Eliana Johnson and Chris Stirewalt love the news business but they hate a lot of whatâs 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.
Dearest Wretches, weâre stepping away from the mic. But before we go, Chris and Eliana dig into Trumpâs legal battles with CBS and the Pulitzer board, Elon Muskâs Washington exit, Democratsâ hunt for lost masculinity, and the waning influence of BLM. Weâll miss the community thatâs grown with us over the yearsâthanks for wretching with us.
Time Stamps:
1:55 - Front Page
37:50 - Obsessions
46:51 - Reader Mail
52:24 - Favorite Items
Show Notes:
The Wall Street Journal: Paramount Has Offered $15 Million to Settle CBS Lawsuit. Trump Wants More.
New York Post: Shari Redstone in âtough spotâ as Paramount board fears settling with Trump will open Pandoraâs box on bribery lawsuits: sources
The New York Times: A Disillusioned Musk, Distanced From Trump, Says Heâs Exiting Washington
CBS News: Elon Musk says he's "disappointed" by Trump's "big, beautiful bill" and what it means for DOGE
The New York Times: Trump Pardoned Tax Cheat After Mother Attended $1 Million Dinner
The New York Times: Six Months Later, Democrats Are Still Searching for the Path Forward
The Washington Free Beacon: EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Democratic Partyâs Strategic Efforts To Enhance Receptivity in Masculine-Coded Heteronormative Cohorts Through Data-Driven Holistic Outreach
Vulture: Fame and Frustration On the New Media Circuit
Fox News: Washington Post announces another buyout program targeting veteran staffers, other departments
The Washington Post: Struggling to declutter? Try the âpoop rule.â
The New York Times: 5 Years After George Floydâs Murder, the Backlash Takes Hold
The Wall Street Journal: Six Friends Tried to Plan a Girlsâ Trip in a Group Chat. Things Went Sideways.
Law360: Pulitzer Board Can't Pause Trump Defamation Suit In Florida
Semafor: Inside the identity crisis in anti-woke media
The Weekly Dish: Claire Lehmann On Staying Independent
Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY: In Memoriam: Tom Robbins (1949-2025)
The Wall Street Journal: How a Lawyer in the Hamptons Became the King of DWI Cases
This week, weâre unpacking the rollout of Original Sin, the irony of the leftâs search for their very own Joe Rogan, the CBS newsroom shakeup, and stick around for Elianaâs experience serving on the Pulitzer jury. Wretch on!
If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com.
Time Stamps:
4:10 - Front Page
1:06:38 - Obsessions
1:19:04 - Reader Mail
1:20:57 - Favorite Items
Show Notes:
Jewish Insider: Two Israeli embassy employees killed in shooting outside D.C. Jewish Museum
The Guardian: Jon Stewart on CNNâs Biden book: âSelling you a book about news they should have told youâ
The Washington Post: Biden diagnosis draws well-wishes, questions and conspiracy theories
Mediaite: Taylor Lorenz Openly Celebrates Joe Bidenâs Cancer Diagnosis: âHopefully He Rots in Hell and Rests in Pissâ
The New York Times: Democrats Throw Money at a Problem: Countering G.O.P. Clout Online
The Hill: Trump hits South African president with video âgenocideâ claims: 5 takeaways
NBC News: White House purges transcripts of Trump's remarks from its website
Mediaite: âWhat Changed Patel and Bonginoâs Minds?â Glenn Beck Calls Out Trumpâs FBI Brass Rejecting Epstein Conspiracy
The Wall Street Journal: Elon Musk to Cut Back Political Spending
The Daily Beast: Musk Insults Interviewer for Daring to Ask About His Big DOGE Promise
The New York Times: Head of CBS News Is Forced Out Amid Tensions With Trump
The New York Times: Can C-SPAN Pull Off âCrossfire,â but With Civility?
Semafor: Shapiro solicits backers â or buyers â for a built-out Daily Wire
The Hollywood Reporter: âSesame Streetâ Saved, Inks New Streaming Deal With Netflix
NBC 4: Kermit comes home: UMD commencement and NBC4 history
The Washington Free Beacon: ANALYSIS: Jordon Hudson Outshined and Outclassed by Historic Transgender Contestant at So-Called Beauty Pageant
The Washington Free Beacon: âWe Occasionally Misjudgeâ: Pulitzer Board Told Me I Was out of Line When I Asked Why the Organization Gave an Award to Palestinian âPoetâ Who Made Hateful Comments About Israeli Hostages
Politico: Two House Republicans missed the big vote
Chicago Tribune: Chicago Sun-Times Sunday insert contains 10 AI-generated fake books in summer reading list
Watch This Episode on YouTube!
Itâs oh so good to be back in the studio. Weâre kicking off with Trumpâs Gulf tour, the scoops about the scoops on the Biden books, âMar-a-Lago face,â and much more. Wretch on!
If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com.
Time Stamps:
2:00 - Front Page
50:29 - ObsessionsÂ
57:28 - Reader Mail
1:00:12 - Favorite Items
Show Notes:
Mediaite: WHCA Rages as Trump Excludes Major News Wire Services From Middle East Trip
I Might Be Wrong: The Qatari Plane Scandal is Different Because Morons Understand It
Newsweek: Saudi Arabia Rolls Out Custom Mobile McDonald's for Trump Visit
The Daily Beast: Biden Aides Had a Secret Plan to Get the President a Wheelchair, New Book Claims
Axios: Exclusive: Biden aides discussed wheelchair use if he were re-elected, new book says
CNN: First on CNN: New book reveals how Bidenâs inner circle kept Cabinet from him in final two years of presidency
The Dispatch: The Temptation and the Fall of the Media
The New Yorker: Is Jeff Bezos Selling Out the Washington Post?
The Washington Post: Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson and the making of a PR disaster
The Washington Post: MLB reinstates Pete Rose and others, paving way for Hall of Fame consideration
The New York Times: Can I Wear a Sheath Dress Without Looking Like a MAGA Woman?The Free Press: How Qatar Bought America
The Dispatch: Feelings, Facts, and Our Crisis of Truth
Teen Vogue: News Influencers Are Reaching Young People, and the Media Is Trying to Keep Up
Politico: The First Thing George Santos Should Do in Prison
The Washington Free Beacon: The Surprising Ways That Siblings Shape Our Lives
This week, we say hello to a new pope and goodbye to Nate MooreâChrisâs AEI research assistant, but more importantly, a fellow wretch whoâs been a big part of the podcast. We also talk about the Pulitzer winners and the mediaâs coverage of the declining health of John Fetterman and Joe Biden. Wretch on!
Time Stamps:
Front Page:Â 02:22Obsessions:Â 27:43Reader Mail:Â 36:10Favorite Items: 38:53
Show Notes:
New York Magazine: The Hidden Struggle of John Fetterman
AP News: Sen. John Fetterman raises alarms with outburst at meeting with union officials, AP sources say
BBC: Five takeaways from Bidenâs BBC interview
The Pulitzer Prizes: 2025 Pulitzer Priz
Herald Leader: The favorite didnât win the KY Derby again. Hereâs what happened behind Sovereignty
The Washington Free Beacon: Exclusive Analysis: Kamalaâs Stepdaughter, âTextile Artistâ Ella Emhoff, Skips Leg Day as Often as She Shaves Her Armpits (Never)
Politico: Biden enlists veteran Democratic operative to help defend his reputation (edited)Â
Chris and Eliana are back, starting with Trumpâs 100-day media blitz, Tim Walzâs code-switching, the private group chats shaping American politics, andâmost importantlyâthe origin of Jo Jo potatoes. Wretch on!
Time Stamps:
Front Page: 1:29
Obsessions: 1:03:31
Reader Mail: 1:11:31
Favorite Items: 1:18:36
Show Notes:
The Atlantic: Read The Atlanticâs Interview With Donald Trump
Time: Read the Full Transcript of Donald Trumpâs â100 Daysâ Interview With TIME
Axios: Scoop: White House launches Drudge-style website to promote Trump
The Atlantic: The War That Would Not End
Semafor: The group chats that changed America
The New York Times: A Progressive Mind in a Body Made for the âManosphereâ
The Wall Street Journal: Questioning Bidenâs Capacities Was Taboo a Year Ago. Now Itâs Everywhere.
The New York Times: The Dispatch Buys SCOTUSblog, a Supreme Court MainstayÂ
The New York Times: A Hot Accessory, at the Intersection of Faith and CultureÂ
The New York Times: Vietnam on The Move
Awful Announcing: Bill Belichick issues statement defending Jordon Hudsonâs actions during CBS interviewÂ
ESPN: Son of Falcons coordinator Ulbrich admits to Sanders prankÂ
The New York Times: How Ozempic Is Shaping WeddingsÂ
The New York Times: â60 Minutesâ Chief Resigns in Emotional Meeting: âThe Company Is Done With MeâÂ
The New York Times: Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trumpâs â60 Minutesâ Lawsuit
The Washington Post: She tried to expose Russiaâs brutal detention system â and ended up dead
The Washington Post: Streaming services should step up to make C-SPAN great againÂ
The New York Times: The Unabomberâs Brother Turned Him In. Then Spent 27 Years Trying to Win Him Back.
The Interview: Lahav Harkov on News Coverage of the Israel-Gaza War
This week, Eliana flies solo and sits down with Jewish Insiderâs Lahav Harkov for a conversation about her path through Israeli and American media â and what the press got wrong and (less often) right about the Israel-Gaza war. Wretch on!
If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com.
Show Notes:
New York Magazine: Everything We Know About the Gaza City Hospital BlastÂ
The Washington Post: Israelâs war with Hamas separates Palestinian babies from their mothersÂ
Reuters: Gaza mother's hopes for return of long-jailed son dashed
The Atlantic: The War That Would Not EndÂ
60 Minutes: Freed Israeli hostages Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, Tal Shoham describe horrors of being held captive by HamasÂ
CNN: Hersh Goldberg-Polin: The âhappy-go-luckyâ Israeli-American who became a symbol of Israelâs enduring hostage heartbreakÂ
The Atlantic: What the Media Gets Wrong About IsraelÂ
Tablet: An Insiderâs Guide to the Most Important Story on EarthÂ
This week, we dive into Trumpâs showdown on two fronts: immigration and Ivy League endowments. Then we head to space to marvel at the bravery of Blue Origin. And finally, we unwrap the explosive piece on Elon Muskâs quest to spawn a generation of genetically gifted super-babies. Wretch on!
If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com.
Time Stamps:
1:57 - Front Page
51:48 - Obsessions
1:00:56 - Reader Mail
1:06:41 - Favorite Items
Show Notes:
Mediaite: Fox News Reporter Confronts Trump AG Bondi on âGang Memberâ Claims â Straight-Up Asks âWhy Not Show the Evidence?âÂ
The Washington Free Beacon: Harvard Rejects Deal With Trump Admin, Putting Billions in Federal Funding at RiskÂ
The Washington Post: Trump administration asks IRS to revoke Harvardâs tax-exempt status
The Washington Post: Trumpâs D.C. U.S. attorney pick appeared on Russian state media over 150 timesÂ
Financial Times: CNNâs Mark Thompson: âOur entire industry is going through a revolutionâÂ
The Wall Street Journal: The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His âLegionâ of Babiesâand Their MothersÂ
Politico: GOP representative: âLeft has to look in the mirror tooâ after condemning Shapiro arson attackÂ
The New York Times: One Giant Stunt for WomankindÂ
The Washington Free Beacon: Holding Space: Women Rejoice as Bezos Gal Pal, Others Make History
The New York Times: How Trump Might Unwittingly Cut Emissions From Online Shopping
The Wall Street Journal: Porsche Heirâs Plan to Build a Private Tunnel Has His Alpine Neighbors Fuming
NBC News: Government's case against Mahmoud Khalil is reliant on tabloid accounts, review of evidence showsÂ
Red State: Salem Media Group Strikes Deal With Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump
Freddie deBoer: John Oliver is (Still) Part of the ProblemÂ
The Wall Street Journal: Navy SEAL. Harvard Doctor. NASA Astronaut. Donât Tell Mom About This Overachiever.
Josh Kraushaar, editor-in-chief of Jewish Insider, fills in for Eliana to discuss the latest on tariffs, the White House press pool, and Stephen A. Smith flirting with a presidential run. Wretch on!
If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com.
Time Stamps:
3:27 - Front Page
58:20 - Obsessions
1:05:40 - Reader Mail
1:07:55 - Favorite Items
Show Notes:
The Wall Street Journal: The False Tariff Headline That Sent Stocks on a $2 Trillion RideÂ
The Independent: Fox News pundit believes Trump tariffs will reverse âcrisis in masculinityâÂ
NBC News: A 'disaster': Gretchen Whitmer's talk on tariffs and meeting with Trump anger fellow Democrats
CNN: Federal judge says White Houseâs punishment of Associated Press is unconstitutionalÂ
Status: The Pool FilterÂ
NBC News: Supreme Court gives boost to Trump administration's deportation plans under Alien Enemies ActÂ
Jewish Insider: Netanyahu pushes back on anti-Israel trends in meeting with podcastersÂ
LA Times: Broadcast television is in trouble. Stations are asking Washington for helpÂ
Barrett Media: Stephen A. Smith No Longer Ruling Out Possibility of Running for President in 2028
The Washington Post: Donât damn the torpedo bats
CBS News: Fossil fuel companies target America's love of college sports
The New York Times: Bloomberg Has a Rocky Start With A.I. SummariesÂ
Mediaite: Trump Orders DOJ To Investigate Prominent Critic in Shocking Oval Office Remarks: âI Think Heâs Guilty of Treasonâ
CBS News: Photojournalist witnesses Venezuelan migrants' arrival in El Salvador: "They had no idea what was coming"Â
The Atlantic: I Should Have Seen This Coming
Do you smell that? Itâs the McRib Shower Gelâavailable only in Germany. Aside from that, weâve got Liberation Day, Cory Bookerâs latest stunt, White House Correspondentsâ Dinner drama, and more. Wretch on!
If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com.
Time Stamps:
2:02 - Front Page
1:00:12 - Obsessions
1:07:43 - Reader Mail
1:11:29 - Favorite Items
Show Notes:
The New York Times: How Are Trumpâs Tariff Rates Calculated?Â
Mediaite: Fox News Anchor: Trump Should Tell Americans Worried About Their 401(k)s to âSupportâ It Like a âWar EffortâÂ
The Washington Post: Musk to keep spending on politics despite Wisconsin loss, GOP doubts
AP News: Democrats demoralized by Trump get a boost from Wisconsin voters and Cory Bookerâs speechÂ
Politico: The Mystery Buyer of That $23 Million DC Mansion? Mark Zuckerberg.Â
New York Post: Joe Rogan calls the possibility of non-criminals being deported with violent gang members âhorrificâÂ
The Hill: Elon Musk says he sent MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair $2.5 million, open to paternity testÂ
Fox News: Trump says he gave Tiger Woods blessing to date Vanessa Trump: 'Let them both be happy'Â
The Washington Post: White House correspondentsâ dinner scraps plan for comedian to host
The Guardian: In a new book, top Biden aide describes âout of itâ president before Trump debate
Mediaite: Trump-Backed Head of the FCC Threatens ABCâs Broadcast License In Fox News Interview
Los Angeles Times: Steve Kornacki exits MSNBC for new deal with NBC News and NBC Sports
The New York Times: The Big Fat Windsor Knot Takes Washington
The New York Times: Steak Fries: Deservedly Reviled or Underappreciated Edible Spoons?
The Free Press: The Double Standard in the Human-Rights WorldÂ
The Telegraph: Hamas âquietly dropsâ thousands of deaths from casualty figures
NBC News: Trump wonât rule out seeking a third term in the White House, tells NBC News âthere are methodsâ for doing so
The Dispatch: Donald Trump, Franklin Roosevelt and the Allure of Permanent Power
The Dallas Morning News: Reviewing The News' coverage of the Robert Morris scandal
Nieman Lab: How to leak to a journalistÂ
The New York Times: How a Black Progressive Transformed Into a Conservative Star
In case you havenât gotten enough of Signalgate, weâre here to help. Weâre also diving into Columbia University, vibe shifts, and family outings at Hooters. Wretch on!
If you have a story you want to discuss with us, email us at wretches@nebulouspodcasts dot com.
Time Stamps:
Front Page - 2:07
Obsessions - 1:00:43
Reader Mail - 1:09:49
Favorite Items - 1:11:27
Show Notes:
The Atlantic: Here Are the Attack Plans That Trumpâs Advisers Shared on SignalÂ
The Hill: Vance rips âhit pieceâ in Jewish InsiderÂ
Jewish Insider: Vanceâs reluctance to support Houthi strikes concerns some leading GOP senators
Mediaite: Karoline Leavitt Fires Shot at Fox Newsâ Andy McCarthy Over Deportation Case: Trying to âDefend These Terroristsâ
The Washington Post: Pentagon spokesman sidelined after uproar over Jackie Robinson articleÂ
The Wall Street Journal: Disabilities Act Becomes a License to CheatÂ
National Review: NPR CEO Admits Outlet Was âMistakenâ in Refusing to Cover Hunter Biden Laptop StoryÂ
CNN: KFile: Gavin Newsom spent years fighting for progressive positions he now bashes on his new podcastÂ
NBC News: Supreme Court turns down Trump donor Steve Wynn's bid to overturn libel precedentÂ
The New York Times: We Were Badly Misled About the Event That Changed Our Lives
The New York Times: I Was Diagnosed With Autism at 53. I Know Why Rates Are Rising.
The New York Times: Why Dads Take Their Gay Sons to Hooters
The Wall Street Journal: Are Americans really snacking less?
The Atlantic: Sex Without Women
The Free Press: Columbia President Says One Thing to Trump Adminâand Another in PrivateÂ
The Washington Free Beacon: What Columbia University President Katrina Armstrong Really Told Faculty Members About Changes the School Is Making
The Wall Street Journal: Columbiaâs President Faces Angry Faculty in Closed-Door Meetings
Politico: AN ALT. WHCD?
The New York Times: Graydon Carterâs Memoir Evokes the Golden Age of New York City MediaÂ
The Wall Street Journal: The Last Decision by the Worldâs Leading Thinker on Decisions