Topic: Brian Jones

MSNBC is undergoing a leadership change under Rashida Jones, which reportedly includes moving Rachel Maddow to a "specials only" role with a $30 million contract. Brian Williams' departure from the network is revisited, specifically his final broadcast where he warned about "darkness on the edge of town" and the erosion of institutional trust in America.

A clip of Alex Jones features a high-energy rant against "corporate criminals" and media figures like Brian Stelter. Jones argued that Americans have lost their "rugged individualism" and warned of impending economic collapse and civil unrest. The segment is characterized as a "performance" typical of Jones's style, focusing on the perceived erosion of constitutional rights.

ABC News suspended investigative reporter Brian Ross for four weeks without pay following a false report regarding General Michael Flynn. The erroneous broadcast claimed Donald Trump directed Flynn to contact Russians during the 2016 campaign, causing a significant drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. ABC later clarified that the directive occurred during the presidential transition, which is a standard diplomatic practice.

CNN's Jake Tapper and Brian Stelter discussed the concept of a "post-truth" world during a C-SPAN panel on the state of the news media. Tapper highlighted the danger of presidential claims regarding the "US armada" in Korea and the debunked link between vaccines and autism. The hosts mock the journalists for viewing Trump supporters as a "minority bubble" and dismiss their concerns about "alternative realities."

The hosts thank Nick the Rat for the Episode 811 artwork featuring a cracked EU egg. Philip Fotenhauer is promoted to the rank of Baron of Bayern and Österreich. A discussion about the Rolling Stones' original guitar player, Brian Jones, ensues after a donor sends a card featuring the band.

The hosts critique an ABC News segment featuring Seth Jones of the Rand Corporation, who provides a detailed narrative of the bombers' radicalization. They question how analysts can claim to know specific details about the suspects' internet habits and motivations so quickly after the event.