
Ink Stained Wretches
Eliana Johnson and Chris Stirewalt love the news business but they hate a lot of what’s happening to it these days. Using their decades of experience in print, digital and TV news they tell the story behind the stories, always on the lookout for bias, sloppy reporting and, well, just plain wretched journalism. Every week they help you to be a better, smarter news consumer.
Latest episodes

Oct 11, 2024 • 60min
CBS Mournings
If you’re not caught up on the CBS controversy, we’ve got you covered in today’s episode. We break down the interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates and its aftermath. We also discuss the 2024 media blitz, Trump’s decision to decline a Fox debate, and climate change. Wretch on!Time Stamps: 2:04 Front Page44:29 Obsessions52:14 Reader Mail55:20 Favorite ItemsIf you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://wretches.substack.comFollow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretchesShow Notes:Puck News: The Tony–Ta-Nehisi AffairThe Free Press: How Is CBS Marking October 7? By Admonishing Tony DokoupilThe Wall Street Journal: CBS Interview on Israel Triggers Fight at Network; Shari Redstone Weighs InThe New York Times: CBS Rebukes Anchor Over Tense Interview With Ta-Nehisi CoatesThe New York Times: Inside the Turmoil at CBS News After a Tense Ta-Nehisi Coates Interview The Free Press: Does CBS News Know Where Jerusalem Is? Reuters: Trump rejects Fox News invite to debate Harris in late October Mediaite: James Carville ‘Scared To Death’ About Election Day: Kamala Harris Needs To Get ‘Aggressive’Wired: Tim Walz Rally Goes Live on World of Warcraft Twitch Stream The Daily Beast: Host Laughs in Trump’s Face After He Calls Himself ‘Basically a Truthful Person’ Axios: Potential Trump loss threatens destruction of modern GOP Yahoo News: New York Sun owner Dovid Efune nearing deal to buy the Telegraph The New York Times: Introducing the Dachshund BagThe Honest Broker on Substack: Weather Attribution AlchemySlow Boring on Substack: Media organizations are blowing their endorsements The Washington Post: Mossad’s pager operation: Inside Israel’s penetration of Hezbollah

Oct 5, 2024 • 1h 12min
Apolitical Campaigning
How has Hurricane Helene impacted the election? Will the VP debate sway voters? Why did Melania release a pro-abortion memoir and request $250,000 from CNN? All of this and more will be discussed on today’s episode. Wretch on!Time Stamps:4:06 Front Page56:29 Obsessions1:03:09 Reader Mail1:07:16 Favorite ItemsShow Notes: Politico: Trump and Kemp to appear together for first time since 2020 Politico: Harris consoles those devastated by Helene in Georgia — a contrast with Trump's visit Wall Street Journal: The Profane 78-Year-Old Leading the Dockworkers Strike The Washington Post: Vance peddles Trump agenda in softer tones, misleading ways during debateThe Wall Street Journal: JD Vance’s Version of Trump Is Better Than the Real ThingPolitico: 8 Body Language Tells From the Vice Presidential Debate Reason: Tim Walz's Very Bad Answer on Social Media CensorshipThe Atlantic: Tim Walz Is Too Good at This The Guardian: Melania Trump passionately defends abortion rights in upcoming memoir CNN: CNN requested an interview with Melania Trump. Her book publisher asked for $250,000 in exchange The New York Times: Photos Show Rep. Mike Lawler in Blackface as Michael Jackson CNN: Olivia Nuzzi accuses ex-fiance of orchestrating blackmail campaign amid RFK relationship Hollywood Reporter: Taylor Lorenz Exits Washington Post to Launch ‘User Mag’ on Substack (Exclusive) The Washington Post: No one loved baseball, or damaged it, as much as Pete Rose The Wall Street Journal: Too Timid to Tell the Boss You’re Quitting? There’s a Service for That. The New York Times: How Chicken Tenders Conquered America CNN: McDonald’s is finally selling the Chicken Big Mac in the US The Washington Post: How a 14-year-old became the alleged school shooter at Georgia’s Apalachee HighThe Federalist: Trump: Liz Cheney Is A Stupid Warhawk Politico: Trump and Kemp to appear together for first time since 2020 The Financial Times: We may have passed peak obesity The New York Times: Whole Foods Tried to Change the Berry Chantilly Cake Recipe. Customers Lost It.

