FULL EPISODE - Question Everything: Can Journalism Save a Marriage? (Featured on This American Life)

Mar 27, 2025

Brian Reed, host of the podcast 'Question Everything' and acclaimed for 'S-Town', delves into the powerful intersection of journalism and personal relationships. He shares a compelling story of a couple whose marriage was revitalized through engaging with political content. The discussion highlights trust issues stemming from media consumption and the role of credible journalism in bridging divides. Reed emphasizes the importance of transparency and empathy in navigating differing political beliefs, ultimately showcasing journalism's potential to foster understanding.

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ANECDOTE

News Sources Causing Marital Friction

Dick and Emily, a couple in their 70s, increasingly clashed over their news sources.
Dick favored right-leaning sources, while Emily preferred left-leaning ones, causing friction.

ANECDOTE

2020 Election Disagreements

The couple's arguments intensified during the Trump era, peaking after the 2020 election.
Dick's belief in election fraud, fueled by sources like the film "2,000 Mules," contrasted sharply with Emily's views.

ANECDOTE

Strained Relationship

Dick's trust in sources claiming election fraud and Emily's opposing views created a tense atmosphere.
They struggled to discuss politics, with conversations often escalating into arguments, jeopardizing their marriage.

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A few months ago I made a decision that changed my life and the trajectory of Tangle for good.

I was approached by a producer for a new podcast called “Question Everything,” hosted by Brian Reed (who you might know from the hit podcast S-Town). The producer, Zach St. Louis, told me they were doing a series about the state and future of journalism. They wanted to do an episode about Tangle, which I agreed to enthusiastically, and then Zach came down to the Tangle office and interviewed me for a few hours.

During our interview, I mentioned to Zach that we’ve heard from many readers who said Tangle has helped them with their relationships with people in their family or friend groups with whom they share political disagreements. I even hear from married couples, I said, who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Zach was intrigued by this and ended up tracking down a few of those Tangle readers, including one couple who ended up being at the heart of the episode.

A few months after Question Everything published our show, it was picked up by This American Life on NPR, which nearly doubled our readership and helped me make a few big hires at Tangle. It all happened right around the election, and was an incredibly exciting and overwhelming time.

Now that the dust has settled a bit, we’ve decided to republish the original Question Everything episode on our own podcast feed so you all can listen to it (in the event you haven’t). And, when you're done, I highly recommend going to listen to all of the Question Everything series — which is a genuinely fascinating exploration of journalism.

Isaac & the Tangle team

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