Topic: Anonymous Sources

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany delivered a scathing critique of Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg, labeling him a "liberal activist." She cited his past reporting at The New Yorker, which helped build the case for the Iraq War based on flawed intelligence regarding Al Qaeda. McEnany noted that 25 people have gone on the record to refute Goldberg's recent story about Trump's alleged comments on fallen soldiers.

The Atlantic published a report claiming Donald Trump disparaged fallen military members as "losers and suckers" during a 2018 trip to France. Trump and former officials like John Bolton have denied the story, which relies on anonymous sources. Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin claimed to confirm parts of the report, though critics point out that the "suckers" comment was specifically related to the Vietnam War, a sentiment shared by many veterans of that era.

Following the death of legendary newsman Jim Lehrer, his "rules for journalism" are revisited. Lehrer's guidelines included avoiding anonymous sources, separating opinion from news, and assuming the viewer is as smart as the journalist. The hosts contrast Lehrer's objective legacy with the current state of the PBS NewsHour and the mainstream media's reliance on "anonymous bullcrap."

Analysis of the Wall Street Journal's reporting on the Nike controversy reveals that the story relied on "people familiar with the matter" rather than on-the-record quotes from Colin Kaepernick or Mark Geragos. The lack of direct attribution raises questions about the origins of the narrative and Nike's official silence regarding Kaepernick's specific role.

Following the Special Counsel's dispute of the BuzzFeed story, PBS NewsHour omitted the correction from its primary news teaser, effectively burying the follow-up. The reliance on anonymous "government sources" by major publications like The New York Times is criticized as a systemic failure in modern journalism. The segment argues that the lack of accountability for "fake" reporting has become normalized in the industry.

President Trump stated that the CIA has not reached a definitive conclusion regarding the Saudi leadership's involvement in the Khashoggi murder, contradicting reports from The Washington Post. The reliance on "sources familiar with the matter" is criticized as a way for media outlets to print unverified headlines. The discussion touches on the lack of a formal public report from the intelligence community.

An anonymous producer claims to have confirmed the "No Agenda" theory that Donald Trump wears dentures and is sensitive about them slipping. The hosts discuss how this might explain his occasional slurred speech, though they also consider previous theories involving the hair-loss drug Propecia.

Nate Silver of 538 published a guide suggesting that anonymous sources "familiar with a person's thinking" are often reliable. This claim is criticized as a way to institutionalize psychic-style reporting in mainstream journalism, particularly in the New York Times and Washington Post. The hosts argue that such sourcing allows media organizations to print unverifiable claims without accountability.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein issued a statement cautioning the public against relying on anonymous sources in news reports regarding the Russia investigation. This follows several high-profile retractions and denials, including claims that James Comey asked for more resources before being fired. The hosts argue that major media outlets like CNN and The New York Times are frequently using unidentified sources to push inaccurate narratives.

MSNBC’s Lawrence O'Donnell interviews Washington Post reporter Devlin Barrett regarding the sources for the Trump investigation story. The discussion focuses on whether the information came from the FBI or legal advisors for the officials involved. The hosts criticize the circular logic used by the media to validate anonymous "official" sources.

Texas Representative Blake Farenthold's appearance on CNN is highlighted, where he questioned why the FBI was never allowed to physically examine the DNC servers. The CNN hosts aggressively challenged Farenthold for bringing up "things swirling on the internet," which the hosts interpret as a defense of the established narrative. Farenthold argued that the media should focus on policy issues like healthcare and taxes rather than anonymous allegations.

Trump operative Carl Higby engaged in a heated debate with CNN's Chris Cuomo regarding the media's reliance on anonymous sources. Higby challenged reporters to name their sources, while Cuomo defended the practice as essential to investigative journalism. The segment highlights the growing tension between the administration and "stellar reporters" over the validity of leaked information.

Donald Trump doubled down on his "enemy of the people" label for the media, specifically targeting outlets that use anonymous sources to create "fake" stories. He argued that the media intentionally omits the word "fake" when reporting his criticisms to make it appear he is attacking the entire press. The hosts discuss the performance art aspect of Trump's delivery and his long-standing consistency on these themes dating back to 2013.

The hosts discuss the over-reliance on anonymous sources in modern journalism, citing historical fabrications by reporters like Janet Cooke and Jayson Blair. They argue that the lack of accountability for unnamed sources allows for the spread of gossip and rumors as fact. The segment references the "weapons of mass destruction" reporting as a primary example of how anonymous sourcing can lead to catastrophic policy decisions.

Two Washington Post reporters defended their use of anonymous sources in reporting that the CIA concluded Russia intervened to help Donald Trump win the election. They explained the "negotiation" process for source identification and the risks sources take regarding security clearances and polygraph tests. Critics argue that if the information were definitive, it would be released officially rather than through unauthorized leaks.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announces a new "intermediate level" for the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). Johnson explicitly mentions that the government communicates threats through "news leaks" and "anonymous sources." The hosts are shocked by this admission of using propaganda to maintain public anxiety. Johnson also warns of "self-radicalized actors" who could strike without notice.

A critique of Twitter as a platform for state-sponsored disinformation highlights the difficulty of verifying anonymous sources during international conflicts. The hosts argue that NPR and other outlets are failing to provide proper context by treating retweets as definitive news. They express skepticism regarding the identity and location of individuals posting updates from conflict zones like Libya.