Explore every episode of the podcast They Stand Corrected

How did the mainstream media become a tool of today’s biggest hate movement? Today, a leading expert joins Josh to explain how the Antizionist Hate Movement used the nexus between academia and journalism to launder its lies. An academic and expert on how societies develop, Adam Louis-Klein is now leading the Movement Against Antizionism.

His own story is instructive. He was a Communist and left-wing activist who went off to do research on an indigenous community. When he reconnected to the world two days after the October 7 massacres, he discovered his communities celebrating the terrorists. “Antizionist narratives were there from the beginning — the entire complex of the delegitimization of Israel, the erasure of Jewish peoplehood,” he explains.

In this eye-opening, mind-expanding interview, Adam explains why fighting this hate movement requires a whole new strategy. He argues that it’s time to stop explaining why it’s antisemitic, and start making clear to the world that Israel-loathing is an “abusive complex.” He describes how academia, NGOs and the media have turned “epistemic authority” into a “tool of power.”

Plus Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan faces calls for her death for saying something true. And the Boston Globe’s hilarious, viral story about a lesbian bar shows how hate movements turn on themselves. 

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When the media decides to present someone as a victim, there’s almost always no turning back. No matter how wrong they turn out to be, no matter how much evidence disproves the narrative, the media doubles down. We’ve seen that in recent days with a rapper known as Macklemore. Today, Josh explains that the media is completely wrong about him. 

Macklemore praised violent pro-terror mobs at Columbia University. A leader of that movement is also a media darling, Mohsen Mahdawi. A new 100-page report proves that the media’s portrayals of him are pure fiction. In this episode, independent journalists David Collier and Rachel Feldman join Josh to talk about how they uncovered the truth. They discuss “crickets” from the media, historic failures, and how people can get the word out. Interestingly, it involves local school boards.

Plus the New York Times blames an editing error for an offensive, wildly wrong claim in a report. But why is it that the Times’ supposed mistakes always point in the same direction? And Josh breaks down the hypocrisy in the battle over press access to the White House.

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If you picture America as the news describes it, which political figures do you think are popular? A new survey shows the actual popularity — in most cases, unpopularity — of political figures. It exposes the massive disconnect between the media and reality. Media darlings are among the most unpopular political figures in America. Today, Josh explains why this is such an important reality check about where Americans really stand. 

Also, the Wall Street Journal has run a new, anonymously-sourced hit piece on Senator John Fetterman. Josh digs up what the paper’s top editor has said about anonymity, and explains why allowing it in this case doesn’t seem to make sense. Plus, the giant part of the Fetterman story that just about everyone leaves out. It’s a sign not just of what one lawmaker faces, but of today’s political culture.

Plus, a researcher from an elite university publishes a new report quantifying the New York Times’ bias, and a listener asks Josh about comment sections.

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A powerful news agency heard people’s complaints and changed its stance on 9/11. Now, it says, its journalists may call the September 11th attacks what they were: terrorism. But that doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, with its new guidance, the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) just showed how its rules make no sense. 

Today, Josh explains that this is a hole news agencies have dug for themselves by trying to create an imaginary world in which they can’t simply call terrorism by its name. He talks through the two simple options news agencies have, and how their constant failure to make a choice skews their coverage of global events.

As the 25th anniversary arrives, Josh explains what we’re likely to see, and not see, from the media. Plus, how U.S. and Israeli intelligence are essential in thwarting terror attacks. To those of you who lost loved ones on 9/11, thoughts with you.

Also in this episode, hear a U.S. official attempt to blow a shofar! To those of you who celebrate the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, wishing you a sweet new year. 🍎🍯 

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The flooding in Nepal and Tibet is the latest in a string of natural disasters showing the vulnerability of so many people. In news coverage, the media is missing what may be the most important point of all: what it takes to strengthen societies against these events. 

Today, Josh explains why democratic societies do a much better job of protecting and saving lives in natural disasters. As the United States faces growing anti-democratic forces from both the right and the left, it isn’t just our societal structures that could topple; it’s our buildings, too. 

Plus, as the anniversary approaches, a news giant has told its reporters not to refer to the 9/11 attacks as terrorism. Josh breaks down the many things wrong with that decision, and discusses why it’s a reflection of a dangerous shift at the heart of society. Josh has sent the news agency a series of questions, which he shares today.

Also, more from last week’s guest, Professor Shai Davidai. He and Josh discuss a trick news agencies sometimes play. 

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What do you do if you’re interviewed and want to make sure your words don’t get twisted? Or what if you’re not even interviewed, but suddenly find yourself in the news anyway? That can happen to anyone at any time. Today, Josh highlights examples, and explains why in this era, people need to be empowered about how to handle the media. 

He talks through it with a man who learned the hard way. Shai Davidai was a professor at Columbia. When radicals who support Islamist terror overtook the campus, he tried to get the word out. But a news giant declared him a controversial figure — which led to threats and dangers. 

In this conversation, Shai divulges details no one knows about what he went through with The New York Times, 60 Minutes under the previous CBS leadership, and other outlets. He explains how he recently got the Times to correct a story almost immediately. “They’ve realized from my track record that I don’t keep my mouth shut, and I stand up to bullies,” he says. He has a new book coming out, American Intellectual Antisemitism.

Plus: why Josh can’t stop laughing about a tragicomic lawsuit, the ways major publishers are effectively boycotting Jewish truth-tellers, and have elite universities gotten any better? 

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It’s a big story involving alleged life and death stakes: Were the Secret Service and the president willing to risk the lives of journalists and staffers? Before taking off from Turkey recently, President Trump and a few aides were secretly snuck out of the plane and into another military aircraft, amid a security threat from Iran. 

Members of the media say the president and Secret Service used them, as well as other White House staffers, as decoys, endangering them. But presidents have done similar things before. How different was this case? The reporting has been filled with conjecture. Today, Josh pieces through the claims to find the facts. He speaks with Joe Lockhart, who was press secretary for President Clinton in 2000 during another plane switcheroo.

Then, Josh explains how the media missed a giant opportunity to educate people about big developments in American security, foreign threats, and a world-shaping event in the 20th century. 

Plus, another group is caught stealthily removing terrorists from its list of so-called “journalists” killed in Gaza. But it’s leaving others on the list. Josh shows why these two stories together demonstrate how the media is endangering its own safety.

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The narrow victory of left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary exposed a fault line in America. Some people who recognize his problems with antisemitism say Democrats should now support him anyway. They argue that MAGA is an “existential threat” to the United States, so any Democrat will do. 

Today, Josh shatters that myth, laying out how a left-wing movement presents an existential threat to the nation, and El-Sayed is their new poster child. Josh pieces through the candidate’s blatant lies that fuel violent antisemitism, “shocking” video that pretends Islamist terrorism doesn’t exist, funding from groups linked to terror, and more. 

Then, Josh shares the truth about the Democratic Socialists of America, which backs El-Sayed. The DSA openly calls for the American democratic system of government to no longer exist. It also celebrates the terrorists who carried out the October 7 massacres. The central political battle is no longer left versus right, Josh says. It’s about people who stand for democracy against those who don’t. 

Plus, an update on the war between Russia and Ukraine; the U.N. makes a big admission about Gaza; and a new, horrific attack on Christians in Africa.

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In recent years, news giants have vowed to do a much better job of representing minorities. But there’s an obvious exception. They’ve doubled down on misrepresenting Jewish Americans, who compose about 2% of the country. They seek out the token few who support AZHM (the antizionist hate movement) and ignore virtually everyone else.

Today, Josh speaks with Jonah Platt, an actor and singer who created Being Jewish, a show for Jewish celebrities and others to share their stories. “Most people on planet Earth have never met and will never meet a Jew,” he says. “The only thing they know is whatever 12 seconds of the news they catch.” The two discuss fears gripping Hollywood, why Jonah’s show is like Harry Potter’s train to Hogwarts, and the new TV show Boston Blue, which centers on a Black Jewish family.

Plus, Josh calls out Variety for a fawning interview with actress Melissa Barrera that portrayed her as a victim while hiding the vile antisemitic propaganda she spreads. And he shows how the fallout from Boy George’s new song supporting the Israeli people disproves the media’s “cancellation” narrative.

But first, Anthony Fauci, the chief scientist who advised the U.S. government on the Covid response, is facing new criticism. So are Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, two of Josh’s former CNN colleagues, for off-air interactions with Fauci. He details why this story shows what happens when the media fails to do its job and loses America’s trust.

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A scene in an old Robin Williams movie highlights a dangerous pattern people fall into — one that’s more widespread than ever today: the popularity trap. In this episode, Josh shows its unprecedented scale. He explains how the media is falling into the trap and dragging society down with it. But we can break out of it.

Then, should a member of a terror group count as a journalist? The answer is an obvious no. But a group that the media cites all the time just voted yes, almost unanimously. That explains the ongoing, nonsensical claims about Israel killing so many “journalists” in Gaza.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) published a statement attempting to justify its decision. The statement is packed with lies, nonsensical claims, and at least one assertion that’s physically impossible. Josh breaks it down.

Plus an Islamist terrorist attacked a pride parade in Berlin. NPR actually admitted that in a headline! Perhaps the broadcast giant is finally responding to what Josh and TSC listeners have been demanding. But the New York Times, of course, still hid the key fact from its headline. 

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When some news agencies chose not to air Trump’s primetime speech live, they noted that he was likely to lie. Then right afterward, they resumed booking lawmakers and pundits to lie and not be fact checked. Today, Josh explains how the media’s hypocrisy hurts us all, and how the news business should tackle the problem. He also shows why the “sky is falling” freakouts about CBS were disproven yet again. The night also exposed another gaping hole in the news landscape: The media has failed to inform America about China’s influence campaigns. So when Trump makes allegations, people don’t know what to believe. Josh pieces through what’s known about Beijing’s efforts targeting the media -- including retaliations against journalists’ families.  Then, he answers listener questions. One involves 350,000 Haitians losing legal status in the United States this week. The other involves what legal scholars are calling “the most aggressive movement of settler populations into occupied territory in current times.” Josh explains that news giants avoid that story because it turns their favorite victim narrative on its head. Plus: The New York Times brings back its favorite blood libelist for round two… A court battle over subpoenas gets an update… And Josh explains why virtually all organizations doing great work get ignored by the media.

We've all seen it so many times that most of us don't even think about it. The media talks politics and presents “the two sides” -- a Democrat and a Republican. In reality, a much larger slice of America does not identify with either party. The American plurality, close to a majority, is treated as an afterthought. And that’s just one way the media fails to cover independents.  Today, Josh speaks with a leader in the fight for this ignored community: Chad Peace of the Independent Voter Project, a group changing how elections work across the country. The two discuss how the media’s political narratives block reality; how coverage of California’s gubernatorial race and New York socialists fit in; and what journalists are afraid to say. Plus, just last week, Josh told us about how the Obama administration had subpoenaed journalists. Now the Trump administration has done so. The case involves security questions surrounding the new Air Force One plane, a giant gift from Qatar. Josh explains how the story reflects not only encroachments on press freedom, but also media failures.

Two mainstream news giants are using recent screwups to pretend to care about ethics and guidelines. One is NPR, where iconic reporter Nina Totenberg falsely reported that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring. The other is the New York Times, where sports journalist Diana Russini has left the company following a so-called “scandal” involving her relationship with an NFL figure and her actions during a traffic stop. Today, Josh digs into these stories and explains what they expose about the hypocrisy of Big Media. It’s as though news agencies are showing great concern about a smudge on a penthouse window, while ignoring the fact that the entire building is on a shaky foundation. Then, a look at America at 250. Virtually every country promises freedom of expression, including press freedom, in its constitution. What distinguishes democracies is the system that gives the people the power to enforce it. It's up to every generation to carry on that fight. Josh explains why that makes today's media failures so inexcusable. He cites how the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner and a joke from Obama factor in. Plus, a new breaking twist in the saga of the disastrous Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, Graham Platner. Why that isn’t just a political story -- it’s a media story.

When the news shows people certain images, particularly of war and suffering, it creates physical changes in their brains. It triggers part of the mind so intensely that they often can’t think straight. Propagandists take advantage of this. Their greatest weapon is the media. Today, a leading expert joins Josh to explain. Clinical and neuropsychologist Orli Peter introduces us to “the kindled brain,” and what it means for us all. She explains the dangers of the mental state so many people are in; how terrorist groups have mastered the Western mindset; and why the last three years have been unlike anything she’s ever seen.  Also, Josh explains how a clip from the old TV show M*A*S*H fits in, and why an attack from decades ago suddenly has new relevance. And Orli discusses her experience responding publicly to New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji, who celebrated the October 7 massacres and denied the sexual assaults that day. The denial harms patients, Orli says. Big media wouldn’t listen, but she found another place that did -- and it “went viral.”

Looking at the disastrous coverage of the Iran deal, Josh asks, “What imaginary mental world is the media living in? It's as though the whole thing boils down to just gas prices, the Strait of Hormuz,  maybe a mention of Iran's nuclear threat, and of course, imaginary big, bad Israel having a magic ability to force the U.S. into a war.” Today, Josh lays out the reality. Iran presents the greatest current threat to humanity, and the Islamic regime is conducting global efforts in the effort to control as much of the world as possible. The real story involves so much shaping the world and the lives of Americans, he explains. It's about drugs, immigration, assassination plots on U.S. soil, Islamist terrorist attacks, threats to U.S. water supplies, the safety of U.S. children's hospitals, other shipping channels like the Panama Canal and the Red Sea, genocidal attacks on Christians, and the the safety of the world's largest democracy (which isn’t the U.S.). All this and more are wrapped up in what seems to be a disastrous capitulation to Tehran. And if this deal is as bad as it seems to be, that would be totally unsurprising given the reality of Trump's history. Then, Josh tackles a story the media is hiding altogether: The Rape Gang Inquiry, a big new report on the systemic, horrific rape of young girls across the United Kingdom. The government has long turned a blind eye to it because acknowledging it was deemed “racist” and “Islamophobic.” A man was even jailed for talking about it. The media is a big part of the problem.  Plus, a trip to LA, JOMO, and Josh’s appearance on the Unapologetically Jewish podcast in conversation with host Shana Meyerson.

With Josh just back from vacation, producer Don Jackson hosts a special “best-of” edition of They Stand Corrected, pulling six powerful clips that define the show’s mission. Don’s picks tackle media bias around Israel and Gaza, Trump-era disinformation, immigration narratives, the failure to reach low-income voters, and the meaning of October 7 through Jewish history and resilience. 

A top official representing Uyghurs reached out to Josh, saying he’d welcome the chance to talk about misinformation in the media. Then, the story of China’s extreme repression of the mostly Muslim Uyghurs became especially timely. Today, Salih Hudayar, foreign minister of the East Turkestan Government in Exile, discusses how China is manipulating the world with help from the media. He assails the hypocrisy left-wing groups that claim to care about human rights, “colonialism,” and “genocide,” while ignoring “the biggest imperialist power,” China.  Josh explains how this affects coverage of politics, the war in Iran, trade, immigration, and more. He explains how Chinese funding fuels organizations like Code Pink and streamers like Hasan Piker as they work to radicalize people around the world’s stupidest cause: hating Israel.  The plight of the Uyghurs also highlights the hypocrisy of many Islamic nations, the U.N., and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Hudayar shares his experience being kicked out of U.S. mosques for simply requesting a prayer to end the genocide of Uyghurs. Plus, Maine Democrat Graham Platner has Democrats’ backing despite a long record of horrible behaviors, and ousted 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley leaves big questions unanswered.

News giants have been fixating on horse-race coverage of primaries, and misleading the country. While the headlines play up support for far-right and far-left candidates, Americans are clamoring for moderation. Today, Josh digs into the data. He shows that overwhelming numbers of Americans say Republicans and Democrats have gone too far in their ideological directions. He highlights how Big Media hides the truth about the top issues for voters. A survey finds that Americans worry “a great deal” about terrorism -- even more than energy affordability and illegal immigration. But you wouldn't know that from the New York Times.  Also, the media keeps churning out political predictions despite a long record of being very wrong. USA Today humor columnist Rex Huppke joins Josh to discuss his wish: “Make stupidity embarrassing again.” Josh shares the story of a “news” anchor known for spouting nonsense shamelessly before Trump became president the first time.  Plus, new arrests of women in Western countries who have been carrying out the slave trade for ISIS, the Islamic State. Josh discusses why the majority of those arrested in democracies have been women, and why many so-called “human rights” campaigners stay silent about this slavery -- as well as the chattel slavery that still exists in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

How did Canada, previously known for its politeness, become home to a widespread, violent antisemitic movement? Attacks on Jews are higher per capita in Canada than anywhere else in the West. Montreal has been called the “antisemitism capital of North America.” Today, Josh is joined by Jesse Brown, editor and publisher of the independent news and podcast company Canadaland. In a recent series called “What is Happening Here,” he delved into the antisemitism spreading across the country. Josh speaks with him about unique ways in which Canadian media fuels this bigotry, including by failing to report who carries out hate crimes. “The worse the media has done here, the more government support they've gotten,” Jesse says. The problem trickles down from the highest levels of the government and leads to policies in newsrooms. “What Americans can see in Canada is: This is what happens when nobody is pushing back against this anti-Zionist thing,” he explains. “It gets bolder, it gets infused into organizations, it becomes a witch hunt against everyday people.” Also today, the BBC looks at girls in Afghanistan being sold into slavery, and focuses on how difficult it is for their fathers. To the BBC, the men doing the selling must be portrayed as victims. Josh explains the warped thinking that leads to these journalistic fiascoes.

Legal action can be the most powerful opportunity to uncover the corruption and lack of journalistic standards inside news agencies. A lawsuit exposed how Fox knowingly lied to its audience about the 2020 election. Now, a lawsuit over a disastrous op-ed could expose realities from inside The New York Times. Today, Josh explains why the threatened lawsuit in response to Nicholas Kristof’s column doesn’t have to lead to a plaintiff’s victory in order to pay off. Discovery is the key. Josh is in an unusual position to explain this, because he took legal action against his employer while at CNN. He discusses how desperately news agencies want to keep their dirty laundry hidden. Also today, something difficult but important to hear: Kids in Gaza describe sexual abuse by Hamas. So does an Israeli man. Big media ignored this. Plus, why a bailout is not a balanced budget -- and how left-wing media is heaping false praise onto New York City’s mayor. Then, Josh explains why Memorial Day is the most hypocritical date on the media’s calendar, and what it takes to really honor those who died in service to the country.

A new bill of global importance has become a law. It could set a template for the entire country. Around the world, anti-democratic nations are watching this, because they know it's a strike against one of their big goals: influencing the minds of American children. Today, Josh is joined by a woman who led the effort to expose foreign influence over what’s taught in U.S. schools. Inspired by proof of Qatar’s propaganda efforts, State Rep. Esther Panitch, a Georgia Democrat, spearheaded legislation to make her state the first to require a new kind of reporting. When she drew attention to the issue, the top Qatari officials in the United States went after her publicly -- and then also went after another Jewish woman, saying they were doing “what people like you always do.”  Also, a new report is out, detailing horrific sexual violence carried out by Gazan terrorists. Even CNN took a break from parroting Hamas talking points to report on it. But the New York Times apparently turned down a chance to report on it in advance. Worse, the paper tried to get out ahead of it by running a propaganda-filled opinion piece from Nicholas Kristof.  Josh takes us through Kristof’s history of getting big things wrong, including in a failed run for governor of Oregon. “A guy who doesn't look for facts and then tries so hard to deny them -- this is who the Times entrusts to run with the most incendiary allegations you can make against Israel,” Josh explains.

A Supreme Court decision about voting rights became “stop the presses” news. But the media left out a big part of the story: the history of Black Democratic groups and white Republican groups working together to create more majority-Black districts. Today, Josh explains the math behind the effort.  Then, hear dramatic sound from the capture of a knife-wielding UK terrorist who attacked Jewish people. The BBC pretended the latest in a long string of attacks was “shocking.” The network also muted a guest’s microphone when he cited incitement by far-left politicians. And the BBC helped a far-left politician avoid answering a simple question. Josh explains how the scene became a study in “tragicomic obfuscation.” NPR, meanwhile, did not run a single on-air piece about the attack. Josh shares what happened when he searched NPR’s site for any stories about Jewish people, radical Islam, and more. People should not give their hard-earned money to the network, he argues, particularly in the wake of a historic $113 million gift from two extremely wealthy people. Also today, more of Josh’s interview with fantastic military analyst Andrew Fox. Even if Iran agrees to a deal, it's likely to see it as a temporary patch until Trump is out of office. Andrew explains why Iran is banking on a Democrat taking over the White House and giving the Islamic regime, effectively, free reign. Plus, why Pakistan is suddenly all over the news, and the media’s cluelessness about where the country came from.

The giant chasm between the media and reality has never been as clear as it is now, in the wake of a shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner. News agencies have long ignored and downplayed left-wing violence. Instead of covering it, they’ve run cover for it and churned out content designed to radicalize people even further. Now, that hatred hit home. Today, Josh shares proof that left-wing violence is more popular than right-wing violence in America, especially among young people. Plus, former guest Mike Pesca points out something important about what the authorities did to the shooter at the gala -- and the profound hypocrisy of the media not caring.  Josh also tackles another big media issue: anonymous sourcing. The Atlantic published a piece alleging that FBI Director Kash Patel is “MIA,” based entirely on unnamed people. Josh shows how the media has misused anonymous sourcing for so long that many people distrust them. He highlights particularly disastrous cases of anonymous sources being wrong -- including a CNN example that put lives in danger. Even coverage of Patel’s response served as a reminder of media failure. He made nonsensical claims about his own record, but the media parroted him anyway. Josh explains, and tells you about an anonymous source who referred to a vice president as “I.”

Trump insists it's going “swimmingly.” Much of the media portrays it as an unmitigated disaster. But since news giants get so much wrong also, how can you know what's true? Today, Josh welcomes back Andrew Fox of the Henry Jackson Society, a clear-headed military analyst who understands war and what’s really happening. Andrew cites ways in which the war has been “a dominating, overwhelming, crushing victory for Israel and the United States” and ways in which it has not been so -- including one action in particular that he calls “a military mistake for the ages.”  He also explains the reason the initial U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran took place at the exact moment it did; how a 5-minute elevator underground factors in; what signs to look for in the coming weeks; and how Trump’s turn on Ukraine affected Europe’s actions on Iran. And he describes what it will take to end Iran’s Islamist regime, the chief sponsor of global terror.  Plus: the media buries another terrorist attack on a synagogue, carried out by teens. New York Times propagandist Ezra Klein denies reality again. A state representative calls out left-wing hate monger Hasan Piker’s latest vile, bigoted rant, which targeted a Vietnamese refugee. And the U.S. Navy Band plays two national anthems.

The media needs to learn from its big screwups. It usually doesn’t. Today, Josh shows the latest proof. In rushing to cover Iran’s claims about a ceasefire deal, the media forgot lessons from a previous controversy involving the Mueller Report, then-Attorney General Bill Barr, and claims of Russian interference in the U.S. election. Meanwhile, news agencies that have told you not to trust the Iranian government suddenly want you to trust it now. And the same news agencies condemning Elon Musk for letting Iran spread propaganda on X are quoting and linking to Iran’s propaganda on X. Also today, Josh dispels the notion that on-the-ground reporters know as much as they claim to. He discusses “parachute journalism” and a question journalists often ask each other on air, exposing a fundamental flaw in news operations. Plus a giant lesson the media is missing from the election in Hungary, NPR's unforgettably awful admission, and the media's hypocrisy around destroying a civilization.

A New York Times headline read, “US Rejects Vote to Recognise Slavery as a Crime Against Humanity.” That's false. Today, Josh explains what actually happened, and why it’s so significant for the time we’re living in. It involves victim narratives, vikings, and the British asking an African nation to stop slavery. The Times also misled readers about a Trump quote, giving fodder to “fake news” claims. Josh explains why that's so damaging. Meanwhile, with a day remembering the Holocaust (Yom Hashoah) coming up, Josh busts a very popular myth. Unlike the lies pushed by extremist groups and nations like Iran, this myth was created by a famed Nazi hunter. Simon Wiesenthal was convinced -- probably correctly -- that few people would care about 6 million murdered Jews. So he invented an “11 million people” claim, which the media has since repeated many times over. Also today, as Trump continues firing cabinet officials far faster than presidents generally do, the media is ignoring the lying track records of his new picks. Plus, the great Marian Anderson, historic civil rights figure and opera singer, performing a song with timely resonance.

A new merger has huge implications for news at the local level -- where people still trust the media. Today, Josh explains why this story is even bigger than it seems. Some are presenting the Nexstar-Tegna merger as yet another example of Trump rewarding billionaires who played his game. But some prominent conservative groups, including CPAC, oppose it. Meanwhile, a group that has been giving more money to Democrats than Republicans supports it. Will this merger poison coverage across the country, or is it the key to survival? This story involves the tech giants (Google, Meta, TikTok and more) and a so-called “moat against extinction.” It also sets up an unfair choice between two bad options. Josh explains that there's a solution. Plus left-wing media figure Kara Swisher sparked headlines by trashing CBS’ new ownership and saying she would not work at CNN under the same owners. Josh explains why this story ended up saying a lot about today’s media, hypocrisy, and blindness to existing dangers. Also, Josh announces the winners -- er, losers, of the Media Fail Awards (mediafailawards.com). And he discusses yet another group of Christians slaughtered.

Today, Josh starts off with a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote about “appalling silence.” That's because the media’s failures aren’t just about stories it gets wrong; they’re also about stories it refuses to tell. Perhaps the biggest is modern slavery, which includes an estimated 50 million people -- probably more. A new report finds conviction rates are critically low. Josh searched Big Media for coverage. Meanwhile, as debates rage about the Iran war, one of the most important things to understand is how Iran’s support of Islamist terror threatens the United States. Yet the media has not reported on the new Global Terrorism Index. It shows a massive 280% jump in people killed by terrorism in the West, and the highest number in the United States since 2019. 📈 The findings about children, especially, should be in headlines everywhere. Josh explains. Plus, amid the slew of attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in the West, something is not happening -- and that’s a big, untold story.  Also today, a former Major League Baseball player celebrates the show “contributing to the well-being of Team Humanity and specifically Team America.” And Josh offers shoutouts with public domain music recorded on your birthday.

It’s the 100th episode! Join the celebration and support the fight for truth by becoming a Founding Member at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Today, Josh divulges a reality that Big Media doesn’t want you to know: News consumption has plummeted. More people are proudly announcing that they’re cutting back, calling it JOMO -- the joy of missing out. That may be a good thing. A study finds that people who spend more time following the news are more misinformed about crucial topics. That's because of how news giants are responding to the shrinking audience. Josh explains that it's a story of marauders, shields, and people who are supposed to be warriors for truth choosing instead to play on their phones. Also, the term “derangement syndrome” is now being used in all sorts of contexts -- in reference to a state, a technology, and a wildly popular singer. It isn't just a new catch-all phrase; it’s a sign of problematic thinking pushed by the media.  Plus, celebratory voice messages from supporters. And something listeners have asked for: a message to share with friends who may be entrenched in talking points of the political right or left.

New York City nearly had an Islamist terrorist attack just days ago, but you wouldn’t know it from Big Media. Instead of getting people the truth, news giants hid basics. Today, Josh shares news disasters from The New York Times and CNN that are so ludicrous they sound like jokes. Meanwhile, the Times showed its bias in coverage of two political spouses. It ran cover for Rama Duwaji, wife of Zohran Mamdani, who liked social media posts celebrating the October 7 terrorist massacres. But it went after the wife of another Democratic politician, whose social media activity was sensible. Plus, an analysis, conducted for this episode, shows the media has dramatically changed how it covers a U.S. military conflict. And Josh shares a clip of someone calling out a major news network live on the air.  Also, a leading Democratic figure, a likely presidential candidate for 2028, has gone off the rails -- and Josh seems to be the only person asking him what he's thinking.

In the days since the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, the media has been misleading us. Obituaries of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, left out basics, including his role in attacks on Americans and his regime’s horrific, systematic sexual assaults on girls and women. Big Media also showed pro-Iran bias in deciding which groups get the “terrorist” label.  Today, Josh tells us what the media won’t. He dismantles disastrous “reporting” from the New York Times, CNN, and the Washington Post. He explains how the media abandoned Iran’s brave protesters in recent months -- a decision that strengthened Iran’s ability to fight off military action. The BBC even traveled to Iran to do propaganda for the regime. This story ties into another big story at home that sounds unrelated: a merger involving CBS and CNN. The same news agencies insisting journalism is in danger don’t care about the journalistic fiascoes already present.  The problem is not left versus right, Josh explains; it's truth versus lies. Tune in to get the two ingredients of truth: facts plus context.

As soon as the news broke that the United States and Israel launched a military attack on Iran, the media began spreading propaganda. Using a trick that the Islamic Republic employs, Big Media passed along claims directly from the government’s own approved “news” agencies. That's just one of the big problems in the initial coverage. Today, Josh jumps in with a special mini-episode to set the record straight on this and more. He explains that the media keeps missing a crucial story about a president’s war powers and the need for congressional authorization. And there's a big picture reality missing: a fissure in the Middle East itself. An Egyptian political analyst explains why Iran is at the helm of an “evil axis.”

Much of what we've been told about a big story in recent days has been wrong. It involves the Trump administration, a tight Senate race, Stephen Colbert, and claims of censorship. Those elements have been in the news, but the story also involves Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bernie Sanders, and a Biden official running to lead the most populous state. News giants have pretty much ignored all of that because it doesn't fit the simple narrative they would rather give you.  Today, Josh sets the record straight. He breaks down the story surrounding Texas Democrat James Talarico, and explains how the media “took the bait.” He dismantles the most “off the rails” talking points, and warns us about the long-term dangers of “panic mode” thinking. Also, why the State of the Union address is one of the most frustrating nights of the year, and signals a need for a big countermovement in America. And the latest fantastic listener feedback includes an “I stand corrected!” Plus, Josh tells us about two conversations that highlight hope for our democracy.

The other day, a political scandal should have erupted. If the media was doing its job, it would have. Instead, news giants buried or ignored what happened because it didn't fit their preferred narrative. Today, Josh explains how this story exemplifies a fundamental problem in the news -- and a way we all get manipulated by political coverage.  The story involves pro-terror radicals on the left, Proud Boys on the right, and wildly different questions the media asks political candidates. It includes moments of “supreme cluelessness,” when the connection between two things is obvious but the media refuses to see it.  Josh also highlights a big mistake the media is making in coverage of the Epstein files, and answers a listener's question about “paroxysms” among a certain demographic.  Celebrate the show’s upcoming 100th episode! Become a Founding Member at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. Other ways to make the fight for truth possible: BuyMeACoffee.com/joshlevs PayPal.me/joshlevs Bookings, feedback: joshlevs.com  Tell news executives to stop the madness: theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/how-to-email-your-complaints-to-big Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen! Thanks

Big Media routinely tunes out information, presents a two-dimensional narrative, and insists that it’s the whole story. That's been happening in recent days, in coverage of mass layoffs at the Washington Post.  Today, Josh explains what the media won't admit: The Post, just like other news giants, is suffering from its own journalistic failures. He takes you through some of the paper’s worst recent disasters. He also explores how tunnel vision is skewing coverage of Bad Bunny's halftime show at the Super Bowl and a horrific mass slaughter in an African country.   And a listener asks Josh whether Trump is really trying to “nationalize” elections. He tells you what the media has left out.

It’s a major story involving the First Amendment and protecting children. The media is getting basic facts about it wrong. Even worse, it’s missing the big picture. Today, Josh explains how the media is digging a hole, and dragging America down with it. The story involves arrests of so-called independent journalists who were at a protest inside a Minneapolis-St. Paul church. To help us all see what it’s really about, Josh takes us back to a major event 50 years ago. Meanwhile, another story is turning out to be much bigger than it may seem: The guy formerly known as Kanye West is apologizing for his antisemitism and other bigotry, according to the media. But is he? When news giants tell you something happened, what steps do they take to make sure it really did? Unlike the media, Josh seeks proof. These stories have a common thread. In both cases, the media is showing a contempt for a basic principle of democracy and journalism.

Coverage of the latest deadly shooting by federal immigration agents has left out crucial context. Today, Josh tells you what most legacy media have ignored.  He digs into the track record of the official who led Trump’s crackdown in Minneapolis. A federal judge slammed Greg Bovino for “outright lying.” Josh also explains how the media left out the dangers these agents face, which can affect a split-second decision to shoot.  Then, another big story involving immigration. 60 Minutes broadcast the controversial report about a hellish prison in El Salvador. It's the segment that many “journalists” insisted would never air. Now that it did, what are they saying?  Unlike the media, Josh shows you what was changed in the report before it aired -- and what wasn't.

Stories of independent, self-declared “journalists” have been all over the news lately. The Trump administration went wild over Nick Shirley, who made a video involving Somali immigrants in Minnesota, daycares, and allegations of fraud. Big Media responded with hypocritical attacks, performative stunts, and accusations of Islamophobia. Then, Don Lemon -- a former mainstream media figure-turned independent “journalist” -- joined protesters who barged into a church during a service, causing mayhem. He got basics wrong about the Constitution, the First Amendment, the Civil Right Movement, and more. And it’s quite possible that he violated the law. Today, Josh talks you through these incidents. He explains why they were not acts of journalism, and what the responsibilities of a true “citizen journalist” are. He discusses brave Iranians attempting to do citizen journalism now, amid the government’s latest brutal, deadly crackdown on protesters. And he shows how the media is contradicting itself.

To get your attention, the media likes to make you angry. So big news agencies churn out hot takes that inspire fury -- facts be damned.  That's clear in coverage of the shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent. Today, Josh points out how a news network did exactly the wrong thing in the wake of the shooting. Also, how all the major media are ignoring a basic fact about groups organizing protests: Several of them actually support state violence of a different kind. Anger also led to disastrous coverage of a battle at CBS’ 60 Minutes. A news executive held a story for further reporting, and people throughout the Big Media landscape lost their minds. Josh explains. Meanwhile, the media has been largely ignoring something that people should be angry about: Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters. Brave Iranians have launched another uprising against the state’s brutal Islamist regime. Josh explains how the media has fallen since he covered a previous uprising in the country.

The U.S. military operation in Venezuela and capture of strongman Nicolas Maduro raise crucial questions about the extent of American power and what’s allowed under so-called “international law.” The media should respond by giving you the facts. What does the Constitution say? What do international treaties say? How have governments made decisions about military actions, and who gets to weigh in?  Instead of providing answers, the media has produced an avalanche of conflicting claims, opinions, and lies. Today, Josh pieces through the rubble to uncover the truth. He talks you through military actions by the Obama and Biden administrations; the reason Maduro may not be protected by a ban on capturing foreign leaders; the doctrine ensuring that he can stand trial in the U.S., and more. Also, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “briefing” that wasn’t; how a democratic Venezuela could help fight Islamist terrorism; and an unintentionally hilarious BBC segment summarizes the media’s failure.

Welcome to the second annual Media Fail Awards! It’s your chance to vote on the biggest news blunders of the year. Hear the “nominees” for the most disastrous reporting that helped spread big lies on both ends of the political spectrum. Then, vote! Find your ballot at mediafailawards.com. Josh will inform the news agencies of their wins -- er, losses. Also in this episode, a damaging Christmas myth we can help dispel in the news. Since this is the last episode of the year, Josh has wishes for a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! They Stand Corrected needs your support! We’re about 17% under where we need to be to keep going in 2026. You can become a paid subscriber to the newsletter at TheyStandCorrected.substack.com, or contribute via buymeacoffee.com/joshlevs or paypal.me/joshlevs. You’ll receive thanks from Josh, a message on the show (if you wish) and the chance to decide which topics are covered. Event bookings, feedback, and more at joshlevs.com.  Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Thank you for an amazing year! Here’s hoping for another year of showing the media that They Stand Corrected.

The media is complicit in the Hanukkah massacre. That’s not an accusation or opinion; it’s a demonstrable fact. Today, Josh provides proof.  In the wake of the Islamist terrorist attack in Sydney, Josh takes you inside Australia’s media landscape, which mirrors that of the United States and western Europe. You’ll hear the daughter of an elderly victim bravely call out the mainstream media in the middle of a live interview.  Then, Josh digs into the big problem with the media’s fixation on one hero. He explains how the media uses stories like that to hide a much bigger reality. He tells you about Jewish heroes who were killed in the attack. And he shares sound from a brave Muslim soldier fighting Islamist terrorism and antisemitism.  Anti-Zionism is a hate movement radicalizing the world. Josh explains that Hanukkah is all about defeating anti-Zionism. Yet the media uses the holiday to platform anti-Zionist Jews, giving audiences the false idea that they’re large in number.

Recently, a planned terrorist attack against LGBTQ clubs was apparently thwarted. Authorities say young men from the Dearborn, Michigan area had practiced and stockpiled weapons for the attack, inspired by the Islamic State. The story was quickly buried, but it speaks to a strange shift in American politics and culture. In recent years, LGBTQ+ groups have become mouthpieces for lies put out by Islamist groups like Hamas. They do this while claiming “solidarity.” But at the same time, U.S. Muslims are pulling further away from stances crucial to LGBTQ+ organizations. The latest survey shows support for same-sex marriage has plummeted among Muslim Americans, while growing among just about everyone else. Today, Josh explains how the media is fueling this shift, and how LGBTQ+ groups are risking the end of same-sex marriage. He takes you to a city in which the nation’s first all Muslim city council banned Pride flags. (These aren’t “strange bedfellows,” since only one side seems to believe they’re bedfellows at all.) Plus, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is going after the media, ranting about anonymous sources. And while anonymity is overused and misused in the media, the Trump administration is in no position to complain. Josh explains.

The shooting of two National Guard members in Washington last week sparked a political battle and a cascade of media failure. Big news agencies ran false claims from President Trump and other government officials without correcting them. But that's just the beginning. The attack, by an Afghan refugee, shines a light on media failures going back to 2021. Amid the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, news agencies ran claims from the Biden administration without fact checking or attributing those. Today, Josh traces you through the uncorrected lies that have misled the country. Plus, the media’s role in rushing the 2021 process of ushering Afghan citizens into America -- and the dangers that process wrought. Also, what the media refuses to tell you about the shooter, and the word the media refuses to mention about the U.S. departure from Afghanistan.

Each year, the media runs stories about people arguing with loved ones over Thanksgiving dinner. News agencies present themselves as giving you solutions for handling polarization. But these reports are hypocritical because the media itself is polarizing America through an onslaught of lies. In this mini-episode, Josh discusses a way to respond to people who believe lies. It’s a simple tactic that listeners say has worked. Plus, a Thanksgiving message of gratitude to you.

The release of some documents related to Jeffrey Epstein in recent days has been, above all else, a media story. Political leaders released certain files involving the sex trafficker, knowing what the media would do: grab a few lines out of context and play them up in hopes of getting audiences to click, watch, listen, and read. In the process, it made a mess and sowed confusion. But the release did raise new and serious concerns about the role of the media itself. A New York Times journalist tipped off Epstein about someone working on an exposé about him. And author Michael Wolff advised him. Today, Josh digs into all of this to explain where the media has gone wrong. He also highlights the hypocrisy of the BBC’s apology to Trump, and takes on a billion dollar news conglomerate that pushed the “genocide” libel about Israel.

Two top executives at the world's biggest news broadcaster, the BBC, have resigned after another fiasco. This one involves the network doctoring Trump's January 6, 2021 speech before the insurrection. But some news outlets pointing to this as proof of BBC bias have created a different problem of their own. They’re cutting off what Trump said, giving you a false positive impression. “Everybody's misleading you,” Josh explains in this episode. “But this show lets you tune out the noise and get the truth.” Plus, new proof of the BBC’s pro-Hamas bias has also come to light -- including its disastrous coverage of a Yazidi sex slave who was rescued by Israel, the United States, and Jordan. Meanwhile, a series of problems plague coverage of last week's U.S. elections. Josh pieces through them, and shows why it’s no surprise that surveys on civic knowledge in America are dismal.  And the mainstream media's favorite streamer announced his anti-democratic stance yet again. But even that isn't slowing down the fawning profiles.

When Tuesday’s election results came in, Newsweek invited Josh to assess the victory of New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. In today’s episode, he explains why he called it a terrible, dangerous turn in U.S. politics. Big media like The New York Times celebrated the news, of course. Josh explains that the Times had an “Oops, I Did it Again” moment when a high-ranking journalist let the mask drop -- and then tried to put it back on. Then, a guest joins Josh to explore a bigger question: How did we get here? Why does the media warn about anti-democratic movements on the right while running cover for those on the left? Fellow NPR alum Mike Pesca, host of the podcast The Gist, helps explain how news agencies lost their way. He also discusses his firing from a national news agency. Josh explains why Mike’s experience is a window into anti-journalistic thinking in newsrooms.

The story of a renovation at the White House and the planned creation of a big ballroom is the perfect example of how media failures have left people in the dark. Depending on someone's media bubble, they've either heard that Trump launched a destructive, crazy expensive vanity project that might even be illegal, or that it's just a long awaited change and the left is freaking freaking out about nothing. Today, Josh pieces through the mess to get you the facts. Also, news organizations generally play up a candidate's past offensive remarks and actions -- but not when it comes to antisemitism on the left. Then the mainstream media isn't interested. And if other people make it a story, the media frames the candidate as a victim. Josh provides proof involving New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, who expressed his love for convicted funders of terrorism and praised an imam with ties to radical Islam. Plus, a student leader who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s assassination might actually face a consequence despite the media’s effort to run cover for him.

When businesses judge their achievements at the end of each year, they generally look at financial figures. But what about organizations that exist primarily to serve a crucial societal purpose? There, the metrics are usually different. They assess their impact. Not so for news agencies. Instead, big media look at audience figures and awards -- which say nothing about providing the truth. Today, Josh digs into this problem. He explains how new annual awards could hold the media to account, and how we can make them happen. Also, questions have been pouring in from supporters of the show following the last two episodes. Josh answers several, explains what’s true, and teaches you what to look for in a news story to be on guard against lies. Plus, what the media is leaving out of its coverage of a Trump fiasco at the CDC.