Ink Stained Wretches

Nebulous Media
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  • NEWS COMMENTARY
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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. MAY 30

    Don’t Say Goodbye, Say Wretch You Later

    Dearest Wretches, we’re stepping away from the mic. But before we go, Chris and Eliana dig into Trump’s legal battles with CBS and the Pulitzer board, Elon Musk’s Washington exit, Democrats’ hunt for lost masculinity, and the waning influence of BLM. We’ll miss the community that’s grown with us over the years—thanks for wretching with us. Time Stamps: 1:55 - Front Page 37:50 - Obsessions 46:51 - Reader Mail 52:24 - Favorite Items Show Notes: The Wall Street Journal: Paramount Has Offered $15 Million to Settle CBS Lawsuit. Trump Wants More. New York Post: Shari Redstone in ‘tough spot’ as Paramount board fears settling with Trump will open Pandora’s box on bribery lawsuits: sources The New York Times: A Disillusioned Musk, Distanced From Trump, Says He’s Exiting Washington CBS News: Elon Musk says he's "disappointed" by Trump's "big, beautiful bill" and what it means for DOGE The New York Times: Trump Pardoned Tax Cheat After Mother Attended $1 Million Dinner The New York Times: Six Months Later, Democrats Are Still Searching for the Path Forward The Washington Free Beacon: EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Democratic Party’s Strategic Efforts To Enhance Receptivity in Masculine-Coded Heteronormative Cohorts Through Data-Driven Holistic Outreach Vulture: Fame and Frustration On the New Media Circuit Fox News: Washington Post announces another buyout program targeting veteran staffers, other departments The Washington Post: Struggling to declutter? Try the ‘poop rule.’ The New York Times: 5 Years After George Floyd’s Murder, the Backlash Takes Hold The Wall Street Journal: Six Friends Tried to Plan a Girls’ Trip in a Group Chat. Things Went Sideways. Law360: Pulitzer Board Can't Pause Trump Defamation Suit In Florida Semafor: Inside the identity crisis in anti-woke media The Weekly Dish: Claire Lehmann On Staying Independent Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY: In Memoriam: Tom Robbins (1949-2025) The Wall Street Journal: How a Lawyer in the Hamptons Became the King of DWI Cases

    58 min

  2. MAY 23

    Amber Alert: Dem Joe Rogan

    This week, we’re unpacking the rollout of Original Sin, the irony of the left’s search for their very own Joe Rogan, the CBS newsroom shakeup, and stick around for Eliana’s experience serving on the Pulitzer jury. Wretch on! If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com. Time Stamps: 4:10 - Front Page 1:06:38 - Obsessions 1:19:04 - Reader Mail 1:20:57 - Favorite Items Show Notes: Jewish Insider: Two Israeli embassy employees killed in shooting outside D.C. Jewish Museum The Guardian: Jon Stewart on CNN’s Biden book: ‘Selling you a book about news they should have told you’ The Washington Post: Biden diagnosis draws well-wishes, questions and conspiracy theories Mediaite: Taylor Lorenz Openly Celebrates Joe Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis: ‘Hopefully He Rots in Hell and Rests in Piss’ The New York Times: Democrats Throw Money at a Problem: Countering G.O.P. Clout Online The Hill: Trump hits South African president with video ‘genocide’ claims: 5 takeaways NBC News: White House purges transcripts of Trump's remarks from its website Mediaite: ‘What Changed Patel and Bongino’s Minds?’ Glenn Beck Calls Out Trump’s FBI Brass Rejecting Epstein Conspiracy The Wall Street Journal: Elon Musk to Cut Back Political Spending The Daily Beast: Musk Insults Interviewer for Daring to Ask About His Big DOGE Promise The New York Times: Head of CBS News Is Forced Out Amid Tensions With Trump The New York Times: Can C-SPAN Pull Off ‘Crossfire,’ but With Civility? Semafor: Shapiro solicits backers — or buyers — for a built-out Daily Wire The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Sesame Street’ Saved, Inks New Streaming Deal With Netflix NBC 4: Kermit comes home: UMD commencement and NBC4 history The Washington Free Beacon: ANALYSIS: Jordon Hudson Outshined and Outclassed by Historic Transgender Contestant at So-Called Beauty Pageant The Washington Free Beacon: ‘We Occasionally Misjudge’: Pulitzer Board Told Me I Was out of Line When I Asked Why the Organization Gave an Award to Palestinian ‘Poet’ Who Made Hateful Comments About Israeli Hostages Politico: Two House Republicans missed the big vote Chicago Tribune: Chicago Sun-Times Sunday insert contains 10 AI-generated fake books in summer reading list

    1h 26m

  3. MAY 16

    Chair Force One

    Watch This Episode on YouTube! It’s oh so good to be back in the studio. We’re kicking off with Trump’s Gulf tour, the scoops about the scoops on the Biden books, “Mar-a-Lago face,” and much more. Wretch on! If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com. Time Stamps: 2:00 - Front Page 50:29 - Obsessions  57:28 - Reader Mail 1:00:12 - Favorite Items Show Notes: Mediaite: WHCA Rages as Trump Excludes Major News Wire Services From Middle East Trip I Might Be Wrong: The Qatari Plane Scandal is Different Because Morons Understand It Newsweek: Saudi Arabia Rolls Out Custom Mobile McDonald's for Trump Visit The Daily Beast: Biden Aides Had a Secret Plan to Get the President a Wheelchair, New Book Claims Axios: Exclusive: Biden aides discussed wheelchair use if he were re-elected, new book says CNN: First on CNN: New book reveals how Biden’s inner circle kept Cabinet from him in final two years of presidency The Dispatch: The Temptation and the Fall of the Media The New Yorker: Is Jeff Bezos Selling Out the Washington Post? The Washington Post: Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson and the making of a PR disaster The Washington Post: MLB reinstates Pete Rose and others, paving way for Hall of Fame consideration The New York Times: Can I Wear a Sheath Dress Without Looking Like a MAGA Woman?The Free Press: How Qatar Bought America The Dispatch: Feelings, Facts, and Our Crisis of Truth Teen Vogue: News Influencers Are Reaching Young People, and the Media Is Trying to Keep Up Politico: The First Thing George Santos Should Do in Prison The Washington Free Beacon: The Surprising Ways That Siblings Shape Our Lives

    1h 4m

  4. MAY 9

    Deep Dish on The Pope

    This week, we say hello to a new pope and goodbye to Nate Moore—Chris’s AEI research assistant, but more importantly, a fellow wretch who’s been a big part of the podcast. We also talk about the Pulitzer winners and the media’s coverage of the declining health of John Fetterman and Joe Biden. Wretch on! Time Stamps: Front Page:  02:22Obsessions:  27:43Reader Mail:  36:10Favorite Items: 38:53 Show Notes: New York Magazine: The Hidden Struggle of John Fetterman AP News: Sen. John Fetterman raises alarms with outburst at meeting with union officials, AP sources say BBC: Five takeaways from Biden’s BBC interview The Pulitzer Prizes: 2025 Pulitzer Priz Herald Leader: The favorite didn’t win the KY Derby again. Here’s what happened behind Sovereignty The Washington Free Beacon: Exclusive Analysis: Kamala’s Stepdaughter, ‘Textile Artist’ Ella Emhoff, Skips Leg Day as Often as She Shaves Her Armpits (Never) Politico: Biden enlists veteran Democratic operative to help defend his reputation (edited)

    43 min

  5. MAY 2

    Dudes, man

    Chris and Eliana are back, starting with Trump’s 100-day media blitz, Tim Walz’s code-switching, the private group chats shaping American politics, and—most importantly—the origin of Jo Jo potatoes. Wretch on! Time Stamps: Front Page: 1:29 Obsessions: 1:03:31 Reader Mail: 1:11:31 Favorite Items: 1:18:36 Show Notes: The Atlantic: Read The Atlantic’s Interview With Donald Trump Time: Read the Full Transcript of Donald Trump’s ‘100 Days’ Interview With TIME Axios: Scoop: White House launches Drudge-style website to promote Trump The Atlantic: The War That Would Not End Semafor: The group chats that changed America The New York Times: A Progressive Mind in a Body Made for the ‘Manosphere’ The Wall Street Journal: Questioning Biden’s Capacities Was Taboo a Year Ago. Now It’s Everywhere. The New York Times: The Dispatch Buys SCOTUSblog, a Supreme Court Mainstay  The New York Times: A Hot Accessory, at the Intersection of Faith and Culture  The New York Times: Vietnam on The Move Awful Announcing: Bill Belichick issues statement defending Jordon Hudson’s actions during CBS interview  ESPN: Son of Falcons coordinator Ulbrich admits to Sanders prank  The New York Times: How Ozempic Is Shaping Weddings  The New York Times: ‘60 Minutes’ Chief Resigns in Emotional Meeting: ‘The Company Is Done With Me’  The New York Times: Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trump’s ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit The Washington Post: She tried to expose Russia’s brutal detention system — and ended up dead The Washington Post: Streaming services should step up to make C-SPAN great again  The New York Times: The Unabomber’s Brother Turned Him In. Then Spent 27 Years Trying to Win Him Back.

    1h 22m

  6. APR 25

    The Interview: Lahav Harkov on News Coverage of the Israel-Gaza War

    This week, Eliana flies solo and sits down with Jewish Insider’s Lahav Harkov for a conversation about her path through Israeli and American media — and what the press got wrong and (less often) right about the Israel-Gaza war. Wretch on! If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com. Show Notes: New York Magazine: Everything We Know About the Gaza City Hospital Blast  The Washington Post: Israel’s war with Hamas separates Palestinian babies from their mothers  Reuters: Gaza mother's hopes for return of long-jailed son dashed The Atlantic: The War That Would Not End  60 Minutes: Freed Israeli hostages Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, Tal Shoham describe horrors of being held captive by Hamas  CNN: Hersh Goldberg-Polin: The ‘happy-go-lucky’ Israeli-American who became a symbol of Israel’s enduring hostage heartbreak  The Atlantic: What the Media Gets Wrong About Israel  Tablet: An Insider’s Guide to the Most Important Story on Earth

    54 min

  7. APR 18

    Legion of Wretches

    This week, we dive into Trump’s showdown on two fronts: immigration and Ivy League endowments. Then we head to space to marvel at the bravery of Blue Origin. And finally, we unwrap the explosive piece on Elon Musk’s quest to spawn a generation of genetically gifted super-babies. Wretch on! If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com. Time Stamps: 1:57 - Front Page 51:48 - Obsessions 1:00:56 - Reader Mail 1:06:41 - Favorite Items Show Notes: Mediaite: Fox News Reporter Confronts Trump AG Bondi on ‘Gang Member’ Claims — Straight-Up Asks ‘Why Not Show the Evidence?’  The Washington Free Beacon: Harvard Rejects Deal With Trump Admin, Putting Billions in Federal Funding at Risk  The Washington Post: Trump administration asks IRS to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status The Washington Post: Trump’s D.C. U.S. attorney pick appeared on Russian state media over 150 times  Financial Times: CNN’s Mark Thompson: ‘Our entire industry is going through a revolution’  The Wall Street Journal: The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His ‘Legion’ of Babies—and Their Mothers  Politico: GOP representative: ‘Left has to look in the mirror too’ after condemning Shapiro arson attack  The New York Times: One Giant Stunt for Womankind  The Washington Free Beacon: Holding Space: Women Rejoice as Bezos Gal Pal, Others Make History The New York Times: How Trump Might Unwittingly Cut Emissions From Online Shopping The Wall Street Journal: Porsche Heir’s Plan to Build a Private Tunnel Has His Alpine Neighbors Fuming NBC News: Government's case against Mahmoud Khalil is reliant on tabloid accounts, review of evidence shows  Red State: Salem Media Group Strikes Deal With Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump Freddie deBoer: John Oliver is (Still) Part of the Problem  The Wall Street Journal: Navy SEAL. Harvard Doctor. NASA Astronaut. Don’t Tell Mom About This Overachiever.

    1h 11m

  8. APR 11

    Just Joshing

    Josh Kraushaar, editor-in-chief of Jewish Insider, fills in for Eliana to discuss the latest on tariffs, the White House press pool, and Stephen A. Smith flirting with a presidential run. Wretch on! If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com. Time Stamps: 3:27 - Front Page 58:20 - Obsessions 1:05:40 - Reader Mail 1:07:55 - Favorite Items Show Notes: The Wall Street Journal: The False Tariff Headline That Sent Stocks on a $2 Trillion Ride  The Independent: Fox News pundit believes Trump tariffs will reverse ‘crisis in masculinity’  NBC News: A 'disaster': Gretchen Whitmer's talk on tariffs and meeting with Trump anger fellow Democrats CNN: Federal judge says White House’s punishment of Associated Press is unconstitutional  Status: The Pool Filter  NBC News: Supreme Court gives boost to Trump administration's deportation plans under Alien Enemies Act  Jewish Insider: Netanyahu pushes back on anti-Israel trends in meeting with podcasters  LA Times: Broadcast television is in trouble. Stations are asking Washington for help  Barrett Media: Stephen A. Smith No Longer Ruling Out Possibility of Running for President in 2028 The Washington Post: Don’t damn the torpedo bats CBS News: Fossil fuel companies target America's love of college sports The New York Times: Bloomberg Has a Rocky Start With A.I. Summaries  Mediaite: Trump Orders DOJ To Investigate Prominent Critic in Shocking Oval Office Remarks: ‘I Think He’s Guilty of Treason’ CBS News: Photojournalist witnesses Venezuelan migrants' arrival in El Salvador: "They had no idea what was coming"  The Atlantic: I Should Have Seen This Coming

    1h 13m
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4.7
out of 5
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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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    195
  • Copyright
    © Nebulous Media LLC
  • Show Website
    Ink Stained Wretches

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