President Donald Trump has signed dozens of executive orders since returning to office. On this week’s On the Media, how the directives are butting heads with existing laws. Plus, what the DeepSeek saga reveals about American A.I.[01:00]  Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with <a href="https://slate.com/author/dahlia-lithwick">Dahlia Lithwick</a>, a senior editor at Slate and host of the podcast <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/amicus">Amicus</a>, to discuss Donald Trump’s attempt to freeze billions of dollars in federal funding, the legality of the president’s litany of executive orders, and how political paralysis is the point.[21:00] Brooke speaks with <a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/">Ed Zitron</a>, host of the <a href="https://www.betteroffline.com/">Better Offline</a> podcast and author of the newsletter Where’s Your Ed At on how the release of a new Chinese AI chatbot model, DeepSeek-R1, threatens to burst the American A.I. bubble, and how tech moguls have gotten away with overhyping A.I. for years.[38:14] Brooke continues the conversation with <a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/">Ed Zitron</a>, peeling back the facade to explore what generative A.I. can actually do.Further reading:<ul><li>“<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/01/supreme-court-analysis-john-roberts-trump-budget-freeze.html">How Will the Supreme Court Respond to Trump’s Budget-Freeze Power Grab?</a>” by Dahlia Lithwick</li><li>“<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/01/john-roberts-respond-to-trump-executive-orders.html">Trump’s First Flurry of Executive Orders Plagued by a Surprising Problem</a>,” by Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern</li><li>“<a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/deep-impact/">Deep Impact</a>,” by Ed Zitron</li><li>“<a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/godot-isnt-making-it/">Godot Isn't Making it</a>,” by Ed Zitron</li><li>“<a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/bubble-trouble/">Bubble Trouble</a>,” by Ed Zitron</li></ul>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

The legality of Trump’s executive orders, and overhyping A.I.

Is That Legal? Plus, DeepSeek and the A.I. Bubble.

When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, all the big tech firms were clamoring to make their own versions of the “intelligent” chatbot. Billions of dollars have been thrown into the technology – training the models, creating more advanced computer chips, building data centers. But last week, a Chinese artificial intelligence company called DeepSeek released a generative AI model that is not only competitive with the latest version of OpenAI’s model, but it was done cheaper, in less time, and with less advanced hardware. For this midweek podcast extra, host Brooke Gladstone sat down with <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/edzitron.com">Ed Zitron</a>, host of the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-offline/id1730587238">Better Offline podcast</a> and writer of the newsletter “<a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/">Where’s your Ed at</a>,” to talk about how this new Chinese AI model threatens to burst the American tech AI bubble.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

How DeepSeek threatens to burst the American AI bubble.

Brooke Talks AI With Ed Zitron

President Donald Trump’s second term began with a flurry of executive orders and press. On this week’s On the Media, how to navigate the onslaught of news. Plus, executives at major outlets are telling reporters to tone down coverage of the new administration. And, what we can learn about Trump by looking at the legacy of his favorite president, William McKinley.[01:00]  Host Brooke Gladstone on the flood of executive orders emerging from President Trump’s return to the Oval Office, and how the chaos is the point. Plus, host Micah Loewinger explores the role of fear in stymying action and understanding. [18:55] Micah Loewinger speaks with <a href="https://www.status.news/">Oliver Darcy</a>, author of the newsletter Status and former CNN media reporter, on how media execs are instructing reporters to tone down their Trump coverage, and how current political journalism compares to that of four years ago.[34:21] Brooke Gladstone speaks with <a href="https://www.thenation.com/authors/chris-lehmann/">Chris Lehmann</a>, the DC Bureau chief for The Nation and a contributing editor at The Baffler, on what we can learn from President Donald Trump's role model, President William McKinley. Further reading:<ul><li>“<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/opinion/trump-mass-deportation-immigration.html">What ‘Mass Deportation’ Actually Means</a>,” by Dara Lind</li><li>“<a href="https://www.status.news/p/the-invasion-of-the-body-snatchers">The Invasion of the Body Snatchers</a>,” by Oliver Darcy</li><li>“<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-mckinley/">Donald Trump Is Building a Bridge to 1896</a>,” by Chris Lehmann</li></ul>  
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

A deluge of executive orders; subdued media coverage of Trump 2.0; and a second Gilded Age.

Week One of Trump 2.0

We are living in history all of the time. Nevertheless, there are some times that seem more historical than usual. Like now, when academics and artists and even librarians have come under attack. We mention this particular sign of these times because of a new, delightful book by historian Elyse Graham, professor of Sociology at Stony Brook University called “Book and Dagger - How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War Two." The book is a breezy and enthralling read, but assiduously footnoted for those who might question her very compelling argument that without this unheralded corp of peculiar recruits, that war might very well have been lost. 
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Brooke spoke to Elyse Graham, author of “Book and Dagger - How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War Two."

Wars Are Won By Stories

The Supreme Court has upheld a ban on TikTok. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the ruling could affect other media companies, and where TikTokers are going next. Plus, California’s latest wildfires are devastating, but they’re not unprecedented.[01:00]  Host Micah Loewinger sits down with <a href="https://x.com/DavidCole_Gtown">David Cole</a>, professor of law and public policy at Georgetown University, and former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union, to discuss what the Supreme Court TikTok ban could mean for all kinds of media companies.[16:39] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with <a href="https://x.com/broderick">Ryan Broderick</a>, tech journalist, host of the podcast Panic World, and author of the newsletter “Garbage Day,” on the great TikTok migration to RedNote, and what the platform’s potential ban means for the future of the Internet.[35:08] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccasolnit.bsky.social">Rebecca Solnit</a>, author of A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster, on what she, a California native, has found shocking but not surprising about the Los Angeles fires. Further reading:<ul><li>“<a href="https://www.nybooks.com/online/2025/01/08/free-speech-for-tiktok/">Free Speech for TikTok?</a>,” by David Cole</li><li>“<a href="https://www.garbageday.email/p/america-s-youth-longs-for-chinese-e-commerce">America's youth longs for Chinese e-commerce,</a>” by Ryan Broderick</li><li>“<a href="https://www.garbageday.email/p/tiktok-doesn-t-need-america">TikTok doesn't need America</a>,” by Ryan Broderick</li><li>“<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/09/california-fire-memory">The chronicle of a fire foretold</a>,” by Rebecca Solnit</li><li><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-paradise-built-in-hell-the-extraordinary-communities-that-arise-in-disaster-rebecca-solnit/11725474?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAnKi8BhB0EiwA58DA4exgrknTVbFzuA5anr2i70eF63Q3XYdSCiS99Fsm1KjCAUmOPW-4txoCJQoQAvD_BwE">A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster</a> by Rebecca Solnit</li></ul>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/on

The Supreme Court upholds the TikTok ban; and the precedent for L.A. wildfires.

Farewell TikTok? Plus, the Role of Memory and Forgetting with the L.A. Wildfires.

There have been hints dropped that the incoming administration intends to shake up the White House briefing room to potentially allow in more podcasters and outlets friendly to Trump. Whether or not it happens, the threats set the tone for another period of bad relations with the press corps. Time Magazine’s Olivia Waxman told Brooke back in 2017 that it was ever thus. 
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Bad relations between the President and the White House Press Corps? It was ever thus.

A Shake Up In The Briefing Room?

NPR and PBS stations are bracing for war with the incoming Trump administration. On this week’s On the Media, the long history of efforts to save—and snuff out—public broadcasting. Plus, the role of public radio across the country, from keeping local governments in check to providing life-saving information during times of crisis.[01:00]  Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger explore the history of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and break down the funding with <a href="https://current.org/author/karen-everhart/">Karen Everhart</a>, managing editor of Current.[06:59]  Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Senator <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/">Ed Markey</a> of Massachusetts, a member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, which oversees the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, on his decades-long fight with Republican lawmakers to keep NPR and PBS alive.[13:44]  Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with <a href="https://www.heritage.org/staff/mike-gonzalez">Mike Gonzalez</a>, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, who authored a part of the foundation’s Project 2025 chapter on ending CPB funding. [34:26] Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger on how public radio stations across the country work to hold local governments accountable, ft: <a href="https://www.kunc.org/people/scott-franz">Scott Franz</a> of KUNC in Colorado, <a href="https://mattkatz.press/">Matt Katz</a> formerly of WNYC, and <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/people/lindsey-smith">Lindsey Smith</a> of Michigan Public.[00:00] Host Micah Loewinger takes a deep dive into the role of public radio during crises, ft: <a href="https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/people/tom-michael">Tom Michael</a>, founder of Marfa Public Radio and <a href="https://www.bpr.org/people/laura-lee">Laura Lee</a>, news director for Blue Ridge Public Radio.[00:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with <a href="https://www.kyuk.org/people/sage-smiley">Sage Smiley</a>, news director at KYUK in Bethel, Alaska, to talk about the station’s life-saving coverage of the Kuskokwim Ice Road in southwestern Alaska, and what the region would lose without public radio.Further reading:<ul><li>“<a href="https://current.org/2017/05/end-of-cpb-funding-would-affect-stations-of-all-sizes/">End of CPB funding would affect stations of all sizes</a>,” by Adam Ragusea</li><li>“<a href="https://knightfoundation.org/public-media-white-paper

The history of public broadcasting and its adversaries; and the modern place of public radio in covering community and crises.

