The Brian Lehrer Show Where Do You Get Your News in 2026?
Feb 11, 2026
Listeners describe switching from TV and local papers to BBC, NPR and international outlets. Many mention turning to Substack newsletters and independent writers for context. The conversation highlights canceled subscriptions, concerns about newsroom cuts, and shifts toward digital and niche sources.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Mainstream News Capacity Is Shrinking
- Legacy newsrooms are shrinking due to layoffs and market pressures, reducing foreign and local reporting capacity.
- Brian Lehrer frames this as reshaping traditional news just as local outlets have declined significantly since 2005.
Cuts Erode Beat And Global Coverage
- The Washington Post cuts specifically reduce coverage in key global regions and specialized desks like books and sports.
- Brian Lehrer links these changes to a broader, longstanding local-news decline that shrinks trustworthy mainstream sources.
Listener Drops TV And The Post
- Suzanne stopped watching TV and canceled The Washington Post, relying on BBC and NPR for news.
- She feels deprived of reporting and worries about recruiting new audiences without robust journalism.