How to responsibly leak information to the press

Endless Thread

WBUR

Reddit, Technology

4.2 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Well, the messaging app Signal has been in the news recently, thanks to a snafu in which prominent federal defense officials mistakenly added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a group chat in which they discussed military strikes in Yemen.

This whole situation reminds us of another conversation we've been having as a team about how to responsibly leak information to the press, and if there is such a thing as a "secure line."

To answer this question, we reached out to our WBUR colleague, investigative and data reporter Todd Wallack.

If you have a story you would like to share with us in a secure way, you can reach us on Signal (yes, Signal) at 646-456-9095 or email us at [email protected]

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for Endless Thread comes from MathWorks, creator of Matlab and Simulink software for technical computing and model-based design.
0:09.1	MathWorks, accelerating the pace of discovery in engineering and science. Learn more at MathWorks.com.
0:16.4	Support for this podcast comes from Tanglewood. Join the BSO, the Boston Pops, and incredible guest artists
0:23.2	for unforgettable performances under the stars at Tanglewood. It's the perfect getaway to enjoy
0:29.2	world-class music and make lifelong memories. Plan your visit at tanglewood.org.
0:35.7	Okay, before we get to today's episode,
0:38.1	just want to remind you that we are looking for your stories
0:40.9	about how AI is playing a role in your relationships today.
0:46.5	So these could be romantic relationships,
0:48.4	but we're not really looking for, like,
0:50.6	I have an AI significant other.
0:53.2	It's more like...
0:54.0	Did I get a foot rub from an AI?
0:57.0	You did it. Did me and the AI play checkers? Did we, sorry. Yeah, no, but you're, yes,
1:04.6	you're picking up what I'm putting down here, Ben, which is we're looking for how is AI playing a
1:09.9	role in your work relationships, in your
1:13.0	family relationships? What role is AI taking on? What is it putting on your plate, taking
1:19.6	off your plate? Tell us about all of your interesting AI relationship stories. How did they do
1:26.9	that, Ben? You can email us at Endless Thread at WBUR.org.
1:30.7	Yeah, and we'd love it if you sent us a voice memo in particular because we want your voices.
1:36.5	Not in a creepy way, actually.
1:38.5	But you can also, of course, send a written message if that's more your jam, Endless Thread at WBUR.org. Okay, here's the rest of the show.
	...

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