Howie Kurtz picks five stories from the most important, to the most entertaining, to the buzziest. And, he will sound off on what they tell us about the media culture: Are they fair, fascinating or a flop?
Listeners of MEDIA BUZZmeter that love the show mention: candidacy, mollie hemingway, kurtz, keep going please, tlaib, lester holt, love howie, buzzer, emily jashinsky, behind the wheel, reliable sources, keep drinking, sometimes i think, wounded, kamala, drive thru, homosexual, arrested, apples, biden.
The MEDIA BUZZmeter podcast, hosted by Howie Kurtz, is a refreshing source of news that offers unbiased reporting in a media landscape filled with bias. Kurtz is able to report the news without adding his own perspective, making this podcast a favorite for those seeking objective information. The critical thinking at the core of this podcast makes it a breath of fresh air and reminds listeners what true journalism sounds like.
One of the best aspects of The MEDIA BUZZmeter podcast is its commitment to balance and fairness. Kurtz provides substantive analysis of current events, offering both sides of an issue and allowing listeners to form their own opinions. This approach is hard to find in today's media environment, where ratings often take precedence over balanced information. The podcast stands out among political podcasts as one of the most balanced, providing fair commentary on politicians from different parties based on their actions rather than personal bias.
However, one downside to the podcast is that some listeners feel that Kurtz focuses too heavily on certain topics or controversies, such as the Walker abortion controversies. While it may be an important story, repeated discussion can become tiresome for some listeners who would prefer more variety in content. Additionally, there are occasional moments where Kurtz's underlying bias peeks through despite his attempts at neutrality. However, he still excels at hiding his bias better than other journalists at Fox News.
In conclusion, The MEDIA BUZZmeter podcast is a valuable resource for those seeking unbiased news and analysis. Howie Kurtz's experience in various forms of media allows him to provide insightful commentary on the state of journalism and media coverage today. While there may be minor flaws in terms of topic repetition and occasional bias, overall this podcast delivers fresh perspectives and balanced reporting that sets it apart from other sources. Whether you lean left or right politically, The MEDIA BUZZmeter will provide you with a fair examination of current events without depressing repetition or overwhelming bias.

Howie Kurtz on President Trump's shifting stance on Iran negotiations and potential military action, the upcoming SpaceX IPO that could propel Elon Musk to trillionaire status, and the intense media scrutiny facing Maine Democratic Senate primary winner Graham Platner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on President Trump saying he loves 'inflation', the New York Knicks historic comeback, and the Epstein files continue to cause frustration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on President Trump retaliating against Iran after the shooting down of an American military helicopter, entertainment stars bypassing traditional media access to go direct-to-consumer via top-tier podcasts, and a tech journalist experimenting with AI chatbots to completely eliminate the need for a real estate agent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on President Trump's fiery Meet the Press interview with Kristen Welker that ended in a premature exit, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown publicly endorsing Gavin Newsom over his ex-girlfriend Kamala Harris, and the San Antonio Spurs spoiling the party at Madison Square Garden by snapping the New York Knicks' historic 13-game postseason streak in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on Democratic candidate Graham Platner calling the laundry list of personal criticisms all 'politically motivated', President Trump storming out of 'Meet the Press' interview, and HHS Sec. RFK seemingly disengaged on anything but his own policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the brewing Democratic civil war in Maine as Senate candidate Graham Plattner faces a massive exposé detailing a toxic past, the internal friction at 60 Minutes following the appointment of new chief Nick Bilton, and the critical public remarks from retired legend Steve Kroft regarding the network's substantial firings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the internal friction at 60 Minutes following the hiring of tech journalist Nick Bilton, the dramatic firing of veteran anchor Scott Pelley after he confronted leadership over allegations of media bias, and the House voting to direct President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the war with Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the internal friction at 60 Minutes following the hiring of tech journalist Nick Bilton, the dramatic firing of veteran anchor Scott Pelley after he confronted leadership over allegations of media bias, and President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the internal friction at 60 Minutes following the hiring of tech journalist Nick Bilton, President Trump considering dropping a $1.8 billion fund aimed at compensating January 6th defendants due to pushback from congressional Republicans, and the political fallout surrounding Democratic Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner after reports of explicit text messages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on Paul McCartney releasing - The Boys of Dungeon Lane - what critics are calling his best album since the Beatles, a federal judge ordering the removal of President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center's facade, and the political backlash over President Trump utilizing a $1.8 billion fund to compensate January 6th rioters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on escalating military tensions as U.S. and Iranian airstrikes push a fragile 60-day maritime agreement to the brink, a massive executive shakeup and contributor firings at 60 Minutes, and the political backlash over President Trump utilizing the Justice Department to investigate writer E. Jean Carroll. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on escalating military tensions as U.S. airstrikes and Iranian retaliatory missile strikes push a fragile Mideast peace deal to the brink, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's landslide primary victory over veteran Senator John Cornyn, and a Department of Justice investigation targeting E. Jean Carroll over potential perjury claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's landslide primary victory over veteran Senator John Cornyn, a chaotic clash in New Jersey as ICE agents fire tear gas at U.S. Senator Andy Kim, and the White House's controversial plan to implement a government-wide employee non-disclosure agreement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the fierce Capitol Hill revolt as Senate Republicans push back against President Trump's controversial $1.8 billion fund, a tense Secret Service shootout outside the White House that left a suspect dead, and a foreign policy clash over a shaky 60-day Iran ceasefire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on Stephen Colbert hosting his last Late Show amid a bitter feud with the network, the Democratic National Committee triggering a self-inflicted wound by releasing its highly criticized 2024 campaign autopsy, and the dramatic Capitol Hill revolt as Senate Republicans push back against President Trump's controversial $1.8 billion IRS lawsuit fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on Stephen Colbert saying goodbye to "The Late Show" amidst intense political backlash, the Department of Justice escalating pressure against former Cuban president Raul Castro with indictment, and the heated legal battle over President Trump's controversial $1.8 billion IRS lawsuit fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the media's reaction to a stunning Knicks comeback, JD Vance's subdued defensive stance on the $1.8 Billion "weaponization" fund, and the latest political fallout from primary shakeups on the Hill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the Fallout of President Trump's High-Stakes Legal Settlements, Vice President JD Vance's rhetorical defense of a Republican-controlled Washington, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leading the early 2028 Democratic Primary Field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on President Trump's high-stakes summit with Chinese president Xi Jinping, the administration's defensive stance on China trade agreements, and former vice president Kamala Harris' controversial trial balloon regarding expanding the Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on President Trump's comments regarding the financial situation of Americans, the outcome of the high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, and the congressional campaign of Jack Schlossberg in Manhattan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the resignation of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary after a clash with tobacco lobbyists over flavored e-cigarettes, the rise of "insider trading" on military strikes via prediction markets like Polymarket, and NBC's gamble on turning the Wordle app into a prime-time game show hosted by Savannah Guthrie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the resignation of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary over flavored e-cigarettes, the Justice Department's aggressive crackdown on leakers, and President Trump's controversial Truth Social posts calling for the arrest of former President Barack Obama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the widespread conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination attempts on President Trump, the administration's consideration of making Venezuela the 51st state, and the ongoing efforts to court Senator John Fetterman despite his firm refusal to leave the Democratic Party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on recent reporting that FDA commissioner Marty Makary was about to be booted out, President Trump fueling debate over who will succeed him, and the President increasing his attacks on TV networks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on Mark Hamill posting a photo of a 'dead' President Trump sparking outrage, embattled Democrat Senator John Fetterman unloading on fellow Democrats, and a new report says Iran's economy and military could last much longer than the White House predicted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the passing of media giant, Ted 'the mouth of the South' Turner, ICE ending shortened training programs, and a judge releasing supposed Jeffrey Epstein suicide note. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz speaks with Robby Soave about the direction digitalized media is heading, the coverage of the Iran conflict, and an emerging trend of 'high profile political assassination attempts.' Later, Howie dives deeper into the latest military operations against Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the Secret Service shooting of an armed assailant near the White House, the escalating situation in the Strait of Hormuz as the Trump administration launches "Project Freedom,” and the ongoing Republican efforts to court Senator John Fetterman despite his refusal to switch parties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the Media Insight Project study showing that 60% of Americans are actively avoiding news about President Trump, the dramatic decline in Obamacare coverage following the expiration of federal subsidies, and the escalating situation in the Strait of Hormuz as the Trump administration launches new efforts to protect international shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on President Trump accusing sedition against the New York Times over war coverage, the Supreme Court's major ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act, and the FCC investigation into Disney/ABC following a controversial joke by Jimmy Kimmel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the federal indictment of James Comey over a social media post of seashells depicting ‘86-47', the Supreme Court's major ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act, and the escalating tensions of a naval blockade and potential air strikes against Iran. As Howie puts it: "Whether you support the war, whether you don't... the average voter is much more focused on gas prices, on oil prices, on the state of the economy." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz is joined by the co-host of Fox's The Weekend, Tomi Lahren, for a candid look at the security threats facing President Trump and the internal frustrations boiling over within the GOP. They discuss the aftermath of the averted tragedy at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and the latest legal controversy surrounding James Comey. Kurtz and Lahren break down the stories dominating the headlines in 2026, from the conflict with Iran to the scandals rocking the sports world. "I think if you're going to see Republicans stay home in the midterms, it's more so gonna be because they didn't see enough movement on those issues that they voted on." — Tomi Lahren on the political impact of congressional GOP performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the glaring security lapses during a third assassination attempt on President Trump at the Washington Hilton, the Trump administration's pressure on the EEOC to prioritize cases favoring its political agenda, and Taylor Swift's high-stakes legal move to trademark her voice and likeness against the rise of AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the security failures surrounding a third assassination attempt on President Trump at the Washington Hilton, the Justice Department's decision to drop its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and the firing of the Stars and Stripes ombudsman amid allegations of Pentagon interference with editorial independence.As Howie puts it: "In an instant, the 2,000 journalists there went from covering this thing... to being not only eyewitnesses, but potential victims of this crazed gunman." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the mushrooming scandal involving New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini, the controversy surrounding the New York Times' decision to provide a platform to extremist streamer Hasan Piker, and the federal charges against a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier for allegedly using classified intel to bet on a military mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the House Ethics Committee's investigation into former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) following her resignation over the alleged embezzlement of $5 million in federal funds, the suspension of DHS official Julia Vivero amid a tawdry "sugar daddy" scandal and potential security risks, and the ongoing maritime conflict with Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the latest military escalations with Iran as a ceasefire is extended amid ongoing ship seizures, the nomination hearing of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, and the resignation of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) just minutes before a House Ethics Committee vote regarding the alleged embezzlement of $5 million in FEMA funds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Media BuzzMeter, Howie Kurtz is joined by former Congressman, Fox News contributor, & and host of the Jason in the House podcast, Jason Chaffetz, for a candid look at the crumbling ceasefire with Iran and the impact of gas prices on the upcoming midterms. They discuss the President's reaction to media coverage and the math behind a potential Senate flip. The duo breaks down the stories dominating the headlines in 2026. "I think the president does have a strong point there... but people want to see gasoline that's $2 a gallon. That's ultimately what they want." — Jason Chaffetz on the political impact of the ongoing war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the breakdown of the Iran ceasefire following the seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, the Department of Justice's removal of a lead prosecutor in the investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, and the recent surge of AI-generated pro-Trump influencers on TikTok and social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the escalating war of words between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the Iran War, California Governor Gavin Newsom's PAC spending over half a million dollars to inflate his own book sales, and the resignation of Rep. Eric Swalwell following a wave of sexual assault allegations that have triggered a Justice Department investigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and the failed War Powers Act vote, Senator Rand Paul's support for blocking further military strikes, and the labor department probe into Secretary Lori Chavez de Riemer regarding allegations of unprofessional conduct and staff complaints. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howie Kurtz on the U.S. military's enforcement of an Iranian trade blockade, billionaire Stephen Coobeck's shift to the Libertarian party in the wake of the Eric Swalwell sexual misconduct allegations, and the House Ethics Committee's findings regarding Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's alleged misappropriation of $5 million in federal funds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices