Future of News with Tara Palmeri, David Pakman, Don Lemon & Ben Shapiro at Reuters Next Conference

Dec 4, 2025

Guest

David Pakman

Join Ben Shapiro, the conservative media mogul, Don Lemon, the independent journalism pioneer, and David Pakman, the digital news creator, as they engage in a heated discussion about the future of news. They explore the exodus from traditional media to platforms like YouTube, the fierce battle between authenticity and credibility, and how algorithms have impacted polarization. They delve into the challenges creators face, the disparities in media adaptation across the political spectrum, and the importance of diverse voices in the media landscape.

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ANECDOTE

Fireplace Over Studio

David Pakman left a rented studio and grew his audience by filming from his living room fireplace.
He found authenticity and growth when he stopped overproducing and started talking with viewers.

INSIGHT

Authenticity Isn’t A Credibility Substitute

Ben Shapiro distinguishes authenticity from credibility and warns authenticity alone can spread misinformation.
He says creators have a moral duty to make their audiences smarter, not stupider.

ADVICE

Stream Video To Build Trust

Tara streams video alongside audio because visuals deepen audience connection and cost little extra.
She advises showing personal context and reporting with traditional standards while using creator tools.

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What happens when Tara Palmeri, Ben Shapiro, Don Lemon, and David Pakman share one stage to debate who really owns the future of news? On this unfiltered episode of the Tara Palmeri Show, Tara joins Ben Shapiro, Don Lemon, and David Pakman on the Reuters Next stage in New York for a rare cross-ideological clash about creators, influencers, and the collapse of traditional media gatekeepers. The four dive deep into why audiences are abandoning cable for YouTube and phones, the difference between raw authenticity and actual credibility, how algorithms are fueling polarization, whether independent creators are just remixers, why the right mastered new platforms first while the left still lags, the burnout of the nonstop news cycle, and what legacy media must finally has to admit if it wants to survive. Moderated by Reuters Institute director Mitali Mukherjee, this candid 40-minute session is one of the sharpest collisions of old and new media you’ll see all year. Which side made the strongest case for the future of news – traditional rigor, opinion-driven authenticity, or something in between? For more of her reporting, subscribe to her weekly newsletter, "The Red Letter." https://tarapalmeri.substack.com/ https://www.tarapalmeri.com/subscribe Latest from the Red Letter: https://www.tarapalmeri.com/p/george-santos-believes-george-santos https://www.tarapalmeri.com/p/power-shifts-everywhere https://www.tarapalmeri.com/p/did-trump-just-slap-his-name-on-obamacare To support her mission of independent journalism, consider donating to her GoFundMe account: https://gofund.me/0c46f9a5 Tara Palmeri is one of the most feared and fearless reporters covering power and politics. She has 15 years of experience covering national politics and foreign affairs. She was formerly a White House Correspondent for ABC News where she covered the first Trump administration. She was the chief National Correspondent for POLITICO during the Biden administration. She has been a political analyst for CNBC, CBS and CNN. She started her career as a columnist for the Washington Examiner and then went on to report for the New York Post. She was a foreign correspondent for POLITICO Europe, where she covered international affairs, including Brexit. She hosted the Ringer's political podcast "Somebody's Gotta Win" and wrote a column for Puck. Tara also hosted two acclaimed podcasts on Jeffrey Epstein, "Broken: Jeffrey Epstein" and "Power: The Maxwells." Tara currently hosts the Tara Palmeri Show. Follow Tara: https://www.instagram.com/tarapalmeri/ https://x.com/tarapalmeri https://www.tiktok.com/@tarapalmeri For inquiries, email: TaraPalmeriInfo@gmail.com #FutureOfNews #Journalism #BenShapiro #DonLemon #DavidPakman #NewsCreators #Media #TaraPalmeriShow #ReutersNext #IndependentMedia #DigitalJournalism #MediaEvolution Future of News with Tara Palmeri, Don Lemon & Ben Shapiro at Reuters Next Conference Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Tara Palmeri Show 00:58 Future of News panel kicks off at Reuters Next 03:27 Tara explains why she left legacy media for YouTube 06:20 Ben Shapiro on building a $200M conservative media empire 07:28 Don Lemon reveals why he really left CNN 09:33 David Pakman on dropping the fancy studio for his fireplace 12:42 Authenticity vs credibility – who actually owes the audience more 16:12 Tara on refusing to feed the audience only what they want 19:17 Don Lemon admits he called the Trump wave when others wouldn’t 21:29 Ben Shapiro: “The algorithms are destroying America” 24:12 Why the right dominates YouTube and X while the left lags 27:25 Tara on being a female trailblazer in independent news 30:14 The burnout of never missing a single day 35:41 Are creators just remixers? The panel answers 38:04 Legacy media’s biggest mistake – pretending to be unbiased 41:13 Don Lemon: “Lose the desk, lose the corporate filter” 42:01 Thanks for watching the Tara Palmeri Show

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