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CNN's Sara Sidner says she felt "exposed and embarrassed" when she was overcome with emotion during a live report about the dire situation in southern California. It is what "we're taught not to do," she says. But her human reaction helped draw attention to the Covid-19 crisis, and she now says, "If it did something to help, then I'll embarrass myself every single day, all day long." Sidner and Brian Stelter discuss coverage of the pandemic; the state of emergency in and around Los Angeles; and the ways that journalists process trauma. "If it does anything to make someone think twice about walking out without a mask or not self-distancing, then then maybe it was the right moment," she says.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Congressional reporters share what they witnessed during the attack; editorial boards call for Trump and GOP senators to resign; where do we go from here? Jeffrey Goldberg, Susan Glasser, Adam Sharp, Julie Roginsky, Oliver Darcy, Alex Marquardt, Phil Mattingly, Manu Raju and Lauren Fox join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

CNN correspondent Elle Reeve tells Brian Stelter what she witnessed in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, January 6, from the Save America March near the White House to the riot at the Capitol. She examines the process of MAGA media radicalization that led up to the insurrection and the links to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. Reeve explains how her team members were able to move nimbly through the mob and says the people were not all "Internet basement dwellers." She says "I don't think, as a culture, we've grappled with the way social media is a brainwashing machine."To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus...Timothy Snyder on Trump's authoritarian aims; growing numbness to the Covid-19 death toll; how news outlets are exposing vaccine distribution delays; a 2021 forecast from CNN's media reporters. Timothy Snyder, Rana Cash, Astead Herndon, Emma Hurt, Dan Abrams, Dr. James Hamblin and Juliette Kayyem join Brian Stelter. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Trump declared 'war' with the media, but did he win?; 'blood sport' aspect of Trump's anti-media attacks; how Trump's unhealthy TV addiction affected all of us; Dale says, 'coverage of Biden is going to be equally rigorous'; Tapper says some reporters 'bought into' Trump's narrative; Stelter says the press works for the people, not politicians. Abby Phillip, Jeremy Diamond, Kaitlan Collins, Jim Acosta, Daniel Dale and Jake Tapper join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

How will news outlets adapt to covering Biden after four years of Trump? Will there be major mergers in digital media in 2021? Who will prevail in the streaming Olympics? Oliver Darcy, Donie O'Sullivan, Kerry Flynn, Frank Pallotta and Chloe Melas join Brian Stelter to share predictions about the year ahead, from a right-wing media recalibration to a return to movie theaters.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... White House sources are sounding the alarm about Trump; Rupert Murdoch gets vaccine as his network fans flames of vaccine skepticism; what went wrong with the NYT's 'Caliphate' podcast. Elizabeth Neumann, Rosie Gray, Oliver Darcy, Margaret Sullivan, David Folkenflik and Marty Baron join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

CNN reporters Oliver Darcy, Donie O'Sullivan, Kerry Flynn, Frank Pallotta and Chloe Melas join Brian Stelter for a bird's-eye view of a strange and surprising 2020. They discuss some of the biggest storylines of the year, from disinformation to Disney+, and identify some bright spots in a generally dark year.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Local TV anchor helps thousands fighting for unemployment benefits; the story behind Jane Mayer's story about Dianne Feinstein; when right-wing "fan fiction" replaces journalism; Trump's favorite media outlets are ignoring the pandemic; why political reporters pay attention to voters' media diets; and more... Marc Elias, Matt Lewis, S.E. Cupp, Astead Herndon, Charlotte Alter, Jane Mayer and Anne McCloy join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Juliette Kayyem, a Harvard lecturer and CNN national security analyst, talks about the balancing act of Covid-19 and how the coming months should be covered by the news media. She tells Brian Stelter that "the media can drive appropriate behavior" and combat pandemic fatigue. She also says the distribution of vaccines will be a “split screen” story and says responsible reporting can help with “vaccine hesitancy.” She says Fox News stars should do a public service by being vaccinated on camera. Kayyem and Stelter also discuss the role of the media more broadly during disasters, and how public trust may evolve during the Biden administration.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Tom Friedman says "I pray to God" I don't have to write more Trump columns; how the AP is handling Trump's election denialism; meet a radio host who intervenes with callers who dismiss Covid-19 dangers. Evan Osnos, Thomas Friedman, Julie Pace, David Kessler, Dr. Esther Choo, Jeff Deminski and Andrew Neil join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

"There's this sort of co-creation of disinformation" about the 2020 election, resulting in a "really powerful false narrative of voter fraud that's going to be very hard to correct," Kate Starbird says. Starbird, an associate professor at the University of Washington and a co-founder of the Center for an Informed Public, calls this "participatory disinformation" and says propaganda is most effective "when it's coming from people you trust." Brian Stelter also asks about Starbird's work studying "crisis informatics" and online rumors.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Plus... Washington Post reporter Jacqueline Alemany shares her Covid-19 experience to counter deniers; press freedom experts on recovering from the ‘fake news’ era; Oliver Darcy on Fox’s ‘propaganda’ in service of Trump. Amanda Carpenter, Jonathan Rauch, Carrie Budoff Brown, Suzanne Nossel, Joel Simon, Oliver Darcy, Jacqueline Alemany and Amanda Marcotte join Brian Stelter.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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