8 chapters across the catalog
The murder rate in Austin has reportedly increased by 50% following a $149 million police budget cut. A recent triple homicide involving a black police officer who killed his daughter and her boyfriend is cited as a story the media downplayed due to the race of the shooter.
Los Angeles Police Shooting, Media Martyrdom, Selective Coverage
The hosts discuss a recent fatal police shooting of a Black man in Los Angeles, noting the lack of national media attention compared to the Jacob Blake or George Floyd cases. They argue that the media and activists like Al Sharpton and Ben Crump are selective in which individuals they elevate to "martyr" status based on political utility.
CBS News is criticized for its coverage of a Philadelphia standoff involving Maurice Hill, who shot six police officers during a narcotics warrant execution. Reports suggest the network initially aired footage of a white hostage surrendering to imply the shooter was white, despite Hill being black. The discrepancy in live coverage between Fox News and left-leaning outlets like CNN and MSNBC is noted as evidence of racial narrative filtering in mass shooting reports.
A news report regarding a shooting incident on April 25 was criticized for claiming the event occurred "almost two years to the day" of the July 7 Dallas police ambush. The discrepancy between April and July is highlighted as an example of the media shoehorning narratives to create emotional resonance where the dates do not actually align.
Harvard Study on Police Shootings and Racial Bias
A Harvard study led by Roland Fryer found no racial bias in officer-involved shootings, though it did find bias in lower-level uses of force. Media figures like Thom Hartmann and MSNBC analysts are criticized for dismissing the quantitative data in favor of "common sense" and viral videos. The hosts discuss the difference between qualitative and quantitative analysis in academic research.
Harvard Study on Police Shootings, Media Perception vs Reality
A Harvard University study conducted by economist Roland Fryer found no evidence of racial bias in police-involved shootings, though it did find bias in lower-level uses of force. MSNBC commentators expressed difficulty accepting the findings, stating they did not "comport with the reality" seen on television. The hosts highlight this as a disconnect between data-driven facts and media-driven narratives.
Philando Castile Radio Tapes, Media Laziness and De-douching
A donor named Andy provides perspective on the Philando Castile shooting, questioning why mainstream media outlets have not played the full police radio tapes. The hosts discuss the "conspiracy of laziness" in journalism and the lack of evidence regarding Castile's concealed carry permit. The segment concludes with a "de-douching" ceremony for the donor and a comedic audio clip involving James Comey and Hillary Clinton.
Media Misunderstanding of Internet Culture, San Luis Obispo Sheriff
The hosts criticize the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department and Tulsa police for standing by their Pedobear alerts despite media outlets like Gawker pointing out the character is a joke. They argue that the police and local news are manufacturing a threat out of a punchline, ignoring statistics that show most predators are known to the victims.
