They Stand Corrected

Follow They Stand Corrected
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Award-winning broadcaster, author, speaker, consultant, activist -- and now, podcast host

Josh Levs


    • Jun 24, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 115 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from They Stand Corrected with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from They Stand Corrected

    Episode 114: Iran Ignorance/ Rape Gangs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2026 33:10


    Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Join the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member. Looking at the disastrous coverage of the Iran deal, Josh asks, “What imaginary mental world is the media living in? It’s as though the whole thing boils down to just gas prices, the Strait of Hormuz,  maybe a mention of Iran’s nuclear threat, and of course, imaginary big, bad Israel having a magic ability to force the U.S. into a war.” Today, Josh lays out the reality. Iran presents the greatest current threat to humanity, and the Islamic regime is conducting global efforts in the effort to control as much of the world as possible. The real story involves so much shaping the world and the lives of Americans, he explains. It’s about drugs, immigration, assassination plots on U.S. soil, Islamist terrorist attacks, threats to U.S. water supplies, the safety of U.S. children’s hospitals, other shipping channels like the Panama Canal and the Red Sea, genocidal attacks on Christians, and the the safety of the world’s largest democracy (which isn't the U.S.). All this and more are wrapped up in what seems to be a disastrous capitulation to Tehran. And if this deal is as bad as it seems to be, that would be totally unsurprising given the reality of Trump’s history. Then, Josh tackles a story the media is hiding altogether: The Rape Gang Inquiry, a big new report on the systemic, horrific rape of young girls across the United Kingdom. The government has long turned a blind eye to it because acknowledging it was deemed “racist” and “Islamophobic.” A man was even jailed for talking about it. The media is a big part of the problem.  Plus, a trip to LA, JOMO, and Josh's appearance on the Unapologetically Jewish podcast in conversation with host Shana Meyerson.  Links, images, videos and more at theystandcorrected.substack.com  Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs

    Episode 113: Don’s Picks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2026 36:57


     Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member! With Josh just back from vacation, producer Don Jackson hosts a special “best-of” edition of They Stand Corrected, pulling six powerful clips that define the show's mission. Don's picks tackle media bias around Israel and Gaza, Trump-era disinformation, immigration narratives, the failure to reach low-income voters, and the meaning of October 7 through Jewish history and resilience.  See links, images, videos and more in the newsletter.   Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs☕, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 112: China's Useful Idiots

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2026 37:57


    Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member! A top official representing Uyghurs reached out to Josh, saying he'd welcome the chance to talk about misinformation in the media. Then, the story of China's extreme repression of the mostly Muslim Uyghurs became especially timely. Today, Salih Hudayar, foreign minister of the East Turkestan Government in Exile, discusses how China is manipulating the world with help from the media. He assails the hypocrisy left-wing groups that claim to care about human rights, “colonialism,” and “genocide,” while ignoring “the biggest imperialist power,” China.  Josh explains how this affects coverage of politics, the war in Iran, trade, immigration, and more. He explains how Chinese funding fuels organizations like Code Pink and streamers like Hasan Piker as they work to radicalize people around the world's stupidest cause: hating Israel.  The plight of the Uyghurs also highlights the hypocrisy of many Islamic nations, the U.N., and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Hudayar shares his experience being kicked out of U.S. mosques for simply requesting a prayer to end the genocide of Uyghurs. Plus, Maine Democrat Graham Platner has Democrats' backing despite a long record of horrible behaviors, and ousted 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley leaves big questions unanswered. See links, images, videos and more in the newsletter.   Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs☕, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 111: Moderation Mandate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 33:46


    Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member! News giants have been fixating on horse-race coverage of primaries, and misleading the country. While the headlines play up support for far-right and far-left candidates, Americans are clamoring for moderation. Today, Josh digs into the data. He shows that overwhelming numbers of Americans say Republicans and Democrats have gone too far in their ideological directions. He highlights how Big Media hides the truth about the top issues for voters. A survey finds that Americans worry “a great deal” about terrorism — even more than energy affordability and illegal immigration. But you wouldn’t know that from the New York Times.  Also, the media keeps churning out political predictions despite a long record of being very wrong. USA Today humor columnist Rex Huppke joins Josh to discuss his wish: “Make stupidity embarrassing again.” Josh shares the story of a “news” anchor known for spouting nonsense shamelessly before Trump became president the first time.  Plus, new arrests of women in Western countries who have been carrying out the slave trade for ISIS, the Islamic State. Josh discusses why the majority of those arrested in democracies have been women, and why many so-called “human rights” campaigners stay silent about this slavery — as well as the chattel slavery that still exists in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. See links, images, videos and more in the newsletter.   Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs☕, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 110: Canada's Dark Turn

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 34:21


    Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member! How did Canada, previously known for its politeness, become home to a widespread, violent antisemitic movement? Attacks on Jews are higher per capita in Canada than anywhere else in the West. Montreal has been called the “antisemitism capital of North America.” Today, Josh is joined by Jesse Brown, editor and publisher of the independent news and podcast company Canadaland. In a recent series called “What is Happening Here,” he delved into the antisemitism spreading across the country. Josh speaks with him about unique ways in which Canadian media fuels this bigotry, including by failing to report who carries out hate crimes. “The worse the media has done here, the more government support they’ve gotten,” Jesse says. The problem trickles down from the highest levels of the government and leads to policies in newsrooms. “What Americans can see in Canada is: This is what happens when nobody is pushing back against this anti-Zionist thing,” he explains. “It gets bolder, it gets infused into organizations, it becomes a witch hunt against everyday people.” Also today, the BBC looks at girls in Afghanistan being sold into slavery, and focuses on how difficult it is for their fathers. To the BBC, the men doing the selling must be portrayed as victims. Josh explains the warped thinking that leads to these journalistic fiascoes. See links, images, videos and more in the newsletter.   Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs☕, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 109: What Lawsuits Expose