Public Broadcasting Is In Danger (Again)

In the aftermath of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, politicians, pundits, and the American public condemned the violence—while many considered Donald Trump responsible for what had happened. In a few weeks, Trump will be sworn in for a second term at the very same place rioters overran four years ago. For this midweek podcast extra, host Micah Loewinger sat down with Dan Barry, senior writer at The New York Times and co-author of the recent article, “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/05/us/politics/january-6-capitol-riot-trump.html">‘A Day of Love’: How Trump Inverted the Violent History of Jan. 6</a>,” to talk about how Trump and his allies diligently worked to rewrite the American memory of that day, and why they were so successful.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Four years later, the new meaning of January 6.

How Trump Re-Wrote the History of January 6

The complete story of American imperialism is missing from our history books. On this week’s On the Media, how the United States worked to capture territory and expand power, while preaching democracy and freedom. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with historian Daniel Immerwahr, on the hidden history of the United States empire. For Americans, empire often means economic and military power abroad, or CIA coups in Central America–not British-style imperialism. But the American empire was — and in some ways continues to be — a lot closer than most people realize. Immerwahr explains the role of guano — bird poop — in launching America's overseas empire, and the legal, political and social clashes that ensued.[17:57] Host Brooke Gladstone continues her conversation with historian Daniel Immerwahr, exploring why, at the dawn of the last century, the arguments over imperialism didn’t end with poets like Rudyard Kipling and writers like Mark Twain. How should the adolescent U.S., big-headed about its democratic values, grapple with capturing territory? Immerwahr explains how this vital debate blazed across America’s consciousness like a comet, then vanished just as quickly.[34:47] Host Brooke Gladstone and historian Daniel Immerwahr conclude their conversation, discussing how, after World War II, global anti-colonial sentiment (combined with less dependence on natural resources) led to a shrinking of America's physical empire. But the American empire didn't disappear — it merely changed form. This originally aired in our April 5, 2019 program, “<a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/on-the-media-empire-state-mind" target="_blank">Empire State of Mind.</a>”Further reading/listening/watching:<ul><li><a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250251091/howtohideanempire/">How To Hide An Empire: A History of the Greater United States,</a> by Daniel Immerwahr</li></ul>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

A history of American imperialism.

America’s Empire State of Mind

With Trump’s imminent return to the White House, we’ve decided to take stock of how political and journalistic norms have evolved over the years. For this week’s midweek podcast, we’re sharing an episode from Radiolab that aired in October, on the whirlwind history of Gary Hart, a young charismatic Democrat who in 1987 was poised to win his party’s nomination and possibly the presidency – until a bombshell sex scandal derailed it all. Brooke Gladstone and Radiolab co-host Latif Nasser discuss that history, and why sex scandals don’t really matter anymore. 
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

The case of Gary Hart.

Do Sex Scandals Matter Anymore in Politics?

It’s been almost a year since the historic music outlet Pitchfork shrank considerably. On this week’s On the Media, why the distinctive voices in music journalism are worth saving. Plus, how AI music generators could upend the industry. [01:00]  Host Micah Loewinger, speaks with <a href="https://x.com/annkpowers">Ann Powers</a>, critic and correspondent for NPR Music, on Condé Nast's acquisition of the influential music publication Pitchfork, and what this means for the future of music journalism.[12:45] Host Micah Loewinger speaks to <a href="https://www.kylechayka.com/">Kyle Chayka</a>, staff writer at The New Yorker, about how algorithms are changing how people discover and listen to music – and all too often, not for the better.[28:39] Former OTM producer, and current composer and sound designer, <a href="https://www.markhenryphillips.com/">Mark Henry Phillips</a>, on how AI music generators could fundamentally upend the industry for good. Further reading:<ul><li>“<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/24/1226293958/pitchfork-layoffs-music-journalism">With Pitchfork in peril, a word on the purpose of music journalism</a>,” by Ann Powers</li><li><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/why-i-finally-quit-spotify">"Why I Finally Quit Spotify</a>," by Kyle Chayka</li></ul>A segment from this show originally aired on our January 19, 2024 program, <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/on-the-media-trouble-baltimore-sun-end-of-era-pitchfork?tab=summary">Trouble at The Baltimore Sun, and the End of an Era for Pitchfork.     </a>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

The state of music criticism; and the AI generator that could put composers out of a job.

