The Interview

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Jonathan Lemire, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, about Trump's media crackdown, how to effectively cover him, and his first 100 days in office. In the second half of the episode, Aidan talks with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about this week's biggest media and politics stories.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Trey Yingst, the chief foreign correspondent at Fox News, about covering the war in Gaza, the biggest misconceptions about the Israel/Palestine conflict, and why he feels it's essential to both protect and provide media access to Palestinian journalists. He also talks about taking heat for covering the killings of civilians in Gaza, how he reports the death toll numbers, and being in Tel Aviv on October 7th.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with CNN's Harry Enten about Trump's recent polling loss with independents, the crisis facing the Democratic party, and his predictions for the 2026 midterms. They also discuss Elon Musk's sinking support in the polls and what it's like being a data-driven journalist. In the second half of the episode, Aidan speaks with Mediaite's founding editor Colby Hall about how the media has been covering the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man the Trump administration mistakenly deported to El Salvador.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with former Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd about Trump's tariffs and the resulting cracks in the MAGA ecosystem, his departure from NBC, and his outlook on the future of cable news. They also speak about his newest media venture and how Fox News has changed over the years.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with veteran reporter Noah Shachtman about the Trump Justice Department's weaponizing dropping of the charges against New York mayor Eric Adams, why he believes it's never been easier to steal secrets from the U.S. government, and the FBI's massive use of resources to comb through Jeffrey Epstein case files. They also speak about his career as the former editor-in-chief of Rolling Stone and The Daily Beast, and now a contributor to many large publications.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with CNN Pentagon correspondent Natasha Bertrand about 'Signal-gate,' where National Security Advisor Michael Waltz added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat where Pete Hegseth and others discussed classified military plans. She discusses the chaos Hegseth has unleashed on the Pentagon and the Trump administration's subsequent denials. In the second half of the episode, Aidan speaks with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about how the media has been covering this bombshell week in Washington.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Alex Isenstadt, the author of the new book Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power about his reporting process, his recent move from Politico to Axios, and his behind-the-scenes insights into Trump's 2024 campaign. He also speaks with Frank Pine, executive editor of major newspapers including the New York Daily News and the Boston Globe, about their lawsuit against OpenAI.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Jesse Weber, a host at the Law & Crime Network, NewsNation, and Sirius XM. They talk about a new show he is hosting for Mediaite, Spin Room, where he will break down some of the biggest clips in media and politics— without an ideological spin. Jesse also talks about Law & Crime's YouTube success, the explosion of true crime as a genre, and his journey from acting school to law school to journalism.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Politico White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns. She talks of her recent reporting on tensions between Trump's Cabinet and Elon Musk over his DOGE cuts, threats to the press under Trump's second term, and how the president is weighing his personal legacy versus the midterm electability of Republican senators and house members.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Marty Baron, the legendary editor who ran the Washington Post until his retirement in 2021. Baron speaks out about recent interventions at the paper by its owner, Jeff Bezos, touching on Bezos's signaled dependence on Trump and his fear of financial retribution. He also speaks on Trump's first month in office and the immense threats he's wielded against the press thus far. In the second half of the episode, Mediaite senior editor Alex Griffing interviews Pentagon reporter Kevin Baron about the Defense Department's crackdown on the press.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks to Fox News host and long-time conservative talk radio presence Sean Hannity in a rare interview. They talk about Trump's election and first weeks in office, Hannity's history as one of the most famous supporters of the president in the media, and his recent interviews with both Trump and Elon Musk. They also speak about the future of Fox News, his opinions on Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, the impressive numbers he pulls on radio with The Sean Hannity Show, and why he believes now more than ever in the death of legacy media.