Listen Now

What is the allure of misinformation? What are the reasons why people believe lies, and what does it take to change their minds? Brian Stelter speaks with Briony Swire-Thompson, cognitive psychologist and senior research scientist at Northeastern University's Network Science Institute, for answers. Swire-Thompson shares what her research has shown about lies, trust, and belief, and how Trumpism has changed the field of study. When it comes to conspiracy theories, Swire-Thompson says election denialism "has all the makings of a long-lasting conspiracy theory."To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Brian Stelter says Trump officials dodging questions is a sign of weakness; what election denialism and Covid skepticism have in common; how Newsmax TV is pressuring Fox from the right; and more. Kaitlan Collins, Brendan Nyhan, Errol Louis, Jane Lytvynenko, Jim VandeHei, Kent Bush, Dave Bundy and Sarah Seifert join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Patrice Peck, multimedia journalist and author of the Coronavirus News for Black Folks newsletter, talks with Brian Stelter about how her newsletter highlighted health disparities that have been aggravated by the pandemic. Peck reflects on the role of Black journalists and storytellers historically, and how the media business is transforming now. Peck also touches on her use of the newsletter platform Substack and the "opportunity" it has to better spotlight new content creators.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Brian Stelter says Fox is facing competition like never before; Carl Bernstein says there is a 'civil war of untruth' in America; reporters want Biden to be more accessible; is Trump trying to turn his voters into subscribers? Julie Roginsky, Carl Bernstein, Sam Donaldson, Dr. Seema Yasmin, Molly Ball and Michael Kruse join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

A podcast about Trump-related podcasts! "Trump, Inc." co-host Andrea Bernstein, "Pod Save America" co-host Dan Pfeiffer, and "Trumpcast" host Virginia Heffernan join Brian Stelter to discuss the election results, the media’s responsibility, and the future of their shows. Heffernan describes having "coup-xiety" around Trump's refusal to concede or commit to a smooth transition. Bernstein explains how the story of "Trump, Inc." will continue after he leaves the White House. Pfeiffer says Trumpism will outlast the Trump presidency: "The threats, the problems in our political system, the miasma of misinformation that allowed someone like Trump to be elected still exists."To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Abby Phillip reflects on Election Week; Jeffrey Goldberg recommends a post-Trump pivot; Jon Karl talks about the Trump show’s ‘series finale;’ Oliver Darcy says Fox is enabling Trump's election denialism; Ann Selzer answers questions about 2020 election polls. TJ Ducklo, Jeffrey Goldberg, Abby Phillip, Jonathan Karl, Oliver Darcy, Evan Osnos, Chris Ruddy and Ann Selzer join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... What reporters are saying about the election in private; Susan Glasser says damage to election credibility "has already been done"; how will TV networks handle bogus Trump claims on election night?; CNN reporters on responding to Trump era technique to "flood the zone with sh*t..." Susan Glasser, Philip Bump, Olivia Nuzzi, Sam Feist, Oliver Darcy and Donie O'Sullivan join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

BuzzFeed News media editor Craig Silverman joins Brian Stelter to analyze the evolution of "fake news," a term he began using in 2014 to describe the very real phenomenon of misinformation on social media. With the 2020 election nearing an end, he reflects on Trump's weaponization of the term and the impact of four years of anti-media rhetoric. "What happened to the term 'fake news' is a great little case study in how our information environment works," he says. He also discusses the digital disinformation beat, sites like Facebook, and what the platforms are still failing to do.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... The Murdoch media machine's anti-Biden narrative; priorities for the press between now and election day; local papers are losing physical newsrooms; how emotions drive our news diet and our votes. Kirsten Powers, John Harris, Larry Wilmore, Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Sally Buzbee and Drew Westen join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

New York Times chief TV critic James Poniewozik argues that President Trump's reality TV tendencies, and his reliance on "button-pushing, shocking stuff" to sustain attention from viewers or voters, has contributed to a feeling of "burnout" over time. Trump is so immersed in conservative media narratives, Poniewozik says, "that he can sort of only speak its language, and has a hard time speaking outside it." Poniewozik also suggests that Americans have become more adept at spotting reality and drama TV tropes through Trump, and he likens Joe Biden to an episode of “Antiques Roadshow,” in this conversation with Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Charlotte Alter on swing state voters gripped by 'unlogic;' Yochai Benkler on a looming test for American democracy; are Murdoch outlets positioning themselves for a Trump loss? Anne Applebaum, Yochai Benkler, Noah Shachtman, Charlotte Alter and Andrew Sullivan join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Why are political polls trustworthy? What are TV networks doing to prepare for Election Night? Brian Stelter asks Jennifer Agiesta, the director of polling and election analytics for CNN. Agiesta talks about the impact of millions of early votes; the role of the decision desk; and the process for making projections. She also addresses common misconceptions about polling and the findings from CNN’s new polling project called The Breakthrough.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Dan Rather on coverage of Trump's physical and mental health; Tom Friedman calls out 'voter suppression enterprise;' is there 'reticence' to report on Biden's big lead in the polls? Dan Rather, Tom Friedman, Jennifer Mercieca, Oliver Darcy, Brandon Borrman, Ryan Lizza and Clare Malone join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Carlos Lozada's new book "What Were We Thinking: A Brief Intellectual History of the Trump Era" is about his exploration of Trump-related tomes, from insider tell-alls to works on race, gender and identity. He tells Brian Stelter that some of the most revelatory books about this era are barely about Trump at all. Among his many findings: "Accepting Trump's lies is not really about belief, it's about allegiance." Also: "We've made this era all about Trump... He is constantly the man at the middle of the story, and that may not be the wisest way to think about it." For example, Lozada says "we obsess over the border because Donald Trump obsesses over the border," but "a lot of the most significant stories about immigration are happening far from the border."To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Masha Gessen on comparisons between the Trump White House and the Soviet Union; how Ronald Reagan's White House handled his health crisis; WHCA president on press corps precautions. Masha Gessen, Carl Cameron, Margaret Sullivan, Susan Glasser, Zeke Miller, David Gergen and Mark Weinberg join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

In a wide-ranging interview with Brian Stelter, Dr. Anthony Fauci opens up about his media approach and the "critical" importance of communication during a public health crisis. Fauci addresses "outlandish" reporting from Fox News and other right-wing outlets; describes how he handles his relationship with President Trump; and discusses his recommended news sources. This conversation was held in conjunction with World News Day.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Maria Ressa's warning about Facebook and misinformation; Brian Karem's astonishment at his exchange with Trump. Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., Mark Lukasiewicz, Molly Jong-Fast, Brian Karem, Sam Feist and Maria Ressa join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Oliver Darcy, Donie O'Sullivan, Kerry Flynn, Frank Pallotta and Chloe Melas join Brian Stelter for a once-a-quarter conversation about the media industry, misinformation and more. Darcy and O'Sullivan discuss "echo chambers" that radicalize voters. Flynn and Melas analyze the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on newsrooms and Hollywood. Pallotta looks at how the media business is faring during the pandemic.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Len Downie's tips for covering for the coming election chaos; David Zurawik on Supreme Court coverage; how C-SPAN helped us hear the pandemic pain. Luke Harding, Rana Ayyub, John-Allan Namu, Julie Cohen, David Zurawik, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Leonard Downie, Jr. join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

The Atlantic staff writer Megan Garber says "we sometimes don't have satisfying languages" for talking about Fox News. Garber talks with Brian Stelter about his new book "Hoax" and her essay titled "Do You Speak Fox?" She says the network employs the "rhetoric of warfare" and "us" versus "them" themes that have "infiltrated the way that we approach the world in a really basic level."To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy