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Two figures in recent news have a profound effect on the news industry: $15 million and $30 million. Today, Josh explains how these figures represent a central problem that keeps journalists in fear for their jobs — and too afraid to speak out about fact checking problems.

Also, two recent attacks highlighted confusion over what gets the “terrorism” label. And while news agencies were quick to point fingers at the government, they’re refusing to address a mess of their own making. Josh shares facts about global terrorism that you’ve most likely never heard: the massive number of Islamist attacks that have taken place in recent years, and the huge percentage of total attacks that they comprise, according to a recent count.

Plus, the winners — er, losers — of the Media Fail Awards! Listeners voted to pick the worst of 2024. Josh announces the results.

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Millions celebrate Christmas this week amid rising attacks and persecution by Islamist terrorists and repressive governments. Today, Josh shows how the mainstream media has been ignoring this plight — even as planned attacks against churches spread through Europe and the U.S. He also exposes how news agencies’ obsession with attacking Israel leads them to seek out Christians who support terrorists. And could the media make this the year they finally get something basic about Christmas right?

Plus, a crucial message to the media about Hanukkah. And Josh shares one of the most important lessons he learned about journalism when covering Kwanzaa. Both holidays start this week as well.

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Welcome back to the Media Fail Awards, (dis)honoring news agencies’ biggest blunders, lies and hypocritical disasters of the past year. Vote at mediafailawards.com. On today’s episode, Josh talks you through the nominees in the final two categories. You’ll hear why CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS are all up for worst overall fail by a broadcast news agency, while the AP, New York Times and Washington Post are in a three-way race for worst overall fail by a text-based news agency. Vote by December 27! 

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Welcome to the Media Fail Awards! We’re honoring — actually, dishonoring — news agencies’ biggest blunders, lies and hypocritical disasters of the past year. Vote at mediafailawards.com. Nominees include a fact check-free presidential debate; a so-called “fact check” that was actually a bonkers lie; the “newspaper of record” admitting it does not correct some falsehoods; a network condemning its own anchor for attempting to do journalism; another network’s lie-fest for a queen, and much more. Today, Josh starts talking you through the nominees and provides his best argument for why each should win its category. 

These ironic “awards” will send a crucial message to major news agencies that it’s time to shape up their act. We need your support! Sponsor the awards by becoming a founding member of the newsletter! With your help, we’ll send physical copies of these awards to top news executives, grabbing their attention. (Also, rates for paid subscribers are temporarily reduced, so act quickly, or make any contribution here.)

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Getting the media to focus on truth is a long term effort. But it can be done. One of the most important steps is to raise a generation of young people committed to getting the two ingredients: facts plus context. In today’s episode, Josh talks with journalism students about this and fields questions about how to lead the battle for truth when people have such different paradigms for viewing the world.

He also discusses his unique career path. Josh has always created his own jobs, turning small opportunities into big ones. People in all professions often like to ask him about this, and say it’s a whole new way of thinking about building a career.

Plus an announcement: The Media Fail Awards are coming! Your votes will determine the winners — er, losers. Josh explains. To vote, you’ll need to receive the free newsletter in your email, so sign up today!

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A group of brave people create a “peace startup” to build connections — and the mainstream media ignores them. This is the story of Sharaka, a group that should make everyone feel hopeful this holiday season. Today, Josh speaks with the director of this group building friendships between Israelis and people in Arab nations who have only heard lies about Jews and Israel.

Also, is there a new “axis of evil?” An Egyptian analyst provides insight that’s deeper, more insightful and more morally clear than anything that big news agencies are willing to share. (To hear from Bahraini athlete Fatema Alharbi, listen to the final section of Episode 30.)

And a note about Thanksgiving. These days, the media acknowledges that the myth is not the history. But what about the media’s role in spreading the myth for more than a century? Josh points to hypocrisy in the media acknowledging that myth while simultaneously spreading myths about indigeneity and colonization today.

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The media has been inundating you with alleged reasons for the election results. A lot of these reports conflict directly with each other, so it’s virtually impossible for news consumers to know which claims have any validity. Today, Josh shows you what’s factual and what’s just conjecture. For example, there’s no sign that voters focused on the economy or immigration gave Trump any kind of huge margin.

Josh also takes on a ludicrous op-ed in the New York Times that twists facts and figures in a desperate effort to blame Kamala’s loss on support for Israel. Plus, some listeners asked how much of a role the media itself played in this election. Josh looks into it and shares findings about lack of civic knowledge in America.

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It took major news outlets just minutes to begin pushing claims about how various demographic groups voted in the election. They created a mess of conflicting reports, any of which could easily turn out to be false. Today, Josh digs into this problem. He explores very different claims about how Black Americans voted, and explains how news agencies are even ignoring their own warnings. Also, why a myth about white women in the 2016 presidential election should have been a wakeup call.

Plus, Josh discusses the disastrous coverage of a violent antisemitic pogrom in Amsterdam. He explains that one media rule is at the core of both these failures. And he invites you to send in election-related news stories for next week’s episode.

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Josh has this brief, important message: Beware what you’re hearing about exit polls from the election. As people process the shock and trauma of an election loss, they look for explanations. The media jumps in to offer lots of explanations. That leads to conflicting reports and claims. For example, Josh shares three wildly different figures about how members of one demographic allegedly voted in the presidential race. 

He explains what he’s working on about the election coverage, and invites you to send in reports you want him to check.

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In this final episode before the election, a warning from Josh: Election Night coverage is largely designed to manipulate you. To take you on an emotional rollercoaster. He explains what you’d be better off doing during the first few hours, and why the early results sometimes suggest the opposite of what’s really happening.

But first, a fiasco as the billionaire owners of the L.A. Times and Washington Post block their editorial boards’ endorsements of Kamala Harris. Josh answers listeners’ questions and explains why this “matters big time, including for the fight against the forces of fascism on the right and on the far left.” He also shares what he’s hearing from the inside. And he discovers that at least one of these owners is apparently unaware of what his actual role is.

Plus, a bonus section! You’ll hear why. It’s something positive and hopeful that has nothing to do with the election: Meet Fatema Alharbi of Sharaka, a Bahraini athlete standing up to haters and building relationships with Israelis.

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We’re in the final weeks of the presidential race, which means millions of Americans are being subjected to a barrage of political messaging. Within all that messaging lies a huge story that the media is missing: In recent years, our politics, media, and culture have been overtaken by false victim narratives. 

Today, Josh explains how these come in very different forms on the right and far left, but can be equally dangerous and manipulative. Along the way, we’ll hear from Chris Rock and Dr. Phil.

Also, why Kamala Harris and her campaign seem to be sidestepping victim narratives. An expert weighs in on why this is a great move — and why Democrats in other races should draw a lesson from it. 

Plus the Associated Press breaks its own rule with a headline slamming Shai Davidai, a Columbia professor standing up to antisemitism. And Josh attempts to read some of your responses to his October 7 speech.

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It sounds like a farce. A hate monger writes a book in which he ignores the two central elements of truth: facts plus context. The media rolls out the red carpet for him, worshipping him. Finally one journalist challenges him — and that journalist gets in trouble with his own “news” network.

This is a story of CBS, author Ta-Nehisi Coates’ false anti-Israel screed, pathetic news executives and a corporation that fails to stand up for journalism. It’s also a story of perhaps the biggest gaping hole in the news and information ecosystem: “Nonfiction” books may be filled with fiction, and the publishers take no responsibility. 

Also in this episode, Josh answers a listener’s question about Tim Walz and fact checks a claim about dads and household work.