Decoder with Nilay Patel

Recode Decode: Carol Leonnig and Phil Rucker

Feb 10, 2020

Carol Leonnig, a National investigative reporter for The Washington Post, and Phil Rucker, the White House Bureau Chief, share riveting insights from their book, 'A Very Stable Genius.' They discuss the chaos of the Trump presidency, revealing how they garnered trust from insiders amidst turmoil. Their conversation touches on Trump’s self-perception as a 'genius,' the ramifications of his Twitter use on politics, and the evolving landscape for journalists navigating press freedoms under pressure. They also address the impacts of their recent media challenges.

01:08:40

Episode guests

Philip Rucker

Carol Leonnig

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Inside the Chaos: Reporting on Trump

17min

Exploring the Contradictions of Self-Perception

2min

Examining Trump’s Legacy and Media Challenges

3min

Navigating the Chaos: Journalism in the Trump Era

20min

Navigating Personal Attacks in Political Discourse

2min

Social Media's Role in Political Discourse

19min

Post-Election Speculations and Literary Reflections

2min

Washington Post reporters Carol Leonnig and Phil Rucker talk with Recode's Kara Swisher about their new book, A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America. In it, they draw from more than 200 interviews with Trump administration insiders to paint a picture of Washington in 2020, Trump's frequent lies, and how he retaliates against the people who dare to cross him. They discuss how they convinced sources to talk to them, why Trump is actually a genius from a certain point of view, and how his tweeting may have changed the presidency. Plus: What is it like working at the Washington Post now, in the aftermath of the controversial suspension of one of their colleagues, Felicia Sonmez?

Featuring:

Carole Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig), reporter, Washington Post

Phil Rucker (@PhilipRucker), White House Bureau Chief, Washington Post

Host:

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), Recode co-founder and editor-at-large

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