How the Bl--p Did We Get Here?!” is a podcast that examines critical points in American history that led to current predicaments. Each season, the pod will dive into a specific issue area, providing listeners with deep insights into American history and the events that led us to where we are now. This season we are tackling yellow journalism. 

What happens when newspapers print falsehoods? That’s a question that gets a very controversial answer after the big newspaper boom we covered in earlier episodes. 

If you are a student of American history, you know that often the Supreme Court makes a bad decision before a correction is issued--whether through another Supreme Court decision or a constitutional amendment. 

For example, the Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) decision ruled that black people were not considered U.S. citizens, and therefore could not receive the same protections that citizenship offers under the constitution. The 14th amendment (1868) later rectified the Supreme Court’s 1857 decision.

What is ‘prior restraint’ and what the bleep does it have to do with yellow journalism and the news media? Let us explain...