How have Trump’s defamation lawsuits affected press freedom?

Alan and Lionel discuss Donald Trump’s $15bn lawsuit against the New York Times with NPR’s media correspondent, David Folkenflik.

David shares an insight into NPR’s future amid funding cuts, and talks about the importance of local journalism and publicly-owned media.

Plus, the trio discuss the shooting of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.

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As Donald Trump visits the UK, Alan and Lionel consider: if you were given one question to ask at Thursday’s press conference, what would it be?

The editors are asked about the media coverage of Saturday’s far right march, led by Tommy Robinson.

And following new revelations of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein—and his subsequent removal as US ambassador—what part did the media play in taking him down?

They also discuss the challenges faced by traditional newspapers in the digital age, and what the potential sale of a 20 per cent stake could mean for the Economist.

Plus, Lionel reveals one of the most humiliating moments in his journalistic career...

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This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by journalist and researcher Ayala Panievsky to talk about her most recent book The New Censorship: How the War on Media is Taking Us Down.

Ayala, whose research focuses on populism and democratic backsliding, explains the biggest threats to journalism today—and how reporters are fighting censorship all across the world. 

She explores media censorship in Israel, social media, and how politicians influence news coverage. Plus, how can journalists maintain independence and credibility in fraught times?

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After a gruelling few years and a bitter legal battle, Rupert Murdoch’s heir has been chosen.

This week, Alan and Lionel discuss the conclusion to the real-life Succession, as Lachlan Murdoch looks set to take control of his father’s media empire. What will it mean for the political direction of the business?

The hosts also discuss AI company Anthropic’s $1.5bn payout to authors and publishers, after being sued for using copyrighted materials to train large language models.

Plus, in light of Angela Rayner’s resignation, they wonder whether all politicians’ financial affairs should be made public.

To hear more on the Murdoch empire from Media Confidential, listen to our episode with Jim Rutenberg here.

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Does the First Amendment have a future?

This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Greg Lukianoff, the lawyer, best-selling author and president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

They discuss the Trump administration’s effect on free speech in the United States, and how censorship on university campuses has come from both sides of the political spectrum.

Greg also discusses the question of social media moderation, and his view on Lucy Connolly’s arrest for inciting racial hatred.

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Media Confidential is back for Season 3!

Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber take a dive into the world of media. What—and who—drives it? What do they get right... And what do they get wrong?

This week, as right-wing protests continue outside hotels housing asylum seekers, the hosts discuss the media’s role in pushing the “Broken Britain” narrative. Has the British press has been caught up in the whirlwind of Nigel Farage?

Plus, Alan and Lionel discuss the plight of journalists in Gaza, trust levels in local news and—in light of the upcoming ITV show The Hack—investigative journalist Nick Davies’s surprising updates to his book Hack Attack.

To read more on the phone hacking scandal from Prospect, click here.

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You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE.  

For Apple podcasts, click HERE. 

Has Trump's America become an autocracy?

While Media Confidential is on a short break, we’re bringing you the best of our sister podcast, the Prospect Podcast. Back in April, Ellen and Alona were joined by scholar of authoritarianism, Ruth Ben-Ghiat. Ruth analyses the Trump administration’s rapid shift towards authoritarianism. She talks about Trump’s personality cult, how strongmen portray machismo and the potential for a female strongman figure.

She also discusses how autocrats use corruption, violence and propaganda to stay in power, and how ICE roundups echo the past, resembling a “secret police force”. Ruth answers: can the Democrats can learn anything from Trump? What’s the best way to challenge an illiberal president? And how does this end?

Plus, Ellen and Alona discuss their bookshelves for this week's “banger or dud”.

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To subscribe to the Prospect Podcast on Spotify, click HERE.  

For Apple podcasts, click HERE.  

Will AI achieve superintelligence—and, if so, when? 

While Media Confidential is on a short break, we’re bringing you the best of our sister podcast, the Prospect Podcast. 

In June, Prospect’s tech columnist Ethan Zuckerman joined Ellen and Alona to talk about billionaire tech bros, social media, and how to resist the ‘enshittification’ of the internet. He answers: is AI transforming our world for the worse? But he also explains how to seek out better, more wholesome corners of the internet, and why his students give him hope.

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You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE.  

For Apple podcasts, click HERE. 

Has mainstream media failed?  

While Media Confidential is on a short break, we’re bringing you the best of the Prospect Podcast. 

Back in February, broadcaster and author Mehdi Hasan visited Prospect HQ. After MSNBC cancelled the Mehdi Hasan Show in November 2023, Mehdi founded the independent media company Zeteo.  

He joined Prospect’s Ben Clark to talk about his departure from mainstream media, Gaza, cancel culture, and the press in an age of Trump.

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You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE.  

For Apple podcasts, click HERE. 

Does the Left need its own Trump? 

While Media Confidential takes a short break, we’re bringing you the best of our sister podcast, the Prospect Podcast. 

In April, Prospect’s Ellen Halliday and Alona Ferber were joined by Slavoj Zizek, the philosopher and public intellectual, who spoke to them about fatherhood, the “obscenity” of Donald Trump, and whether he’s hopeful about the future of the left. 

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