Reporting on Trump’s business past with David Cay Johnston
On this week’s episode, Pete talks with Pulitzer-winning investigative reporter David Cay Johnston, who has spent decades covering Donald Trump’s business dealings, about The New York Times’s investigation into how the president got rich. Then, CJR’s Nausicaa Renner and Alexandria Neason join the pod to discuss media ethics questions raised by reporting on Christine Blasey Ford.
4 Okt 201830min
On Kavanaugh coverage and whether we’ve reached peak podcast
On this week’s episode, Pete talks with CJR Editor and Publisher Kyle Pope about the deluge of news regarding Brett Kavanaugh and Rod Rosenstein that dominated the beginning of the week. (Note: The podcast was recorded before Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford testified on Thursday.) Then CJR’s Matthew Ingram calls in to discuss whether the podcast bubble is bursting.
27 Sep 201825min
On fallen men and the mystery of Tucker Carlson
On this week’s episode, Pete talks with CJR Digital Editor Nausicaa Renner about the recent decision by both Harper’s and The New York Review of Books to publish first-person accounts written by men accused of sexual assault and harassment. (Note: The podcast was recorded before news broke that Ian Buruma was out at NYRB.) Then Lyz Lenz, author of “The mystery of Tucker Carlson,” calls in from Iowa to talk about her profile of the Fox News anchor.
20 Sep 201834min
On Bob Woodward’s sources and journalism in Iraq
On this week’s episode, Pete talks with CJR Tow Editor Sam Thielman about the coverage of Bob Woodward’s blockbuster book, Fear: Trump in the White House. In taking the Trump presidency as his subject, Woodward had to assemble a reliable book from unreliable sources. Then, Sam shares what he learned about media in Iraq during his recent trip to the country. After tight controls of the press under Saddam Hussein, journalists are trying to build a vibrant media ecosystem while battling fake news.
13 Sep 201822min
Woodward on Trump; press crackdowns in Myanmar
On this week’s episode, Pete talks with Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, about the conviction of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The two Reuters reporters were sentenced to seven year in prison after helping expose atrocities in Myanmar. Then, CJR Editor and Publisher Kyle Pope joins to discuss the reaction to Bob Woodward’s upcoming book, "Fear: Trump in the White House." They discuss why books do a better job of capturing Trump’s Washington than daily politic...
6 Sep 201825min
Covering John McCain’s death and the politics of ESPN
Managing Editor Betsy Morais and Senior Staff Writer Alexandria Neason join Pete to talk about the deluge of coverage following John McCain’s death. Why was the Arizona senator beloved by much of the press, and did that change in recent years? Then, they turn to the departure of Jemele Hill from ESPN. The veteran journalist became the face of the network’s struggle to navigate the political waters of the Trump era. Her exit raises the question: Is it possible to be apolitical in 2018?
30 Aug 201818min
Emily Bell on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s press ban & Jack Dorsey’s press tour
On this week’s episode, Pete is joined by Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia, to discuss the reaction to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s ban on reporters at two recent campaign events. Then, Emily weighs in on Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s recent media tour. Is Twitter really ready to change? And what do necessary changes even look like?
23 Aug 201828min
Were all the free press editorials worth it?
On this week’s episode, Pete is joined by CJR Editor and Publisher Kyle Pope to discuss the flood of editorials celebrating journalism in the face of attacks by the president. Were they a worthy defense or a misguided effort? Then, CJR senior staff writer Alexandria Neason stops by to dive into the controversy surrounding a Washington Post feature that has been accused of racial insensitivity.
17 Aug 201824min
