Oliver Darcy on the Effects of a Steady Fox News Diet
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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I think the news media, to some extent, has sort of, kind of come to terms with how to cover Donald Trump. But there hasn't been a reckoning in how we deal with the media environment that allowed Trump to be birthed into existence, really, in politics. And I don't think until actually there is that reckoning, Trump might go away, but, like, the problem is still there. And it's actually getting worse and worse.
This week's guest is someone we've wanted to talk to forever and ever and ever. And now the news just demands his voice on about everything that we are covering. He staked out ground that no one rivaled at CNN for years and then went out on his own as the founder of Status. He now also helms the podcast Power Lines. This is the best people. And this is Oliver Darcy. Thank you for being here.
I'm so excited to be here, Nicole.
What insights does Oliver Darcy provide about the media's relationship with Donald Trump?
I read you for years and years and years at CNN. My best friend is Dana Bash. And I used to read your reporting and call her and say, oh, my God, did you read what Oliver Darcy is writing? And especially during the Chris Lick story. How did you sort of have the presence of mind to cover your own institution like that?
I felt like the moment demanded it, to be quite honest. And I think this moment demands accountability journalism inside the media. It's a huge power center. And like any other power center, if there's no one holding it to account, if there's no one shedding light on what's happening, bad things can happen and people make bad decisions often. And so I thought it was an important job. And also, my name was on it. My face was on it. And I didn't sign up to be a journalist, to do public relations for, you know, billion-dollar corporations. And so, you know, if I wanted to do that, I would be in PR.
How does corporate media capitulation affect the news landscape?
And so I felt like it was important to, you know, shine light and to hold everyone accountable, whether that was my corporate company, you know, CNN, the corporate company that, or owner of that, Warner Brothers Discovery, or others. And I also told, you know, my bosses there, I said, I'm not going to call another news organization or another media company and hold them to a different standard than we're holding ourselves to. And so if we, you know, if CNN does something that generates controversy or is perceived as a bad decision, we need to cover that the same way we'd cover it anywhere else.
I mean, I think everyone listening is nodding if they're in our business, but I just think it is the unicorn that does it. And I will say, like, for my own part, I think the only time I covered Comcast was when Trump demolished the East Wing. And... they permitted us slash encouraged us to cover them as donors to Trump's East Wing project. I guess the only other example is the hiring of Ronald McDaniel when we told our bosses, like, we have to cover this. It is really hard to do on a day-in and day-out basis. And I wonder... If you can just talk a little bit more about how it's not that you, or I don't want to put words in your mouth, it's not that you relish negative coverage for your own company, but the alternative sends us down a really, really unappealing path as journalists.
It's very awkward to cover your own parent company. I guess that's what I'm trying to say. I mean, it's super awkward when you're, you know, writing coverage of your own boss, you know, the head of the company. It's awful, yeah. And you see them in the elevator and you're like, Oh, hey. Hi. Right?
Check your phone to see if you've been fired.
Right, exactly. It's just a very awkward scenario to be in. And I mean, I feel like when I was at CNN, I was like, this has got to be the only job in the world where I am paid to, you know, cover aggressively my own company. And it's a very strange place to be in, but I did feel like it was important. And you're right. The alternative of being silent, I just personally, like, I can't go to bed at night knowing that I'm like,
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:14
2
What insights does Oliver Darcy provide about the media's relationship with Donald Trump?
1:14–2:05
3
How does corporate media capitulation affect the news landscape?
2:05–4:38
4
What examples illustrate the toxic nature of today's media environment?
4:38–7:02
5
What challenges do journalists face when covering their own companies?
7:02–8:28
6
How does independent journalism differ from mainstream media coverage?
8:28–10:57
7
What role do conspiracy theories play in shaping public discourse?
10:57–12:48
8
How can the truth compete with propaganda in today's media?
12:48–49:46
Speakers
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Brian Driscoll on the Hollowing Out of the FBI: "It's Devastating”