The Fifth Column Nobody Likes a Gossip Cop (w/ Dan Abrams) - #536
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Dec 11, 2025 Dan Abrams, media entrepreneur and legal analyst, shares insights from his extensive career, including his roles at Mediaite and ABC News. He discusses the enduring value of legacy media amid today's niche online ecosystems. Delving into corruption and political prosecutions, he critiques how politicization shapes public trust. Abrams also reflects on the appeal of gossip and conspiracism in the media landscape, weighing it against the importance of nuanced coverage in policing and other hot-button issues.
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Legacy Media's Enduring Value
- Legacy media still provides rigorous sourcing and coordinated reporting that many newer outlets lack.
- Dan Abrams argues those strengths matter even amid widespread criticism of legacy outlets.
Critics Rely On The Reporting They Attack
- Fringe Substack critics often rely on big outlet reporting while denouncing those same outlets.
- Abrams highlights the unseen labor of developing sources and deep reporting that underpins major scoops.
Power Redefines Media Enemies
- Political alignment shifts scrutiny: past foes can become acceptable partners when power changes.
- Abrams notes conservatives drop earlier criticisms of Qatar once allies stand to gain.
