Topic: Hearst

A historical look at the newspaper industry notes that while organizations like Hearst were once highly profitable, modern papers are essentially "welfare for reporters." The hosts argue that Bezos's decision to cut staff reflects a move toward solvency rather than a "sacred trust" in democracy.

A federal bill is moving toward legalizing industrial hemp for the first time in 80 years as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. The hosts discuss the economic potential of the CBD market and the historical reasons for hemp's prohibition. Dvorak attributes the original ban to William Randolph Hearst's desire to protect his timber investments from hemp-based paper competition.

A critique of modern "destination dispatch" elevator systems describes the lack of internal buttons and the resulting inefficiency in Manhattan hotels. An anecdote about the Hearst Building mentions the use of podium stewards to operate elevators. Additionally, a complaint is lodged against Cisco VoIP phones that rebooted nightly at 3:59 AM, illuminating hotel rooms with bright white screens.

A host recounts a visit to the MIT Media Lab with Will Hearst, where Nicholas Negroponte allegedly bragged about "pre-selling" books to manipulate bestseller lists. After writing a critical column about the lab's inventions, the host was targeted by a "hit piece" in Wired Magazine written by Paulina Borsuk. The story concludes with a comparison to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem using campaign funds to buy her own books to inflate sales figures.

A personal anecdote describes a visit to the MIT Media Lab with Will Hearst, where Nicholas Negroponte discussed a book deal with Stewart Brand. MIT had reportedly pre-purchased 50,000 copies of the book to secure its publication, a common industry practice. The story concludes with the narrator being removed from the meeting by Marvin Minsky after being identified as an un-vetted observer.

The San Francisco Chronicle and other Hearst-owned papers dropped the Dilbert comic strip, citing Adams' "right-wing conspiracy" content and controversial ESG-themed cartoons. Adams' agent also terminated their relationship following the backlash. The hosts discuss the corporate pressure on agents to drop controversial clients and the shift in editorial standards at major newspaper chains.

Elon Musk characterizes the advertiser boycott of Twitter as an "attack on the First Amendment," orchestrated by activist groups. He notes that Twitter is particularly vulnerable because its revenue relies on large brand advertising rather than direct response ads. A historical parallel is drawn to William Randolph Hearst, who reportedly vowed to destroy companies that pulled advertising from his newspapers.

The conversation shifts to the crass demeanor often found in successful business moguls, comparing Donald Trump to figures like John DeLorean and William Randolph Hearst. The popularity of television dramas like HBO's Succession is cited as evidence of the public's fascination with dysfunctional business dynasties.

The decline of the newspaper industry is attributed to the loss of classified advertising revenue to platforms like Craigslist. An anecdote describes how Craig Newmark's early offer to collaborate was rejected by newspaper executives who believed they understood the classifieds business better. The discussion argues that newspapers never truly made money from news itself, but rather from the classifieds that the internet eventually disrupted.

A discussion on the unpolished nature of many billionaires compares President Trump's brash style to other wealthy figures like Randy Hearst and Bill Gates. An anecdote describes the difficulty of explaining a "hit-and-run" play in baseball to Bill Gates, illustrating how extreme focus in one area can lead to a lack of sophistication in others. The segment concludes that Trump's simple, taxpayer-focused messaging resonates with the public despite his lack of traditional polish.

The hosts recount meetings with the Tribune Company and Hearst executives in the mid-1990s. They highlight the failure of these media giants to recognize the threat posed by Craigslist to their classified ad revenue, despite Craig Newmark offering them the product.

The hosts discuss historical methods used by leaders to avoid the press, including Franklin D. Roosevelt's private train spur under the Waldorf Astoria. John C. Dvorak shares an anecdote about a secret bookshelf door in the Canadian Prime Minister's office used to evade reporters. They conclude that Trump's desire for privacy is not unprecedented.

The history and purpose of the estate tax are discussed, with the hosts noting how wealthy families like the Hearsts use elaborate trusts to bypass the tax and maintain control over their wealth across generations.

The discussion explores the versatility of the hemp plant, which can be used for milk, rope, paper, and fabric. It is suggested that the Hearst Corporation historically lobbied against hemp to protect its timber and paper mill interests. The hosts note that industrial hemp contains negligible THC and is an easy-to-grow "weed" that was unfairly criminalized.

Joel Klein resigned as New York City Schools Chancellor to join Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, while Mayor Bloomberg appointed Hearst Magazines executive Cathy Black as his successor. The hosts characterize this as the "media-government-publishing complex" taking control of the education system to monetize digital textbooks and indoctrinate students through iPad-based learning tools.

A segment from Family Guy advocating for marijuana legalization is discussed, referencing the historical role of William Randolph Hearst in criminalizing hemp. The hosts also note a Wall Street Journal report on the "Emerald Triangle" in Northern California facing competition from large-scale pot farms in Los Angeles County.

Listener emails describe extreme adverse reactions to high-potency medical marijuana, including prolonged paranoia. The hosts compare these modern accounts to the 1930s "Reefer Madness" propaganda campaign led by William Randolph Hearst. They debate whether current media stories about "flipping out" on weed are organic or part of a campaign to prevent legalization in California.

The print newspaper industry faces a severe crisis, with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer put up for sale and the San Francisco Chronicle reportedly losing $1 million per week. Major media conglomerates like Hearst are struggling to maintain profitability as readers and advertisers migrate to digital platforms.

John C. Dvorak shares a rumor about a backdoor in the OpenTable reservation system used by consultants to track the meetings of Silicon Valley executives. He claims to have seen an itinerary of restaurants visited by Will Hearst, suggesting that reservation data can be used to predict mergers and acquisitions.

While on a flight, a PR proposal for Skype was observed on a passenger's laptop, detailing a plan to claim email is being replaced by VoIP and IM. The strategy involves using data from Harris Interactive to support these claims and a partnership with Hearst Media. The plan also positions Skype as a platform for presidential candidates to communicate with constituents.