Why are political polls trustworthy? What are TV networks doing to prepare for Election Night? Brian Stelter asks Jennifer Agiesta, the director of polling and election analytics for CNN. Agiesta talks about the impact of millions of early votes; the role of the decision desk; and the process for making projections. She also addresses common misconceptions about polling and the findings from CNN’s new polling project called The Breakthrough.

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Plus... Dan Rather on coverage of Trump's physical and mental health; Tom Friedman calls out 'voter suppression enterprise;' is there 'reticence' to report on Biden's big lead in the polls? Dan Rather, Tom Friedman, Jennifer Mercieca, Oliver Darcy, Brandon Borrman, Ryan Lizza and Clare Malone join Brian Stelter.

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Carlos Lozada's new book "What Were We Thinking: A Brief Intellectual History of the Trump Era" is about his exploration of Trump-related tomes, from insider tell-alls to works on race, gender and identity. He tells Brian Stelter that some of the most revelatory books about this era are barely about Trump at all. Among his many findings: "Accepting Trump's lies is not really about belief, it's about allegiance." Also: "We've made this era all about Trump... He is constantly the man at the middle of the story, and that may not be the wisest way to think about it." For example, Lozada says "we obsess over the border because Donald Trump obsesses over the border," but "a lot of the most significant stories about immigration are happening far from the border."

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Plus... Masha Gessen on comparisons between the Trump White House and the Soviet Union; how Ronald Reagan's White House handled his health crisis; WHCA president on press corps precautions. Masha Gessen, Carl Cameron, Margaret Sullivan, Susan Glasser, Zeke Miller, David Gergen and Mark Weinberg join Brian Stelter.

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In a wide-ranging interview with Brian Stelter, Dr. Anthony Fauci opens up about his media approach and the "critical" importance of communication during a public health crisis. Fauci addresses "outlandish" reporting from Fox News and other right-wing outlets; describes how he handles his relationship with President Trump; and discusses his recommended news sources. This conversation was held in conjunction with World News Day.

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Plus... Maria Ressa's warning about Facebook and misinformation; Brian Karem's astonishment at his exchange with Trump. Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., Mark Lukasiewicz, Molly Jong-Fast, Brian Karem, Sam Feist and Maria Ressa join Brian Stelter.

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Oliver Darcy, Donie O'Sullivan, Kerry Flynn, Frank Pallotta and Chloe Melas join Brian Stelter for a once-a-quarter conversation about the media industry, misinformation and more. Darcy and O'Sullivan discuss "echo chambers" that radicalize voters. Flynn and Melas analyze the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on newsrooms and Hollywood. Pallotta looks at how the media business is faring during the pandemic.

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Plus... Len Downie's tips for covering for the coming election chaos; David Zurawik on Supreme Court coverage; how C-SPAN helped us hear the pandemic pain. Luke Harding, Rana Ayyub, John-Allan Namu, Julie Cohen, David Zurawik, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Leonard Downie, Jr. join Brian Stelter.

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The Atlantic staff writer Megan Garber says "we sometimes don't have satisfying languages" for talking about Fox News. Garber talks with Brian Stelter about his new book "Hoax" and her essay titled "Do You Speak Fox?" She says the network employs the "rhetoric of warfare" and "us" versus "them" themes that have "infiltrated the way that we approach the world in a really basic level."

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Plus... Reed Hastings on Netflix's culture and competitive set; Clarissa Ward's messages for young journalists; and Jon Karl on the moment he asked Trump 'Why did you lie?' Sam Donaldson, Dr. Seema Yasmin, Bill Carter, Mary Trump, Jonathan Karl, Clarissa Ward and Reed Hastings join Brian Stelter.

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