Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter

Brian Stelter addresses the end of "Reliable Sources" on television and thanks the audience. Carl Bernstein, Jeffrey Goldberg, Jodie Ginsberg, David Zurawik, Claire Atkinson, Eric Deggans, and Brian Karem discuss the past, present and future of journalism and media.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Shefali Luthra of The 19th discuss their roles as health care beat reporters in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. They tell Brian Stelter about coverage priorities; different types of stories about abortion; and sudden spikes in interest about reproductive rights. "I think what's been so deeply important to me has been trying to prioritize the voices of people who are affected," Luthra says. "I just feel a lot of responsibility to rise to this moment and do the the best and most responsible and hardest hitting reporting I can," Ollstein says.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Henry Reese, who was on stage with Salman Rushdie when Rushdie was brutally stabbed, joins Brian Stelter. Plus: Bill McCarren on the ten year anniversary of Austin Tice's disappearance in Syria; Byron Allen on his plans for theGrio; John Dean on Donald Trump's potential legal peril; and Laura Bassett, Oliver Darcy and Caitlin Dickson on anti-FBI rhetoric becoming mainstream in the GOP.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

In his new book "The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan," combat veteran and acclaimed novelist Elliot Ackerman documents the horrors of America's evacuation from Afghanistan. He talks with Brian Stelter about why he wrote the book; what people need to know about the August 2021 withdrawal; and the media's coverage of war. In "our obsession not to repeat Saigon... we actually created, I think, a far more terrible image and grisly image," he says. Ackerman also shares how the war in Ukraine relates to last year's images from Kabul. He predicts that "America might be done with Afghanistan, Afghanistan is certainly not done with America."To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

First Lady Jill Biden's former press secretary Michael LaRosa talks with Brian Stelter about media coverage of the first family. Plus, Elaine Godfrey, Howard Polskin and Lauren Wright analyze election denialism; Dan Friesen and Jordan Holmes, co-hosts of the "Knowledge Fight" podcast, dissect the trial of Infowars host Alex Jones; and David Bornstein explains how "solutions journalism" can transform the media.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Oliver Darcy analyzes Alex Jones' legal quagmire and Jennifer Mercieca explains that Jones' media properties have "had a hard time acquiring new customers." Both Darcy and Mercieca comment on Jones' demeanor during the recent trial in Texas and compare his defensive crouch to his past behavior. Mercieca says the Jones case is about accountability for lies: "They're not being gaslit by Alex Jones anymore." At the same time, Darcy points out that Jones has "become more accepted by the right-wing media" in recent years.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

The acclaimed economist talks with Brian Stelter about recession fears, inflation and the "dystopian myths of red America." Plus, Tara Palmeri, Oliver Darcy and Liz Mair analyze Jon Stewart's use of TV interviews to highlight veterans' health care needs; Rachel Leingang discusses Arizona's primaries and the growing trend of GOP candidates running against the media; Lydia X. Z. Brown shares what really happened during a White House meeting that was ridiculed by right-wing media; and Katherine Stewart, author of "The Power Worshippers," talks about Christian nationalism.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

With the TikTok app becoming more popular and powerful by the day, BuzzFeed News contributor Emily Baker-White discusses her string of scoops about TikTok and its parent company ByteDance. She says ex-employees have opened up to her because they feel "weird" about "the power that ByteDance has now amassed through TikTok in the US." Regarding TikTok's Chinese ownership, "we've seen a lot of concern from the US government; we haven't seen a lot of action," she says. She also points out that "they're distributing information at a scale where it's incredibly hard to get it right."To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Sarah Longwell shares findings from her GOP voter focus groups and says there is a key difference between "Trump the man" and "Trump the phenomenon." Plus, David From discusses the state of American politics; Jennifer Dresden shares findings from Project Democracy's "Authoritarian Playbook;" David Zurawik analyzes recent anti-Trump editorials in Rupert Murdoch's newspapers; Bill Weir discusses life on the climate change beat; and columnist Lynne O'Donnell describes being detained and threatened by the Taliban in Afghanistan; and Ken Auletta discusses his new book "Hollywood Ending." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

"How 'Stop the Steal' Captured the American Right" is this week's New York Times Magazine cover story. Author Charles Homans says the movement predates Donald Trump and will outlast him as well. Homans tells Brian Stelter about his interviews with GOP voters; why the conversations "quickly shift from 'stolen election' to abortion or Covid lockdowns;" and what might happen to "democratic trust in the system one step down the road." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Dr. Tracey Wilkinson describes a "chilling effect" in the medical field as abortion bans take effect. Plus, Nicole Carroll describes how the Columbus Dispatch confirmed a child rape allegation that some conservative media outlets disbelieved; Natasha Alford and Bill Carter analyze the partisan media battles over abortion; Shimon Prokupecz discusses the need for transparency in Uvalde; Brian Stelter says polls show many Americans want generational and structural changes to politics; and Matthew Ball previews his new book "The Metaverse." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg talks about the magazine's decision to digitize its 165-year archive and what he noticed about the centuries-old articles. "We're not going to know ourselves if we don't know what we thought 10, 20, 30, 100 years ago," he says. Plus, Goldberg shares his new reporting about the author of "Where the Crawdads Sing," and discusses his coverage priorities heading into the 2024 election. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Nina Jankowicz, former Director of DHS Disinformation Governance Board, joins to reveal how the the latest trends in disinformation are becoming harder to solve. Then, Melissa Bell on how to reestablish trust in American media and how to find the line between informing while not overwhelming the nation. Also, Elon Musk tells Twitter he wants out of the takeover deal, but is there someone who will buy it now? Plus, what is motivating voters this midterm year. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

David Zurawik, a 32-year veteran of the Baltimore Sun, opens up about why he left the newspaper last year. He says he sensed pressure to tone down some of his politically opinionated columns and lacked confidence in hedge fund Alden Global Capital's ownership of the paper. Zurawik, now a CNN media analyst, talks about the state of local news; the launch of a nonprofit news outlet called The Baltimore Banner; and the House's hearings about January 6. He says it is vital to uphold the news media's "public service" mission. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Brian Stelter interviews TikTok VP Michael Beckerman and FCC commissioner Brendan Carr about TikTok's handling of user data. Plus, Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa talks about the fight for press freedom around the world; David French says most Americans are part of an "exhausted majority;" and Nicole Hemmer, Lulu Garcia-Navarro, and Oliver Darcy discuss some of the week's top media stories. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Author and Dartmouth professor Jeff Sharlet has been reporting on the American right from a religious studies perspective for two decades. He talks with Brian Stelter about his forthcoming book, "The Undertow: Scenes From a Slow Civil War," and the blind spots that some members of the media have. He says it is important to understand the religious "lens" that many Americans see the world through. "If you don't have that lens, you're only telling part of the story," he says. Plus, Sharlet talks about Christian nationalism; Donald Trump's relationship with the religious right; the impact of the January 6 hearings; and how the rural-urban divide is "getting much starker." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Kate Smith, Susan Matthews, and Sarah Longwell discuss how the overturning of Roe v. Wade is being covered by newsrooms. Plus, Brian Stelter connects the dots between recent episodes of political violence; Tom Nichols identifies some of the reasons why threats and violence keep occurring; and Ron Brownstein explains "the great divergence" between red and blue states. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

What is The New York Times' vision for Wordle and how does the viral hit game fit into the news outlet's broader strategy? Brian Stelter talks about that and more with Jonathan Knight, a senior vice president at The Times. Knight discusses the meteoric rise of the game; why The Times moved quickly to acquire it; and upcoming updates that will protect users' streaks and stats. Games are "intended to give people a bit of a break from the news, which can be a tough read," Knight says. To work on a product that "contributes to the independent journalism that's so important at The New York Times is super rewarding," he adds. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Top Associated Press editor Julie Pace joins Brian Stelter to discuss. Plus: Danielle Belton, John Harwood, Robby Soave, Brian Fung, and more. Amy Doyle shares memories of her father Mark Shields, the longtime PBS and CNN analyst who died at age 85. Ibram X. Kendi addresses the media's coverage of race education. And Kaya Yurieff explains why "everyone wants to be TikTok." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Keri Blakinger's reporting for The Marshall Project focuses on prisons and jails. Her new memoir, "Corrections in Ink," shares her personal experience with the criminal justice system, from her arrest for heroin possession to her two years behind bars. Blakinger tells Brian Stelter how she created a journalism career by accepting the "darkest parts of her past" and how being a former inmate impacts her storytelling. She also critiques how other news outlets cover America's prison system. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Brian Stelter analyzes Fox's decision not to air the prime-time hearings live and talks with Shelby Talcott and Garrett Graff. Plus, filmmaker Nick Quested on his newly published video of the Capitol riot; former Obama aide Dan Pfeiffer on growing complaints about Biden's media strategy; and a discussion of the Washington Post's Twitter feuding with Oliver Darcy and Mara Schiavocampo. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition politician and Washington Post contributing columnist, has been detained since April. His wife Evgenia is advocating for Vladimir and other activists and journalists who have been swept up amid Russia's crackdown on dissent. She tells Brian Stelter that "Russia can be different" and "we need to make it harder for those who would try to be silent about it."  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward reflect on their bond 50 years after the Watergate story began. Plus, Biden senior adviser Gene Sperling explains the administration's media blitz about the economy; San Antonio Express-News executive editor Nora Lopez says officials are stonewalling the press in Uvalde; and Brian Stelter reports on CNN setting a higher standard for "breaking news." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

James Pogue's reporting for Vanity Fair has been one of the most-talked-about political articles of the year. Brian Stelter asks Pogue about the "dissident right;" its use of words like "regime;" and why it flies under the radar of much of the media. Pogue describes how he gained the trust of key sources like J.D. Vance and Blake Masters. He warns that "if we don't get government working again, on some level, somebody is going to come in and do something very authoritarian because our society is breaking down."  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Brian Stelter asks whether Texas officials are still withholding information about the massacre in Uvalde. Shimon Prokupecz and Stella Chavez report on the fallout. Stephen Gutowski and Clara Jeffery discuss media coverage of guns. Plus: Would graphic images of victims change the debate? John Woodrow Cox shares his thoughts. Later, Afghan news anchors Farida Sial and Hamid Bahraam discuss the Taliban's face-covering directive for women anchors. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Sewell Chan, editor in chief of The Texas Tribune, talks about covering the massacre at Robb Elementary and making sure that his employees take mental health breaks amid marathon reporting days. Chan also discusses several other reasons why Texas is in the news, from primary election results to abortion restrictions to heat waves. Chan says the Tribune's nonpartisan accountability journalism approach is sorely needed. "Opinion is plentiful, whereas meticulous gathering of facts is becoming a more rare and precious resource in the information ecosystem," he says, "so I think that's where we can have the most impact and best serve the people of Texas." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Margaret Sullivan, Philip Bump, and Khaya Himmelman discuss the state of social media and disinformation; Insider global EIC Nicholas Carlson discusses his decision to publish a sexual harassment allegation against Musk; Kathy Barnette answers questions about her relationship with the media and controversies in her past; and Bill Carter talks about "SNL" and the TV upfronts. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Kathleen Carley, a computer scientist and specialist in dynamic network analysis, defines spam bots, fake accounts, and other maladies of social networking. She discusses Elon Musk's recent questions about bots on Twitter and says the attention may be beneficial. She also says that "focusing on the number of bots is perhaps not a good thing to focus on, because more important than the numbers is how active are they and what are they active about." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Wesley Lowery, Mara Schiavocampo, and Oliver Darcy discuss the media climate and possible connections to white supremacist violence. Plus, Ambassador Asaf Zamir, the Consul General of Israel in New York, addresses the fatal shooting of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh; Holly Otterbein and Will Bunch discuss why some Republican candidates are shutting out the media; and Caroline Kitchener, who covers the politics of abortion for The Washington Post, discusses her reporting trip to Texas and best practices for journalists covering the abortion debate. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Steve Schmidt talks with Brian Stelter about his headline-making "war" with John McCain's family. Schmidt explains why he is sharing secrets from McCain's 2008 campaign; how his stories have relevance for political journalists; and why he feels compelled to annotate history now. Schmidt also discusses challenges for the press and says the next few years are going to be "wild and chaotic and dangerous:" 2024, he believes, "could be a last choice election." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Politico's executive editor Dafna Linzer discusses the decision to publish the Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. Plus, interviews with Montse Alvarado, a host on the Catholic TV network EWTN, and Kate Smith, a former CBS reporter who now works at Planned Parenthood. Also: Some of the week's top media stories with Elahe Izadi, Brian Lowry, Eric Deggans, and David French. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

New York Times reporter Nick Confessore spent months interviewing Tucker Carlson's friends, studying Carlson's show, and checking the accuracy of the content. Confessore's resulting series, "American Nationalist," is about everything from Carlson's childhood to Fox's future as a far-right broadcaster. Everything about Carlson's show "comes back to a central narrative of elite corruption, elite hatred, how much the ruling class hates you," he says. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

