Press Club

Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall sits down with CNN’s Pamela Brown, co-anchor of The Situation Room. They discuss her reporting on the Camp Mystic tragedy, her upcoming documentary on the rise of Christian nationalism, and her approach to interviewing controversial figures. She also weighs in on the media landscape in the era of Donald Trump, warning that “emotion will always win out over facts,” and explains why she prioritizes everyday Americans over Beltway insiders.

Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall sits down with Jacqui Heinrich, Fox News’ Senior White House Correspondent and co-host of The Sunday Briefing. They get into Heinrich’s philosophy of asking fair, fact-driven questions across administrations, her effort to avoid “gotcha” theatrics, and how she maintains independence within Fox’s mix of news and opinion programming. Heinrich also talks about the growing presence of influencers in the briefing room, how the White House press corps has evolved amid Trump-era press-access restrictions, and what it’s like to handle public criticism from the president.

Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall sits down with Jake Tapper, anchor of CNN’s The Lead and author of the bestselling political exposé Original Sin. They discuss Tapper’s explosive reporting on President Biden’s decision to run in 2024, the media’s reaction to revelations about his health, and the fierce backlash from both the left and right. They also delve into his latest book, Race Against Terror, the evolution of post-9/11 justice, and whether Hollywood could bring his real-life thriller to the screen.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin sits down with Scott Jennings, CNN political commentator and GOP strategist, for a wide-ranging interview. They discuss his clashes on CNN, his relentless support of President Donald Trump despite his past criticism of January 6, and more, as well as his unwavering support for Israel throughout the brutal war in Gaza.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin sits down with Substack co-founder and chief writing officer Hamish McKenzie for a wide-ranging chat about the platform’s explosive growth, why he believes the traditional media model is broken, and the future of the industry. They also discuss Trump-era attacks on the press, Elon Musk's efforts to buy Substack -- and his subsequent crackdown on the platform -- and what the rise of independent media means for journalism. This episode was produced by Kathryn Wilkens.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with the founder of Mediaite, Sirius XM host, and ABC's Chief Legal Analyst, Dan Abrams, about Elon Musk's bombshell claim that Trump hasn't released the Epstein Files because he's implicated in them, why he's been saying for months that Trump's ties with Epstein should be getting more attention, and where Trump and Musk's feud will go from here. In the second half of the episode, Aidan speaks with the author of the new book On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR, Steve Oney, about his decade-long reporting process and Trump's recent threats to public broadcasting.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson about their new book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. They discuss media coverage of the former president's diminishing capabilities, the lengths to which his staff went to preserve Biden's public image, and the promotion of their book despite networks like Fox News refusing to have them on-air. Aidan also talks with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about MAGA outrage at Trump's own FBI.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Jonathan Lemire, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, about Trump's media crackdown, how to effectively cover him, and his first 100 days in office. In the second half of the episode, Aidan talks with Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall about this week's biggest media and politics stories.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with CNN's Harry Enten about Trump's recent polling loss with independents, the crisis facing the Democratic party, and his predictions for the 2026 midterms. They also discuss Elon Musk's sinking support in the polls and what it's like being a data-driven journalist. In the second half of the episode, Aidan speaks with Mediaite's founding editor Colby Hall about how the media has been covering the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man the Trump administration mistakenly deported to El Salvador.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with veteran reporter Noah Shachtman about the Trump Justice Department's weaponizing dropping of the charges against New York mayor Eric Adams, why he believes it's never been easier to steal secrets from the U.S. government, and the FBI's massive use of resources to comb through Jeffrey Epstein case files. They also speak about his career as the former editor-in-chief of Rolling Stone and The Daily Beast, and now a contributor to many large publications.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Alex Isenstadt, the author of the new book Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power about his reporting process, his recent move from Politico to Axios, and his behind-the-scenes insights into Trump's 2024 campaign. He also speaks with Frank Pine, executive editor of major newspapers including the New York Daily News and the Boston Globe, about their lawsuit against OpenAI.

Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Politico White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns. She talks of her recent reporting on tensions between Trump's Cabinet and Elon Musk over his DOGE cuts, threats to the press under Trump's second term, and how the president is weighing his personal legacy versus the midterm electability of Republican senators and house members.