The Fourth Watch Podcast

Brian Stelter, author of "Network of Lies," joins Steve Krakauer to talk about his new book about Fox News, Sean Hannity and Bret Baier, the lack of "good guys" and "bad guys" in the Fox text messages that emerged in the Dominion lawsuit, his relationship with Tucker Carlson over the past 20 years, why Tucker really got sidelined by Fox News, Stelter's kinship with Tucker after they were both ousted from their jobs, the last time he talked to Tucker, the role of the Murdochs at Fox News, using the term "The Big Lie," censorship cheerleading in the press and the Hunter Biden laptop story, whether Chris Licht had the right idea for CNN, CNN in the Trump Era, life after his CNN exit, fatherhood and losing his own father at the age of 15, and more.

Read Brian's blog, "My Dad": https://medium.com/@brianstelter/my-dad-b75bcdb74c5e

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Mark Halperin, founder of Wide World of News Concierge Coverage, joins Steve Krakauer to talk about what's ahead in politics in 2024, possibility of a "No Label" ticket, seeing the Trump phenomenon from the Acela Media and throughout the country, the impact of Trump and how he forever changed multiple industries, the disconnect of the mainstream press, 2008 as the beginning of celebrity politics, the success of "Game Change," where Nicolle Wallace and Steve Schmidt are now, his influential "The Note" and insider vs. outsider journalism, his exit from the spotlight in October 2017 and the randomness of cancelation and court of public opinion litigation and punishment, his "concierge coverage" focused on civil conversations and aimed at "real people," the new business model opportunities in the media, and more.

To get news, insights, and analysis from Mark every day, become a member of his Concierge Coverage of politics and the Wide World of News: https://www.walkingduck.com/mark

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We're returning to the "show" format again, with several guests on this episode of the Fourth Watch Podcast. Steve Krakauer begins with a monologue about the depressingly predictable corporate media coverage of gun violence, mass shootings, and more. Then Buck Sexton, co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, joins to talk about gun violence coverage, the truth about crime in America, ignorance about guns through geographic bias, January 6 and the media, what it was like to work at CNN in 2015 and 2016, and more. Then Sharyl Attkisson, host of Full Measure News, joins to discuss the money behind the journalism, how narratives get shaped, her time working at CNN and CBS News, the Obama administration and journalism, what's behind sameness of coverage, and more. Then JT from Dallas joins me for another edition of "Temperature Check" to talk about classy members of Congress, naked reality shows, and more - plus, what it was like to grow up around guns in Texas.

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Curt Menefee, lead studio host of the NFL on FOX, joins Steve Krakauer to discuss his lengthy career at FOX and longevity in the media world, the megamerger of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift as a cultural moment, NFL's linear ratings dominance, Tom Brady's giant broadcasting deal, market value of announcers, how streaming affects viewership, sports as the great connector in America, some sports media leaning into the divisiveness of politics, his unique perspective that leads to being respectful of the people in this country, the mainstreaming of sports gambling, and more.

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Bridget Phetasy, writer and podcast host, joins Steve Krakauer to talk about the state of politics and culture in 2024, being politically homeless (and "politically useless"), why "real America" is like the "middle seat," how the Trump phenomenon still going, the first GOP debate, being a writer, how getting married and motherhood has changed her, her move to Texas, and more.

Bridget's Substack: https://substack.com/@bridgetphetasy

Bridget's epic "middle seat" "real America" rant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1i74X_H2hI

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Steve Krakauer begins with an explanation for what the corporate media's Hunter Biden original sin is, and how it relates to press coverage today. Then Glenn Greenwald, host of Rumble's System Update, joins to talk about his exit from The Intercept related to Hunter Biden's laptop, the revolving door between political and media elite, how the incuriosity about Hunter Biden in October 2020 has continued to the news coming out today, the incentives to cover or not cover certain stories, Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow's evolution away from journalistic principles, and more. Then Semafor's Shelby Talcott and Tara Palmeri, of Puck News and host of "Somebody's Gotta Win," join to talk about why campaign trail reporting allows reporters to get out the Acela Media bubble, whether regular voters care about Hunter Biden corruption stories and January 6, if the conservative media are trying to make Ron DeSantis a thing, if the Trump indictments will sway voters or are more of a media story, if the increase in Biden reporting means he may be pushed out as the nominee, and more. And we close it out with "Temperature Check," featuring JT Williams, my friend here in Dallas, to talk about Grandpa Joe Biden's 7th grandchild, Hunter Biden's shame, Trump's indictments, Lizzo's supposed fat shaming, the crazy plane lady cursing about the "not real" person speaking out, and more.

Glenn's original Hunter Biden report: https://greenwald.substack.com/p/article-on-joe-and-hunter-biden-censored

Give your feedback on this episode at [email protected]

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Emily Jashinsky, culture editor and host at The Federalist and co-host of Counter Points, joins Steve Krakauer to discuss limitations and conformity of corporate media, getting her start in journalism in D.C., culture and geography vs. politics, Trump vs. DeSantis and the state of conservative media, the very online right and "influencer on influencer violence," the dangers of social media, disrupting the left-right model, media abandoning journalistic principles, what the Jonah Hill scandal says about our culture, and more.

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Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of "American Whitelash," joins Steve Krakauer to discuss problems with cable news, "riot porn" and the Acela Media's coverage of protests and riots, what really happened in Ferguson and how many have no idea about the reality and lessons, why "partisan politics is the enemy of nuanced truth," coverage of gun violence and adherence to narratives, the media's destructive need for speed, the book's dedication to one of Lowery's best friends who passed away from cancer - and how important it is to have conversations and especially uncomfortable ones, how social media makes our cultural discourse harder and worse, the need to allow for people to make mistakes while having discussions, evolution of the corporate media and dire state of the national press today, importance of introspection for journalists, and more.

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Gavin Purcell, former executive producer of "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" and co-host of the "AI For Humans" podcast, joins Steve Krakauer to discuss how he helped Jimmy Fallon's late night shows become successful on TV and online, how traditional media uses digital, the future of late night TV, how the pandemic changed the TV industry, politics infecting late night comedy, how Trump changed the cultural conversation, Purcell and Sarah Silverman's optimistic show "I Love You, America," how AI will disrupt the entertainment and media world, whether consumers should be nervous or excited about AI, and more.

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Eric Bolling, host of "Eric Bolling The Balance" on Newsmax, joins Steve Krakauer to talk about Tucker Carlson and his move to Twitter, the power of linear TV vs. new media, the state of Fox News and the direction of the network, how Bolling saw Trump coming in 2016, Trump vs. DeSantis in the media world, what CNN does next, how the business changes cable news, his life after massive personal upheaval in 2017, and more.

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