Media Trump & Tiktok: Is This The Future Of Journalism ?

Eighty years ago, members of the Greatest Generation raised the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima in defense of freedom and democracy. Today, the test of our times is a battle against fascism and in defense of democracy on our own soil. Everything is at stake and, this time, winning is on us.

Prolific and multi-award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney, who's responsible for the most impactful documentaries of our time -- i.e., Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, Totally Under Control, and MANY more --sits down with Rick Wilson to discuss his portfolio of work and how it reflects on the American character. Alex's most recent project, The Bibi Files, uses never-seen-before interrogation footage to tell the story of an investigation into Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle and provides an unflinching gaze into the private world behind the headlines. Petty vanity and a sense of entitlement lead to corruption and the unwillingness of the Netanyahus to give up power. The extreme right senses opportunity in Bibi’s weakness, and the dominos fall.

Pete Hegseth. Russell Vought. White Christian Nationalism has found its way to the halls of power, and it’s darker than we imagined. They’re coming after Obergefell. They want to repeal the 19th amendment. They want to take access to power from women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, and place it in the hands of - you guessed it - white Christian men. Don’t believe it? Tim Whitaker has seen it all firsthand. He is the founder of The New Evangelicals, a growing community dedicated to rethinking and reforming evangelical Christianity. He says that while the white Christian nationalists have a hold on our government and designs on a dystopian America, we’ve still got a shot. But it’s going to take all of us.

Today we tackle a new age of politics and propaganda as Rick is joined by philosopher and author Jason Stanley. The two discuss the manipulation of language, propaganda, and the rise of authoritarianism in modern politics. They examine how global far-right movements are using nationalism, immigration fears, and media control to consolidate power, drawing parallels to historical fascist strategies. The conversation delves into the role of education, corporate-state alliances, and the erosion of democratic norms, highlighting the dangerous shift toward kleptocratic authoritarianism. Stanley also discusses his latest book, Erasing History, and the ongoing battle for truth in an age of disinformation. Jason's book, Erasing History, available now.

Is the world on the brink of permanent instability? In this episode Rick Wilson sits down with renowned author and geopolitical analyst Robert D. Kaplan to discuss his latest book, Wasteland: A World in Permanent Crisis. Together, they explore the challenges of our increasingly interconnected and unstable world, from the decline of great powers and the erosion of democracy to the disruptive forces of AI and automation. Kaplan offers a sobering comparison to the Weimar Republic and stresses the urgent need to rediscover the principles of historic liberalism in the face of rising global disorder.