Question Everything

As ICE agents have continued to threaten and kill people in Minneapolis and Minnesota’s governor and other state officials plead with the agency to leave, we share an interview with the governor of another state that was recently targeted by ICE: JB Pritzker of Illinois.  In October, as ICE agents were descending on Chicago in “Operation Midway Blitz”, Ben Smith and Max Tani of the Mixed Signals podcast from Semafor spoke to Governor Pritzker about the novel communications tactics he was using to combat ICE’s incursion into his city. Eventually he was successful in stopping President Trump from sending in National Guard troops, and Border Patrol agents left the city. It was an urgent and timely conversation with lots of significance as we watch a similar situation unfold daily in Minnesota. Thanks to Semafor for letting us share this interview with you. Find all episodes of Mixed Signals here.   Sign up for Semafor Media’s Sunday newsletter here.  The hosts are on X: @semaforben, @maxwelltani Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory.Please rate and review our show – on this very app that you’re in right now! And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.

Drew Harwell, a technology reporter for The Washington Post, reveals shocking insights into ICE's social media strategies. He discusses how the agency glamorizes arrests with catchy memes and music to create viral content. Leaked internal messages expose their obsession with sensational video production. Harwell also covers the influence of the White House on messaging and a troubling $100 million recruitment push that employs militarized imagery. Concerns about the impact on agent behavior and public perception add depth to this eye-opening conversation.

The story of an adult performer, Davin Strong, whose life was upended by a seemingly small change to Section 230. Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory. For more of our coverage of how the internet and press shape our reality, sign up for our newsletter. Guests:  Davin Addison (aka Davin Strong), adult performer whose livelihood was upended after FOSTA-SESTA. Sam Eagan, Producer, Question Everything

At a bar that survived the destruction, a group of reporters get together a year later to talk about the personal impact the LA wildfires had on them. And some of the harrowing – and surprising – requests they got from people to check if their homes were still standing. Thanks to Good Neighbor Bar and West Altadena Wine & Spirits for hosting us. Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory. Sign up for our newsletter please! Guests:  Tony Briscoe, environmental reporter, Los Angeles Times Jacob Soboroff, senior political and national correspondent, MSNOW and author of “Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster” Leanne Suter, reporter, ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles  Michelle Zacarias, reporter, CALÓ News Randy Clement, co-owner, Good Neighbor Bar in Altadena, California

We’re taking a quick break for the holidays, but in the spirit of New Year reflection, we’re sharing our very first episode of Question Everything.  Brian talks to fellow journalist, Gay Alcorn, who called his most well-known work – the hit podcast S-Town – “morally indefensible.” You can read Gay’s column here. Subscribe to our newsletter to read Gay’s full reaction to this episode.  You can listen to S-Town here.  If you’re having thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help by dialing 988 or clicking here.  “Question Everything” is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory.  This episode originally aired on September 11th, 2024.

Join Tom McCarthy, acclaimed for Spotlight, Antonio Campos, creator of The Staircase, Tina Satter, who adapted Reality Winner's story, and Tobias Lindholm, known for The Investigation. They dive into the complex dance of fact and fiction in filmmaking. Explore the power of verbatim transcripts and how they shape narratives. Discover how meeting real-life figures transformed their approaches and the importance of authenticity in storytelling. They debate the balance between imagination and strict factual constraints while highlighting the emotional impact of dramatized truths.

In this conversation, Jeff Kosseff, a law professor and author of "The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet," dives into the origins and implications of Section 230. He recounts the pivotal Stratton Oakmont v. Prodigy case, revealing how moderation turned platforms into publishers and shaped online discourse. Kosseff emphasizes the risks of Congress potentially repealing the law, arguing it could stifle free expression and harm smaller platforms. The discussion reflects on today's internet and how it contrasts with the original vision lawmakers had in the 1990s.

Jason Leopold, an investigative reporter known for his FOIA expertise, and Matt Topic, a First Amendment attorney, dive into the complexities surrounding the imminent release of the Epstein files. They reveal the FBI's "Special Redaction Project," which trained nearly 1,000 agents to review sensitive documents. Discussion turns to a long-standing FOIA lawsuit that may force the release of crucial information. The duo outlines potential obstacles, including legal loopholes, and shares insights on the types of evidence that remain hidden from the public.

When the recent slate of Jeffrey Epstein emails dropped, one line immediately jumped out: “I think you should let him hang himself.” It was part of a 2015 email exchange between journalist Michael Wolff and his source, Jeffrey Epstein, discussing whether they should give Donald Trump a heads-up that Wolff had heard CNN was planning to question Trump about his relationship with Epstein. We dissect this startling exchange by talking with three journalists, who each had a different take on it – and what this sentence means for journalism, access, and the boundaries reporters might cross to get information. Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. Guests:  Isaac Saul, Founder and executive editor of Tangle, a nonpartisan politics newsletter Susan Zakin, veteran journalist and Substack writer Tara Palmeri, The Red Letter Substack and host of the Tara Palmeri Show

Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion and former disinformation reporter, dives into the role of satire in contemporary politics. He discusses the success behind reviving The Onion's print newspaper and critiques mainstream journalism’s fair reporting norms. Collins reflects on his attempt to buy InfoWars, aiming to shut it down, and explains why AI will never match human creativity in comedy. With a blend of humor and insight, he highlights the importance of laughing while confronting unsettling truths about media.