It Could Happen Here The Tech Fascist Takeover of the Media
30 snips
Dec 15, 2025 The conversation dives into the implications of tech moguls like Jeff Bezos and Larry Ellison taking control of major media outlets. It explores the ideological shifts at the Washington Post and CBS, revealing how conservative leadership reshapes editorial lines. The podcast also addresses the consolidation of media power, layoffs in cultural departments, and the threat to diversity in journalism. Lastly, it highlights the rising influence of right-wing billionaires over social media platforms and warns of potential resistance against this corporate takeover.
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Capital Shapes What Counts As News
- Mia Wong argues that journalism is a material product dependent on capital, which shapes coverage and priorities.
- Ownership interests allow buyers to steer editorial lines and remake outlets to serve their political aims.
From Resignation To Editorial Power
- Mia Wong recounts Barry Weiss leaving the New York Times and later being installed at CBS after Ellison bought outlets.
- She uses Weiss's trajectory to illustrate how ideological hires get power when owners intervene directly.
Resegregation Through Layoffs And Closures
- Mia Wong describes newsroom purges at NBC/CBS that disproportionately cut race-and-culture desks and international bureaus.
- She frames these moves as resegregation and the removal of venues for marginalized voices.