In three-card monte, con artists use swift hand moves and constant patter to convince a sucker there's a way to win. A magician, a theater professor, and a real-life grifter each describe how the monte isn’t just a crime; it’s street theater designed to keep its losers entertained. Read the full story here. #Magic #Crime #Science

A good magic trick isn’t just a trick – it’s a story wrapped around a trick. Magicians distract their audiences with professional smooth talk called patter, and it sounds eerily similar to what politicians deliver in debates and on the stump. Magicians Steven Cohen, Mark Levy and Harry Lorayne break down the power of patter. #Magic #Politics