Topic: The New York Times

David Brooks has left The New York Times after 22 years to join The Atlantic, a move the hosts describe as joining a "left-wing rag." His final column for the Times was a 2,800-word essay on the state of the country, which critics described as rambling and poorly written. The transition marks a significant shift for the prominent conservative columnist.

The New York Times is moving its hit podcasts, including "The Daily" and "Serial," behind a subscriber paywall while continuing to run advertisements. The hosts argue this strategy will lead to a loss of cultural relevance, comparing it to Howard Stern's move to SiriusXM.

An internal New York Times memo leaked to The Intercept revealed editorial restrictions on using terms like "genocide," "ethnic cleansing," and "occupied territory" when reporting on the conflict in Gaza. The report noted a significant disparity in the use of emotive language, with "massacre" and "slaughter" applied far more frequently to Israeli deaths than Palestinian ones. The leak suggests internal dissent among staff regarding the paper's pro-Israel tone.

The United States national debt has officially surpassed $33 trillion for the first time, according to reports from the New York Times on September 18th. This milestone occurs as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy struggles to negotiate a deal to avoid a looming government shutdown. Skepticism is expressed regarding the rapid pace of debt accumulation, noting it was only at $31 trillion recently.

Suspicion is raised regarding the global podcast rankings of *The Daily* by the New York Times. The segment suggests that high international rankings may be the result of click fraud or "Mechanical Turk" farms using hundreds of cell phones to rack up downloads, rather than genuine listener interest.

The New York Times published a headline labeling "The Great Reset" a baseless conspiracy theory, despite the World Economic Forum openly promoting the initiative on its own website. The hosts contrast this with the "Great Awakening" narrative circulating in conservative circles.

Glenn Greenwald discussed the "extraordinary success" of partisan media outlets like The New York Times, which now has over 7 million digital subscribers. He argued that these institutions are no longer objective but instead provide "liberal ideological affirmation" to a specific demographic. Greenwald noted that Trump "single-handedly saved" jobs at MSNBC by providing constant content for their "anti-Trump agitprop."

Mainstream media outlets, including The New York Times and The Guardian, characterized President Trump's Mount Rushmore speech as "fiery" and "divisive." Critics argue that these reports relied on pre-written templates rather than objective reporting of the event's lack of partisan gear like MAGA hats. Headlines focused on "Republican rebels" and the President's focus on "radical left" mobs.

The New York Times faced internal revolt from staff after publishing an op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton advocating for military intervention to stop rioting. The backlash led to the resignation of editorial page editor James Bennet and a public apology from the paper. This incident is cited as evidence that millennial activists have taken control of legacy media institutions, prioritizing social justice over traditional journalistic standards.

The "Defund the Police" movement is linked to the Radical Abolitionist Movement, which calls for the total destruction of U.S. government institutions and private property. Documents from these groups suggest that "liberation begins where America dies." The hosts argue that corrupt professors and the New York Times are leading the push for these radical ideologies, which ultimately incite violence against the National Guard and police.

Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson is discussed regarding her career and her past reporting on Clarence Thomas. Her transition from the Times to other ventures, including potential involvement with the Dutch-funded journalism project "The Correspondent," is noted.

Sarah Jeong's appointment to the New York Times editorial board is examined following the resurfacing of her past tweets regarding white men. Her background in technology journalism at The Verge and her speech at Harvard Law School are analyzed, with focus on her views that the internet is "implicitly organized around how white men see the world."

Mainstream outlets like Vox, The New York Times, and The Atlantic publish retrospectives admitting that feminists were on the "wrong side of history" by defending Bill Clinton in the 1990s. Judge Jeanine Pirro highlights these headlines on Fox News, noting the orchestrated nature of the media's sudden "reckoning." The hosts observe that even Vox is now facing its own internal allegations of being a predatory workplace.

The hosts theorize that the New York Times published the Weinstein exposé to distance the Democratic Party from Hillary Clinton. They suggest the party views Clinton as a "nightmare scenario" for 2020 and used Weinstein's downfall to sever her primary financial ties. A side theory mentions 4chan rumors linking Weinstein's phone to "The Fappening" celebrity photo leaks.

The New York Times and The Guardian editorial boards have called for an end to U.S. and British support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The editorials argue that the U.S. is complicit in the carnage and that Congress should halt arms sales until the targeting of civilians stops. This pressure comes despite the Obama administration's continued approval of massive defense contracts with Riyadh.

A discussion on media self-censorship cites the 1976 film "The Prophet" and the firing of Juan Williams as examples of the industry's tendency to avoid controversial topics. While New York Times editors publicly deny the practice, reporters privately admit to censoring their own work to align with corporate interests. An anecdote from MTV illustrates how talent is pressured to avoid criticizing major stars like Madonna.

The show concludes with a critique of a "Meet the Press" segment on marijuana legalization. The hosts mock David Brooks and other pundits for their hypocrisy and the claim that regular teenage use results in the loss of "eight IQ points." Adam and John sign off, reminding listeners to support the show for the upcoming Sunday episode.

The Intercept reported that the NSA has been recording nearly every cell phone call in the Bahamas. The hosts critique Glenn Greenwald's ego and his reaction to a scathing New York Times review by Michael Kinsley. They question the significance of the Bahamas revelations compared to previous surveillance leaks.

Journalist Chris Hedges filed a lawsuit against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), resulting in a temporary injunction by Judge Katherine Forrest. The discussion notes that mainstream outlets like MSNBC and Fox News ignored the case, while Russia Today and The New York Times provided coverage.

Two members of the activist group Pussy Riot reportedly fled Russia to recruit new members, a story sourced primarily from their own Twitter feed. The hosts criticize major outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times for reporting social media posts as hard news. The discussion includes an estimation of mainstream reporter salaries and benefits.