Radio Better Offline: Mia Sato & Dave Lee

In 'Broken Code,' Jeff Horwitz, an award-winning Wall Street Journal reporter, delves into the inner workings of Facebook and its sister platforms Instagram and WhatsApp. The book exposes how Facebook, despite being a daily destination for billions, was plagued by scandals from 2016 onwards. Horwitz reveals that Facebook was amplifying anger, ignoring human trafficking, enabling drug cartels and authoritarians, and allowing VIP users to break platform rules. The book highlights the struggles of Facebook employees who uncovered these issues but faced consistent delays, watering down, or stifling of their solutions due to the company's prioritization of user engagement over safety and ethical considerations. It also explores Facebook's role in shaping politics, particularly around significant events like the January 6th riot and the 2016 and 2020 elections.

She Said is a thrilling account of the investigative journalism that led to the exposure of Harvey Weinstein's decades-long history of sexual abuse and harassment. Written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the book chronicles their meticulous investigation, including secret meetings, harrowing phone calls, and private text exchanges with A-list actresses and other sources. It also explores the systemic structures of power that enabled Weinstein's behavior and the broader impact of the #MeToo movement, including the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford against Brett Kavanaugh. The book is praised for its detailed and suspenseful narrative, offering insights into the rigorous process of quality reporting and the significant cultural shifts it helped catalyze.