Best The La Commute Podcasts (2025)

1
Shari Redstone's Road to Power at Paramount Global 14:49

1d ago14:49

14:49

The Redstone family is a controlling shareholder of Paramount Global — one of the biggest entertainment companies out there. (Think CBS Entertainment, MTV, Nickelodeon.) The family is also one of the inspirations for HBO's Succession, which makes sense the more you get to know them. Shari Redstone currently has the controlling stake in Paramount Gl…

1
Brendan Carr’s F.C.C. Has Been Busy. Plus, Rewriting the History of Watergate. 50:27

6d ago50:27

50:27

The Federal Communications Commission is currently investigating CBS for “intentional news distortion” for its editing of an interview with Kamala Harris. On this week’s On the Media, what the new chairman of the FCC has been up to, and what led a top CBS producer to quit. Plus, what a growing effort to rewrite the history of Watergate tells us abo…

1
Left Wing Youtuber David Pakman EXTENDED VERSION 23:24

9d ago23:24

23:24

**EXTENDED VERSION** Micah spoke to left-wing YouTuber, David Pakman for last week's show. This is the long version of that conversation. On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with u…

1
Brooke and Micah Enter the MAGA-verse. Plus, Liberal YouTubers Fight Back. 51:44

13d ago51:44

51:44

Conservative influencers have captured a massive audience on the internet, boasting nearly five times more followers than their progressive competitors. On this week’s On the Media, the hosts spend twelve hours immersed in right wing media and report back on what they saw. Plus, why Democrats are struggling to compete for audiences online. [00:00] …

1
The Coding Language Caught in DOGE's Crosshairs 28:18

16d ago28:18

28:18

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been edged out of the headlines this past week, or so, by the administration’s current flirtation with a constitutional crisis. But the DOGE team is still busy. One project on the office's agenda, originally reported by WIRED late last month, is to rewrite the Social Security Administrat…

1
The Tariff Week From Hell. Plus, the Bluesky CEO Reimagines Social Media. 50:05

20d ago50:05

50:05

The president’s on-again, off-again tariffs are wreaking havoc on the economy. On this week’s On the Media, how the press is struggling to keep up with covering the chaos. Plus, the CEO of Bluesky, an alternative to Twitter, shares her vision for a better internet. [00:00] Host Micah Loewinger breaks down a wild week in the economy–why the press ca…

1
Sen. Chris Murphy on the Crisis Facing Our Democracy 23:10

23d ago23:10

23:10

This week we’re bringing you an interview from our friends at the New Yorker Radio Hour. It's a conversation between host David Remnick and Democratic congressman Chris Murphy. Murphy is the junior senator from Connecticut and a vehement critic of leaders in his party who’ve taken a “business as usual” approach in dealing with the Trump administrat…

1
Harvard and the Battle Over Higher Ed 50:32

27d ago50:32

50:32

The Trump administration has pulled funding for universities like Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania, and is threatening to withhold federal dollars from public schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Harvard is also fighting to retain its funding. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the distinctly American idea of “divers…

1
Sports Media’s Big Gamble on the Betting Industry 18:40

29d ago18:40

18:40

According to the American Gaming Association, bets on March Madness basketball games could amount to as much as $3.1 billion. Almost every national sports outlet — ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, NBC, CBS, The Ringer — has partnered with a major sports betting company. Big money is changing hands. What does that mean for sports journalism? On …

1
The Latest Spin on 'Signalgate.' Plus, a Crypto President is Born. 50:16

1M ago50:16

50:16

When a journalist was accidentally added to a Signal chat that disclosed sensitive war plans, a controversy erupted about our national security. On this week’s On the Media, a look at how right-wing media is processing “Signalgate.” Plus, why Donald Trump is calling himself the crypto president. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Will Sommer,…

1
Trouble At the EPA 20:34

1M ago20:34

20:34

President Trump's appointee at the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, is making a lot of changes at the EPA. Including cutting 31 environmental rules regarding climate change pollution, electric vehicles, and power plants. Environmentalists say this is a gutting of regulation. GOP lawmakers deem the EPA a job killer that does nothing but …

1
Voice of America Goes Quiet. And, Apocalypse Now? 50:18

1M ago50:18

50:18

The Trump administration has cut funding for Voice of America, the 80-year-old state media network. On this week’s On the Media, how pulling federal funds from VOA’s parent organization will imperil press freedom abroad. Plus, a Radio Free Europe journalist describes being detained for nine months in Russia until she was released alongside Evan Ger…

1
"Tough Love For Liberals" 41:08

1M ago41:08

41:08

This week's midweek podcast is a segment from Tuesdays episode of the Brian Lehrer show -- the legendary live call-in show that airs every weekday morning on our producing station, WNYC. The segment features Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the "Work in Progress" newsletter and host of the podcast "Plain English," and Ezra Kl…

1
Mahmoud Khalil and a New Red Scare. Plus, Press Freedom Under Threat. 50:00

2M ago50:00

50:00

A Columbia University graduate who led protests last year has been detained by I.C.E. Even though he is a green card holder. On this week’s On the Media, hear why the case has conjured comparisons to the Red Scare of the forties and fifties. Plus, a look at the years-long campaign to dismantle press freedoms in the United States. [01:00] Host Brook…

1
The Baltimore Sun Is In Trouble 18:58

2M ago18:58

18:58

Last January the hedge fund Alden Global Capital sold The Baltimore Sun to David Smith, an executive at Sinclair Broadcast Group. Smith once told Trump that Sinclair was "here to deliver your message.” He is also known to support conservative causes like Moms for Liberty. It's been a year and with the release of new circulation numbers, its clear t…

1
Trump’s On-and-Off-Again Tariffs, and Decoding ‘Make America Healthy Again’ 50:15

2M ago50:15

50:15

President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff announcements sent stock markets plunging. On this week’s On the Media, how to make sense of the ever-changing news about the economy. Plus, the policy behind the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ rhetoric. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Gordon Hanson, an economist at Harvard University’s Kennedy Sc…

1
How Does Kash Patel Compare to J. Edgar Hoover? 17:36

2M ago17:36

17:36

Since Kash Patel was announced as the director for the FBI, pundits have warned of a return to the era of J. Edgar Hoover, who ran the bureau for 48 years. But according to Beverly Gage, the author of G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, under Patel, the FBI could be politicized in ways that even its notorious first direct…

1
The New 'State Media.' Plus, Podcasters Are Running the FBI. 50:35

2M ago50:35

50:35

Breaking from a century of tradition, the White House says it will seize control of the press pool covering the president. On this week’s On the Media, the new administration is prioritizing access for an array of far-right influencers and news outlets. Plus, what President Trump’s pivot toward Russia means for Ukraine after three years of war. [00…

1
Writing (and Rewriting) Russian History 15:51

2M ago15:51

15:51

Days before Russia invaded Ukraine 3 years ago, Russian president Vladimir Putin read an essay he’d written in 2021, “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians,” wherein he claimed that Ukraine is a fake country that was invented by Lenin. This version of Russian history, which is full of inaccuracies amplified on Russian state media, has …

1
Learning Elon Musk’s Media Playbook. Plus, Silicon Valley’s Rightwing Roots. 50:32

2M ago50:32

50:32

Elon Musk’s claims of fraudulent government spending contain some wild inaccuracies. On this week's On the Media, how the mythos surrounding tech entrepreneurs paved the way for MAGA’s embrace of Silicon Valley leaders. Plus, meet the scholars and librarians who helped the Allies win World War II. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger looks at Elon Musk’s n…

1
How Kash Patel Came to Loathe the Media and Love Trump 17:21

2M ago17:21

17:21

This week, the Senate will consider more of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, including his pick for FBI director, Kash Patel. For this midweek podcast, we're looking back at this conversation host Micah Loewinger had with Atlantic staff writer Elaina Plott Calabro, who charted Patel's rise to power, starting at the very beginning of his legal career. She …

1
Donald Trump is Rewriting the Past. Plus, the Christian Groups Vying for Political Power 50:29

3M ago50:29

50:29

The new administration is purging data from government websites and databases, such as the Department of Justice and the National Security Agency. On this week's On the Media, a historian shares the political playbook for rewriting the past in order to control the future. Plus, meet the different Christian groups vying for power at the White House.…

1
The J6 Commutations Have Ripple Effects 51:15

3M ago51:15

51:15

Micah joins Anna Sale on Death, Sex and Money to revisit their 2023 conversation with Tasha Adams, ex-wife of Stewart Rhodes the founder of the Oath Keepers. Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6th insurrection –– prosecutors argued that members of the Oath Keepers used force to block the results of the election…

1
How Wired Magazine is Scooping the Competition. Plus, Whither the Democrats? 50:21

3M ago50:21

50:21

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has accessed sensitive information at the treasury and gutted the United States Agency for International Development. On this week’s On the Media, how a tech magazine scooped mainstream outlets with its reporting on the DOGE taskforce. Plus, at the Department of Justice, data wipes and mass firings ta…

1
Musk's Meddling in European Politics 16:42

3M ago16:42

16:42

According to the Financial Times, 225 out of Musk’s 616 tweets and retweets in the first week of January were about UK politics. Meanwhile, Musk has praised the prime minister of Italy, far-right politician Giorgia Meloni, describing her as “even more beautiful on the inside than on the outside.” At a time when his company SpaceX is reportedly in t…

