Topic: The 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.

Time Magazine named Donald Trump its Person of the Year for 2024, a move criticized by Joy Reid, who compared the selection to past winners like Hitler and Stalin. The magazine, owned by Marc Benioff, featured an extensive profile of Trump that some critics found to be largely composed of journalistic speculation.

The show concluded with a "tip of the day" recommending "Liquid Bearing" synthetic lubricant for household use. The final segment featured a montage of Vice President Kamala Harris's repetitive phrases, specifically her frequent use of "the significance of the passage of time" and "unburdened by what has been." The hosts signed off from their respective locations in Texas and Silicon Valley.

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.

A report in The Lancet and an article from Time Magazine describe "climate despair" and anxiety among children, suggesting they be involved in policy decisions. The hosts mock seven "coping strategies" for climate distress, which include joining "climate cafes," analyzing personal carbon footprints, and using arts and crafts to regulate emotions. They argue that these psychological effects are the result of teachers and media "terrorizing" the youth with existential threats.

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.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio faced criticism for dancing in an empty Times Square while citizens were forced to stay home. Meanwhile, BBC and Telegraph commentators praised the "lockdown New Year" for removing the pressure to socialize. Data from the UK shows a massive surge in alcohol and tobacco sales during the lockdown, alongside a significant decrease in the sale of deodorant.

Time Magazine named Taylor Swift as the 2023 Person of the Year, making her the first woman to appear twice on the cover since the franchise began in 1927. Critics suggest the selection is a calculated move to leverage her influence against Donald Trump or a marketing ploy to increase readership. Simultaneously, Forbes named European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the most powerful woman in the world for the second consecutive year.

A Time Magazine article and an interview in The Economist with Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief reveal a growing admission that the war with Russia has reached a stalemate. Public support for continued aid in the U.S. has dropped to 41%, complicating the Biden administration's funding requests.

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.

A viral video features "man on the street" interviews in New York City's Times Square, highlighting a lack of basic geographical and mathematical knowledge among some passersby. One interviewee guessed that the Queen of England is from Canada, while another struggled to calculate the annual income of someone earning $10,000 a month. The segment reflects on the state of public education and general awareness in major urban centers.

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 Podcast Academy is hosting its inaugural award show, "The Ambys," in an attempt to bring mainstream validation to the industry. The academy's board of governors includes executives from Amazon, Spotify, and iHeartMedia, leading to criticisms that the organization ignores independent creators. The "value-for-value" model is presented as a superior alternative to the traditional advertising-driven market favored by the academy.

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."

The hosts discuss "The Great Reset," a concept promoted by the World Economic Forum and featured on the cover of Time Magazine as a post-COVID-19 global strategy. They highlight corporate involvement, noting that UPS has published articles regarding the "legacy" of the pandemic and the potential for societal transformation. A supercut of media figures using the phrase "the new normal" is played to illustrate the coordinated messaging.

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.

There is a growing discussion in religious circles, particularly among Catholics, regarding the "End of Times." Some producers believe that the COVID-19 vaccine or RFID micro-dots represent the "Mark of the Beast." Dr. Anthony Fauci is frequently cited in these circles as a potential Antichrist figure, reflecting deep-seated distrust of scientific and governmental authority.

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.