How AI and Algorithms Are Transforming Music

For the new documentary, <a href="https://www.jolt.film/watch/the-bibi-files">The Bibi Files</a>, director Alexis Bloom uses hundreds of hours of leaked, previously unseen interrogation footage of  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, his son Yair, his staff and inner circle – to trace how the corruption charges against Netanyahu and Israel’s war on Gaza have converged. On this week’s midweek podcast, we re-air a conversation between Brooke Gladstone and Israeli journalist <a href="https://x.com/ravivdrucker?lang=en">Raviv Drucker</a>, one of the main guides through The Bibi Files, to discuss his role in the documentary and how Netanyahu’s corruption cases act as the “engine” that drives the wider conflict in the region. 
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Featuring never-before-seen interrogation footage.

A New Film Unearths the Depths of Netanyahu's Corruption

Donald Trump has a big plan to remake American universities. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the distinctly American idea of “diversity” has fallen out of favor—from higher education to the Supreme Court. Reporter Ilya Marritz explains how the deep history of Harvard and the concept of “diversity” is the hidden subtext for much of the recent strife. In the past half-century, the academy (and the business world) embraced the idea of diversity as a social good–an idea developed at Harvard and endorsed by the Supreme Court, until the latter ended race-based affirmative action in 2023. This episode also looks at what’s in store for universities as the incoming Trump-Vance administration promises to pressure them to change curricula.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Trump’s big plan to remake American universities puts academia on high alert.

The Harvard Plan: The Universities Are The Enemy

This year was earth’s hottest on record, and the Atlantic storm season brought with it five major hurricanes. And yet in December, the Pew Research Center found that only some 20 percent of Americans expect to make major sacrifices in their lifetime due to the climate crisis. According to writer Nathaniel Rich, when it comes to planning for a fraught future, New Orleans sets an example the rest of the country would be wise to follow.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

New Orleans faces up to the climate crisis.

How to Plan for Inevitable Disaster

The suspected killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO has been crowned a hero by many on social media. On this week’s On the Media, what the fandom reveals, and what the coverage of it has missed. Plus, tune in to part two of The Harvard Plan. Hear how plagiarism allegations at the university exploded into a toxic discourse about DEI and “diversity hires.”[01:00]  Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger examine how the suspected killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO became an internet sensation, what the spectacle itself reveals, and the gulf between the reactions on TikTok and in mainstream media. [15:29] Reporter <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:zbxdygzalwgi2wc4kp65q3ho">Ilya Marritz</a>, in part two of this collaboration with WNYC’s On The Media, Harvard’s first Black president Claudine Gay is accused of academic plagiarism, just days after giving testimony to Congress. The drip-drip of new allegations keeps the story in the headlines. It also reinforces critics’ allegation that Gay is a “diversity hire,” unworthy of the job. We hear from two of the writers who broke that news, and from a defender of Harvard’s diversity efforts.Check out our collaboration with the Boston Globe <a href="https://pod.link/1767012898">here</a>. Further reading/listening/watching:<ul><li>“<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/luigi-mangione-s-full-story-isn-t-online/ar-AA1vF5bZ?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1">Luigi Mangione’s Full Story Isn’t Online</a>,” by John Herrman</li><li>"<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/nick_hanauer_beware_fellow_plutocrats_the_pitchforks_are_coming?subtitle=en">Beware, fellow plutocrats, the pitchforks are coming</a>," Ted Talk by Nick Hanauer</li></ul> 
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

The suspected killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO goes viral, and the culture war that ousted Harvard’s first Black president.

A Cold-Blooded Killing Ignites a National Conversation. Plus, Part Two of The Harvard Plan.

Last week, the website for Enron – yes, that Enron – came back online. And on Monday the new CEO, Connor Gaydos, introduced himself, with what the fine print called "First Amendment protected parody." And it so happens that Gaydos is a source of another satirical piece of news… "Birds Aren't Real." On this week's midweek podcast, we re-air a conversation between Brooke Gladstone and writer <a href="https://www.ianbeacock.com/">Ian Beacock</a>, about how the fake conspiracy theory gained traction, and what it reveals about our culture.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Behind the satirical news.

Enron is Back, and Birds Aren't Real

Many of Donald Trump’s cabinet picks are emulating online influencers in their efforts to sell products and promote themselves. On this week’s On the Media, hear about the phenomenon academics are calling “influencer creep.” Plus, a look at the short, troubled tenure of Harvard’s 30th president, Claudine Gay, and the media firestorm that ensued.[01:00]  Host Micah Loewinger speaks with <a href="https://x.com/drewharwell?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Drew Harwell</a>, technology reporter at The Washington Post, and <a href="https://x.com/elainaplott?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Elaina Plott Calabro</a>, staff writer at The Atlantic, on how, and why, Donald Trump is filling his cabinet with influencers. [14:27] Reporter <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:zbxdygzalwgi2wc4kp65q3ho">Ilya Marritz</a>, in part one of our collaboration with the Boston Globe, dives into Claudine Gay's groundbreaking tenure as Harvard's first Black president. Gay’s appointment began with high hopes in September 2023, but soon devolved into a proxy battleground for American cultural wars — spurring escalating disputes over anti-Semitism and free speech, tarnishing her presidency as a symbol of diversity's failings. This series slows down the whipsaw chain of events to bring listeners direct eyewitness accounts of what happened, from professors, wealthy donors, and spiritual leaders.Further reading/listening/watching:<ul><li>“<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/12/01/trump-social-media-influencer-cabinet/">Trump and allies blur the lines between politician and influencer</a>,” by Drew Harwell</li><li>“<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/10/kash-patel-trump-national-security-council/679566/">The Man Who Will Do Anything for Trump</a>,” by Elaina Plott Calabro</li></ul>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Why the White House is recruiting officials with their own online microphones, and the ideological battle over America’s universities.

Donald Trump’s Cabinet of Influencers. Plus, The Harvard Plan.

Over the weekend, president-elect Donald Trump nominated a little-known, largely inexperienced civil servant to an enormous role in his upcoming administration – Kash Patel as FBI director. Firing current FBI director Christopher Wray, who has 2 years left in his 10 year term, would itself be an alarming break in norms. Atlantic staff writer <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/elaina-plott/">Elaina Plott Calabro</a>, profiled Kash Patel in August, chartint his rise to power, starting at the very beginning of his legal career. She explains how he came to loathe the media, and love Trump.Further reading:<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/10/kash-patel-trump-national-security-council/679566/">"The Man Who Will Do Anything For Trump</a>," by Elaina Plott Calabro<a href="https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/fbi_trump_patel_journalists.php">"What the FBI Has Done, and Kash Patel Could Do</a>," by Jon Allsop
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Getting to know Kash Patel.

Kash Patel’s Crusade Against the Media

How did the right get their vice grip of the airwaves, all the while arguing that they were being censored? On this week’s On the Media, a look at the early history of American radio, and why, in the post-war era, the U.S. government encouraged more diverse viewpoints on the airwaves — until it didn’t. Plus, the technological and legal changes that led to the popularity of conservative talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh. [00:10] Reporter Katie Thornton explains how radio programming shifted from the 1930s to the 1960s, and how the FCC attempted to prevent propaganda on the airwaves. Plus, what legal challenges conservative radio faced during the Civil Rights Era. [10:07] Reporter Katie Thornton takes a deeper look at The 700 Club, a Christian television news show that helped give rise to a network of conservative Christian radio stations.[22:51] Reporter Katie Thornton describes how the introduction of high-quality FM radio led AM radio to focus on talk radio, and the factors that made way for Rush Limbaugh to become the breakout star of conservative talk shows.Further reading/listening/watching:<ul><li><a href="https://www.pennpress.org/9780812224306/messengers-of-the-right/">Messengers of the Right: Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics</a> by Nicole Hemmer</li><li><a href="https://www.versobooks.com/products/2217-news-for-all-the-people?srsltid=AfmBOorPwcmZHkcDc_4r3Um91CAXlfJ913kgEXi16gZsVSn5tc-Jo9JC">News For All The People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media</a>, by Joseph Torres and Juan González</li><li><a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/shadow-network-9781635573190/">Shadow Network Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right</a>, by Anne Nelson</li><li><a href="https://www.brianrosenwald.com/book">Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States</a>, by Brian Rosenwald</li></ul>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

The legal, technological, and political factors that led to conservative talk radio ruling the airwaves.

How Conservative Talk Radio Came to Dominate the Airwaves

Our latest episode featured Micah's interview with Hank Green, a very popular YouTuber and science communicator. We got a lot of nice feedback about the conversation, and there were some interesting exchanges that we couldn’t fit in the radio version. So we’re bringing you a longer edit here. Hank describes how content creators depend on legacy media; his inspiration for making videos in 2007; and how OTM can reach a bigger audience.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

An extended version of Micah's interview with Youtuber Hank Green.

Hank Green Makes the Truth Go Viral (EXTENDED VERSION)

WNYC Studios

The Peabody Award-winning On the Media podcast is your guide to examining how the media sausage is made. Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger examine threats to free speech and government transparency, cast a skeptical eye on media coverage of the week’s big stories and unravel hidden political narratives in everything we read, watch and hear.

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