1
Is That Legal? Plus, DeepSeek and the A.I. Bubble. 50:13

3M ago50:13

50:13

President Donald Trump has signed dozens of executive orders since returning to office. On this week’s On the Media, how the directives are butting heads with existing laws. Plus, what the DeepSeek saga reveals about American A.I. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with Dahlia Lithwick, a senior editor at Slate and host of the podcast Amicus, …

1
Brooke Talks AI With Ed Zitron 43:49

3M ago43:49

43:49

When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, all the big tech firms were clamoring to make their own versions of the “intelligent” chatbot. Billions of dollars have been thrown into the technology – training the models, creating more advanced computer chips, building data centers. But last week, a Chinese artificial intelligence company called De…

1
Week One of Trump 2.0 50:20

3M ago50:20

50:20

President Donald Trump’s second term began with a flurry of executive orders and press. On this week’s On the Media, how to navigate the onslaught of news. Plus, executives at major outlets are telling reporters to tone down coverage of the new administration. And, what we can learn about Trump by looking at the legacy of his favorite president, Wi…

1
Wars Are Won By Stories 27:07

3M ago27:07

27:07

We are living in history all of the time. Nevertheless, there are some times that seem more historical than usual. Like now, when academics and artists and even librarians have come under attack. We mention this particular sign of these times because of a new, delightful book by historian Elyse Graham, professor of Sociology at Stony Brook Universi…

1
Farewell TikTok? Plus, the Role of Memory and Forgetting with the L.A. Wildfires. 50:10

3M ago50:10

50:10

The Supreme Court has upheld a ban on TikTok. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the ruling could affect other media companies, and where TikTokers are going next. Plus, California’s latest wildfires are devastating, but they’re not unprecedented. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with David Cole, professor of law and public policy at Georg…

1
A Shake Up In The Briefing Room? 10:26

4M ago10:26

10:26

There have been hints dropped that the incoming administration intends to shake up the White House briefing room to potentially allow in more podcasters and outlets friendly to Trump. Whether or not it happens, the threats set the tone for another period of bad relations with the press corps. Time Magazine’s Olivia Waxman told Brooke back in 2017 t…

1
Public Broadcasting Is In Danger (Again) 49:58

4M ago49:58

49:58

NPR and PBS stations are bracing for war with the incoming Trump administration. On this week’s On the Media, the long history of efforts to save—and snuff out—public broadcasting. Plus, the role of public radio across the country, from keeping local governments in check to providing life-saving information during times of crisis. [01:00] Hosts Bro…

1
How Trump Re-Wrote the History of January 6 26:57

4M ago26:57

26:57

In the aftermath of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, politicians, pundits, and the American public condemned the violence—while many considered Donald Trump responsible for what had happened. In a few weeks, Trump will be sworn in for a second term at the very same place rioters overran four years ago. For this midweek podcast …

1
America’s Empire State of Mind 50:45

4M ago50:45

50:45

The complete story of American imperialism is missing from our history books. On this week’s On the Media, how the United States worked to capture territory and expand power, while preaching democracy and freedom. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with historian Daniel Immerwahr, on the hidden history of the United States empire. For American…

1
Do Sex Scandals Matter Anymore in Politics? 43:38

4M ago43:38

43:38

With Trump’s imminent return to the White House, we’ve decided to take stock of how political and journalistic norms have evolved over the years. For this week’s midweek podcast, we’re sharing an episode from Radiolab that aired in October, on the whirlwind history of Gary Hart, a young charismatic Democrat who in 1987 was poised to win his party’s…

1
How AI and Algorithms Are Transforming Music 50:42

4M ago50:42

50:42

It’s been almost a year since the historic music outlet Pitchfork shrank considerably. On this week’s On the Media, why the distinctive voices in music journalism are worth saving. Plus, how AI music generators could upend the industry. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger, speaks with Ann Powers, critic and correspondent for NPR Music, on Condé Nast's acq…

1
A New Film Unearths the Depths of Netanyahu's Corruption 16:31

4M ago16:31

16:31

For the new documentary, The Bibi Files, director Alexis Bloom uses hundreds of hours of leaked, previously unseen interrogation footage of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, his son Yair, his staff and inner circle – to trace how the corruption charges against Netanyahu and Israel’s war on Gaza have converged. On this week’s…

1
The Harvard Plan: The Universities Are The Enemy 50:01

4M ago50:01

50:01

Donald Trump has a big plan to remake American universities. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the distinctly American idea of “diversity” has fallen out of favor—from higher education to the Supreme Court. Reporter Ilya Marritz explains how the deep history of Harvard and the concept of “diversity” is the hidden subtext for much of the recent …

