Ink Stained Wretches

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Ink Stained Wretches

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. 2 NOV

    Garbage In, Garbage Out

    It’s the final countdown, folks. We’ll see you on the other side. But what does that mean, exactly? We’re breaking down what next week could look like, as well as Garbage Gate, the meltdown at The Washington Post, and Nerds Gummy Clusters. Wretch on! Time Stamps: 9:00 Front Page 54:44 Obsessions 59:44 Favorite Items Show Notes: The Washington Post: Will TV viewers trust network election calls? Chris Stirewalt hopes so.  The Washington Post: Did Biden call Trump supporters ‘garbage’? It comes down to an apostrophe. AP News: AP sources: White House altered record of Biden’s ‘garbage’ remarks despite stenographer concerns  Fox News: Trump sues CBS News for $10 billion alleging 'deceptive doctoring' of Harris' '60 Minutes' interview  The New York Times: Why the Right Thinks Trump Is Running Away With the Race  The Washington Post: ‘Like it or not’: In one quote, Trump distills the 2024 gender gap  The Washington Post: Opinion | Jeff Bezos: The hard truth: Americans don’t trust the news media Semafor: Bezos celebrated in Europe with Katy Perry as Post crisis began  Semafor: Washington Post pays to boost stories critical of Trump as subscribers flee  The Free Beacon: EXCLUSIVE: WaPo Opinion Editor David Shipley Blames Bezos for Endorsement Drama, Tells Staff They Can Quit as Distraught Journalists Slam Bezos for 'Conflict of Interest' and 'Thumb on the Scale'  The Wall Street Journal: America’s Newest Hit Candy Is Gummy, Crunchy and Printing Money The New York Times: This $350 Oura Ring 4 Tracks Your Sleep. Is It Worth the Splurge?  New York Post: Facebook execs suppressed Hunter Biden laptop scandal to curry favor with Biden-Harris admin: bombshell report Slate: Election 2024 polls: Could Jill Stein tip the election to Trump? It’s complicated. The New York Times: Opinion | Donald Trump Is Bored  The Wall Street Journal: From Internet Sensation to Overexposed Child Star? Moo Deng Fans Can’t Get Enough

    1h 4m

  2. 25 OCT

    Birtherism, meet Burgerism

    Christine Rosen is back in the saddle as Chris braves air travel this week on Ink Stained Wretches. Welcome in as we discuss Kamala’s performance on CNN’s Town Hall, The Atlantic’s story on “Generals” and of course, Trump’s stop at McDonalds. Wretch on! Time Stamps: Front Page - 1:08 Reader Mail - 53:46 Favorites 54:41 Show Notes: The New York Times: Kamala Harris and McDonald’s: A College Job, and a Trump Attack The Atlantic: Trump: ‘I Need the Kind of Generals That Hitler Had’ The New York Times: As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator CBS News: A statement from 60 Minutes  The New York Times: U.S. Study on Puberty Blockers Goes Unpublished Because of Politics, Doctor Says

    1 hr

  3. 17 OCT

    Campaign Economics For Dummies

    Even if neither presidential candidate is economically literate, the great media blitz of 2024 rolls on. This week on Ink Stained Wretches, we break down the friendly interviews, the cautious ones, and the controversies behind them (ahem, CBS). Wretch on! Time Stamps: 2:10 Front Page 40:14 Obsessions 49:51 Reader Mail 54:16 Favorite Items Show Notes: AP News: Kamala Harris will sit down with Bret Baier for her first Fox News interview  The New York Times: Harris Slams Trump in Interview With Charlamagne Tha God: 5 Takeaways Fox News: JD Vance clashes with ABC News host over migrant gang presence in Colorado: 'Do you hear yourself?' CNN Business: Trump backs out of CNBC interview, his second about-face with mainstream press this month  Mediaite: Sean Hannity Gushes Over Trump After Chaotic Interview With Bloomberg Editor: ‘Absolutely Schooled!’  Axios: Harris responds to Trump's town hall-turned "music fest": "Hope he's okay"  The Free Press: ‘60 Minutes’: Release the Unedited Kamala Harris Transcript Fox News: Speaker Johnson accuses CBS of 'selectively editing' interview on heels of VP Harris '60 Minutes' controversy  Speaker Mike Johnson on X: "I recently traveled to NC and victims of Hurricane Helene told me nearly two weeks after landfall, the Biden-Harris Administration had STILL not provided them with all the resources they desperately needed. But CBS selectively edited OUT ENTIRELY this first-hand perspective. https://t.co/ZjO5LWdtsM" / X  Wall Street Journal: CBS News Chief Tested by Internal Crises and an Agitated Owner  The New York Times: Washington Post C.E.O. Elevates Deal-Making to a Top Priority  Nieman Lab: Midwestern news nonprofit The Beacon shuts down its Wichita newsroom The New York Times: The Downfall of FTX’s Ryan Salame and Crypto Advocate Michelle Bond Chris Rufo on X: EXCLUSIVE: Kamala Harris plagiarized at least a dozen sections of her criminal-justice book, Smart on Crime, according to a new investigation. The current vice president even lifted material from Wikipedia The New York Times: Conservative Activist Seizes on Passages From Harris Book  The New York Times: The University of Michigan Doubled Down on D.E.I. What Went Wrong? Semafor: No matter who wins, the US is moving to the right  The Dispatch: Tippecanoe and Harris Too Wall Street Journal: ‘Impactful’ Leaves This Wordsmith Reeling  WV News: Everything's fair game at the Roadkill Cook-Off in Marlinton, West Virginia The New Yorker: A Husband in the Aftermath of His Wife’s Unfathomable Act The New York Times: Chestnut Championship in England Is Roiled by Accusation of Cheating

    58 min

  4. 11 OCT

    CBS Mournings

    If you’re not caught up on the CBS controversy, we’ve got you covered in today’s episode. We break down the interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates and its aftermath. We also discuss the 2024 media blitz, Trump’s decision to decline a Fox debate, and climate change. Wretch on! Time Stamps:  2:04 Front Page 44:29 Obsessions 52:14 Reader Mail 55:20 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: Puck News: The Tony–Ta-Nehisi Affair The Free Press: How Is CBS Marking October 7? By Admonishing Tony Dokoupil The Wall Street Journal: CBS Interview on Israel Triggers Fight at Network; Shari Redstone Weighs In The New York Times: CBS Rebukes Anchor Over Tense Interview With Ta-Nehisi Coates The New York Times: Inside the Turmoil at CBS News After a Tense Ta-Nehisi Coates Interview  The Free Press: Does CBS News Know Where Jerusalem Is?  Reuters: Trump rejects Fox News invite to debate Harris in late October  Mediaite: James Carville ‘Scared To Death’ About Election Day: Kamala Harris Needs To Get ‘Aggressive’ Wired: Tim Walz Rally Goes Live on World of Warcraft Twitch Stream  The Daily Beast: Host Laughs in Trump’s Face After He Calls Himself ‘Basically a Truthful Person’  Axios: Potential Trump loss threatens destruction of modern GOP  Yahoo News: New York Sun owner Dovid Efune nearing deal to buy the Telegraph  The New York Times: Introducing the Dachshund Bag The Honest Broker on Substack: Weather Attribution Alchemy Slow Boring on Substack: Media organizations are blowing their endorsements  The Washington Post: Mossad’s pager operation: Inside Israel’s penetration of Hezbollah

    1 hr

  5. 5 OCT

    Apolitical Campaigning

    How has Hurricane Helene impacted the election? Will the VP debate sway voters? Why did Melania release a pro-abortion memoir and request $250,000 from CNN? All of this and more will be discussed on today’s episode. Wretch on! Time Stamps: 4:06 Front Page 56:29 Obsessions 1:03:09 Reader Mail 1:07:16 Favorite Items Show Notes:  Politico: Trump and Kemp to appear together for first time since 2020  Politico: Harris consoles those devastated by Helene in Georgia — a contrast with Trump's visit  Wall Street Journal: The Profane 78-Year-Old Leading the Dockworkers Strike  The Washington Post: Vance peddles Trump agenda in softer tones, misleading ways during debate The Wall Street Journal: JD Vance’s Version of Trump Is Better Than the Real Thing Politico: 8 Body Language Tells From the Vice Presidential Debate  Reason:  Tim Walz's Very Bad Answer on Social Media Censorship The Atlantic: Tim Walz Is Too Good at This  The Guardian: Melania Trump passionately defends abortion rights in upcoming memoir  CNN: CNN requested an interview with Melania Trump. Her book publisher asked for $250,000 in exchange  The New York Times: Photos Show Rep. Mike Lawler in Blackface as Michael Jackson  CNN: Olivia Nuzzi accuses ex-fiance of orchestrating blackmail campaign amid RFK relationship  Hollywood Reporter: Taylor Lorenz Exits Washington Post to Launch ‘User Mag’ on Substack (Exclusive)  The Washington Post: No one loved baseball, or damaged it, as much as Pete Rose  The Wall Street Journal: Too Timid to Tell the Boss You’re Quitting? There’s a Service for That.   The New York Times: How Chicken Tenders Conquered America  CNN: McDonald’s is finally selling the Chicken Big Mac in the US  The Washington Post: How a 14-year-old became the alleged school shooter at Georgia’s Apalachee High The Federalist: Trump: Liz Cheney Is A Stupid Warhawk  Politico: Trump and Kemp to appear together for first time since 2020  The Financial Times: We may have passed peak obesity  The New York Times:  Whole Foods Tried to Change the Berry Chantilly Cake Recipe. Customers Lost It.

    1h 12m

  6. 28 SEPT

    Kamala’s Holistic Interview

    Today we are discussing Kamala Harris’s holistic approach to interviews, her contested time as a Mcdonald’s employee and the indictment of NYC mayor Eric Adams. Tune in!  Time Stamps: 3:06 Front Page 52:36 Obsessions 59:50 Reader Mail 1:03:40 Favorite Items Show Notes: Free Beacon: Word Salad Sandwich: Harris Dodges Softballs in Friendly Chat With MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle The New York Times: 3 Takeaways From Kamala Harris’s Interview on MSNBC  The New York Times: Harris Has a Lot of Strengths. Giving Interviews Isn’t One of Them. The New York Times: Behind Harris’s Rise: Laurene Powell Jobs, Silicon Valley’s Wealthiest Woman The New York Times: The Long, Strange Saga of Kamala Harris and Kimberly Guilfoyle AP News: Iranian operatives charged in the US with hacking Donald Trump's presidential campaign Semafor: Trump hack continued into last week Politico: Trump calls DOJ ‘dirty players’ over Adams indictment  New York Magazine: The Return of Ta-Nehisi Coates Jewish Insider: Paul Coates, father of journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, republishing antisemitic screed 'The Jewish Onslaught' The Dispatch: The Junket Intellectual The Atlantic: Legalizing Sports Gambling Was a Huge Mistake  The New York Times: How Does a Baseball Team Lose 120 Games? Every Way You Can Think Of. Obsessions: AP News: Their churches no longer feel safe. Now Nicaraguans are taking their worship  Favorite Items The New York Times: Israel’s New Campaign Against Hezbollah Started With Raid in Syria

    1h 7m

  7. 21 SEPT

    Meatfluencers Draw the Line at Pets

    From Israel’s pager attacks on Hezbollah terrorists to the cost of your favorite steak, we’ve got it all in today’s episode. Oh, and did we mention the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump? Buckle up—it’s a wild one. Wretch on! Time Stamps: 02:17 Front Page 55:07 Obsessions 1:00:06 Reader Mail 1:04:47 Favorite Items Show Notes: New York Times: How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers Politico: Republicans outraged over possible assassination attempt: ‘They are going to keep trying to kill Trump’  NBC News: Man in custody after Trump golf club incident was once convicted of possessing a machine gun  Commentary: UPDATED: The Assassination Wish Fulfillment Wall Street Journal: How the Trump Campaign Ran With Rumors About Pet-Eating Migrants—After Being Told They Weren’t True Wall Street Journal: How the Trump Campaign Ran With Rumors About Pet-Eating Migrants—After Being Told They Weren’t True  Scientific American: Vote for Kamala Harris to Support Science, Health and the Environment  The New York Times: Former N.Y.C. Covid Czar Partied While Preaching Social Distancing New York Post: Star political reporter Olivia Nuzzi on leave from New York magazine over alleged 'sexting' relationship with RFK Jr.  New York Times: These American Voters Are Leaving the Country Because of U.S.  New York Times: Politics The Hidden Environmental Costs of Food  New York Times: Inside the Funeral Home for New York’s Elite  Bloomberg News: Has It Gotten Too Hard to Buy a Birkin or Kelly? Washingtonian: Meet the Cast of “Love Is Blind DC”  @KthomasDC on X: White House: First Lady Jill Biden will host an event Friday at the White House to mark the 25th anniversary of the television series "The West Wing." Washington Post: A 12-year-old girl was hit by a car. It had $19,770 in unpaid tickets Wall Street Journal: The Kids Who Didn’t Know Their Parents Were Russian Spies

    1h 9m

  8. 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
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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
    168
  • Copyright
    © Nebulous Media LLC
  • Show Website
    Ink Stained Wretches

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