Federalist Radio Hour ’You're Wrong' With Mollie Hemingway And David Harsanyi, Ep. 177: Another Washington Post Hoax
10 snips
Dec 3, 2025 David Harsanyi and Mollie Hemingway dissect a controversial Washington Post report targeting Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, expressing skepticism towards anonymous sourcing. They delve into the implications of a suspected terrorist attack on National Guardsmen and raise concerns about Afghan evacuee vetting. The duo also explores Somali fraud issues in Minnesota while discussing the challenges of assimilation. On a lighter note, they critique generational comedy, praising Richard Ayoade's travel series and reflecting on classic stand-up performances.
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Anonymous Sourcing Undermines Trust
- The Washington Post's anonymous sourcing pattern has eroded trust and invites exploitation for political information ops.
- Multiple outlets repeating anonymous claims doesn't confirm them without on-the-record evidence.
Don't Accept Anonymous Claims Uncritically
- Verify anonymously sourced claims by seeking on-the-record evidence before accepting them.
- Treat multiple anonymous confirmations skeptically and demand documents or named witnesses.
Cross-Outlet Pushback Matters
- The New York Times explicitly challenged the Post's narrative, showing cross-outlet pushback can occur.
- Corrections or debunks within big outlets are rare but meaningful for accountability.
