Political Fictions

On the Media

WNYC Studios

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4.6 • 8.7K Ratings

🗓️ 21 January 2022

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It’s been over a year since Donald Trump was defeated fair and square in the 2020 election, but polling shows that belief in the Big Lie is as strong as ever. On this week’s On the Media, hear journalists debate how to interview Americans convinced by this dangerous myth. Plus, find out why one political linguist isn’t sure the press can pull democracy back from the brink.

1. Matthew Sitman [@MatthewSitman], host of the Know Your Enemy podcast, shares his tips for interviewing right-wing intellectuals. Listen.

2. Bill Kristol [@BillKristol], editor-at-large of The Bulwark, reckons with 'Stop the Steal'-ers in his party. Listen.

3. Astead Herndon [@AsteadWesley], national politics reporter at the The New York Times, on why he'd rather interview a 'Big Lie'-believing voter than a politician. Listen.

4. George Lakoff [@GeorgeLakoff], linguist and cognitive scientist, reflects on the "truth sandwich." Listen.

Music:

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by Brad MehldauCellar Door by Michael AndrewsCello Song by Nick DrakeBoy Moves the Sun by Michael AndrewsI’m Not Following You by Michael AndrewsWhite Man Sleeps I by Kronos QuartetLove Angel by Marcos CiscarTraveling Music by Kronos Quartet

Transcript

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0:00.0	On this week's on the media, we explore best practices for journalists interviewing
0:06.4	believers of the big lie.
0:08.5	Pay attention to the language the right uses.
0:11.2	Pay attention to what's baked into it.
0:13.4	You can't let them use language to make it seem like, well, actually, you know, maybe
0:18.8	some of these people had a point.
0:20.2	They didn't have a point.
0:21.2	I've turned down invitations to be on TV with Trump big lie propagators.
0:27.0	There's not a common basis of truth and good faith that one is acting on how can you
0:31.8	even have it to be.
0:32.8	Was it a huge whole thing that Trump would be reinstated as president?
0:35.8	He's never left.
0:36.8	There's no doubt in my mind, 150,000%.
0:41.3	At this point, I would be okay with a reboot.
0:44.8	Brilliant.
0:45.8	Yeah.
0:46.8	People thinking that politics is a debate class that only deals with what is true has actually
0:51.1	stopped people from seeing the spread of certain political movements in the country over
0:55.7	the last five to ten years.
0:57.4	It's all coming up after this.
1:03.8	From WNYC in New York, this is on the media.
1:07.2	I'm Brooke Gladstone.
	...

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