Ink Stained Wretches

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Ink Stained Wretches Podcast

Eliana Johnson and Chris Stirewalt love the news business but they hate a lot of what’s happening to it these days. Using their decades of experience in print, digital and TV news they tell the story behind the stories, always on the lookout for bias, sloppy reporting and, well, just plain wretched journalism. Every week they help you to be a better, smarter news consumer.

  1. 13 SEPT

    The A-B-C’s of Losing a Debate

    Watch this episode on YouTube. From missed opportunities to lack of preparation, we break down this week’s debate in today’s episode. We also delve into a new profile of Senator Mike Lee, Prince's lost documentary, and explore the stoicism of George W. Bush. Wretch on! Time Stamps:  01:38 Front Page 46:00 Obsessions  53:33 Reader Mail 1:01:00 Favorite Items Show Notes: New York Times: 67.1 Million People Watched Harris and Trump, Outdrawing Last Debate The Daily Beast: Trump Demands ABC Be Shut Down for Daring to Fact Check Debate The Wall Street Journal: Trump Debate Performance Frustrates Republicans The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man regrets taking goose photo he says is being weaponized against immigrants  Semafor: Q&A: David Rubenstein on the presidents, and George W. Bush’s theory of populism  The Atlantic: Why Mike Lee Folded The Free Press: Matti Friedman: When We Started to Lie   The New York Times: Hamas Documents Reveal Tunnel Battle Strategy   The New York Times: N.Y.P.D. Ousts 2 Reporters From Headquarters in Escalation of Tensions The Atlantic: How Snacks Took Over American Life   The New Yorker: The Longest Yard Sale  The New York Times: The Prince We Never Knew Fox News: Polling guru Nate Silver predicts Trump has 64% chance of winning the Electoral College in latest forecast  AP News: New Hampshire governor helps save man choking on lobster roll at eating contest The Wall Street Journal: The 35-Year-Old CEO Plotting Red Lobster’s Comeback

    1h 5m

  2. 6 SEPT

    Mandatory Joy

    If you work at NPR, be ready to spread joy as far as possible. And if you work at another news outlet, don’t be too objective, or Morning Joe will come after you. This week, we’re covering the best, worst, and weirdest happenings in the news media with our friend Christine Rosen, who has a new book coming out called The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World. You can find it on Amazon. And as always, Wretch on! Time Stamps:  7:00 Front Page 1:08:17 Obsessions 1:18:26 Favorite Items If you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://wretches.substack.com Follow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretches Show Notes: Christine Rosen: The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World NBC News: Trump and Harris campaigns agree to rules for ABC debate  New York Times: Trump Campaign Uses Statements From Gold Star Families to Attack Harris  Politico:  ‘Next Question’: Harris evades questions about her identity  The Nation: The Dark Side of the Democratic Party’s Embrace of Football   The New York Times: The Political Rage of Left-Behind Regions  National Review: People Who Care About Winning Don't Shoot the Messenger  Mediaite: Morning Joe Crew Accuses Media of Pro-Trump Bias: 'So Concerned With Being Objective' They Give Trump an 'Advantage'  Bloomberg: National Public Radio Confronts Election Season With a ‘Joy Czar’ The New York Times: U.S. Announces Plan to Counter Russian Influence Ahead of 2024 Election CNN: Reliable Sources  Commentary Magazine: Helter Stelter The New York Times: I Swore Off Air-Conditioning, and You Can, Too The Washington Post: The Marshmallow Test and other predictors of success have bias built in, researchers say  The Washington Post: These are the asteroids that scare scientists. Are we prepared for them?  Obsessions:  The Free Press: Pseudo-Scholars and the Rise of the Barbarian Right  The Dispatch: A Nonbinary Choice  Kicker: Favorite Items of the Week: The New York Times: The Best Books About Politics The Wall Street Journal: The Soap Bubble of Kamala Harris’s Campaign

    1h 24m

  3. 28 AUG

    Fact Check: Hypocrisy is Good

    Is fact-checking the key to a healthy democracy? Probably not. This week, we’re coming to you early with David Drucker of The Dispatch filling in for Eliana. We cover the latest controversies from the Presidential debate, RFK Jr.’s endorsement, and Vice President Harris’s cold shoulder to the press. Wretch on! If you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://wretches.substack.com Time Stamps: 03:19 Front Page 1:06:00 Obsessions 1:13:43 Reader Mail  1:17:46 Favorite Items Show Notes: Politico: Playbook: Scoop: The secret debate about the Trump-Harris debate Yahoo: Trump threatens to pull out of Harris debate, hot mics an issue  Poynter: The wild and wacky media reaction to RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Donald Trump The New York Times: H.R. McMaster Doesn’t Think Donald Trump Is Very Good at Making Deals Mediaite: Morning Joe 'Stunned' By HR McMaster's 'Tightrope' Framing Of Trump – Despite 'Frightening' Scenes In New Book  The New York Times: The Morning: 21 Questions for Harris AP News: Walz's exit from Minnesota National Guard left openings for critics to pounce on his military record  Axios: Harris flip-flops on building the border wall  Press Watch: 'Fact-checking' does a (hopefully fatal) face plant  Washington Post: Opinion | Kamala Harris’s price gouging proposal is a terrible idea The Verge: Gannett is shuttering site accused of publishing AI product reviews  The Wall Street Journal: Gen Z-ers Are Computer Whizzes. Just Don’t Ask Them to Type. NBC News: The Democratic convention's surprise guest: Covid Obsessions:  Semafor:  New model army   The Dispatch: The Imaginary Undecided Voter News Junkies Favorite Items: The Dispatch: Josh Shapiro Plots a Course for His Political Future LA Times: 'It's like you're starting from scratch': Hollywood's below-the-line artists pivot to other gigs

    1h 24m

  4. 23 AUG

    The Lee Greenwood Democrats

    Do you feel it? A sudden sense of patriotism? If the answer is yes, you may be a Democrat attending the DNC this week in Chicago. If the answer is no, Chris and Eliana are here to break down the first three nights, RFK’s potential next move, and sneaker stilettos. Wretch on! If you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://wretches.substack.com Follow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretches Time Stamps: 01:26 Front Page 1:01:25 Obsessions 1:09:25 Reader Mail 1:11:50 Favorite Items Show Notes: Politico: The Obamas brought the crowd to new heights Politico: Hillary Clinton gets her Trump revenge moment   Mediaite: ‘F**k You!’: Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle Shouts Down Ex-Obama Aide Criticizing Biden, Per Axios Report The Washington Post: At convention, Democrats claim patriotism, American flag as their own NPR: Parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin call for Oct. 7 hostages to return home in remarks at the DNC  Axios: Netanyahu’s office denies call with Trump about the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal.  Politico: PBS’ Judy Woodruff apologizes for remark about Trump and peace talks in Israel The Hill: Trump jabs 'highly overrated Jewish Governor' Josh Shapiro  The Hill: Trump hits back at Obamas: 'Do I still have to stick to policy?'  ABC News: RFK Jr. expected to drop out of race by end of week, plans to endorse Trump: Sources Star Telegram: Did Democrats register immigrants to vote in Weatherford TX?  The New York Times: U.S. Investigating Americans Who Worked With Russian State Television Politico: Google agrees to America’s first newsroom funding deal. It’s already unpopular. NPR: ‘Washington Post’ reviews Taylor Lorenz's 'war criminal' jab at Biden : NPR  Deadline: Chick-Fil-A Hatches Plans For Streaming Service As Reality TV Comes Home To Roost  CBS News: Spanx founder unveils new line of stiletto-heeled sneakers called Sneex  AP News: Tim Walz has described his family's IVF experience. But they used a different procedure  CNN: Gwen Walz reveals she underwent a different treatment, not IVF, in new details about fertility struggles  New York Times: Walz Family Fertility Journey Ran Not Through I.V.F. but Another Common Treatment  The Daily Beast: Inside Story of Missing Billionaire Whose Luck Ran Out on Superyacht  The Wall Street Journal: Lawyer in Yacht Tragedy Built Star Career With Unassuming Style New York Post: 'Pommel Horse Guy' Stephen Nedoroscik joins 'DWTS' Season 33 after Paris Olympics KTLA: Southern California woman sends herself Apple AirTag to catch mail thieves

    1h 16m

  5. 15 AUG

    Sparking Joy

    If you haven’t heard, Kamala has officially brought joy back to politics—though we never asked for it in the first place. Meanwhile, unlike with Russiagate, the media has missed Iran’s actual meddling in this year’s election. We discuss all this and more with Matthew Continetti of the Commentary Magazine Podcast, who steps in for Chris this week. Wretch on! Time Stamps: 01:15 Front Page 44:12 Obsessions Show Notes: The Washington Beacon: Speaking Truth to Vibes: Inside the Mainstream Media Echo Chamber on 'Joyful Warrior' Kamala Harris The New York Times: Harris Used to Worry About Laughing. Now Joy Is Fueling Her Campaign. The Washington Post: Harris and Walz seize on joyful message in contrast to darker Trump themes  AP News: Harris is pushing joy. Trump paints a darker picture. Will mismatched moods matter?  NPR: Harris and Walz reintroduce joy to Democrats their first week on the campaign trail  TIME: The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris The New York Times: Gwen Walz, the Coolheaded, Ultracompetent Political Spouse AP News: News outlets were leaked insider material from the Trump campaign. They chose not to print it The New York Times: Pete Wells Reviewed Restaurants for 12 Years. How Have They Changed?  The Wall Street Journal: Yes, Guys, You Can Look Polished in Sweatpants. Here’s How. The New York Times: How an Instagram-Perfect Life in the Hamptons Ended in Tragedy  The New Yorker: The Biggest Ponzi Scheme in Hollywood History

    48 min

  6. 9 AUG

    Kamala's Vow of Silence

    Watch this episode on YouTube! Will Kamala Harris wait until after the convention for an interview with the press? Is Tim Walz “folksy”? We answer all of this and more on today’s episode. Join us to hear about Politico’s Hamas update, embargo trouble and more. Wretch on! Time Stamps: 1:48 Front Page 47:05 Obsessions 59:26 Reader Mail 1:02:23 Favorite Items If you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://nebulouspodcasts.com/shows/ink-stained-wretches Politico: Why Harris isn’t taking questions   NY Post: JD Vance approaches Air Force Two after Kamala Harris, Walz land in Wisconsin — says it will be 'my plane' soon  Finding Gravity: BREAKING: The New York Times helps JD Vance Swiftboat Tim Walz  Wall Street Journal: Tim Walz Brings Folksy Demeanor, Liberal Record to Harris VP Shortlist The New Yorker: Nancy Pelosi’s Art of Power  WaPo: Pelosi on Biden: ‘We did not have a campaign that was on the path to victory’ USA Today: 'If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that': Harris fires back at Gaza protesters at rally  Semafor: Journal still can't confirm January story about UN agency for Palestinians  WSJ: Nine U.N. Workers Fired After Investigation Found Possible Involvement in Oct. 7 Attack on Israel NYT: Bloomberg Disciplines Journalists Over Russia Prisoner Swap Article NYT: CNN's Media Chronicler Strikes Out on His Own  Vox: Discrimination against trans Olympians has roots in Nazi Germany  Revisionist History: Hitler’s Olympics Part 1: The Blue-Eyed Tornado WSJ: Luxury Brands Are Betting on Ties (Again). Here’s Why Neckwear Means Money.  NYT: Trump Campaign Criticizes Walz for State Law Providing Tampons in Schools NYT: Doug Emhoff, Husband of Kamala Harris, Acknowledges Long-Ago Affair   Axios: Exclusive: AI startup raises $25M, inks deals with major media companies  Kicker: Favorite Items of the Week: NYTimes: Golf Cart Politics: Florida Retirees Flaunt Loyalties to Trump and Harris  Jewish Chronicle: The full inside story of how Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran – minute by minute

    1h 6m

  7. 2 AUG

    The Raw Talent of a Once-in-a-Generation Cackle

    Are Republicans actually weird? Is it sexist to highlight Harris’s laugh? Is Willie Brown the funniest politician alive? All of that and more will be answered in today’s episode as we dive into the American news media’s latest on 2024, Hamas, and Venezuela. Wretch on! Time Stamps: 03:47 Front Page 51:15 Obsessions 55:19 Reader Mail 58:07 Favorite Items Show Notes: Bloomberg: US Reporter Evan Gershkovich To Be Released By Russia in Major Prisoner Swap NPR:Trump's planned address to Black journalists convention sparks backlash  NYTimes: Why the Kamala Harris of Four Years Ago Could Haunt Her in 2024  NBC News: Trump's campaign works to convince voters that Harris is 'crazy' because of her laugh  WaPo: What’s in Kamala Harris’s laugh? NYPost: Obama doesn't believe Kamala Harris can beat Trump: sources  Commentary Podcast: The ‘Weird’ Attack  The Verge: The Associated Press removes a fact-check claiming JD Vance has not had sex with a couch  WSJ: Strike in Iran Kills Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s Chief Negotiator  Fox News: Reuters changes headline describing slain Hamas leader Haniyeh as 'moderate' amid backlash: 'Depraved' NYT: Hourslong Lines as Voters Surge to Polls in Venezuela’s Pivotal Election  Puck News: Norah the Explorer WaPo: Washington Post CEO accused in court of deceiving police about U.K. hacking scandal  NYT: What Does It Mean to ‘Dress Your Age’? WSJ: The British Olympic Team Has Picked a Food Fight With France Obsessions: POLITICO: Kamala Harris Collapsed in 2020. Here’s How to Avoid a Repeat. Engadget: Senators introduce bill to protect individuals against AI-generated deepfakes  Kicker: Favorite Items of the Week: Politico: Willie Brown on Kamala Harris: ‘She’ll Deport My Ass’  NYT: Katharine Graham’s Fabled Washington Home Is Kept Empty by a 22-Year Battle

    1h 2m

  8. 26 JUL

    Don’t Say Czar

    Watch this episode on YouTube! We are doing our best to not take the bait on BRAT as opposed to the rest of the news media. However, we will be talking about the Democrat’s new presumptive nominee, Biden’s Oval Office address to the nation, Netanyahu’s visit and much more. Wretch on!  Audio Time Stamps: 53:37 Obsessions 1:01:10 Reader Mail 1:01:40 Favorite Items @Andy Kaczynski on X: Incredible community note on here in which Axios use the term “border czar” repeatedly previously for Harris. Washington Free Beacon: Kamala Was Biden's 'Point Person on Immigration'—Until She Became the Presumptive Nominee TFP: Gaslighting the Public on Kamala Harris as ‘Border Czar’ @Drew Holden on X: The media are already hard at work to mislead about VP Kamala Harris. The latest is an effort to memoryhole Harris’s role leading Biden’s disastrous immigration policy as “border czar.”Who’s up for some side-by-sides, lest we forget?  @JayCaruso on X: The print edition of today’s Post features ten different articles about Harris. Not one is critical of her or her record. The style section has three. @Eugene Daniels on X: I spoke to Fox News about this and plan on speaking to Brian when he is off air. They've made clear to me that he used college, not colored. The audio is garbled but I am going to take Brian and his team at their word. Mediate: Prominent Liberals Push False Claim Fox News Host Brian Kilmeade Dismissed 'Colored Sororities' on Air I Might Be Wrong on Substack: “Brat” Explained by a Veteran Journalist Who Has to Accept Whatever Assignment We Give Him  Politico: Feds discover transcripts of Biden chats with biographer  AP News: Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against Fox News over explicit images featured in streaming series  The Atlantic: The MAGA Playbook Against Kamala Harris Is Already Clear Axios: Behind the Curtain: "Getting shot in the face changes a man" USAToday: 'I'm not going to be nice:' Donald Trump launches all-out attack on Kamala Harris  The Atlantic: J. D. Vance’s Insult to America AP News: Thousands fill Washington's streets to protest Israel's war in Gaza during Netanyahu visit  Poltico: Republicans condemn Netanyahu protesters for burning US flags — and waving Hamas ones instead APNews: How the departure of one prominent restaurant critic revealed the potential hazards of the job  NYT: The Murdoch Family Is Battling Over the Future of the Fox Empire  The Dispatch: The Media Are Not Instruments of the Parties The Dispatch: The Media Does to Biden What It Couldn’t Do to Trump Roll Call: : A bike, a suit and a dream: How I lost a race for Congress 50 years ago WSJ: How the Bet on an 81-Year-Old Joe Biden Turned Into an Epic Miscalculation

    1h 6m
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About

Eliana Johnson and Chris Stirewalt love the news business but they hate a lot of what’s happening to it these days. Using their decades of experience in print, digital and TV news they tell the story behind the stories, always on the lookout for bias, sloppy reporting and, well, just plain wretched journalism. Every week they help you to be a better, smarter news consumer.

Information

  • Creator
    Nebulous Media
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    161
  • Copyright
    © Nebulous Media LLC
  • Show Website
    Ink Stained Wretches

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