April Ryan, Molly Ball, Leigh Ann Caldwell, and David Zurawik analyze President Biden and Trevor Noah's speeches at the 2022 White House Correspondents Dinner. Plus, Ball discusses Elon Musk's politics; Zurawik reacts to a new New York Times series about Tucker Carlson; Kristen Soltis Anderson addresses the disconnects between the press and the public; Moira Whelan talks about defending democratic values in the digital age; and Jodie Ginsberg shares her priorities as she takes over the Committee to Protect Journalists. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Acclaimed television producer David Simon speaks with Brian Stelter about his new crime drama; how it shares a theme with "The Wire;" and why the relationship between police and the public must be repaired. Simon also discusses the differences between journalism and drama, commenting that "it's an amorphous thing when you're trying to depict reality after the fact, with limited information, on a camera…in my shop we try to have an ethical discussion about every scene." Simon also shares his thoughts on the Baltimore Banner startup; Elon Musk's Twitter takeover; and the possible plot for his next project. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Brian Stelter covers the end of CNN+, Elon Musk's bid for Twitter and other media stories with Mara Schiavocampo, Oliver Darcy and Sara Fischer. Plus, Jonathan Haidt makes the case that social media has made American life "uniquely stupid;" White House Correspondents Association president Steven Portnoy discusses President Biden and the press corps; and "Navalny" director Daniel Roher talks about the making of his documentary. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Taylor Lorenz, the Washington Post journalist who profiled the "Libs of TikTok" Twitter account and revealed the creator's identity, answers questions about her reporting. She says "Libs of TikTok," which ridicules progressive educators, has become a "feeding ground" for right-wing media outlets: "The idea that this woman is not newsworthy is nonsense." She says the conservative commentators denouncing her want to "sow doubt and discredit journalism. That is their agenda." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Gessen argues that news outlets should not amplify "ridiculous messages" from Russian authorities. Plus: Scott McLean reports from Estonia; Jessica Toonkel and Clare Duffy discuss what Elon Musk and Twitter might do next; and Lynn Sweet dissects why President Biden is granting so few interviews and why the RNC is opposing the Commission on Presidential Debates. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

American journalist Danny Fenster was imprisoned in Myanmar for nearly six months in 2021. Now he is readjusting to normal life and getting back to reporting. He talks with Brian Stelter about his arrest; going into "reporter mode" in prison; experiencing a "sham trial;" and eventually winning his freedom. Fenster discusses the lack of due process in Myanmar, the role of state-run media, and the "challenge for [journalists] to make the story more compelling" as the citizens of Myanmar continue to suffer. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Abigail Disney speaks with Brian Stelter about Republicans demonizing the company co-founded by her grandfather. Plus: Kara Swisher on Elon Musk's plans for Twitter; Anne Applebaum on the Ukrainian president's TV producing power; Claire Atkinson on Discovery's merger with CNN's parent WarnerMedia; and Katherine Wu on the first "so what?" wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

What does the media get wrong about covering gun violence? Mother Jones national affairs editor Mark Follman, author of "Trigger Points: Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America" talks with Brian Stelter about "getting in front" of the story "instead of reacting to it." Follman debunks oft repeated myths, unpacks unhelpful headlines, and discusses how to combat sensationalism in an audience desensitized to mass shootings.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Brian Stelter and a panel of guests discuss the right-wing media targeting both Disney and LGBTQ rights. Plus, Julia Ioffe makes the case that Vladimir Putin is now a prisoner of his own propaganda; Meduza editor Ivan Kolpakov discusses his fight to provide news to Russians despite restrictions; and CNN's Frederik Pleitgen calls in with eyewitness reporting from Bucha, Ukraine. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

"I was absolutely convinced I was going to die," Stuart Ramsay says. Ramsay, the chief correspondent for Sky News, was shot when his crew came under fire in Ukraine. One month later, he is now recovering from surgery and is able to share his story. Ramsay and senior foreign producer Dominique Van Heerden speak with Brian Stelter about how they fled the ambush; sheltered in place for several hours; and evacuated with the help of Ukrainian police. Unimaginably, Van Heerden says, "what happened to us was the good outcome," since other journalists have been killed in similar attacks. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy