Topic: Journalism

A 1970s interview clip features William Shockley, co-inventor of the transistor, discussing his theory of "dysgenics" with William F. Buckley Jr. Shockley argued that "downbreeding" or "retrogressive evolution" was a threat to the Black community due to reproduction patterns. He claimed that even if no basic difference in intellectual capacity existed in the past, one would be created in the future by these patterns.

Professor Meredith D. Clark discusses how Black Twitter drives pithy conversations that define the broader platform. The hosts argue that this influence makes it the most manipulated part of the internet, serving as a "Black AP" for refined political narratives that are often manufactured for specific electoral outcomes.

In a 2007 interview with the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Anthony Fauci explains why an HIV vaccine has been elusive, citing the body's failure to produce an adequate immune response to "natural infection." The hosts fixate on his use of the term "natural infection," questioning what constitutes an "unnatural" one.

The hosts critique the performance of a local news personality named Wisdom, describing him as a safe media figure who validates corporate narratives. They discuss how local news acts as an evil system of social conditioning, either placating or antagonizing viewers to start their day. The segment laments the death of investigative journalism in favor of personality-driven broadcasts that avoid difficult questions about security failures.

The 1967 armed patrols by the Black Panthers in Oakland are compared to modern citizen journalism. While the Panthers used rifles to deter police brutality, the hosts argue that today's most powerful tool is the smartphone camera, though they warn about the media's ability to manipulate short video clips.

The hosts return to their Saturday recording cycle for episode 37, noting the short five-day gap since the previous release. They briefly discuss the weather in Texas before introducing the main subject of the day, the New York Times 1619 Project. One host explains his preference for letting major media narratives play out for a year before analyzing them to see the full story.

Podcaster Benjamin Dixon unearthed the 2015 Bloomberg audio that had been hidden in plain sight on YouTube for five years. Despite the resources of major newsrooms and the Trump campaign, it took an independent creator to isolate and publicize the remarks. This event is cited as a victory for independent media over traditional journalism outlets that failed to vet Bloomberg's record.

MSNBC reporter Allison Morris faced immediate backlash and calls for cancellation after a verbal slip during a broadcast about Kobe Bryant's death. Morris appeared to combine the names of the Lakers and the Knicks, resulting in a phonetic similarity to a racial slur. While Morris claimed the error was an accidental portmanteau of team names, the incident sparked intense debate on social media regarding intent and professional conduct.

The Washington Post suspended political reporter Felicia Sonmez after she tweeted a link to a 2016 article regarding Kobe Bryant's 2003 rape case hours after his death. Sonmez received death threats and was doxxed, leading the Post to place her on administrative leave for what editors called a "lack of judgment." The newspaper later reinstated her following a protest from the Newsroom Union, which argued her tweets did not violate social media policy.

TMZ faced severe criticism for reporting Kobe Bryant's death before his wife, Vanessa Bryant, had been officially notified by authorities. While TMZ founder Harvey Levin defended the speed of the report as a standard response to a major news event, critics labeled the outlet's tactics as parasitic and soulless. The incident highlighted the tension between the public's demand for immediate information and the ethical responsibility to grieving families.

Gayle King conducted a wide-ranging interview with WNBA star Lisa Leslie, but a specific segment regarding Kobe Bryant's 2003 rape charge caused a public relations crisis for CBS. King pressed Leslie on whether Bryant's legacy was "complicated," leading Leslie to defend her friend's character. The backlash intensified when King questioned Leslie's ability to be objective, prompting accusations that the network was intentionally trying to tarnish Bryant's reputation.

Colin Kaepernick settled his collusion lawsuit against the NFL for an undisclosed amount, which the Wall Street Journal reported was in the single-digit millions. This quiet settlement drew criticism from those who had compared him to Muhammad Ali, noting that Ali sacrificed his career without settling. Stephen A. Smith argued that the settlement compromised Kaepernick's status as a martyr for the cause.

The background of New York Times reporter Farah Stockman is examined, noting her time teaching in Kenya and her work with non-governmental organizations. The hosts suggest her personal history may influence her perspective on the tensions between native black Americans and African immigrants.