Topic: Boston Globe

A review of historical headlines from the 1960s and 1970s reveals a pattern of failed environmental predictions by scientists like Paul Ehrlich and major media outlets. Past alarms included a predicted new ice age by the 21st century, the death of the oceans by 1980, and total food rationing in America. These "receipts" from Time Magazine and the Boston Globe are used to illustrate long-term media sensationalism regarding climate.

Dr. Leana Wen is facing criticism from the scientific community for suggesting a return to pre-pandemic normalcy, leading to speculation that she may be positioned as a scapegoat for COVID-19 policy failures. Comparisons are made to other public health figures like Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx regarding who will ultimately bear responsibility for the pandemic response.

Over 100 American newspapers, led by the Boston Globe, coordinated the publication of editorials defending the free press against President Trump's rhetoric. The movement references Thomas Jefferson's historical shift from supporting newspapers to criticizing their accuracy after taking office. A 1964 Supreme Court decision is cited to emphasize that public discussion should be robust and include sharp attacks on government officials.

A Boston Globe "Spotlight" investigation reveals that the FAA has failed to implement a 2004 Congressional mandate to include photos on pilot licenses. The report also highlights how easy it is to register aircraft in the U.S. using Delaware-based LLCs as fronts, potentially allowing individuals on no-fly lists to own planes. The $5 registration fee and lack of rigorous background checks for aircraft ownership are cited as significant post-9/11 security gaps.

The Boston Globe published a satirical front page dated April 2017 depicting a dystopian future under a Trump presidency. Simultaneously, Ted Cruz faces accusations of anti-Semitism following his "New York values" comments. Critics argue that Cruz's focus on "money and the media" invokes historical tropes, while Cruz maintains he was referring to liberal politicians like Andrew Cuomo and Anthony Weiner.

Journalist Peter Theo Curtis is released by the Al-Nusra Front after two years of captivity, appearing in a press conference at the Golan Heights. The hosts note that Curtis worked for the Ground Truth Foundation, the same organization linked to James Foley. They highlight a series of coincidences where Ground Truth founder Charles M. Sennett was stationed in cities just prior to major terror attacks.

The hosts discuss the sale of the Boston Globe for $70 million, a fraction of its original $1.1 billion purchase price. They also debunk a viral story about a woman visited by a joint terrorism task force for Googling "pressure cookers." It is revealed that the tip actually came from an IT worker at her husband's former employer who reported his search history to the police.

The story of "Danny," the 26-year-old Chinese national carjacked by the Tsarnaev brothers, is questioned for its lack of transparency. According to the Boston Globe and ABC, Danny escaped at a Shell station while the brothers were distracted, potentially preventing an attack on Times Square. The hosts express skepticism regarding the details of his escape and the fact that he has not appeared in televised interviews.

The capture of Irish mafia boss Whitey Bulger is scrutinized, with claims that the FBI's official story regarding a PSA-driven tip is "fishy." Reporters from the Boston Globe and New York Times suggest the FBI protected Bulger for decades while he committed murders to prevent him from exposing agency corruption. Allegations are made that FBI agents used the long-term search for Bulger as an excuse for taxpayer-funded international travel junkets.

A Tea Party author complains on C-SPAN about the Boston Globe's refusal to cover local rallies. The hosts discuss the primary victory of Rand Paul in Kentucky and the media's attempt to frame him as a racist. They conclude with a bizarre tourism ad from Sonora, Mexico, featuring a soldier with binoculars, which they interpret as a provocative response to Arizona's border tensions.

High-resolution photos from the Boston Globe show US military supplies being dropped into Afghan poppy fields, with Marines promising to compensate farmers for damaged crops. The hosts argue this proves the US military is in Afghanistan to protect the opium harvest rather than eradicate it. They highlight the irony of the military paying for the destruction of an "illicit" crop they are supposedly fighting.

The New York Times Company reported a 28.4% decline in revenue for its news media group, reflecting the ongoing collapse of the traditional newspaper industry. The hosts attribute this decline to a lack of skepticism in mainstream reporting and a failure to provide the "real news" that the public desires.

Major newspapers like the Boston Globe and San Francisco Chronicle are reportedly losing a million dollars per week. The head of the Associated Press has threatened legal action against bloggers who republish content, while the hosts argue that the old top-heavy media model is obsolete. They discuss the lack of a clear future revenue model for investigative journalism.

The potential closure of the Boston Globe serves as a starting point for a discussion on the declining relevance of traditional print media. The hosts observe that modern audiences prefer the engaging nature of television commentators or specific bloggers over traditional newspaper columnists. They also note the disconnect between international news cycles and the localized focus of American media.

The New York Times Company is reportedly seeking to sell its $200 million stake in the Boston Red Sox to raise cash for an upcoming $400 million debt payment. While the ownership is technically through the Boston Globe, the move is seen as a sign of the financial strain facing major print media institutions.