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 33:02


    Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member. Get the Memorial Day discount today! Legal action can be the most powerful opportunity to uncover the corruption and lack of journalistic standards inside news agencies. A lawsuit exposed how Fox knowingly lied to its audience about the 2020 election. Now, a lawsuit over a disastrous op-ed could expose realities from inside The New York Times. Today, Josh explains why the threatened lawsuit in response to Nicholas Kristof's column doesn't have to lead to a plaintiff's victory in order to pay off. Discovery is the key. Josh is in an unusual position to explain this, because he took legal action against his employer while at CNN. He discusses how desperately news agencies want to keep their dirty laundry hidden. Also today, something difficult but important to hear: Kids in Gaza describe sexual abuse by Hamas. So does an Israeli man. Big media ignored this. Plus, why a bailout is not a balanced budget — and how left-wing media is heaping false praise onto New York City's mayor. Then, Josh explains why Memorial Day is the most hypocritical date on the media's calendar, and what it takes to really honor those who died in service to the country. See links, images, videos and more in the newsletter.   Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs☕, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 108: Propaganda in Class

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 34:36


    Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member. A new bill of global importance has become a law. It could set a template for the entire country. Around the world, anti-democratic nations are watching this, because they know it’s a strike against one of their big goals: influencing the minds of American children. Today, Josh is joined by a woman who led the effort to expose foreign influence over what's taught in U.S. schools. Inspired by proof of Qatar's propaganda efforts, State Rep. Esther Panitch, a Georgia Democrat, spearheaded legislation to make her state the first to require a new kind of reporting. When she drew attention to the issue, the top Qatari officials in the United States went after her publicly — and then also went after another Jewish woman, saying they were doing “what people like you always do.”  Also, a new report is out, detailing horrific sexual violence carried out by Gazan terrorists. Even CNN took a break from parroting Hamas talking points to report on it. But the New York Times apparently turned down a chance to report on it in advance. Worse, the paper tried to get out ahead of it by running a propaganda-filled opinion piece from Nicholas Kristof.  Josh takes us through Kristof's history of getting big things wrong, including in a failed run for governor of Oregon. “A guy who doesn’t look for facts and then tries so hard to deny them — this is who the Times entrusts to run with the most incendiary allegations you can make against Israel,” Josh explains. See links, images, videos and more in the newsletter.   Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs☕, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 107: Gerrymandering & The ‘Unholy Alliance'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 33:28


    Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate 100+ episodes and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member. A Supreme Court decision about voting rights became “stop the presses” news. But the media left out a big part of the story: the history of Black Democratic groups and white Republican groups working together to create more majority-Black districts. Today, Josh explains the math behind the effort.  Then, hear dramatic sound from the capture of a knife-wielding UK terrorist who attacked Jewish people. The BBC pretended the latest in a long string of attacks was “shocking.” The network also muted a guest's microphone when he cited incitement by far-left politicians. And the BBC helped a far-left politician avoid answering a simple question. Josh explains how the scene became a study in “tragicomic obfuscation.” NPR, meanwhile, did not run a single on-air piece about the attack. Josh shares what happened when he searched NPR's site for any stories about Jewish people, radical Islam, and more. People should not give their hard-earned money to the network, he argues, particularly in the wake of a historic $113 million gift from two extremely wealthy people. Also today, more of Josh's interview with fantastic military analyst Andrew Fox. Even if Iran agrees to a deal, it’s likely to see it as a temporary patch until Trump is out of office. Andrew explains why Iran is banking on a Democrat taking over the White House and giving the Islamic regime, effectively, free reign. Plus, why Pakistan is suddenly all over the news, and the media's cluelessness about where the country came from.   In the newsletter: Dear Future Generations: A note about one of the biggest stories on Earth, which the media refuses to tell Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs☕, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 106: Violence & Anonymity

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 35:07


    Submit media fails you see, and get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate 100+ episodes and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member. The giant chasm between the media and reality has never been as clear as it is now, in the wake of a shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner. News agencies have long ignored and downplayed left-wing violence. Instead of covering it, they've run cover for it and churned out content designed to radicalize people even further. Now, that hatred hit home. Today, Josh shares proof that left-wing violence is more popular than right-wing violence in America, especially among young people. Plus, former guest Mike Pesca points out something important about what the authorities did to the shooter at the gala — and the profound hypocrisy of the media not caring.  Josh also tackles another big media issue: anonymous sourcing. The Atlantic published a piece alleging that FBI Director Kash Patel is “MIA,” based entirely on unnamed people. Josh shows how the media has misused anonymous sourcing for so long that many people distrust them. He highlights particularly disastrous cases of anonymous sources being wrong — including a CNN example that put lives in danger. Even coverage of Patel's response served as a reminder of media failure. He made nonsensical claims about his own record, but the media parroted him anyway. Josh explains, and tells you about an anonymous source who referred to a vice president as “I.” In the newsletter: Beware the White House Correspondents Dinner Conspiracy Theories Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please remember to subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 105: Reality of the Iran War

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 34:29


    Get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate 100+ episodes and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member. Trump insists it’s going “swimmingly.” Much of the media portrays it as an unmitigated disaster. But since news giants get so much wrong also, how can you know what’s true? Today, Josh welcomes back Andrew Fox of the Henry Jackson Society, a clear-headed military analyst who understands war and what's really happening. Andrew cites ways in which the war has been “a dominating, overwhelming, crushing victory for Israel and the United States” and ways in which it has not been so — including one action in particular that he calls “a military mistake for the ages.”  He also explains the reason the initial U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran took place at the exact moment it did; how a 5-minute elevator underground factors in; what signs to look for in the coming weeks; and how Trump's turn on Ukraine affected Europe's actions on Iran. And he describes what it will take to end Iran's Islamist regime, the chief sponsor of global terror.  Plus: the media buries another terrorist attack on a synagogue, carried out by teens. New York Times propagandist Ezra Klein denies reality again. A state representative calls out left-wing hate monger Hasan Piker's latest vile, bigoted rant, which targeted a Vietnamese refugee. And the U.S. Navy Band plays two national anthems. In the newsletter: how U.S. Democrats are doing the exact opposite of what Hungarians did Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please remember to subscribe✅, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and review✍️!

