series as a burnt-out, boozy, best-selling writer of fantasy romance novels. Things take a turn when an alien virus arrives, melding people into a mysterious hive mind. Carol is one of only 13 individuals who remain immune. The members of this collective consciousness share each other’s thoughts, memories and feelings, as effortlessly as breathing. They cannot deceive each other and they seem unwilling to lie to Carol, either. That gives our heroine an unusual opportunity. What do you ask an all-knowing person who must tell you the truth? Why, you ask him what your spouse really thought of your writing, of course.