Topic: Media Leaks

Jon Stewart appeared on Stephen Colbert's show to advocate for the Wuhan lab leak theory using a satirical routine. The hosts debate whether this was a pre-arranged "softening of the blow" to change the mainstream narrative or a spontaneous bit that made Colbert uncomfortable. They analyze Colbert's background as an actor and his reaction to Stewart's claims.

Following the departures of Scaramucci and Bannon, the hosts predict that Sebastian Gorka will be the next staffer to leave. They speculate he will follow the same pattern of providing a "scoop" to a left-leaning publication, such as Rolling Stone, to maintain the meme of being "upstaged" by the President.

The hosts examine how various networks defended Susan Rice using anonymous sources. They highlight a potential conflict of interest, noting that Rice is married to Ian Cameron, an executive producer at ABC News. They suggest this connection explains the favorable coverage she receives from the network.

The hosts highlight a segment on CNN where an analyst discusses the "Deep State" and the impact of intelligence leaks. They point out a specific verbal slip where the analyst appears to refer to Trump as the "illegally elected president" before correcting himself to "legally elected."

Columnist Noah Rothman observed that the Obama administration left a "trail of breadcrumbs" for investigators by reducing the classification of sensitive information before leaving office. He characterized the leaks to the press as a political effort to rehabilitate the former administration's foreign policy establishment.

The release of Project Veritas CNN Leaks Part 1 is analyzed with skepticism regarding its impact. The recordings, dating back to 2009, are described as potentially outdated and likely to contain standard newsroom banter rather than modern political smoking guns. Expectations for the leaks include eye-rolling, blatant favoritism, and locker-room talk among television executives.

The release of a searchable database for the Panama Papers is dismissed as "stupid" because it lacks raw documents. The hosts criticize mainstream media's failure to understand the "three-dimensional network" of podcasting, noting that outlets often only focus on repurposed NPR shows or the "Serial" podcast.

A marketing firm allegedly staged a "leak" of the Dutch Queen's Christmas speech a day early to generate interest in her pro-Europe message. The hosts analyze this as a "bogative" PR move designed to make an otherwise ignored broadcast go viral through social media channels.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is criticized for his dismissive tone during briefings and an accidental admission regarding the administration's use of leaks. During a back-and-forth about secret meetings with Congress, Carney mentions "handfuls [of meetings] that we still haven't leaked," confirming the intentional placement of stories in the media.