In this engaging discussion, comedian and former U.S. Senator Al Franken shares his experiences battling right-wing media. Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly discusses the network's ambitions and tactics. Liz Winstead reveals the challenges of Air America in counteracting conservative narratives, while filmmaker Robert Greenwald highlights the making of 'Outfoxed' and exposes Fox News' biased reporting. The conversation delves into grassroots activism and cultural divides, revealing the strategies to combat a media giant.

Jon Stewart, the iconic comedian and former host of The Daily Show, dives into the intense media climate post-9/11, discussing how humor became a vital form of resistance against Fox News' dominant narratives. He reflects on The Daily Show's role in providing critical analysis during the Iraq War and its influence on young audiences. Stewart contrasts his show’s witty satire with Fox’s quest for power, exploring challenges faced by liberal voices in a conservative stronghold. The discourse sheds light on ethical dilemmas within news media and the struggle for integrity amid polarization.

Discover how CNN’s groundbreaking 24-hour news model faced fierce competition from Fox News in the 90s. Explore the pivotal events that shaped media bias and the sensationalism that emerged, especially after the 2000 election. The chaotic coverage of September 11 revealed the contrasting strategies of these networks, with Fox adopting a patriotic fervor while CNN maintained its editorial independence. This deep dive into the rivalry unveils the dramatic shifts in America's news landscape and the struggle for journalistic integrity.

Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News, transformed television with his earlier venture, America's Talking, a unique, mostly apolitical channel. His journey reflects a mission filled with ambition and revenge after losing that dream. Rupert Murdoch, a legendary media mogul, played a pivotal role in helping Ailes pivot towards creating Fox News, fulfilling a niche for conservative viewers. The podcast dives into their theatrical approach to news, the culture wars of the early days, and the ensuing conflicts between commerce and journalism.

Discover the chaotic beginnings of a major cable news network as it navigates technical blunders and harsh criticism. Delve into the controversial decisions that shaped American politics, like the notorious election night call that changed everything. Uncover the behind-the-scenes dynamics and challenges faced by reporters striving for credibility in a politically charged environment. Explore personal stories intertwined with media influences, revealing how far the network has come and its lasting impact on public perception.

Adults have a long history of trying to find morals and lessons in children’s literature. But what happens when a seemingly innocent book about a boy and a hungry mouse becomes fodder for the culture wars? Over the last decade, Laura Joffe Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie has been adopted by some on the right as a cautionary tale about government welfare. In this episode, we explore the origins of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, the history of adults extracting unintended meaning from children’s books, and try to figure out how this particular kid’s book became a Republican battle cry.This episode was written by Cheyna Roth. It was edited by Katie Shepherd and Evan Chung. It was produced by Sofie Kodner. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin, Evan Chung, Katie Shepherd and Max Freedman. Derek John is Executive Producer. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director.In this episode, you’ll hear from author Laura Numeroff, book critic Bruce Handy, economist Rebecca Christie and former journalist Max Ehrenfreund.If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.comIf you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.If you’re a fan of the show, we’d love for you to sign up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to listen to Decoder Ring and every other Slate podcast without any ads. You also get unlimited access to Slate’s website. Member support is crucial to our work. So please go to slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Slow Burn’s 10th season, host Josh Levin takes you back to a crucial inflection point in American history: the moment between 2000 and 2004 when Fox News first surged to power and a whole bunch of people rose up to try and stop it. You’ll hear from the hosts, reporters, and producers who built Fox News, many who’ve never spoken publicly. You’ll also hear from Fox’s biggest antagonists—the political operatives, journalists, and comedians who attacked it, investigated it, and tried to mock it into submission. And you’ll hear from Fox’s victims, who are still coming to terms with how a cable news channel upended their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 1970s, a new and unusual concept for a restaurant chain emerged in California—video games plus bad pizza plus animatronic characters. The result was Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre, an immensely popular chain with a pizza rat for a mascot. But the strangeness only starts there. Decoder Ring dives into the formation of Chuck E. Cheese’s and its rival, ShowBiz Pizza Place; the conflict between the two; and the odd personalities of the mechanical animatronics that inhabited both stores and are still beloved by a select group of adults to this very day.This podcast was written by Willa Paskin and was produced and edited by Benjamin Frisch, who also did illustrations for this episode. Cleo Levin was our research assistant. Decoder Ring is produced by Katie Shepherd, Max Freedman, and Evan Chung, with help from Sofie Kodner. Derek John is executive producer. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.If you haven’t yet, please subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.If you’re a fan of the show, we’d love for you to sign up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to listen to Decoder Ring and every other Slate podcast without any ads. You also get unlimited access to Slate’s website. Member support is crucial to our work. So please go to slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Taberski, host of the new podcast Hysterical, dives into the intriguing world of mass hysteria, unpacking its psychological roots and contemporary relevance. He explores an unsettling 2004 incident in Vancouver that highlighted the phenomenon. The discussion reveals how societal stress can trigger shared symptoms, evidenced by cases like the mysterious Havana Syndrome. Taberski also traces the evolution of hysteria from a misunderstood medical condition to a reflection of cultural anxieties, shedding light on its implications for mental health today.

If you’re lucky, it’s possible you’ve never thought much about sitting. It’s just something your body does, like breathing or sleeping. But in the last decade or so, sitting has stepped into the spotlight, as a kind of villain. In today’s episode, Slate’s Dan Kois tells us about his radical experiment to go without sitting for an entire month. Then to understand why sitting is under attack we look back at an earlier posture panic around slouching, and explore the role of hostile architecture.This episode was written by Max Freedman and Willa Paskin and produced by Max. We produce Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd and Evan Chung. Derek John is Executive Producer. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director.You heard “Sitting” by TJ Mack, aka Brian Jordan Alvarez, as remixed by Josh Mac. You also heard from Beth Linker and Jonathan Pacheco Bell. We’d like to thank Stephen Nessen and Rob Robinson. For some of the background on hostile architecture, we are indebted to the late Mike Davis’s book, City of Quartz, and in particular Chapter 4: “Fortress L.A.” Check out Dan Kois’ New York Magazine article about his exploits, “Sitting Is Bad for You. So I Stopped. For a Whole Month.” If you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.If you’re a fan of the show, we’d love for you to sign up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to listen to Decoder Ring and every other Slate podcast without any ads. You also get unlimited access to Slate’s website. Member support is crucial to our work. So please go to Slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices