This is Gavin Newsom And, This Is How The Media Is Failing Us In 2026 With Alex Wagner
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Jan 9, 2026 
Alex Wagner, a senior political analyst and podcaster with Crooked Media, dives into the challenges facing legacy media and what stories will resonate in 2026. She critiques profit-driven news coverage while championing the impact of personal storytelling. Wagner stresses the need for Democrats to embrace humor and joy to connect with voters. She highlights the emotional appeal of MAGA, concerns about media consolidation, and the importance of focusing on healthcare, immigration, and climate issues as pivotal for the future.
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Institutional Media Still Matters
- Institutional newsrooms offer depth, manpower, and rigorous fact-checking that podcasts and small outlets often lack.
- Alex Wagner warns that abandoning that infrastructure risks losing rigorous reporting and allows corners to be cut.
Profit Shapes News Coverage
- Profit motives and chasing eyeballs skew newsroom priorities toward sensational and lucrative stories.
- Wagner says that leads to coverage choices that ignore many important, less sensational issues.
Lead With Human Stories
- Start coverage with human stories that make abstract headlines tangible and emotionally resonant.
- Wagner structures Runaway Country around individual experiences to connect listeners to policy impacts.
