Topic: The Local

A local news reporter was caught on camera misidentifying a plane part as a "flux capacitator" during a segment on a crash landing. The error, referencing the fictional device from *Back to the Future*, is used to illustrate the general lack of expertise in modern news reporting.

As Germany holds elections, Angela Merkel is expected to win but may require a new coalition. Meanwhile, a report in *The Local* highlights a booming market for "cyber insurance" in the wake of the Snowden revelations. Companies and individuals are increasingly buying protection against data breaches and cyber threats, though the hosts question how damages are proven.

A viral montage from Conan O'Brien demonstrates dozens of local news stations using the exact same "push the envelope" script regarding O'Brien wedding a gay couple on air. The hosts argue this proves that news is a centralized feed rather than independent reporting. They discuss how this uniformity makes the media "hackable" for those who can inject memes into the system.

The discussion shifts to the perceived isolation of the New York City media market from general American thought. Dvorak criticizes the amateur production quality of local news, specifically mentioning a New York Times contributor's lack of glare-proof glasses and poor dental work. They note that New York news often ignores national syndicated content in favor of hyper-local reporting.