Sep 28, 2024 • 1h 7min
Kamala’s Holistic Interview
Today we are discussing Kamala Harris’s holistic approach to interviews, her contested time as a Mcdonald’s employee and the indictment of NYC mayor Eric Adams. Tune in! Time Stamps:3:06 Front Page52:36 Obsessions59:50 Reader Mail1:03:40 Favorite ItemsShow Notes:Free Beacon: Word Salad Sandwich: Harris Dodges Softballs in Friendly Chat With MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle
The New York Times: 3 Takeaways From Kamala Harris’s Interview on MSNBC The New York Times: Harris Has a Lot of Strengths. Giving Interviews Isn’t One of Them.The New York Times: Behind Harris’s Rise: Laurene Powell Jobs, Silicon Valley’s Wealthiest WomanThe New York Times: The Long, Strange Saga of Kamala Harris and Kimberly GuilfoyleAP News: Iranian operatives charged in the US with hacking Donald Trump's presidential campaignSemafor: Trump hack continued into last weekPolitico: Trump calls DOJ ‘dirty players’ over Adams indictment New York Magazine: The Return of Ta-Nehisi CoatesJewish Insider: Paul Coates, father of journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, republishing antisemitic screed 'The Jewish Onslaught'The Dispatch: The Junket IntellectualThe Atlantic: Legalizing Sports Gambling Was a Huge Mistake The New York Times: How Does a Baseball Team Lose 120 Games? Every Way You Can Think Of.Obsessions:AP News: Their churches no longer feel safe. Now Nicaraguans are taking their worship Favorite ItemsThe New York Times: Israel’s New Campaign Against Hezbollah Started With Raid in Syria

Sep 21, 2024 • 1h 9min
Meatfluencers Draw the Line at Pets
From Israel’s pager attacks on Hezbollah terrorists to the cost of your favorite steak, we’ve got it all in today’s episode. Oh, and did we mention the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump? Buckle up—it’s a wild one. Wretch on!Time Stamps:02:17 Front Page55:07 Obsessions1:00:06 Reader Mail1:04:47 Favorite ItemsShow Notes:New York Times: How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding PagersPolitico: Republicans outraged over possible assassination attempt: ‘They are going to keep trying to kill Trump’ NBC News: Man in custody after Trump golf club incident was once convicted of possessing a machine gun Commentary: UPDATED: The Assassination Wish FulfillmentWall Street Journal: How the Trump Campaign Ran With Rumors About Pet-Eating Migrants—After Being Told They Weren’t TrueWall Street Journal: How the Trump Campaign Ran With Rumors About Pet-Eating Migrants—After Being Told They Weren’t True Scientific American: Vote for Kamala Harris to Support Science, Health and the Environment The New York Times: Former N.Y.C. Covid Czar Partied While Preaching Social DistancingNew York Post: Star political reporter Olivia Nuzzi on leave from New York magazine over alleged 'sexting' relationship with RFK Jr. New York Times: These American Voters Are Leaving the Country Because of U.S. New York Times: Politics The Hidden Environmental Costs of Food New York Times: Inside the Funeral Home for New York’s Elite Bloomberg News: Has It Gotten Too Hard to Buy a Birkin or Kelly?Washingtonian: Meet the Cast of “Love Is Blind DC” @KthomasDC on X: White House: First Lady Jill Biden will host an event Friday at the White House to mark the 25th anniversary of the television series "The West Wing."Washington Post: A 12-year-old girl was hit by a car. It had $19,770 in unpaid ticketsWall Street Journal: The Kids Who Didn’t Know Their Parents Were Russian Spies

Sep 13, 2024 • 1h 5min
The A-B-C’s of Losing a Debate
Watch this episode on YouTube. From missed opportunities to lack of preparation, we break down this week’s debate in today’s episode. We also delve into a new profile of Senator Mike Lee, Prince's lost documentary, and explore the stoicism of George W. Bush. Wretch on!Time Stamps: 01:38 Front Page46:00 Obsessions 53:33 Reader Mail1:01:00 Favorite ItemsShow Notes:New York Times: 67.1 Million People Watched Harris and Trump, Outdrawing Last DebateThe Daily Beast: Trump Demands ABC Be Shut Down for Daring to Fact Check DebateThe Wall Street Journal: Trump Debate Performance Frustrates RepublicansThe Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man regrets taking goose photo he says is being weaponized against immigrants Semafor: Q&A: David Rubenstein on the presidents, and George W. Bush’s theory of populism The Atlantic: Why Mike Lee FoldedThe Free Press: Matti Friedman: When We Started to Lie The New York Times: Hamas Documents Reveal Tunnel Battle Strategy The New York Times: N.Y.P.D. Ousts 2 Reporters From Headquarters in Escalation of TensionsThe Atlantic: How Snacks Took Over American Life The New Yorker: The Longest Yard Sale The New York Times: The Prince We Never KnewFox News: Polling guru Nate Silver predicts Trump has 64% chance of winning the Electoral College in latest forecast AP News: New Hampshire governor helps save man choking on lobster roll at eating contestThe Wall Street Journal: The 35-Year-Old CEO Plotting Red Lobster’s Comeback

Sep 6, 2024 • 1h 24min
Mandatory Joy
If you work at NPR, be ready to spread joy as far as possible. And if you work at another news outlet, don’t be too objective, or Morning Joe will come after you. This week, we’re covering the best, worst, and weirdest happenings in the news media with our friend Christine Rosen, who has a new book coming out called The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World. You can find it on Amazon. And as always, Wretch on!Time Stamps: 7:00 Front Page1:08:17 Obsessions1:18:26 Favorite ItemsIf you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://wretches.substack.comFollow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretchesShow Notes:Christine Rosen: The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied WorldNBC News: Trump and Harris campaigns agree to rules for ABC debate New York Times: Trump Campaign Uses Statements From Gold Star Families to Attack Harris Politico: ‘Next Question’: Harris evades questions about her identity The Nation: The Dark Side of the Democratic Party’s Embrace of Football The New York Times: The Political Rage of Left-Behind Regions National Review: People Who Care About Winning Don't Shoot the Messenger Mediaite: Morning Joe Crew Accuses Media of Pro-Trump Bias: 'So Concerned With Being Objective' They Give Trump an 'Advantage' Bloomberg: National Public Radio Confronts Election Season With a ‘Joy Czar’The New York Times: U.S. Announces Plan to Counter Russian Influence Ahead of 2024 ElectionCNN: Reliable Sources Commentary Magazine: Helter StelterThe New York Times: I Swore Off Air-Conditioning, and You Can, TooThe Washington Post: The Marshmallow Test and other predictors of success have bias built in, researchers say The Washington Post: These are the asteroids that scare scientists. Are we prepared for them? Obsessions: The Free Press: Pseudo-Scholars and the Rise of the Barbarian Right The Dispatch: A Nonbinary Choice Kicker: Favorite Items of the Week:The New York Times: The Best Books About PoliticsThe Wall Street Journal: The Soap Bubble of Kamala Harris’s Campaign

Aug 28, 2024 • 1h 24min
Fact Check: Hypocrisy is Good
Is fact-checking the key to a healthy democracy? Probably not. This week, we’re coming to you early with David Drucker of The Dispatch filling in for Eliana. We cover the latest controversies from the Presidential debate, RFK Jr.’s endorsement, and Vice President Harris’s cold shoulder to the press. Wretch on!If you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://wretches.substack.comTime Stamps:03:19 Front Page1:06:00 Obsessions1:13:43 Reader Mail 1:17:46 Favorite ItemsShow Notes:Politico: Playbook: Scoop: The secret debate about the Trump-Harris debateYahoo: Trump threatens to pull out of Harris debate, hot mics an issue Poynter: The wild and wacky media reaction to RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Donald TrumpThe New York Times: H.R. McMaster Doesn’t Think Donald Trump Is Very Good at Making DealsMediaite: Morning Joe 'Stunned' By HR McMaster's 'Tightrope' Framing Of Trump – Despite 'Frightening' Scenes In New Book The New York Times: The Morning: 21 Questions for HarrisAP News: Walz's exit from Minnesota National Guard left openings for critics to pounce on his military record Axios: Harris flip-flops on building the border wall Press Watch: 'Fact-checking' does a (hopefully fatal) face plant Washington Post: Opinion | Kamala Harris’s price gouging proposal is a terrible ideaThe Verge: Gannett is shuttering site accused of publishing AI product reviews The Wall Street Journal: Gen Z-ers Are Computer Whizzes. Just Don’t Ask Them to Type.NBC News: The Democratic convention's surprise guest: CovidObsessions: Semafor: New model army The Dispatch: The Imaginary Undecided Voter News JunkiesFavorite Items:The Dispatch: Josh Shapiro Plots a Course for His Political FutureLA Times: 'It's like you're starting from scratch': Hollywood's below-the-line artists pivot to other gigs

Aug 23, 2024 • 1h 16min
The Lee Greenwood Democrats
Do you feel it? A sudden sense of patriotism? If the answer is yes, you may be a Democrat attending the DNC this week in Chicago. If the answer is no, Chris and Eliana are here to break down the first three nights, RFK’s potential next move, and sneaker stilettos. Wretch on!If you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://wretches.substack.comFollow us on Instagram @InkStainedWretchesTime Stamps:01:26 Front Page1:01:25 Obsessions1:09:25 Reader Mail1:11:50 Favorite ItemsShow Notes:Politico: The Obamas brought the crowd to new heightsPolitico: Hillary Clinton gets her Trump revenge moment Mediaite: ‘F**k You!’: Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle Shouts Down Ex-Obama Aide Criticizing Biden, Per Axios ReportThe Washington Post: At convention, Democrats claim patriotism, American flag as their ownNPR: Parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin call for Oct. 7 hostages to return home in remarks at the DNC Axios: Netanyahu’s office denies call with Trump about the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal. Politico: PBS’ Judy Woodruff apologizes for remark about Trump and peace talks in IsraelThe Hill: Trump jabs 'highly overrated Jewish Governor' Josh Shapiro The Hill: Trump hits back at Obamas: 'Do I still have to stick to policy?' ABC News: RFK Jr. expected to drop out of race by end of week, plans to endorse Trump: SourcesStar Telegram: Did Democrats register immigrants to vote in Weatherford TX? The New York Times: U.S. Investigating Americans Who Worked With Russian State TelevisionPolitico: Google agrees to America’s first newsroom funding deal. It’s already unpopular.NPR: ‘Washington Post’ reviews Taylor Lorenz's 'war criminal' jab at Biden : NPR Deadline: Chick-Fil-A Hatches Plans For Streaming Service As Reality TV Comes Home To Roost CBS News: Spanx founder unveils new line of stiletto-heeled sneakers called Sneex AP News: Tim Walz has described his family's IVF experience. But they used a different procedure CNN: Gwen Walz reveals she underwent a different treatment, not IVF, in new details about fertility struggles New York Times: Walz Family Fertility Journey Ran Not Through I.V.F. but Another Common Treatment The Daily Beast: Inside Story of Missing Billionaire Whose Luck Ran Out on Superyacht The Wall Street Journal: Lawyer in Yacht Tragedy Built Star Career With Unassuming StyleNew York Post: 'Pommel Horse Guy' Stephen Nedoroscik joins 'DWTS' Season 33 after Paris OlympicsKTLA: Southern California woman sends herself Apple AirTag to catch mail thieves

Aug 15, 2024 • 48min
Sparking Joy
If you haven’t heard, Kamala has officially brought joy back to politics—though we never asked for it in the first place. Meanwhile, unlike with Russiagate, the media has missed Iran’s actual meddling in this year’s election. We discuss all this and more with Matthew Continetti of the Commentary Magazine Podcast, who steps in for Chris this week. Wretch on!Time Stamps:01:15 Front Page44:12 ObsessionsShow Notes:The Washington Beacon: Speaking Truth to Vibes: Inside the Mainstream Media Echo Chamber on 'Joyful Warrior' Kamala HarrisThe New York Times: Harris Used to Worry About Laughing. Now Joy Is Fueling Her Campaign.The Washington Post: Harris and Walz seize on joyful message in contrast to darker Trump themes AP News: Harris is pushing joy. Trump paints a darker picture. Will mismatched moods matter? NPR: Harris and Walz reintroduce joy to Democrats their first week on the campaign trail TIME: The Reintroduction of Kamala HarrisThe New York Times: Gwen Walz, the Coolheaded, Ultracompetent Political SpouseAP News: News outlets were leaked insider material from the Trump campaign. They chose not to print itThe New York Times: Pete Wells Reviewed Restaurants for 12 Years. How Have They Changed? The Wall Street Journal: Yes, Guys, You Can Look Polished in Sweatpants. Here’s How.The New York Times: How an Instagram-Perfect Life in the Hamptons Ended in Tragedy The New Yorker: The Biggest Ponzi Scheme in Hollywood History

Aug 9, 2024 • 1h 6min
Kamala's Vow of Silence
Watch this episode on YouTube!Will Kamala Harris wait until after the convention for an interview with the press? Is Tim Walz “folksy”? We answer all of this and more on today’s episode. Join us to hear about Politico’s Hamas update, embargo trouble and more. Wretch on!Time Stamps:1:48 Front Page47:05 Obsessions59:26 Reader Mail1:02:23 Favorite ItemsIf you have a story you want us to talk about, e-mail us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts.com. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://nebulouspodcasts.com/shows/ink-stained-wretchesPolitico: Why Harris isn’t taking questions NY Post: JD Vance approaches Air Force Two after Kamala Harris, Walz land in Wisconsin — says it will be 'my plane' soon Finding Gravity: BREAKING: The New York Times helps JD Vance Swiftboat Tim Walz Wall Street Journal: Tim Walz Brings Folksy Demeanor, Liberal Record to Harris VP ShortlistThe New Yorker: Nancy Pelosi’s Art of Power WaPo: Pelosi on Biden: ‘We did not have a campaign that was on the path to victory’USA Today: 'If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that': Harris fires back at Gaza protesters at rally Semafor: Journal still can't confirm January story about UN agency for Palestinians WSJ: Nine U.N. Workers Fired After Investigation Found Possible Involvement in Oct. 7 Attack on IsraelNYT: Bloomberg Disciplines Journalists Over Russia Prisoner Swap ArticleNYT: CNN's Media Chronicler Strikes Out on His Own Vox: Discrimination against trans Olympians has roots in Nazi Germany Revisionist History: Hitler’s Olympics Part 1: The Blue-Eyed TornadoWSJ: Luxury Brands Are Betting on Ties (Again). Here’s Why Neckwear Means Money. NYT: Trump Campaign Criticizes Walz for State Law Providing Tampons in SchoolsNYT: Doug Emhoff, Husband of Kamala Harris, Acknowledges Long-Ago Affair Axios: Exclusive: AI startup raises $25M, inks deals with major media companies Kicker: Favorite Items of the Week:NYTimes: Golf Cart Politics: Florida Retirees Flaunt Loyalties to Trump and Harris Jewish Chronicle: The full inside story of how Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran – minute by minute