The Press Box The Cringey MSNBC Rebrand, Gavin Newsom’s Twitter Account, and the Death of the Longform Podcast
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Aug 19, 2025 Nostalgia meets modern media as the hosts share memories of classic childhood shows and toy with the absurdity of MSNBC's rebranding as 'MS Now.' They dive into the shift in podcasting, discussing the decline of narrative formats and the rise of true crime simplicity. Political strategy is explored through Gavin Newsom's quirky social media antics. Enjoy a light-hearted take on a chaotic sheep escape in Chicago, complete with playful puns. It's a blend of humor, media critique, and reflections on evolving storytelling!
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Design Fumbles Compound Branding Risk
- The MSNOW logo and visual identity drew ridicule for amateur design choices and awkward associations (e.g., 'MS' as Mississippi or multiple sclerosis).
- Hosts suggest the rebrand wastes decades of MSNBC brand equity and risks confusing core, older viewers.
Narrative Podcasts Hit Structural Limits
- Narrative podcasts boomed after Serial but now face decline due to cost, slowness, and formulaic stretching of stories.
- Hosts say many narrative shows were forced into an episodic template that didn't fit the underlying stories.
Podcast Drama vs. Journalistic Fit
- David Shoemaker notes narrative podcasts offered journalists space to tell journalism-quality stories but often became performative or incomplete.
- He argues some pieces would have been better as shorter print features than forced multi-episode series.