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with senior WIRED reporter Makena Kelly on Elon Musk's DOGE, its extremely young and controversial team, and this concerning intersection of tech and politics in Washington. She also touches on the 'contentification' of the Trump White House and why she thinks Democrats need to lean further into new media. In the second half of the episode, Aidan talks with MSNBC producer Dan Wolfman about a new film he co-wrote that is currently working its way through the festival circuit.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, about Trump's 'fast and furious' first weeks in office, the differences between Trump 1.0 and 2.0, and his 'volatile and provocative' proposal to take over Gaza and relocate two million Palestinians. They also speak about the pros and cons of today's information ecosystem and how it lends itself to Trump's "flood the zone" effect. In the second half of the episode, Aidan speaks with Mediaite's senior media reporter, Diana Falzone, about Trump's cabinet nominees and what's next for them.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with the CEO and co-founder of Axios, Jim VandeHei, about Trump's wild first week, his optimistic take on the future of journalism amidst a fragmenting media industry, and disabusing ourselves of the idea that legacy media is the gatekeeper, without falling victim to Elon Musk's smear-campaign against it. In the second half of the episode, Aidan speaks with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about the first White House press briefing.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Ryan J. Reilly, who covers the Justice Department and federal law enforcement for NBC News— he's been as tuned into the fallout of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as anyone. His conversation on Press Club comes just after President Trump, on his first day in office, issued sweeping pardons to more than 1,500 individuals arrested in the Jan. 6 riots— people Reilly has been closely watching since 2021. He speaks on the astounding manipulation of public perception on Jan. 6 by Trump and his supporters, how Jan. 6 "broke the U.S. Justice System", and if he believes Trump will face any real consequences. In the second half of the episode, Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall speaks with Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy about his coverage of the Biden White House, and how he plans to cover Trump.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with New Yorker staff writer, author, and executive producer Patrick Radden Keefe about his reporting process— "90% reporting and 10% writing— and FX's recent adaptation of his 2018 book, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. They also speak about his career path, his ability to tell large stories through deep dives on characters, and what's next for journalists under this next Trump administration. In the second half of the episode, Aidan speaks with founding Mediaite editor Colby Hall about the current state of the cable news industry.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with former editor in chief at Business Insider Nick Carlson about a troublesome trend that has emerged in recent years— extraordinarily wealthy people using lawsuits to silence reporting they don't like. Carlson talks of billionaire Bill Ackman, who went on a frenzied crusade against a Business Insider piece accusing his wife of plagiarism, his departure from the publication shortly after to start Dynamo, a new video media start-up, and the media industry's future as he sees it.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with businessman and conservative podcaster Patrick Bet-David, who has amassed millions of subscribers on YouTube and other social platforms with his interviews of key figures in politics and culture— including Donald Trump who came on Bet-David's show this summer per a request from his son, Barron. They talk about the age of 'podcast elections', whether he sees any hope for the future of the traditional media, and what the next four years will look like as Trump prepares to move into the White House.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks to Mediaite founder and CEO Dan Abrams about his recent decision to end his NewsNation show, our increasingly polarized and fractured media industry, and what Kash Patel and ABC's $15 million settlement signal about Trump's upcoming second term. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks to Ruth Sherlock, an international correspondent for NPR on the ground now in Syria. They talk about what she's seen post-fall of Assad, her reporting inside Syria's notorious Sednaya Prison, what's next for HTS–the major rebel group– and the dangers she faces as a foreign reporter. Aidan also speaks with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about the top media stories this week. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks to Isaac Saul, founder of the independent, nonpartisan newsletter Tangle, about how he covers the news, and Tangle's goal of reducing media-initiated polarization. They also speak about what Isaac makes of traditional media versus the rise of independent outlets, and how to start a media business in 2024 while considering the partisanship of language in journalism. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks to Marc Caputo, a national politics reporter from The Bulwark and the most plugged-in national political reporter working out of Florida. They talk about Florida's outsized role in American politics since the beginning of the Trump era, the impact of Trump's constant presence at Mar a Lago, and Trump's trust in Floridians like Susie Wiles, Matt Gaetz, and now Pam Bondi. Aidan also speaks with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about the wild past week for Trump's cabinet nominees. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks to Michael Smerconish, host of Smerconish on CNN and The Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM, about his opinion that left-leaning media went too far in their critiques of Trump, potentially explaining his winning of the popular vote. They also speak about the effect of young men in this increasingly divided media landscape, or podcast age, on the election. In the second half of the episode, Aidan talks with Mediaite's founding editor, Colby Hall, about how the Trump cabinet is shaping up. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Piers Morgan, host of Piers Morgan Uncensored on YouTube. He's been on and off friends with Trump since 2008, and while he previously thought Jan. 6 disqualifying for the former president, he's since changed his mind. The hysteria over Trump from his critics, Morgan said, fuels his appeal. He also speaks about the success of his YouTube, leaving linear television behind to go fully digital, and what he makes of criticism that his show platforms trolls. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with The Atlantic's Anne Applebaum about Trump's recent spike in rhetoric used by Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin. Anne is out with a new book, Autocracy Inc., which goes deep into the complex financial system 21st-century autocrats employ to stay in power. She makes comparisons here to Trump's relationship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and warns Trump has no real understanding of history– he's using this dehumanizing language because he believes it'll help him achieve absolute control. Aidan also speaks with Charlotte Klein, a features writer at New York Magazine, about her recent piece in which she interviewed 57 media elites, on and off the record, about the future of the news business. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Ali Abbasi, the critically acclaimed director of the new film The Apprentice, which depicts the origin story of Donald Trump. Ali discusses Trump's relationship with ruthless prosecutor and political fixer Roy Cohn, why he decided to get involved with the project in the first place– as a lot of Hollywood was fearful to get involved in a Trump biopic– and why he thought of the film as a humanist project. Aidan also speaks with Steve Hayes, the founder, CEO, and editor of The Dispatch, about how to launch a successful media outlet in the current climate. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Andrew Ross Sorkin, founder of the New York Times' DealBook and co-anchor on CNBC's SquawkBox. They talk about Andrew's take on whether Silicon Valley has really gone MAGA, Fortune 500 CEOs' fear of former President Trump, and DealBox's infamous Elon Musk interview. Andrew also talks about his optimism for the future of the media industry and the difficulties of being an apolitical reporter in the Trump era. In the second part of the episode, Aidan speaks with Tim O'Rourke, the VP of content strategy at Hearst Newspapers, about how the San Francisco Chronicle is using AI to cover the 2024 election. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with veteran news anchor Chris Wallace– now the host of two shows at CNN– about what ultimately sparked his departure from Fox News, Fox's $787 million Dominion settlement, and his take on presidential debates as someone who's moderated quite a few. Wallace is also out with a new book, Countdown 1960, on the parallels between that consequential election and 2024. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with CNN international correspondent Nada Bashir. They discuss her coverage of the occupied West Bank and Gaza, since Hamas' October 7th attacks and Israel's bombing campaign that followed, the unimaginable conditions Palestinian journalists are working under, and reporting in the Middle East amid a mistrust of Western media. Aidan also speaks with Jeff Coltin, a POLITICO reporter and co-author of the NYC Playbook newsletter, about the recent indictment against Mayor Eric Adams. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner, New York Times reporters and authors of "Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created The Illusion of Success". They discuss their in-depth reporting on Trump's finances, breaking the story of his financial losses and tax evasion methods in 2016, and the former president's attachment to his identity as "self-made". Aidan also speaks with Dominic Ponsford, editor in chief at the Press Gazette, about the scandal plaguing the largest Jewish newspaper in the world. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Ari Melber, host of "The Beat" on MSNBC and the network's chief legal correspondent. They discuss this week's presidential debate on ABC, between Vice President Harris and former President Trump, Trump's bogus election fraud claims, and the future of cable news. McLaughlin also speaks with Andrew Tobias, chief political correspondent for cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer, about the Trump-promoted conspiracy theories roiling Ohio. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Dana Bash, CNN anchor and chief political correspondent. They discuss her major interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz, the extraordinarily consequential debate that led to President Joe Biden's exit from the 2024 race, and the upcoming debate between Harris and Trump on ABC News. They also discuss her new book "America's Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History" and the parallels between that deadly saga and the current political climate.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Dave Smith, libertarian and host of the Part of the Problem podcast. They discuss Smith's thoughts on the death of the corporate news model, why he's not supporting Donald Trump in the upcoming election, and his relationships with Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Robert Costa, CBS News' chief election and campaign correspondent. They discuss Costa's eventful week covering the DNC, his sit-down interview with President Biden a few weeks back, and the lingering pain over Biden's exit. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin sits down with veteran media reporter Oliver Darcy to discuss his sudden exit from CNN and his new venture "Status." Darcy, who helmed the wildly popular "Reliable Sources" newsletter for years at CNN, often clashed with leadership at the network thanks to his strident criticism of the industry that didn't spare his own employer. Darcy spoke about tensions inside CNN, his refusal to call Fox News a “news network,” the future of cable television, his own career in conservative media, and why Tucker Carlson owes him $1,000. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with entrepreneur, presidential candidate and aspiring media mogul Vivek Ramaswamy. They discuss his acquisition of a stake in BuzzFeed, the 2024 race, his evolving views on Trump, stolen election lies, and why he thinks it's "problematic" for Democrats to call Trump and his movement weird. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Politico White House correspondent and Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels about the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris. He reveals how her 2024 run got off the ground and what's next as she prepares to take on former President Donald Trump. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor in chief Aidan McLaughlin sits down with CNN's chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju to talk about a raucous Republican National Convention. Raju, who also anchors "Inside Politics" on Sundays, spent the week in Milwaukee reporting on the ground of the convention, which came just days after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. He discusses Trump's big speech, the mood on the ground, and what's next in a presidential race where Trump's opponent, President Joe Biden, is facing calls from within his own party to drop out of the race. Plus: Mediaite editors Colby Hall and Sarah Rumpf discuss Tucker Carlson's headlining speech at the convention and the future of conservative media as the Republican Party reshapes itself in Trump's image. This episode was produced Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor in chief Aidan McLaughlin speaks with James Carville, the veteran Democratic strategist, about his calls for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. Carville, who joined Press Club from a cruise ship in Alaska, speaks out about why he thinks Biden is done, what should happen next, and why he thinks a second Trump term would be "the end of the Constitution."

Mediaite editor in chief Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Nicholas Kristof, the veteran foreign correspondent and New York Times columnist, about his call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. Kristof has been supportive of the Biden administration, but argued in a piece published the night of the president's disastrous debate against Donald Trump that he should bow out and let another (younger) candidate take his place. Kristof discusses how that would all play out and more. He also talks about his recent trip to the West Bank, Biden's approach to Israel, and his career as a foreign correspondent. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor in chief Aidan McLaughlin speaks with veteran media reporter Brian Stelter about the crisis at the Washington Post. Stelter breaks down his sprawling 9,000 word investigation of the Post just published in The Atlantic. He reveals what he found about the paper, and whether it can survive the turmoil. Plus: Stelter talks the 2024 election, the future of cable news, and McLaughlin does post-debate analysis with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall, who argued in a new piece that President Joe Biden should drop out of the race. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with MSNBC anchor Ali Velshi, out now with a new book "Small Acts of Courage." They discuss the book, the stakes of the 2024 election, what a second Trump term means for journalists, the future of the news industry, and media coverage of Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza. Mediaite's Press Club has expanded into a show on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 124. The new show features not just a flagship interview with top figures in the media, but also conversation and debate with reporters and editors about the biggest stories in press and politics. For this week's episode, McLaughlin is joined by Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about the "cheap fake" mania taking over cable news. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Alyssa Farah Griffin, former communications director in the Trump White House turned co-host of The View and CNN contributor. In a wide-ranging and at times personal conversation, they discuss her career, what she saw in the White House, why the GOP can't move on from Trump, and how a second Trump term would be defined by "rage and retribution" Mediaite's Press Club has expanded into a show on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 124. The new show features not just a flagship interview with top figures in the media, but also conversation and debate with reporters and editors about the biggest stories in press and politics. For this week's episode, McLaughlin is joined by Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall for a chat about media coverage of Biden's age. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke and Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with George Stephanopoulos about covering Trump and Biden, the upcoming debates, the media industry, and his new book "The Situation Room". Stephanopoulos is the host of Good Morning America and This Week on ABC News. Mediaite's Press Club has expanded into a show on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 124. The new show features not just a flagship interview with top figures in the media, but also conversation and debate with reporters and editors about the biggest stories in press and politics. For this week's episode, McLaughlin is joined by Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall for a chat about the Biden camp's feud with the Wall Street Journal and the controversy at The Washington Post over its new CEO and publisher Will Lewis. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with veteran foreign correspondent Arwa Damon about her recent mission inside Gaza. Damon started her career covering the Iraq War. She joined CNN, where she served as senior international correspondent and reported on war zones in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Libya and elsewhere. She won a Peabody Award and three Emmys, including one for her coverage of the Battle of Mosul in Iraq, where she came under fire from ISIS militants. On Press Club, he describes what life is like inside Gaza right now after 7 months of bombing, why this war has been so dangerous for journalists, and why the suffering in Gaza is different than any other war she's covered. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with New York magazine Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi, who takes us inside Donald Trump's hush money trial, which she's been covering in Manhattan's criminal court for the last few weeks as a jury was selected, opening arguments were presented, witnesses testified, and the former president was gagged. This week, Trump was fined for violating his gag order, and threatened by the judge with jail time. Nuzzi discusses those developments, what it's like watching Trump in court, and what the case means for the 2024 campaign. She also talks about the state of the media industry today and an eventful WHCD weekend. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with CNN anchor Jim Acosta. They discuss his new show, his time as a White House correspondent under Trump, facing death threats, covering Trump's new election campaign, what he fears most about a second Trump term, Biden's handling of Israel, CNN's new boss and the uncertain future of cable news. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher. They discuss her career as a reporter covering the rise of Silicon Valley and then as a media entrepreneur, the future of the media industry, how to start a media company in today's climate, whether cable news can survive in a post-linear world, her relationship with titans from Rupert Murdoch to Elon Musk, and her new book, “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story.” Swisher is the host of On With Kara Swisher, the Pivot Podcast with Scott Galloway, a contributing editor to New York Magazine and a CNN contributor. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Don Lemon, the former CNN host who just launched his new independent venture, The Don Lemon Show, with a dramatic splash. The first episode of his show featured a lengthy interview with billionaire Elon Musk — who was so upset by the tough questions he abruptly canceled his multi-million dollar deal with Lemon to host the show on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Lemon discusses how the deal came to be and how it fell apart, what he thinks of the interview now that it's aired, what's next for his show, returning to CNN months after he was ousted from the network, and the future of the media business. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Mehdi Hasan, the former MSNBC host who just announced the launch of a new digital media company, Zeteo. Hasan left MSNBC after the network canceled his show in the wake of Oct. 7 and Israel's war in Gaza. The cancelation sparked an outcry, and Hasan capitalized on that outrage to leave the network and launch his new outlet, one he promises will speak more truthfully about issues like war and U.S. politics than the traditional media. McLaughlin and Hasan discuss why he left MSNBC, how to start a digital media outlet during the digital media apocalypse, how the press is covering the Israel-Hamas war, Biden's performance as president, and Trump's resilience among the electorate. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin sits down for an in-depth chat with Bill Maher, the host of Real Time on HBO, the podcast Club Random, and author of the upcoming book "What This Comedian Said Will Shock You.” McLaughlin and Maher talk, at Maher's Club Random studios in Los Angeles, about the media, the state of the cable news industry, the 2024 race, whether Biden should drop out, the continued appeal of Trump, and the Israel-Hamas war. This episode was produced by Brandon Reschke.