5 chapters across the catalog
Vanity Fair published a report claiming Donald Trump is suffering from PTSD after watching the footage of his assassination attempt "over and over." The report suggests this trauma is causing him to make "gaffes" and personal attacks rather than focusing on policy. This narrative is viewed as a coordinated media schema to garner sympathy or question his fitness for office.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska appeared in a high-fashion Vogue magazine photoshoot by Annie Leibovitz. Critics labeled the move "war porn" and "disgusting," arguing it glamorizes a conflict while the country receives billions in aid. The segment compares the PR move to the 2011 Vogue profile of Asma al-Assad, which preceded the escalation of the Syrian conflict.
Caitlyn Jenner Vanity Fair Debut and Gender Identity Media Coverage
Caitlyn Jenner's debut on the cover of *Vanity Fair*, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, broke internet records by gaining one million Twitter followers in four hours. While the media celebrated the transition, the ACLU used the moment to highlight the lack of health insurance coverage for "facial feminization" surgeries for the broader trans community. Critics argue the coverage focuses excessively on the sexualized aspects of the transition rather than the complex reality of gender identity.
Monetizing Celebrity Meltdowns and Hedge Funds
New York Magazine profiles an investment vehicle led by Tom Barrack and Rob Lowe that "bails out" distressed celebrities by acquiring their future earnings and assets. The hosts discuss the potential dark side of such investments, including the financial incentive for an investor if a celebrity's value increases after death.
The official state portrait of the Obama family, taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz, is criticized for its poor composition and lighting. The hosts express disappointment that a high-profile photographer used a Canon EOS 1 instead of a high-end Hasselblad for such a significant image. They describe the background, featuring open doors and a lack of flags, as looking like a "green room" rather than a formal setting.