    Episode 104: ‘Mood' Reporting Fails

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 30:57


    Get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate 100+ episodes and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member. The media needs to learn from its big screwups. It usually doesn't. Today, Josh shows the latest proof. In rushing to cover Iran's claims about a ceasefire deal, the media forgot lessons from a previous controversy involving the Mueller Report, then-Attorney General Bill Barr, and claims of Russian interference in the U.S. election. Meanwhile, news agencies that have told you not to trust the Iranian government suddenly want you to trust it now. And the same news agencies condemning Elon Musk for letting Iran spread propaganda on X are quoting and linking to Iran's propaganda on X. Also today, Josh dispels the notion that on-the-ground reporters know as much as they claim to. He discusses “parachute journalism” and a question journalists often ask each other on air, exposing a fundamental flaw in news operations. Plus a giant lesson the media is missing from the election in Hungary, NPR’s unforgettably awful admission, and the media’s hypocrisy around destroying a civilization. In the newsletter: Why the Meme Wars Are No Laughing Matter Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review.

    Episode 103: A Slavery Vote and a Nazi Hunter's Myth

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 31:18


    Get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate 100+ episodes and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member. A New York Times headline read, “US Rejects Vote to Recognise Slavery as a Crime Against Humanity.” That’s false. Today, Josh explains what actually happened, and why it's so significant for the time we're living in. It involves victim narratives, vikings, and the British asking an African nation to stop slavery. The Times also misled readers about a Trump quote, giving fodder to “fake news” claims. Josh explains why that’s so damaging. Meanwhile, with a day remembering the Holocaust (Yom Hashoah) coming up, Josh busts a very popular myth. Unlike the lies pushed by extremist groups and nations like Iran, this myth was created by a famed Nazi hunter. Simon Wiesenthal was convinced — probably correctly — that few people would care about 6 million murdered Jews. So he invented an “11 million people” claim, which the media has since repeated many times over. Also today, as Trump continues firing cabinet officials far faster than presidents generally do, the media is ignoring the lying track records of his new picks. Plus, the great Marian Anderson, historic civil rights figure and opera singer, performing a song with timely resonance.  In the newsletter: While news agencies decry AI fakes about the Iran war and more, these same news agencies are making an even more insidious problem worse. It's one that will last far beyond any administration. Share thoughts and questions through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review.

    Episode 102: Who Owns Your Local News?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 31:40


    Get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate crossing the 100-episode mark and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member! A new merger has huge implications for news at the local level — where people still trust the media. Today, Josh explains why this story is even bigger than it seems. Some are presenting the Nexstar-Tegna merger as yet another example of Trump rewarding billionaires who played his game. But some prominent conservative groups, including CPAC, oppose it. Meanwhile, a group that has been giving more money to Democrats than Republicans supports it. Will this merger poison coverage across the country, or is it the key to survival? This story involves the tech giants (Google, Meta, TikTok and more) and a so-called “moat against extinction.” It also sets up an unfair choice between two bad options. Josh explains that there’s a solution. Plus left-wing media figure Kara Swisher sparked headlines by trashing CBS' new ownership and saying she would not work at CNN under the same owners. Josh explains why this story ended up saying a lot about today's media, hypocrisy, and blindness to existing dangers. Also, Josh announces the winners — er, losers, of the Media Fail Awards (mediafailawards.com). And he discusses yet another group of Christians slaughtered by Islamist terrorists in Africa. To all who celebrate, wishes for a safe and peaceful Easter or Passover. Get this free, timely guide to a fantastic, meaningful, delicious Passover via this link: bit.ly/4t689E1. Thanks to a sponsorship, you'll help the show. Support: ☕BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review. 

    Episode 101: Modern Slavery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2026 33:25


    Get facts, links, images and more at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Celebrate crossing the 100-episode mark and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member! Today, Josh starts off with a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote about “appalling silence.” That’s because the media's failures aren't just about stories it gets wrong; they're also about stories it refuses to tell. Perhaps the biggest is modern slavery, which includes an estimated 50 million people — probably more. A new report finds conviction rates are critically low. Josh searched Big Media for coverage. Meanwhile, as debates rage about the Iran war, one of the most important things to understand is how Iran's support of Islamist terror threatens the United States. Yet the media has not reported on the new Global Terrorism Index. It shows a massive 280% jump in people killed by terrorism in the West, and the highest number in the United States since 2019.

    Episode 100: JOMO v. the News

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 32:31


    It's the 100th episode! Join the celebration and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Today, Josh divulges a reality that Big Media doesn't want you to know: News consumption has plummeted. More people are proudly announcing that they're cutting back, calling it JOMO — the joy of missing out. That may be a good thing. A study finds that people who spend more time following the news are more misinformed about crucial topics. That’s because of how news giants are responding to the shrinking audience. Josh explains that it’s a story of marauders, shields, and people who are supposed to be warriors for truth choosing instead to play on their phones. Also, the term “derangement syndrome” is now being used in all sorts of contexts — in reference to a state, a technology, and a wildly popular singer. It isn’t just a new catch-all phrase; it's a sign of problematic thinking pushed by the media.  Plus, celebratory voice messages from supporters. And something listeners have asked for: a message to share with friends who may be entrenched in talking points of the political right or left. Get the newsletter for links, social media content and more. Submit questions, ideas, and reports you want fact checked: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com  Other ways to contribute: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.

    Episode 99: NYC Terror: What They Hid

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 32:28


    New York City nearly had an Islamist terrorist attack just days ago, but you wouldn't know it from Big Media. Instead of getting people the truth, news giants hid basics. Today, Josh shares news disasters from The New York Times and CNN that are so ludicrous they sound like jokes. Meanwhile, the Times showed its bias in coverage of two political spouses. It ran cover for Rama Duwaji, wife of Zohran Mamdani, who liked social media posts celebrating the October 7 terrorist massacres. But it went after the wife of another Democratic politician, whose social media activity was sensible. Plus, an analysis, conducted for this episode, shows the media has dramatically changed how it covers a U.S. military conflict. And Josh shares a clip of someone calling out a major news network live on the air.  Also, a leading Democratic figure, a likely presidential candidate for 2028, has gone off the rails — and Josh seems to be the only person asking him what he’s thinking.  Subscribe to the FREE newsletter packed with links, details, social media content and more. Submit questions, ideas, and reports you want fact checked: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com  Celebrate the upcoming 100th episode by becoming a Founding Member!  Contribute: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs or PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Thanks.

    Episode 98: Downplaying Iran's Hell

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 29:54


    In the days since the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, the media has been misleading us. Obituaries of the Islamic Republic's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, left out basics, including his role in attacks on Americans and his regime's horrific, systematic sexual assaults on girls and women. Big Media also showed pro-Iran bias in deciding which groups get the “terrorist” label.  Today, Josh tells us what the media won't. He dismantles disastrous “reporting” from the New York Times, CNN, and the Washington Post. He explains how the media abandoned Iran's brave protesters in recent months — a decision that strengthened Iran's ability to fight off military action. The BBC even traveled to Iran to do propaganda for the regime. This story ties into another big story at home that sounds unrelated: a merger involving CBS and CNN. The same news agencies insisting journalism is in danger don't care about the journalistic fiascoes already present.  The problem is not left versus right, Josh explains; it’s truth versus lies. Tune in to get the two ingredients of truth: facts plus context. Subscribe to the FREE newsletter packed with links, details, social media content and more. Submit questions, ideas, and reports you want fact checked: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com  Celebrate the upcoming 100th episode by becoming a Founding Member!  Contribute: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs or PayPal.me/JoshLevs  Bookings, ideas, feedback: joshlevs.com Tell news executives to stop the madness: theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/how-to-email-your-complaints-to-big Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Thanks.

    Episode 97: Iran Media Scam

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2026 13:43


    As soon as the news broke that the United States and Israel launched a military attack on Iran, the media began spreading propaganda. Using a trick that the Islamic Republic employs, Big Media passed along claims directly from the government's own approved “news” agencies. That’s just one of the big problems in the initial coverage. Today, Josh jumps in with a special mini-episode to set the record straight on this and more. He explains that the media keeps missing a crucial story about a president's war powers and the need for congressional authorization. And there’s a big picture reality missing: a fissure in the Middle East itself. An Egyptian political analyst explains why Iran is at the helm of an “evil axis.” Get the newsletter packed with links, details, social media content and more. Submit your questions, ideas, and reports you want fact checked: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com Celebrate the show's upcoming 100th episode! This special breaking news episode brings us even closer to the milestone. Support the fight for truth: Become a Founding Member: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com Buy Josh a coffee: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs Monthly contribution: PayPal.me/joshlevs Bookings, ideas, feedback: joshlevs.com Tell news executives to stop the madness: theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/how-to-email-your-complaints-to-big Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Thanks.

    Episode 96: Equal Time Battles

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 31:04


    Much of what we’ve been told about a big story in recent days has been wrong. It involves the Trump administration, a tight Senate race, Stephen Colbert, and claims of censorship. Those elements have been in the news, but the story also involves Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bernie Sanders, and a Biden official running to lead the most populous state. News giants have pretty much ignored all of that because it doesn’t fit the simple narrative they would rather give you.  Today, Josh sets the record straight. He breaks down the story surrounding Texas Democrat James Talarico, and explains how the media “took the bait.” He dismantles the most “off the rails” talking points, and warns us about the long-term dangers of “panic mode” thinking. Also, why the State of the Union address is one of the most frustrating nights of the year, and signals a need for a big countermovement in America. And the latest fantastic listener feedback includes an “I stand corrected!” Plus, Josh tells us about two conversations that highlight hope for our democracy. Celebrate the show's upcoming 100th episode by becoming a Founding Member at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Other ways to contribute: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs PayPal.me/joshlevs Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com  Tell news executives to stop the madness: theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/how-to-email-your-complaints-to-big Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Thanks.

    Episode 95: The Should-Be Scandal

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 29:39


    The other day, a political scandal should have erupted. If the media was doing its job, it would have. Instead, news giants buried or ignored what happened because it didn’t fit their preferred narrative. Today, Josh explains how this story exemplifies a fundamental problem in the news — and a way we all get manipulated by political coverage.  The story involves pro-terror radicals on the left, Proud Boys on the right, and wildly different questions the media asks political candidates. It includes moments of “supreme cluelessness,” when the connection between two things is obvious but the media refuses to see it.  Josh also highlights a big mistake the media is making in coverage of the Epstein files, and answers a listener’s question about “paroxysms” among a certain demographic.  Celebrate the show's upcoming 100th episode! Become a Founding Member at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Other ways to make the fight for truth possible: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs PayPal.me/joshlevs Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com  Tell news executives to stop the madness: theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/how-to-email-your-complaints-to-big Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Thanks

    Episode 94: The Washington Post's Fall, ‘Nationalized' Elections & Bad Bunny

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 33:23


    Big Media routinely tunes out information, presents a two-dimensional narrative, and insists that it's the whole story. That’s been happening in recent days, in coverage of mass layoffs at the Washington Post.  Today, Josh explains what the media won’t admit: The Post, just like other news giants, is suffering from its own journalistic failures. He takes you through some of the paper's worst recent disasters. He also explores how tunnel vision is skewing coverage of Bad Bunny’s halftime show at the Super Bowl and a horrific mass slaughter in an African country.   And a listener asks Josh whether Trump is really trying to “nationalize” elections. He tells you what the media has left out. Celebrate the show's upcoming 100th episode! Support by becoming a Founding Member at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com.  Other ways to support: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, paypal.me/joshlevs Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com  Tell news executives to stop the madness: theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/how-to-email-your-complaints-to-big Please subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Thanks.

    Episode 93: Church Arrests/Kanye

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 34:31


    It's a major story involving the First Amendment and protecting children. The media is getting basic facts about it wrong. Even worse, it's missing the big picture. Today, Josh explains how the media is digging a hole, and dragging America down with it. The story involves arrests of so-called independent journalists who were at a protest inside a Minneapolis-St. Paul church. To help us all see what it's really about, Josh takes us back to a major event 50 years ago. Meanwhile, another story is turning out to be much bigger than it may seem: The guy formerly known as Kanye West is apologizing for his antisemitism and other bigotry, according to the media. But is he? When news giants tell you something happened, what steps do they take to make sure it really did? Unlike the media, Josh seeks proof. These stories have a common thread. In both cases, the media is showing a contempt for a basic principle of democracy and journalism. Links Get the free newsletter: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. To help make the show possible, get unlimited access, and make requests, become a Founding Member or monthly supporter.  Other ways to support: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, paypal.me/joshlevs Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com  Tell news executives to stop the madness: theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/how-to-email-your-complaints-to-big Please subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Thanks.

    Episode 92: Killing Context

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 31:18


    Coverage of the latest deadly shooting by federal immigration agents has left out crucial context. Today, Josh tells you what most legacy media have ignored. He digs into the track record of the official who led Trump's crackdown in Minneapolis. A federal judge slammed Greg Bovino for “outright lying.” Josh also explains how the media left out the dangers these agents face, which can affect a split-second decision to shoot. Then, another big story involving immigration. 60 Minutes broadcast the controversial report about a hellish prison in El Salvador. It’s the segment that many “journalists” insisted would never air. Now that it did, what are they saying? Unlike the media, Josh shows you what was changed in the report before it aired — and what wasn’t. They Stand Corrected counts on you! Links: Get the free newsletter: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. To help make the show possible, become a paid subscriber for unlimited content. Other ways to support: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, paypal.me/joshlevs. Vote for the worst media disasters of 2025: mediafailawards.com. Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. That’s how the algorithms know to recommend the show.

    Episode 91: ‘Citizen Journalists'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 31:25


    Stories of independent, self-declared “journalists” have been all over the news lately. The Trump administration went wild over Nick Shirley, who made a video involving Somali immigrants in Minnesota, daycares, and allegations of fraud. Big Media responded with hypocritical attacks, performative stunts, and accusations of Islamophobia. Then, Don Lemon — a former mainstream media figure-turned independent “journalist” — joined protesters who barged into a church during a service, causing mayhem. He got basics wrong about the Constitution, the First Amendment, the Civil Right Movement, and more. And it's quite possible that he violated the law. Today, Josh talks you through these incidents. He explains why they were not acts of journalism, and what the responsibilities of a true “citizen journalist” are. He discusses brave Iranians attempting to do citizen journalism now, amid the government's latest brutal, deadly crackdown on protesters. And he shows how the media is contradicting itself. Get the free newsletter: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Make the show possible! Become a paid subscriber for unlimited content. Other ways to contribute: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs, paypal.me/joshlevs. Vote for the worst media disasters of 2025: mediafailawards.com. Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. That’s how the algorithms know to recommend the show!

    Episode 90: Rage Machine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 32:29


    To get your attention, the media likes to make you angry. So big news agencies churn out hot takes that inspire fury — facts be damned. That’s clear in coverage of the shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent. Today, Josh points out how a news network did exactly the wrong thing in the wake of the shooting. Also, how all the major media are ignoring a basic fact about groups organizing protests: Several of them actually support state violence of a different kind. Anger also led to disastrous coverage of a battle at CBS' 60 Minutes. A news executive held a story for further reporting, and people throughout the Big Media landscape lost their minds. Josh explains. Meanwhile, the media has been largely ignoring something that people should be angry about: Iran's deadly crackdown on protesters. Brave Iranians have launched another uprising against the state's brutal Islamist regime. Josh explains how the media has fallen since he covered a previous uprising in the country. Get the free newsletter: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Make the show possible! Become a paid subscriber for unlimited content, or contribute via BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs or paypal.me/joshlevs. Vote for the worst media disasters of 2025: mediafailawards.com. Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.

    Episode 89: Maduro Madness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 32:32


    The U.S. military operation in Venezuela and capture of strongman Nicolas Maduro raise crucial questions about the extent of American power and what's allowed under so-called “international law.” The media should respond by giving you the facts. What does the Constitution say? What do international treaties say? How have governments made decisions about military actions, and who gets to weigh in? Instead of providing answers, the media has produced an avalanche of conflicting claims, opinions, and lies. Today, Josh pieces through the rubble to uncover the truth. He talks you through military actions by the Obama and Biden administrations; the reason Maduro may not be protected by a ban on capturing foreign leaders; the doctrine ensuring that he can stand trial in the U.S., and more. Also, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's “briefing” that wasn't; how a democratic Venezuela could help fight Islamist terrorism; and an unintentionally hilarious BBC segment summarizes the media's failure. Vote for the worst media disasters of 2025: mediafailawards.com. Get the free newsletter: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Make the fight for truth possible in 2026 by becoming a paid subscriber for unlimited content. Contribute: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs or paypal.me/joshlevs Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.

    Episode 88: The 2025 Media Fail Awards

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2025 42:28


    Welcome to the second annual Media Fail Awards! It's your chance to vote on the biggest news blunders of the year. Hear the “nominees” for the most disastrous reporting that helped spread big lies on both ends of the political spectrum. Then, vote! Find your ballot at mediafailawards.com. Josh will inform the news agencies of their wins — er, losses. Also in this episode, a damaging Christmas myth we can help dispel in the news. Since this is the last episode of the year, Josh has wishes for a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! They Stand Corrected needs your support! We're about 17% under where we need to be to keep going in 2026. You can become a paid subscriber to the newsletter at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com, or contribute via buymeacoffee.com/joshlevs or paypal.me/joshlevs. You'll receive thanks from Josh, a message on the show (if you wish) and the chance to decide which topics are covered. Event bookings, feedback, and more at joshlevs.com. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Thank you for an amazing year! Here's hoping for another year of showing the media that They Stand Corrected.

    Episode 87: Hanukkah Massacre: The Media's Complicity

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 32:52


    The media is complicit in the Hanukkah massacre. That's not an accusation or opinion; it's a demonstrable fact. Today, Josh provides proof. In the wake of the Islamist terrorist attack in Sydney, Josh takes you inside Australia's media landscape, which mirrors that of the United States and western Europe. You'll hear the daughter of an elderly victim bravely call out the mainstream media in the middle of a live interview. Then, Josh digs into the big problem with the media's fixation on one hero. He explains how the media uses stories like that to hide a much bigger reality. He tells you about Jewish heroes who were killed in the attack. And he shares sound from a brave Muslim soldier fighting Islamist terrorism and antisemitism. Anti-Zionism is a hate movement radicalizing the world. Josh explains that Hanukkah is all about defeating anti-Zionism. Yet the media uses the holiday to platform anti-Zionist Jews, giving audiences the false idea that they're large in number. No matter who you are, no matter what your background, if you care about the truth, this show is for you. Get the free newsletter, packed with links, proof, and the ability to generate images in a single click: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. This show needs your support, so become a paid subscriber and get lots of perks. Give the show a Hanukkah gift! buymeacoffee.com/joshlevs or paypal.me/joshlevs Send feedback through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.

    Episode 86: ‘Kill' Orders/ Non-Bedfellows

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 33:59


    Recently, a planned terrorist attack against LGBTQ clubs was apparently thwarted. Authorities say young men from the Dearborn, Michigan area had practiced and stockpiled weapons for the attack, inspired by the Islamic State. The story was quickly buried, but it speaks to a strange shift in American politics and culture. In recent years, LGBTQ+ groups have become mouthpieces for lies put out by Islamist groups like Hamas. They do this while claiming “solidarity.” But at the same time, U.S. Muslims are pulling further away from stances crucial to LGBTQ+ organizations. The latest survey shows support for same-sex marriage has plummeted among Muslim Americans, while growing among just about everyone else. Today, Josh explains how the media is fueling this shift, and how LGBTQ+ groups are risking the end of same-sex marriage. He takes you to a city in which the nation's first all Muslim city council banned Pride flags. (These aren't “strange bedfellows,” since only one side seems to believe they're bedfellows at all.) Plus, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is going after the media, ranting about anonymous sources. And while anonymity is overused and misused in the media, the Trump administration is in no position to complain. Josh explains. Get the FREE newsletter, packed with links, proof, and the ability to generate images in a single click: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Paid subscribers get searchable, edited, hyperlinked transcripts not available anywhere else. And they play a big role in determining topics for the show. Send feedback through the newsletter or the form at joshlevs.com. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Gift-giving time? buymeacoffee.com/joshlevs or paypal.me/joshlevs

    Episode 85: National Guard Shooting

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 33:29


    The shooting of two National Guard members in Washington last week sparked a political battle and a cascade of media failure. Big news agencies ran false claims from President Trump and other government officials without correcting them. But that's just the beginning. The attack, by an Afghan refugee, shines a light on media failures going back to 2021. Amid the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, news agencies ran claims from the Biden administration without fact checking or attributing those. Today, Josh traces you through the uncorrected lies that have misled the country. Plus, the media's role in rushing the 2021 process of ushering Afghan citizens into America -- and the dangers that process wrought. Also, what the media refuses to tell you about the shooter, and the word the media refuses to mention about the U.S. departure from Afghanistan.

    Episode 84: Thanksgiving Dishonesty

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 12:01


    Each year, the media runs stories about people arguing with loved ones over Thanksgiving dinner. News agencies present themselves as giving you solutions for handling polarization. But these reports are hypocritical because the media itself is polarizing America through an onslaught of lies. In this mini-episode, Josh discusses a way to respond to people who believe lies. It's a simple tactic that listeners say has worked. Plus, a Thanksgiving message of gratitude to you.

    Episode 83: Epstein Media Mess

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025 30:15


    The release of some documents related to Jeffrey Epstein in recent days has been, above all else, a media story. Political leaders released certain files involving the sex trafficker, knowing what the media would do: grab a few lines out of context and play them up in hopes of getting audiences to click, watch, listen, and read. In the process, it made a mess and sowed confusion. But the release did raise new and serious concerns about the role of the media itself. A New York Times journalist tipped off Epstein about someone working on an exposé about him. And author Michael Wolff advised him. Today, Josh digs into all of this to explain where the media has gone wrong. He also highlights the hypocrisy of the BBC's apology to Trump, and takes on a billion dollar news conglomerate that pushed the “genocide” libel about Israel.

    Episode 82: BBC Trump Fiasco

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2025 29:07


    Two top executives at the world's biggest news broadcaster, the BBC, have resigned after another fiasco. This one involves the network doctoring Trump's January 6, 2021 speech before the insurrection. But some news outlets pointing to this as proof of BBC bias have created a different problem of their own. They're cutting off what Trump said, giving you a false positive impression. “Everybody's misleading you,” Josh explains in this episode. “But this show lets you tune out the noise and get the truth.” Plus, new proof of the BBC's pro-Hamas bias has also come to light -- including its disastrous coverage of a Yazidi sex slave who was rescued by Israel, the United States, and Jordan. Meanwhile, a series of problems plague coverage of last week's U.S. elections. Josh pieces through them, and shows why it's no surprise that surveys on civic knowledge in America are dismal.  And the mainstream media's favorite streamer announced his anti-democratic stance yet again. But even that isn't slowing down the fawning profiles.

    Episode 81: Election Fallout/ Mike Pesca

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2025 30:50


    When Tuesday's election results came in, Newsweek invited Josh to assess the victory of New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. In today's episode, he explains why he called it a terrible, dangerous turn in U.S. politics. Big media like The New York Times celebrated the news, of course. Josh explains that the Times had an “Oops, I Did it Again” moment when a high-ranking journalist let the mask drop -- and then tried to put it back on. Then, a guest joins Josh to explore a bigger question: How did we get here? Why does the media warn about anti-democratic movements on the right while running cover for those on the left? Fellow NPR alum Mike Pesca, host of the podcast The Gist, helps explain how news agencies lost their way. He also discusses his firing from a national news agency. Josh explains why Mike's experience is a window into anti-journalistic thinking in newsrooms.

    Episode 80: Ballroom Lies & Mamdani's Pass

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2025 30:54


    The story of a renovation at the White House and the planned creation of a big ballroom is the perfect example of how media failures have left people in the dark. Depending on someone's media bubble, they've either heard that Trump launched a destructive, crazy expensive vanity project that might even be illegal, or that it's just a long awaited change and the left is freaking freaking out about nothing. Today, Josh pieces through the mess to get you the facts. Also, news organizations generally play up a candidate's past offensive remarks and actions -- but not when it comes to antisemitism on the left. Then the mainstream media isn't interested. And if other people make it a story, the media frames the candidate as a victim. Josh provides proof involving New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, who expressed his love for convicted funders of terrorism and praised an imam with ties to radical Islam. Plus, a student leader who celebrated Charlie Kirk's assassination might actually face a consequence despite the media's effort to run cover for him.

    Episode 79: Judging Failures

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 30:32


    When businesses judge their achievements at the end of each year, they generally look at financial figures. But what about organizations that exist primarily to serve a crucial societal purpose? There, the metrics are usually different. They assess their impact. Not so for news agencies. Instead, big media look at audience figures and awards -- which say nothing about providing the truth. Today, Josh digs into this problem. He explains how new annual awards could hold the media to account, and how we can make them happen. Also, questions have been pouring in from supporters of the show following the last two episodes. Josh answers several, explains what's true, and teaches you what to look for in a news story to be on guard against lies. Plus, what the media is leaving out of its coverage of a Trump fiasco at the CDC.

    Episode 78: Hostages: A Media Reckoning

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 31:50


    This week, the world has seen the release of the 20 living, remaining hostages in Gaza, celebrations in Gaza for the return of convicted terrorists, and what's being called the end of the Israel-Gaza war. “It's all taking place against a backdrop of profound media failure,” Josh explains in this episode. “We can't really understand what's happening without understanding how the media has twisted everything, lengthening this war and helping the hostage takers hold on to them in hellish captivity for all this time.” It's not just about one war. All the tactics that led to October 7th are being adopted by other Islamist terrorist groups around the world. Without the media helping people understand the truth, the world won't act or prepare. Today, Josh shows you how the media usually presents hostage situations, and how it refused to follow the same template this time. It's a major shift involving false equivalence and downplaying heroics. It also explains why virtually no one in the media is asking a crucial question right now -- one that affects how the United States, European countries, and other countries deal with terrorists in the future. Did we just end an era?  Plus, the best known figure on a global news network actually apologizes. If only she'd do the same for her other lies.

    Episode 77: October 7th: The Big Picture

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2025 46:40


    Today marks the second anniversary of the biggest terrorist massacre per capita in modern times. Josh explains how the media has presented the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel, and the war ever since, with blinders on. By ignoring the big picture, it has convinced billions of people to believe in a false reality. October 7th, 2023, was a story of mass terror, mass rape, and mass killing by Iran-backed Hamas and other Gazan terrorists. It was also a story of bicycles, musical instruments, kites, compassion, hope, and survival. And it was a story of the biggest threat to democracies. Everything people in Israel faced that day, including the forces behind it, is spreading across the world. In this special episode, Josh does what the media won't: He puts October 7th in context. He introduces you to survivors whose stories of living through unimaginable hell are unforgettable. He also takes you to Iraq, Australia, Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom. To prevent the next October 7th anywhere on Earth, we have to understand it.

    Episode 76: The Censorship Line

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 31:08


    When does pressure from someone in the government become censorship? That might be the most important question surrounding some of the biggest news stories right now. But the media doesn't even seem to be asking it, let alone trying to answer it.  Today, Josh explains a new Pentagon policy that is so obviously against press freedoms that even a Fox analyst is calling out. Meanwhile, some headlines say that Google is accusing the Biden administration of having exerted “censorship pressure.” But is that what Google's saying?  Plus, Kamala Harris is out with a book, and her first interview showed some problems with the media. Meanwhile, on another network, an overall good conversation should remind the anchor to take his own advice.  And Josh discusses news coverage of partisan violence, efforts to avert a government shutdown, and yet another proposal to end the war in Gaza.

    Episode 75: Hypocrisy on Violence

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 30:34


    There are real dangers of lasting, deadly political violence from both ends of America's polarized society. The media has played a huge role in getting us here. While big mainstream news organizations have been calling out violence on the right, they've been ignoring and fueling it on the left.  Today, Josh shows how the media has parsed through controversial words from slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk while extolling a far-left figure who supports, praises, and celebrates terrorism. What Hasan Piker says is “graphic and demented,” Josh explains. Also, a survey of college students finds a massive spike in support for violence -- and shows the far left has been “the most accepting of violence” for years. All this is context for the battle surrounding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Josh discusses an opportunity Kimmel has if he chooses to take it. Plus: a professional actor responds to last week's episode, and the BBC punishes its own presenter for saying something true.

    Episode 74: Homicide Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 30:54


    In covering political violence and homicides, the media keeps missing one of its most important responsibilities. Today, Josh explains how an obsession with politics has been poisoning not only the coverage of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk's killing, but also the killing of a young woman on light rail in North Carolina. It boils down to a key question of whether we're going to move forward as a society or not. To help you understand this, Josh looks at the attempted assassination of author Salman Rushdie, the assassination of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., and a problematic line journalists use when discussing violence and mental health. Also, an American news network fired an analyst following Kirk's death. In context, his remarks seem different from what made the rounds on social media. But the incident raises a larger question about how the news handles early reports of gunfire. Plus the BBC runs cover for a student leader who celebrated Kirk's assassination, stars preach hatred at the Emmys, and the leading study on political violence in America shows how antisemitism fuels it on both ends of the political spectrum.

    Episode 73: Doha, Putin & Propaganda

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2025 31:06


    As the media “blows it” in coverage of the war between Israel and terrorists, another story is getting buried: the incomparably huger death toll in Russia's war on Ukraine. Today, Josh takes you inside that reporting to show how the media can follow basic editorial standards when it wants to. You'll also hear how journalists remind audiences of the war's origins and describe Putin. The media assails “propaganda” from certain countries, especially on Twitter, while simultaneously reporting propaganda as fact. Josh tells you about an international organization for journalists, beloved by the media, that recently organized a propaganda campaign of its own. Some big news agencies took part -- and none called out the hypocrisy. Also, Josh ties up a couple of loose ends from previous episodes, involving jury selection and a survey of Americans during wartime.

    Episode 72: School Shooting Bombardments

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 30:21


    When horrific school shootings and other mass shootings happen, the media swarms onto the scene. This leads to problems and controversies. One is the propensity to give perpetrators the attention they crave, which fuels further attacks. Today, Josh explains that while the media has made some improvements on this, it has done very little about another issue: the use of photos and videos, particularly of children, in the aftermath.  The law does not offer the protections that many parents believe. Today you'll hear someone who survived an elementary school shooting explain how the media reawakens trauma for decades to come. And the father of a young man killed in a mass shooting says what it takes to get news agencies to listen. Then, Josh tells you about a big shift taking place among three of the nation's biggest newspapers. They're moving in opposite directions, signaling a change at the heart of U.S. media. One owned by Rupert Murdoch is standing up to Trump, while two traditionally liberal papers are pulling punches. In preparing for this episode, Josh discovered something about one of these papers that he's never seen before.

    Episode 71: Correcting Ezra Klein

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 32:21


    Listeners asked for it: a fact check of some claims by the New York Times' Ezra Klein. Today, Josh explores how Klein misrepresents data, mischaracterizes large groups of people, and ignores truths that disprove his assertions. You'll hear how Klein even invoked Nazi-era Germans in an act of “privilege” that maligned the vast majority of Israeli Jews. Also, more on the battle between Ronan Farrow and Matt Lauer. You'll hear what Farrow's failures mean for The New Yorker, and why his defenders engage in a form of bigotry called “youngism.” Also, how journalists at some big news agencies “put their cards on the table” by openly assigning victimhood. Plus, why the Pulitzers aren't all they're cracked up to be. And an important message to those who want to believe everything Klein says.

    Episode 70: Farrow v. Lauer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 30:49


    A public battle between two former NBC employees serves as a window into the toxic mess of big media. Today, Josh pries that window open for you. When Ronan Farrow's book "Catch and Kill" came out, it contained explosive allegations against Matt Lauer, former host of Today (known as “The Today Show”). A woman was accusing Lauer of rape. While much of the media treated the book as gospel, a writer at a website was willing to take a critical look. Soon, working with Lauer, he helped uncover gaping holes in Farrow's “reporting.” Finally, one person at a major newspaper wrote a story about just some of those failings. This is a story of how victim narratives have supplanted a search for truth. It's about a crucial rule of fact checking, particularly in cases like this. It's about the media's need to accept that even someone it wants to like can be wrong. And it's about perhaps the biggest fact-checking failure of all in today's media ecosystem: books that are supposed to be nonfiction.

    Episode 69: Connectomes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 30:25


    Liars are using the media to overwhelm people's minds -- and not just consciously. To understand how deep this problem runs, we need to learn how the news impacts the unconscious mind. Today, Josh speaks with a woman who has exceptional insight, and has coined the term “Brand Connectome.” You'll learn how people manipulate our brains, and what we can do about it. Along the way, you'll hear about new data on violent crimes that fly in the face of Trump's claims; a type of crime that has reached historic levels; a photographer who stages images; and an interviewer who does nothing when a lying terror supporter justifies atrocities. Plus, Josh answers a listener's question about presidents and the national debt.

    Episode 68: Drama Over Comedy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 30:31


    The recent uproar over comedian Stephen Colbert left Americans with a false impression. Today, Josh explains what the cancellation of The Late Show and CBS' payout to settle a Trump lawsuit really say about legacy media, the power of corporations, and the news and commentary Americans receive. Also, how the coverage ended up whitewashing the failures of CBS News. Plus, a huge number of Americans now get news from comedians. Hear Patton Oswald explain why he hates the idea that his profession now has this role. And while few fact checkers take on comedians, someone did take on John Oliver, after an episode he did about trans people.

    Episode 67: Truth-icide

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 33:10


    A New York Times column took quotes out of context to construct one of the most incendiary accusations possible. Today, Josh digs into this “journalistic trickery.” He shows how the original context was ignored, creating a false impression. This could happen to you, or anyone. In this case, an Ivy League professor was given a “holy grail” platform to accuse Israeli leaders of wanting to carry out a “genocide.” But the Times wasn't done there. It went on to use a doctored photo to create the false impression that Israel is inflicting a famine on Gaza. Josh runs the numbers showing how the Times gives relatively little or not attention to the raging famines around the world. This isn't journalism, he explains; it's what propagandists do.

    Episode 66: Truth Keepers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 30:44


    Profound media failures and AI are making a global misinformation crisis even worse. But there's a place working to hold onto proof of what's real. It has 11 floors, takes up half a million square feet, and includes a huge underground section that keeps out oxygen, so robots do the work. Today, Josh takes you there.  You'll hear from a team working to document the truth about a crucial story -- and a very difficult one to grapple with. They discuss ethical questions, and what it takes to also document false propaganda. This place shows what could be built in any society that values truth. One of the women Josh interviews is a global leader in making that happen.  You'll also hear from civil rights leader Mamie Till. Plus, a surprise audio “conversation” that an AI tool presented Josh with — and what his kids said about it.

    Episode 65: Mega-Debt/ Meme War

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 30:25


    Americans worry about the national debt. A majority say they're “very” concerned about it. So it's no surprise that the media has been talking about what the “One Big Beautiful Act” will do to the debt. But the reports conflict with each other. Today, Josh looks into what's true, and probes the track records of places that make predictions. He also explains what the media should be making clear right now, including Trump's track record and the votes of so-called “deficit hawks.” Then, a guest joins Josh to explain how and why U.S. culture has shifted so dramatically. How did people become so radicalized that they celebrate terrorists and believe lies pushed by Iran? Jason Korman discusses how memetics spur culture change without people realizing it.

    Episode 64: Mamdan-gerous

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 29:07


    A man seeking the highest office in a government says he would carry out an illegal arrest -- something dictators are known for. In this case, the man making that threat is a Democrat.  Today, Josh highlights this big story the mainstream media is ignoring. Zohran Mamdani, who won a New York City mayoral primary, is making the threat even as he goes after Trump for extrajudicial arrests. It shows not only hypocrisy, but a growing appetite for antidemocratic actions on both ends of the political spectrum.  Mamdani described what he would do an act of “courage,” and drew a false comparison to same-sex marriage. To help you understand all this, Josh dispels myths about “international law” and discusses how in a democracy, the rules must apply to everyone no matter how people feel about them -- in this case, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Josh is preparing an episode about the One Big (true) Beautiful (nope) bill. Get the free newsletter and send in your questions: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Learn facts about the bill today at sponsor USAFacts (Short link: bit.ly/4ksK5Xl).They Stand Corrected counts on your support. Consider becoming a paid subscriber at the newsletter for exclusive content, or make a contribution at paypal.me/joshlevs.

    Claim They Stand Corrected

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel