Question Everything

Join Natalia Antelava, Founder of Coda Story and seasoned foreign correspondent, as she delves into the unsettling parallels between media capture in autocratic nations and the growing trends in the U.S. She discusses how self-censorship plays a crucial role and highlights the influence of tech giants in manipulating narratives. Natalia reveals how noise and misinformation create an environment that benefits elites, raising urgent questions about the future of media and the potential need for regulation in Silicon Valley.

Julian Shapiro-Barnum, the creator of Recess Therapy known for his heartwarming interviews with kids, and Ananiya Williams, host of the LGBTQ quiz show Gaydar, explore the intersection of TikTok and politics. They discuss how politicians seek exposure on their platforms and the ethical dilemmas that arise when money is involved. The duo delves into why shows made on a budget resonate with audiences, the risks of platforming politicians, and the unique challenges of blending entertainment with journalism while maintaining integrity.

A former believer in the Sandy Hook hoax shares her journey from conspiracy theory to truth. Influenced by her father's views and misleading media, she recounts the shocking moment her beliefs crumbled during a college class. The discussion explores the deep emotional toll of disinformation, how it dulled her empathy, and the family rifts it caused. The conversation also tackles the urgent need to reform Section 230 to hold tech platforms accountable for spreading harmful lies—an enlightening dive into the interplay of belief, technology, and accountability.

This episode of Death, Sex, and Money is a recommendation from our contributing editor Jen Kinney.  When blogger AJ Daulerio broke the Brett Favre sexting scandal in 2010, it became one of the biggest stories of his career. But it came at a cost: he had betrayed Jenn Sterger, the woman at the center of the story, who had confided in him as a friend and explicitly asked him not to name her. The fallout was immediate and lasting. Jenn became the target of relentless online harassment and scrutiny that has followed her for 15 years. AJ went on to face his own reckoning when his aggressive tabloid journalism eventually led to Gawker's bankruptcy, which upended his career. In this episode of the podcast Death, Sex, and Money, both AJ and Jenn reflect on the toxic incentives of viral journalism, the lasting trauma of unwanted internet fame, and how a stray dog unexpectedly brought them back into contact after nearly a decade of silence. AJ now writes a newsletter and hosts a podcast about recovery called The Small Bow and writes an addiction advice column for Slate called Ask A.J. You can hear more of Jenn on her podcast, Not Today... with Eddie Pence and Jenn Sterger. Thanks to “Death, Sex & Money” for sharing this episode with us.

In this discussion, Sophie Kazas, a producer and reporter, dives into the controversial decision of the BBC to pull a documentary on Gaza's healthcare crisis. Joined by Ramita Navai, an award-winning journalist who led the film's reporting, and Ben de Pear, a veteran journalist, they explore the systemic destruction of Gaza’s hospitals. They unveil the intense edits, pressure, and ethical dilemmas that surrounded the film's making, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists tackling sensitive subjects. The episode confronts issues of institutional bias and the urgent need for reporting on critical humanitarian crises.

Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes have been picked apart in headlines, documentaries, and endless conspiracy theories. And yet there have continued to be shocking new revelations in the story this year, as President Trump’s base has pressured him to release the government’s files about Epstein.  In this episode of Question Everything, host Brian Reed brings together the reporters who know the case best – along with one of their Trump-supporting producers – for drinks and a candid, no-holds-barred conversation. They compare notes, challenge each other’s assumptions, and reveal what it really takes to separate fact from rumor in a story that has tested the limits of journalism. It’s one of the most provocative and confronting discussions Brian’s ever hosted about power, accountability and what’s at stake when the media goes up against billionaires and their networks. Check out our Substack, by the way, where we get into juicy behind the scenes details and other good stuff from our episodes.  “Question Everything” is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory. Drinking and fact-checking don’t always go hand in hand, so clarifying and correcting a few statements from the conversation here – which honestly in themselves give a sense of just how many crannies of global power the tendrils of the Epstein story reach into.  We reached out to Anouska De Georgiou to see if she wanted to comment, but we didn’t hear back.  Leslie Wexner is not the founder of Victoria’s Secret – he bought the company in 1982, and he said Jeffrey Epstein had stolen $46 million from him, not $60 million. Meanwhile investor Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for supposed tax advice – not $160 million.  Virginia Giuffre sued Prince Andrew as an individual, not the Crown itself. Tara Palmeri’s reporting that Elon Musk dm’d Virgina Giuffre saying Trump would release the files is based on Virginia telling her this – Tara didn’t see the DM.  At one point, Eric says that in 2015, Roger Stone called Epstein’s island a “democrat orgy island”. Really, Stone wrote a book excoriating the Clintons called The Clinton’s War on Women, and there’s a chapter in there called Orgy Island, which highlights Bill Clinton’s friendship with Epstein. So Roger Stone didn’t call Epstein’s island a democrat orgy island. Just “orgy island”.  And last, but not least: the pope who was in a picture with Jeffrey Epstein, which was displayed on Epstein’s credenza, was John Paul II.

The podcast dives into the ramifications of free speech and the control exerted by tech giants. Host Brian Reed visits the Iowa State Fair to capture the public's discontent regarding trust in news and the media's role. Attendees express feelings of helplessness and concern over how social media fuels division and misinformation. The discussion highlights the controversial Section 230 law, which shields tech platforms from lawsuits. Can reforming this law restore trust in information? Brian leaves motivated to advocate for change.

We're back. September 25th.

A listener weighed in with some criticism on Substack. Brian (our host) got involved. Some advice for journalists ensued. It ended up inspiring an entire segment on KCRW’s show Left, Right & Center, which we’re sharing with you here. This is the kind of action that’s happening over on our new Substack – which you should subscribe to! If you do, we’ll enter you in a lottery to join us at the next taping we do at Bibber & Bell Wine Shop in Brooklyn. We’re getting together reporters who are all covering the Jeffrey Epstein story as it has burst back into the news and is threatening Donald Trump. A couple of you can eavesdrop on the conversation from the storage area in the back with our sound guy – sign up at questioneverything.substack.com.  

After her NPR show was canceled some years back, producer and host Yowei Shaw gave herself a new title: “Emotional Investigative Journalist.” She started a podcast called Proxy, where she helps people who are facing unique emotional or personal obstacles by connecting them with a proxy who’s uniquely positioned to help them. Our host, Brian, recently went on Proxy, and got help with a problem of his own: something he’s been struggling with involving a member of his family. Here are the caregiving resources from Claudia Drossel. Listen to Proxy with Yowei Shaw. Follow them on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishaw