Slow Burn
Slate Podcasts
Slow Burn illuminates America’s most consequential moments, making sense of the past to better understand the present. Through archival tape and first-person interviews, the series uncovers the surprising events and little-known characters lurking within the biggest stories of our time.Want more Slow Burn? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to Slow Burn and your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Slow Burn show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/slowburnplus to get access wherever you listen.Season 10: The Rise of Fox NewsHow a cable news channel became a cultural and political force—and how a whole bunch of people rose up to try and stop it.Season 9: Gays Against BriggsA nationwide moral panic, a California legislator who rode the anti-gay wave, and the LGBTQ+ people who stepped up and came out to try and stop him.Season 8: Becoming Justice ThomasWhere Clarence Thomas came from, how he rose to power, and how he’s brought the rest of us along with him, whether we like it or not. Winner of the Podcast of the Year at the 2024 Ambies Awards.Season 7: Roe v. WadeThe women who fought for legal abortion, the activists who pushed back, and the justices who thought they could solve the issue for good. Winner of Apple Podcasts Show of the Year in 2022.Season 6: The L.A. RiotsHow decades of police brutality, a broken justice system, and a video tape set off six days of unrest in Los Angeles.Season 5: The Road to the Iraq WarEighteen months after 9/11, the United States invaded a country that had nothing to do with the attacks. Who’s to blame? And was there any way to stop it?Season 4: David DukeAmerica’s most famous white supremacist came within a runoff of controlling Louisiana. How did David Duke rise to power? And what did it take to stop him?Season 3: Biggie and TupacHow is it that two of the most famous performers in the world were murdered within a year of each other—and their killings were never solved?Season 2: The Clinton ImpeachmentA reexamination of the scandals that nearly destroyed the 42nd president and forever changed the life of a former White House intern.Season 1: WatergateWhat did it feel like to live through the scandal that brought down President Nixon?
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 16, 2024 • 1h 3min
The Rise of Fox News | 5. Ludacris Has Been Fired
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.
Oct 9, 2024 • 1h 3min
The Rise of Fox News | 4. Beacon of Truth
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.
6 snips
Oct 2, 2024 • 55min
The Rise of Fox News | 3. The Other Guy’s Hamburger
In this discussion, Gail Evans, an early CNN employee who played a crucial role in establishing the network's success, shares insights into the evolution of 24-hour news. She highlights CNN's struggle to adapt as Fox News emerged with a more sensationalist approach. The conversation touches on the impact of September 11, showcasing how media coverage transformed during crises and how networks competed for viewers' attention. Evans reflects on the ethical challenges faced by journalists in a rapidly changing media landscape.
8 snips
Sep 25, 2024 • 58min
The Rise of Fox News | 2. A Network for Normal People
Unravel the ambition and chaos behind Roger Ailes’ journey from America's Talking to Fox News. Discover the cultural impact of the O.J. Simpson chase and how it altered television. Delve into Ailes' vision for a network that resonated with everyday Americans while navigating the politics of media. Experience the early dynamics of Fox News and the challenges faced in establishing its identity. Explore conflicts of integrity as the network balanced journalistic values with business pressures.
9 snips
Sep 18, 2024 • 55min
The Rise of Fox News | 1. We Report. You Can Suck It.
The launch of Fox News in 1996 faced skepticism due to technical glitches and chaos. Yet, it evolved into a political powerhouse during the 2000 election, shaping American media and public discourse. A critical moment arose when George W. Bush's past DUI was brought to light, creating a media frenzy. Controversial decisions, like calling Florida early for Bush, raised ethical questions about journalistic integrity. Ultimately, Fox News navigated a tumultuous landscape, with staff experiences revealing the unpredictable nature of television news.
Sep 11, 2024 • 42min
Decoder Ring: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… Will He Want a Welfare Check?
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
Sep 10, 2024 • 2min
Season 10 Trailer: The Rise of Fox News
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
Aug 28, 2024 • 48min
Decoder Ring: Chuck E. Cheese Pizza War (Encore)
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
Aug 14, 2024 • 38min
Decoder Ring: The Hysteria Over Mass Hysteria
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.
Jul 31, 2024 • 35min
Decoder Ring: Standing Up for Sitting Down
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
