Shane Smith Has Questions How Social Media Rewired Journalism ft. Aaron Parnas | Shane Smith Has Questions
5 snips
Oct 30, 2025 Shane Smith chats with Aaron Parnas, a 26-year-old lawyer and viral political commentator, known for his real-time TikTok news reporting. They explore the erosion of trust in mainstream media and how social media has altered journalism. Aaron shares his journey from trauma to truth-seeking, emphasizing how TikTok democratizes reporting for Gen Z. They discuss the challenges of misinformation, the importance of speed in reporting, and how authenticity connects with diverse audiences. Aaron also addresses the persistence of conspiracy culture amid declining institutional trust.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump Hotel Lobby Memories
- Aaron describes sitting in the Trump Hotel lobby watching Rudy Giuliani hold court.
- He wrote a fast, therapeutic book to reclaim his identity after his father's arrest.
Source From Primary Feeds
- Build reporting systems that pull directly from primary sources like PACER, C-SPAN, and officials' feeds.
- Combine those with wire services and tip inboxes to verify and break stories fast.
Context And Speed Matter In War Coverage
- Mainstream outlets struggled to explain Ukraine clearly and quickly to everyday audiences.
- Fast, context-rich reporting from people with local ties filled that gap and resonated widely.
