Shelby Talcott is the White House Correspondent for Semafor. She spent the last year covering the Trump Campaign all across America. She also covered the BLM riots during her time at the Daily Caller, where we met.

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro
1:00 Trump winning the 2024 election 
2:36 Podcast Election: Trump team's media approach 
10:46 Cable News: Declining ratings, vanity
16:07 The VIBE SHIFT
18:36 MAGA vs Tech Right
20:46 What led Shelby to political journalism
25:55 Gender gap in politics 
27:13 The Washington DC news bubble
29:35 Trump's appeal to Middle America   
33:45 End of liberal world order?
36:40 American Underbelly: Covering the BLM Riots 
41:23 Shelby couldn't cover the riots because she's a woman?
43:40 Covering the Trump White House 
45:08 Shelby is getting married!
46:04 Daily Caller alumni: Saagar Enjeti, Kaitlan Collins, more...
47:14 BONUS: Shelby got arrested during the riots 

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu