143 episodes

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.

Ink Stained Wretches Nebulous Media

    • News
    • 4.8 • 611 Ratings

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.

    Worming Our Way In

    Worming Our Way In

    In today's episode, we delve into the latest stories, including Biden's decision to pause weapons sales to Israel, RFK Jr.'s brain worm, the intersection of climate change and its impact on the LGBTQ+ community, and Kristi Noem's unexpected pause on her book tour. Tune in!

    Time Stamps:
    1:13 Front Page
    51:44 Obsessions
    57:13 Reader Mail
    59:30 Favorite Items


    Reuters: Israel due to get billions of dollars more in US weapons despite Biden pause | Reuters
    The Atlantic: Say Plainly What the Protesters Want 
    The Guardian: ‘Like family’: three women – two Palestinian, one Jewish – find peace amid campus chaos | US campus protests
    Harpers: The Race for Second Place
    WSJ: Inside RFK Jr.’s Chaotic White House Bid
    WSJ: Inside RFK Jr.’s Chaotic White House Bid 
    NYT: Kristi Noem Calls Off Disastrous Book Tour, Canceling Hits on Fox News and CNN at Last Minute 
    The Dispatch: The Pulitzer for Propaganda Goes to 
    Politico: The Collapse of the News Industry Is Taking Its Soul Down With It
    Semafor: Joe Kahn: 'The newsroom is not a safe space' 
    Axios: ABC News president Kim Godwin steps down 
    Axios: Exclusive poll: Most college students shrug at nationwide protests 
    NYT: Are We Talking Too Much About Mental Health? 
    WSJ: Desperate for Workers but Dead Set Against Migrant Labor: The West Virginia Dilemma
    NYT: Honeybees Invaded My House, and No One Would Help 
    WSJ: Inside Andy Cohen’s Reality 
    Obsessions:
    Tablet: The People Setting America on Fire
    The Atlantic: No One Knows What Universities Are For 
    Reader Mail: 
    Context:  Why are LGBTQ+ people more at risk from climate change?
    Kicker: Favorite Items of the Week:
    WaPo: Senior homes refuse to pick up fallen residents, dial 911. 'Why are they calling us?' 
    Eliana: ‘I’m Not Your Mom’: Tech Exec’s Videos Spark Clash Over China’s Work Culture

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Bros vs. Schmoes

    Bros vs. Schmoes

    Watch this episode on YouTube.

    Standing up for the American Flag could reward you with a $300K party. That's what happened in the wake of one college protest this week. In addition to that, we're discussing Pelosi’s MSNBC meltdown, Biden’s new walking routine, and Hollywood’s failure to spread awareness about climate change. 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://nebulouspodcasts.com/shows/ink-stained-wretches
    Follow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretches
    Time Stamps:
    1:47 - Front Page
    42:01 - Facile File
    46:25 - Style Section
    48:57 - Obsessions
    56:42 - Reader Mail
    58:15 - Favorite Items

    The Washington Post | Trump, GOP seize on campus protests to depict chaos under Biden
    The Dispatch | A ‘Mostly’ Misleading Partisan Press
    AP | College protesters want ‘amnesty.’ At stake: Tuition, legal charges, grades and graduation
    The New York Times | Columbia Bars Student Protester Who Said ‘Zionists Don’t Deserve to Live’
    The Atlantic | The Campus-Left Occupation That Broke Higher Education
    The Dispatch | These Are the Kids They Wanted
    NBC | Poll: Biden and Trump supporters sharply divided by the media they consume
    The Hill | Pelosi accuses MSNBC host of being ‘apologist for Donald Trump’ 
    The New York Times | Donald Trump Has Never Sounded Like This
    Axios | Scoop: Biden changes walking routine to Marine One
    Daily Mail | Gushing Drew Barrymore says Kamala Harris needs to be the 'Momala' of the U.S. in cringeworthy interview
    Puck | Guess Who’s Coming to Elon’s Dinner
    Ken Klippenstein | Why I'm Resigning From The Intercept The Dispatch | The Cass Review Won’t Fade Away
    Indie Wire | Only 32 of the Top Movies in the Last Decade Say Climate Change Exists — Study
    CNBC | Dave & Buster’s to allow customers to bet on arcade games
    Twitter | Die Workwear
    Star Tribune | Dan Rather documentary is second-rate journalism
    The Daily Beast | Dan Rather to Make CBS News Return 18 Years After Controversial Exit
    Asterisk Magazine | Debugging Tech Journalism
    The Wall Street Journal | Billions in Dirty Money Flies Under the Radar at World’s Busiest Airports
    The Washington Free Beacon | 7 Hilariously Sad Entries in the Lost and Found Chat at Columbia's Anti-Israel Protest Camp

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Take That, Hippies

    Take That, Hippies

    Watch this episode on YouTube.

    Did you hear? Kamala Harris has found her voice. At least that’s what CNN is saying for the 4th time of this administration. This week, we’re looking at coverage around Speaker Mike Johnson, the chaos on college campuses, and a disgruntled former CNN anchor. 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://nebulouspodcasts.com/shows/ink-stained-wretches
    Follow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretches

    Time Stamps:
    2:27 Front Page
    40:17 - Obsessions
    46:51 - Reader Mail
    51:10 Favorite Items

    NYT: Where Jurors in Trump Hush-Money Trial Say They Get Their News
    Politico: The Petty Feud Between the NYT and the White House
    CNBC: House Speaker Johnson drowned out by booing crowds at Columbia University speech on Gaza protests
    The Atlantic: The Accidental Speaker
    WSJ: They Entered College in Isolation and Leave in Protest: The Class That Missed Out on Fun
    Vanity Fair: Leaving CNN Was How I Found My Voice
    The American Prospect: My Dinner With Andreessen
    Mediaite: The Gateway Pundit, Infamous Conspiracy Blog, Declares Bankruptcy After Suit From Election Workers
    CNN: Kamala Finds Her Voice
    The Free Press: Tucker Carlson’s Turn
    Cleveland 19: Ohio company launches Thermonator, a flamethrowing robot dog
    NYT: Beyoncé Showed Her Hair Being Washed. Here’s Why It Matters.

    • 54 min
    Newsroom Rebellions

    Newsroom Rebellions

    The NPR rebellion continues this week on Ink Stained Wretches. We’re also covering infighting at The New York Times, Trump trial coverage and the emerging trend of sexless marriages. Wretch on!

    2:29 Front Page
    50:27 Obsessions
    57:39 Reader Mail
    4:34 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

    Show Notes:
    NPR: NPR editor Uri Berliner resigns with blast at new CEO
    NYPost: NPR's new CEO Katherine Maher scrubs hyper-partisan posts: 'Trump is a racist'
    NPR:  From NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher: Thoughts on our mission and our work
    Politico: The Real Reason NPR Squashed Uri Berliner
    I Might Be Wrong on Substack: GUEST COLUMN: Who the F**k Did You THINK Ran NPR?
    Slate: NPR: The public broadcaster’s problems are deeper than “wokeness.” 
    WSJ: New York Times Bosses Seek to Quash Rebellion in the Newsroom
    USA Today: Media is playing right into Trump's hands with jury selection as jurors become targets
    NYTimes: Can a Sexless Marriage Be a Happy One?
    NYTimes: One Thing Parents Can Control 
    WSJ: She’s One of the Greatest Basketball Players Ever. She’s an Even Better Coach.
    NYTimes: The Biden Guide to Dressing Younger 
    Axios: Exclusive: Grindr plans to offer a pocket "gayborhood" 
    ABC News: Red Lobster eyes bankruptcy option after $11M in losses from endless shrimp
    WaPo: They criticized Israel. This Twitter account upended their lives.
    Commentary Mag: Media Revive the Classic ‘Jewish Oppressor’ Stereotype 
    The Atlantic: What the Upper-Middle-Class Left Doesn’t Get About Inflation
    SNL: Beavis and Butthead
    WSJ: A Day in the Life of a Walmart Manager Who Makes $240,000 a Year

    • 1 hr 4 min
    A Forest of Facile

    A Forest of Facile

    Watch this episode on YouTube. Welcome back, Wretchos! In this episode, we'll be covering a variety of topics this week, including whether Gen Z can handle criticism effectively, if the politics of Israel are changing, and whether a sleep divorce is a good idea. Don't miss out, and remember to catch us on YouTube for more engaging content. 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://nebulouspodcasts.com/shows/ink-stained-wretches
    Follow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretches

    Time Stamps:
    4:09 Front Page
    50:13 Obsessions
    1:01:23 Reader Mail
    1:03:32 Favorite Items


    Show Notes: 
    NYT:Inflation Was Hotter Than Expected in March, Unwelcome News for the Fed
    WSJ: Biden Is Spending $1 Trillion to Fight Climate Change. Voters Don’t Care.
    TFP: I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust. 
    WSJ: We Aren’t Posting on Social Media as Much Anymore. Will We Ever?
    Newsnation: Hundreds expected to tie the knot during solar eclipse 
    The Guardian: ‘Mostly felt like a speed bump’: US man on getting vasectomy amid earthquake
    Semafor: Border crisis might be boon for economy
    Wapo: Which Trump lies stick? Republicans believe some falsehoods more than they did six years ago, our poll finds.
    Wapo: Gen Z workers can take criticism. You're just phrasing it wrong.
    Pagesix: Matt Lauer holds hands with girlfriend Shamin Abas at Don Lemon's wedding 
    Dailymail: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's 15-year-old daughter, formerly Seraphina Rose, debuts new name Fin
    WSJ: The Couples Trading Restless Nights for Separate Bedrooms
    @dieworkwear on Twitter: "my man"
    Obsessions:
    Politico: Playbook: Could Bibi tank Ukraine aid?
    Politico: The politics of Israel are changing
    The Atlantic: 'White Rural Rage' Is an Utterly Misleading Book 
    The Remnant Podcast: Hillbillies in the Mist
    The Atlantic: Civil War Was Made in Anger
    Reader Mail: 
    The Daily Beast: The Instagram Stars Hiding Their Famous, Muslim-Hating Mom, Pamela Geller
    Favorite Items:
    NY Times: How a Vacant Lot Became Our Own Dirtbag Narnia
    Jewish Insider: Several university leaders begin cracking down on anti-Israel disruptions on campus.

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Biden’s Drama-dan

    Biden’s Drama-dan

    Watch this episode on YouTube

    Please tune in to hear a very, very special update about Chris Stirewalt. Stick around to hear about recent 2024 polling, Trump’s night life, Israel-Hamas coverage and a follow up to LSU Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey.

    Time Stamps: 
    3:29 Front Page
    35:41 Obsessions
    46:30 Reader Mail
    49:55 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
    Follow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretches

    Engagement Announcement 

    WSJ: Trump Leads Biden in Six of Seven Swing States, WSJ Poll Finds
    WSJ: Five Takeaways From the WSJ Swing-State Poll
    WaPo: Nervous about November? Imagine being Biden's campaign manager.
    Axios: 1 big thing — Behind the Curtain: How Trump's mind works 
    NYTimes: Lachlan Cartwright: What I Saw at the National Enquirer During Trump’s Rise 
    NBC News: Displeasure with Biden's handling of Hamas-Israel war was on display at closed-door White House meeting 
    WaPo: U.S. approved more bombs to Israel day of World Central Kitchen strikes
    NY Times: Newly Declassified Video Shows U.S. Killing of 10 Civilians in Drone Strike
    ABC13: Ted Cruz pushes back on questions about his podcast's fundraising arrangement with iHeartMedia 
    The Verge: How Vice became ‘a f*****g clown show’
    WSJ: You Spent $6,000 on a Secondhand Chanel Bag. Now Find Out if It Is Real.  
    WSJ: More Fashion Cachet for Less Cash: Why the 1% Are Favoring These Under-the-Radar Labels
    Obsessions: 
    WaPo: LSU coach Kim Mulkey holds grudges, battles everyone and keeps winning. But at what cost?
    The Dispatch: The Idiotic Astrophysics of Umbrage 
    Favorite Items:
    WaPo: Wait, does America suddenly have a record number of bees?
    WSJ: The Chess Master Trying to Propel Google’s AI Push

    • 53 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
611 Ratings

611 Ratings

Adrienne 15 ,

The best podcast on media

This is an invaluable podcast because it offers straight talk on both the left and right media bubbles. Bravo!

crunchysmooth ,

Clear and objective

Refreshing to hear reporters expressing views with clarity and humor while objectively talking about the once respected field of news. I worked in the field when the landscape was very different and have compassion for folks who are still fighting the good fight. Best Eric Los Angeles

lsh2123 ,

Wonderful but…

This show is excellent but could be vastly improved if Chris stopped interrupting Eliana. Chris’s interruptions are especially annoying during segments where each host is supposed to present a story. When it’s Eliana’s turn, let it be Eliana’s turn. Frequently, Eliana says 2 words before Chris jumps in and commandeers her segment. Your audience is interested in what you *both* have to say.

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