They Stand Corrected

When does pressure from someone in the government become censorship? That might be the most important question surrounding some of the biggest news stories right now. But the media doesn't even seem to be asking it, let alone trying to answer it.  Today, Josh explains a new Pentagon policy that is so obviously against press freedoms that even a Fox analyst is calling out. Meanwhile, some headlines say that Google is accusing the Biden administration of having exerted “censorship pressure.” But is that what Google’s saying?  Plus, Kamala Harris is out with a book, and her first interview showed some problems with the media. Meanwhile, on another network, an overall good conversation should remind the anchor to take his own advice.  And Josh discusses news coverage of partisan violence, efforts to avert a government shutdown, and yet another proposal to end the war in Gaza.

There are real dangers of lasting, deadly political violence from both ends of America’s polarized society. The media has played a huge role in getting us here. While big mainstream news organizations have been calling out violence on the right, they’ve been ignoring and fueling it on the left.  Today, Josh shows how the media has parsed through controversial words from slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk while extolling a far-left figure who supports, praises, and celebrates terrorism. What Hasan Piker says is “graphic and demented,” Josh explains. Also, a survey of college students finds a massive spike in support for violence -- and shows the far left has been “the most accepting of violence” for years. All this is context for the battle surrounding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Josh discusses an opportunity Kimmel has if he chooses to take it. Plus: a professional actor responds to last week’s episode, and the BBC punishes its own presenter for saying something true.

In covering political violence and homicides, the media keeps missing one of its most important responsibilities. Today, Josh explains how an obsession with politics has been poisoning not only the coverage of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, but also the killing of a young woman on light rail in North Carolina. It boils down to a key question of whether we're going to move forward as a society or not. To help you understand this, Josh looks at the attempted assassination of author Salman Rushdie, the assassination of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., and a problematic line journalists use when discussing violence and mental health. Also, an American news network fired an analyst following Kirk’s death. In context, his remarks seem different from what made the rounds on social media. But the incident raises a larger question about how the news handles early reports of gunfire. Plus the BBC runs cover for a student leader who celebrated Kirk’s assassination, stars preach hatred at the Emmys, and the leading study on political violence in America shows how antisemitism fuels it on both ends of the political spectrum.

As the media “blows it” in coverage of the war between Israel and terrorists, another story is getting buried: the incomparably huger death toll in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Today, Josh takes you inside that reporting to show how the media can follow basic editorial standards when it wants to. You'll also hear how journalists remind audiences of the war’s origins and describe Putin. The media assails “propaganda” from certain countries, especially on Twitter, while simultaneously reporting propaganda as fact. Josh tells you about an international organization for journalists, beloved by the media, that recently organized a propaganda campaign of its own. Some big news agencies took part -- and none called out the hypocrisy. Also, Josh ties up a couple of loose ends from previous episodes, involving jury selection and a survey of Americans during wartime.

When horrific school shootings and other mass shootings happen, the media swarms onto the scene. This leads to problems and controversies. One is the propensity to give perpetrators the attention they crave, which fuels further attacks. Today, Josh explains that while the media has made some improvements on this, it has done very little about another issue: the use of photos and videos, particularly of children, in the aftermath.  The law does not offer the protections that many parents believe. Today you'll hear someone who survived an elementary school shooting explain how the media reawakens trauma for decades to come. And the father of a young man killed in a mass shooting says what it takes to get news agencies to listen. Then, Josh tells you about a big shift taking place among three of the nation's biggest newspapers. They’re moving in opposite directions, signaling a change at the heart of U.S. media. One owned by Rupert Murdoch is standing up to Trump, while two traditionally liberal papers are pulling punches. In preparing for this episode, Josh discovered something about one of these papers that he’s never seen before.

Listeners asked for it: a fact check of some claims by the New York Times’ Ezra Klein. Today, Josh explores how Klein misrepresents data, mischaracterizes large groups of people, and ignores truths that disprove his assertions. You’ll hear how Klein even invoked Nazi-era Germans in an act of “privilege” that maligned the vast majority of Israeli Jews. Also, more on the battle between Ronan Farrow and Matt Lauer. You’ll hear what Farrow’s failures mean for The New Yorker, and why his defenders engage in a form of bigotry called “youngism.” Also, how journalists at some big news agencies “put their cards on the table” by openly assigning victimhood. Plus, why the Pulitzers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. And an important message to those who want to believe everything Klein says.

A public battle between two former NBC employees serves as a window into the toxic mess of big media. Today, Josh pries that window open for you. When Ronan Farrow’s book "Catch and Kill" came out, it contained explosive allegations against Matt Lauer, former host of Today (known as “The Today Show”). A woman was accusing Lauer of rape. While much of the media treated the book as gospel, a writer at a website was willing to take a critical look. Soon, working with Lauer, he helped uncover gaping holes in Farrow’s “reporting.” Finally, one person at a major newspaper wrote a story about just some of those failings. This is a story of how victim narratives have supplanted a search for truth. It’s about a crucial rule of fact checking, particularly in cases like this. It’s about the media’s need to accept that even someone it wants to like can be wrong. And it's about perhaps the biggest fact-checking failure of all in today's media ecosystem: books that are supposed to be nonfiction.

Liars are using the media to overwhelm people’s minds -- and not just consciously. To understand how deep this problem runs, we need to learn how the news impacts the unconscious mind. Today, Josh speaks with a woman who has exceptional insight, and has coined the term “Brand Connectome.” You’ll learn how people manipulate our brains, and what we can do about it. Along the way, you’ll hear about new data on violent crimes that fly in the face of Trump’s claims; a type of crime that has reached historic levels; a photographer who stages images; and an interviewer who does nothing when a lying terror supporter justifies atrocities. Plus, Josh answers a listener’s question about presidents and the national debt.

The recent uproar over comedian Stephen Colbert left Americans with a false impression. Today, Josh explains what the cancellation of The Late Show and CBS’ payout to settle a Trump lawsuit really say about legacy media, the power of corporations, and the news and commentary Americans receive. Also, how the coverage ended up whitewashing the failures of CBS News. Plus, a huge number of Americans now get news from comedians. Hear Patton Oswald explain why he hates the idea that his profession now has this role. And while few fact checkers take on comedians, someone did take on John Oliver, after an episode he did about trans people.

A New York Times column took quotes out of context to construct one of the most incendiary accusations possible. Today, Josh digs into this “journalistic trickery.” He shows how the original context was ignored, creating a false impression. This could happen to you, or anyone. In this case, an Ivy League professor was given a “holy grail” platform to accuse Israeli leaders of wanting to carry out a “genocide.” But the Times wasn’t done there. It went on to use a doctored photo to create the false impression that Israel is inflicting a famine on Gaza. Josh runs the numbers showing how the Times gives relatively little or not attention to the raging famines around the world. This isn’t journalism, he explains; it’s what propagandists do.

Profound media failures and AI are making a global misinformation crisis even worse. But there's a place working to hold onto proof of what’s real. It has 11 floors, takes up half a million square feet, and includes a huge underground section that keeps out oxygen, so robots do the work. Today, Josh takes you there.  You’ll hear from a team working to document the truth about a crucial story -- and a very difficult one to grapple with. They discuss ethical questions, and what it takes to also document false propaganda. This place shows what could be built in any society that values truth. One of the women Josh interviews is a global leader in making that happen.  You’ll also hear from civil rights leader Mamie Till. Plus, a surprise audio “conversation” that an AI tool presented Josh with — and what his kids said about it.

Americans worry about the national debt. A majority say they’re “very” concerned about it. So it’s no surprise that the media has been talking about what the “One Big Beautiful Act” will do to the debt. But the reports conflict with each other. Today, Josh looks into what’s true, and probes the track records of places that make predictions. He also explains what the media should be making clear right now, including Trump’s track record and the votes of so-called “deficit hawks.” Then, a guest joins Josh to explain how and why U.S. culture has shifted so dramatically. How did people become so radicalized that they celebrate terrorists and believe lies pushed by Iran? Jason Korman discusses how memetics spur culture change without people realizing it.

A man seeking the highest office in a government says he would carry out an illegal arrest -- something dictators are known for. In this case, the man making that threat is a Democrat.  Today, Josh highlights this big story the mainstream media is ignoring. Zohran Mamdani, who won a New York City mayoral primary, is making the threat even as he goes after Trump for extrajudicial arrests. It shows not only hypocrisy, but a growing appetite for antidemocratic actions on both ends of the political spectrum.  Mamdani described what he would do an act of “courage,” and drew a false comparison to same-sex marriage. To help you understand all this, Josh dispels myths about “international law” and discusses how in a democracy, the rules must apply to everyone no matter how people feel about them -- in this case, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

When healthcare workers get false information from the news, people’s lives can be in danger. That has happened recently, as big media misreported a step the Trump administration took involving women who need emergency abortions to save their lives. Today, emergency physician Dara Kass joins Josh to explain. Meanwhile, big news agencies have suddenly been paying attention to a source on Iran that they were ignoring before. Worse, they’ve been playing up a leaked preliminary report while ignoring reporting that the agency stands behind. Josh explains how this affects your safety.  Plus, Josh welcomes people from numerous countries. And for Americans, some new patriotic music for July 4th!

If there's any time the media should be especially careful about providing fact-checked information and context, it should be when people are saying they're scared of World War III. Instead, in the wake of U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, we’ve been getting a rush of talking heads spouting all kinds of claims. Today, Josh explains what the media has failed to make clear about the intelligence on Iran’s nuclear capabilities; presidential powers; actions by previous U.S. administrations, and more. Meanwhile, just days before Israel attacked nuclear sites in Iran, the head of a group that follows the Middle East closely predicted what was about to happen. Yet much of the media refuses to hear from him. Gregg Roman of the Middle East Forum joins Josh to discuss some of the biggest media fails.

Since the previous episode, Josh has been living through history, and seeing first hand how reality can be so different from how it’s portrayed in the media. Today, he shares his experience of being stuck in Tel Aviv after learning during a 3 a.m. ride that Israel had launched a historic attack on key Iranian nuclear sites. Soon, he and his group were hiding in bomb shelters as The Islamic Republic of Iran began to rain huge numbers of missiles down on Israel. He takes you on the trek that allowed his delegation to make it to safety, including a passage that's usually off limits, and a late night flight that, ultimately, got them out of Iran’s reach. Along the way, Josh tells you crucial facts and context missing from the coverage in big media, including the reason “mutually assured destruction” does not work as a deterrent for Iran’s nuclear ambitions; the perils of a “failure of imagination”; and the inefficacy of a key international agency. He describes the “wild card” of the Iranian public, and how his own coverage of an uprising in Iran ended up being featured at the top of a PBS documentary. Plus, how the U.S. media’s obsession with politics and refusal to stop and think led it to carry a nonsensical “runaway angle” immediately after the news broke. And how the attention economy can lead people to endanger others. Meanwhile, Josh explains why his experience overseas helped him see the extent to which algorithms are dividing Americans no matter where they are. And he asks for your input on media coverage of events stateside, including protests and the National Guard deployment in California.

It’s a powerful example of why truth requires context. A big, expensive military parade is scheduled in Washington on June 14, the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army -- which just so happens to be Trump’s birthday. Protests are planned as well, many of which are organized under the banner “No Kings.” Today, Josh explains why it’s a crucial moment for the media to educate people about some basics of democracy, current events, and U.S. history. But superficial news coverage only makes political divides worse. Also, which U.S. military parade featured a giant bust of a president, and why a new poll of veterans is misleading. Plus, big media blew it so badly on coverage of an American and Israeli effort to bring aid to Gaza that the White House was able to call out the BBC and other media. It’s the exact opposite of how things should be. Meanwhile, The Washington Post had such an epic fail that it actually pulled something. And The New York Times’ lack of basic logic reared its head yet again.

The more the media lies, the more dangerous America becomes. Now, a slew of terrorist attacks are targeting Jewish people or events. A governor’s house was firebombed; a young Jewish woman and Christian man were slaughtered; and a march for hostages was firebombed. Among the wounded was an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. In all these cases, radicalized terrorists said they were supporting “Palestine” -- just as big mainstream media were “reporting” disproven lies about Israel’s actions in Gaza. Today, a guest joins Josh to explain the “absurd” reality: Rather than correcting what people say, the media is the one that has to be corrected. Also, a new book about Biden’s decline is a journalistic fiasco designed to manipulate you and get your money. Josh shares behind-the-scenes details of how CNN has done this in the past. And he answers questions posed by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. Plus, a big announcement: Josh is taking a trip to Israel to correct the media, and needs your help! Founding Members of the newsletter will make it possible. Join at: TheyStandCorrected.substack.com. (Or make any contribution at paypal.me/joshlevs.) Josh suggests ways he can thank you.

Every Memorial Day, the media praises the heroism of slain U.S. service members, especially those who served in World War II. But these reports are deeply hypocritical. Today, Josh explains how the media fuels the kinds anti-democratic movements that U.S. troops fought against. In fact, on a daily basis big news agencies legitimize a movement with roots in Nazism. You’ll hear powerful words from FDR in the lead-up to World War II, arguing that the United States must help fellow democracies under attack. He called out infiltrators at home who support enemies of democracy, and people who cloak these agendas under alleged anti-war sentiments. It has great resonance now for Ukraine, Israel, and the radicalization fueling violence worldwide -- including the horrific slaughter of a couple in Washington. It also speaks to the dangers of Trump extolling dictators and expressing authoritarian instincts. Plus, Josh shares another president’s warning on the “military-industrial complex.” And beautiful Memorial Day music, including from a sergeant standing alone in a national cemetery. To all fallen U.S. service members: thank you.

As soon as it started, a listener alerted Josh: an avalanche of “hit pieces” about Sen. John Fetterman was on the way. Soon, big news organizations did come forward with a slew of reports about the senator, a Democrat from Pennsylvania. The reporting involved allegations about his mental health from one named former staffer -- and a bunch of anonymous people. This triggered a debate. Did the media learn a lesson from Biden, or is it helping far left activists try to take down Fetterman for stances they don’t like? In addition to being willing to reach across the aisle, Fetterman has been unwavering in his recognition of Israel’s obvious right to fight to destroy Hamas after the most evil terrorist attack of modern times.  Today, Josh explains that this story is about much more than one man. It’s about anonymous sourcing, rules over vetting information, and coverage of mental health. It’s a tale of buried lines that are crucial for context and fairness, the media’s tendency to forget the whole point of doing a story, and the gullibility that makes big news agencies ripe for a political operative to manipulate.