1
How to Plan for Inevitable Disaster 18:01

4M ago18:01

18:01

This year was earth’s hottest on record, and the Atlantic storm season brought with it five major hurricanes. And yet in December, the Pew Research Center found that only some 20 percent of Americans expect to make major sacrifices in their lifetime due to the climate crisis. According to writer Nathaniel Rich, when it comes to planning for a fraug…

1
A Cold-Blooded Killing Ignites a National Conversation. Plus, Part Two of The Harvard Plan. 50:13

5M ago50:13

50:13

The suspected killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO has been crowned a hero by many on social media. On this week’s On the Media, what the fandom reveals, and what the coverage of it has missed. Plus, tune in to part two of The Harvard Plan. Hear how plagiarism allegations at the university exploded into a toxic discourse about DEI and “diversity hire…

1
Enron is Back, and Birds Aren't Real 17:03

5M ago17:03

17:03

Last week, the website for Enron – yes, that Enron – came back online. And on Monday the new CEO, Connor Gaydos, introduced himself, with what the fine print called "First Amendment protected parody." And it so happens that Gaydos is a source of another satirical piece of news… "Birds Aren't Real." On this week's midweek podcast, we re-air a conver…

1
Donald Trump’s Cabinet of Influencers. Plus, The Harvard Plan. 51:04

5M ago51:04

51:04

Many of Donald Trump’s cabinet picks are emulating online influencers in their efforts to sell products and promote themselves. On this week’s On the Media, hear about the phenomenon academics are calling “influencer creep.” Plus, a look at the short, troubled tenure of Harvard’s 30th president, Claudine Gay, and the media firestorm that ensued. [0…

1
Kash Patel’s Crusade Against the Media 21:22

5M ago21:22

21:22

Over the weekend, president-elect Donald Trump nominated a little-known, largely inexperienced civil servant to an enormous role in his upcoming administration – Kash Patel as FBI director. Firing current FBI director Christopher Wray, who has 2 years left in his 10 year term, would itself be an alarming break in norms. Atlantic staff writer Elaina…

1
How Conservative Talk Radio Came to Dominate the Airwaves 50:41

5M ago50:41

50:41

How did the right get their vice grip of the airwaves, all the while arguing that they were being censored? On this week’s On the Media, a look at the early history of American radio, and why, in the post-war era, the U.S. government encouraged more diverse viewpoints on the airwaves — until it didn’t. Plus, the technological and legal changes that…

1
Hank Green Makes the Truth Go Viral (EXTENDED VERSION) 23:48

5M ago23:48

23:48

Our latest episode featured Micah's interview with Hank Green, a very popular YouTuber and science communicator. We got a lot of nice feedback about the conversation, and there were some interesting exchanges that we couldn’t fit in the radio version. So we’re bringing you a longer edit here. Hank describes how content creators depend on legacy med…

1
How Hank Green Makes the Truth Go Viral. Plus, the Escape Fantasies of the Uber Rich. 50:27

5M ago50:27

50:27

A recent report from the Pew Research Center finds that 1 in 5 Americans get their news from influencers. On this week’s On the Media, YouTuber and science communicator Hank Green explains how he makes the truth go viral. Plus, hear how tech billionaires plan to escape the end of the world. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Renée DiResta, re…

1
Why Men And Boys Are Struggling 17:54

5M ago17:54

17:54

In the run up to the election Donald Trump was doggedly pursuing the votes of young men. He courted them, as we described on the show, through interviews with influencers like Joe Rogan and Adin Ross, and Logan Paul. These personalities are part of the so-called manosphere, where anti-feminist, often right-wing politics are the norm. While reportin…

1
Fox News is Back at the White House. Plus, No Joke, The Onion Buys Infowars. 50:14

6M ago50:14

50:14

Many of Donald J. Trump’s cabinet picks have something in common: a very close relationship with Fox News. On this week’s On the Media, hear about the revolving door from the conservative network to the White House. Plus, election conspiracy theories from Kamala Harris supporters go viral. And a satirical news site buys up Alex Jones’ Infowars. [01…

1
Using Conspiracy Theories to Make Sense of a Loss 22:12

6M ago22:12

22:12

Many media outlets were prepared for conspiracy theories and lies to spread after the election. But many thought that it would be coming from Donald Trump or his supporters spreading the “Big Lie.” But since Donald Trump’s win, some social media posts from Kamala Harris supporters and people on the left have gone viral questioning the outcome of th…

1
The Manosphere Celebrates a Win. Plus, M. Gessen on How to Survive an Autocracy 50:15

6M ago50:15

50:15

Since Donald J. Trump won the election, journalists have been retreading his path to victory, and discussing how the press should cover his next presidency. On this week’s On the Media, hear how a group of powerful podcasters helped boost Trump to his second term. Plus, an exiled Russian journalist shares rules for surviving an autocracy. [01:00] H…

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The La Commute Podcasts

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