City Journal Audio: “Bari Weiss, Media Disruptor”
Podcast: City Journal Audio
Host: Rafael Mangual (Manhattan Institute)
Guests: Carolyn Gorman, Jesse Arm, Carrie Seropoulos
Date: October 9, 2025
Overview
This episode centers on media disruptor Bari Weiss, her trajectory from the New York Times to the Free Press, and her recent elevation to editor-in-chief of CBS News following the acquisition of the Free Press by Paramount. The panel unpacks the media reaction, the cultural and political implications, the backlash from across the spectrum, and what this shift might mean for the broader media ecosystem—sprinkled with sharp anecdotes, personal insights, and lively debate.
Main Themes & Purpose
- The disruptive ascent of Bari Weiss within legacy and alternative media
- The cultural and institutional challenges in American journalism
- Media backlash and polarization around journalistic independence
- The new potential for substantive debate and critical thinking in mainstream outlets
- Reactions and implications for political culture, both in media and politics generally
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Immediate Reaction to Bari Weiss’s New Role
[00:33]
- Host Rafael Mangual opens with surprise at the “snarky” and “jealous” reactions among media figures to Bari Weiss’s success, specifically referencing a New York Times piece by Jessica Testa.
- Carolyn labels the reactions as “very jealous… not doing a good job of hiding it.”
Notable Quote
“The New York Times kind of catty reaction to this attention… it’s a little bit high school.” – Carrie, [05:35]
2. Bari Weiss as a Media Disruptor
[01:23]
- Jesse praises Weiss as “a disruptor in a good way,” noting her “clarity of thought and clarity of morale,” and lamenting the NYT’s inability to listen to her.
- Discussion of her trajectory, starting Common Sense as a Substack in 2020—which became the Free Press media empire within five years after being ousted from the Times.
“The excesses of that moment are now being rolled back. And that’s definitely something to celebrate.” – Jesse, [03:15]
- Jesse notes that backlash comes from both left and right, arguing that Bari’s heterodox views—“pro-Israel, anti-woke,” yet open to dissent—don’t fit established boxes and threaten status quos.
- Carrie and Rafael riff on the culture of exclusion and in-group dynamics within legacy media:
“It has treated itself… as this exclusive private club. They get to be the mean girls who decide who comes in and who goes out.” – Rafael, [05:37]
3. Personal Anecdotes: Weiss’s Impact
[07:14]
- Jesse shares two personal stories:
- At a DC event, mentioning he worked at the Manhattan Institute caused someone to immediately reply “Oh yeah, Bari Weiss”—she is now an emblem of heterodoxy even outside her platforms.
- As an undergrad, Jesse wrote about campus free speech, and Bari Weiss personally helped him transform an “emotional, poorly written screed” into a publishable piece at the NYT.
“Bari Weiss from The New York Times took a look at it and helped me turn my slop… into a good piece—and she published me.” – Jesse, [10:32]
- Rafael discusses how participating in Free Press debates provided a platform for nuanced, adversarial, and civil discussion—contrasting it to mainstream outlets.
4. What the Free Press (and Bari Weiss) Brings to Journalism
[12:48]
- Carolyn and Jesse both highlight the demand for genuine debate and open discourse, seen as rare in mainstream media.
- Rafael notes:
“People have gotten to a point where they assume if they’re reading something in the media that it is… one-sided and slanted…” [13:15]
- Carrie: Openness does not mean every outlet must be “neutral,” but respectful engagement is most important.
- Jesse and Rafael agree the news division still faces challenges with objectivity, but Weiss’s methods of including diverse voices—debates, dueling essays—provide a positive model.
5. Debate Culture: Israel and the Dave Smith vs. Coleman Hughes Debate
[14:19]
- Panel discusses a major recent Free Press event: a debate on Israel between comedian Dave Smith and intellectual Coleman Hughes.
- Smith accused Israel of manipulating the US through clandestine schemes.
- Carrie and Jesse note Hughes’s disciplined, fact-based style, and praise the civil tone—no ad hominems or shouting.
“Coleman Hughes is very level-headed… just having the facts with him.” – Carrie, [16:26]
- The panel ridicules Smith’s reliance on conspiracy theories, e.g., the “Wesley Clark memo,” with Carrie detailing how Hughes calmly dismantled Smith’s arguments.
- Jesse and others highlight the contrast in temperament and preparation.
“Coleman fits into kind of a different box. He’s more of a critical thinker… disciplined, precise, and curious… we need more Coleman Hughes out there, particularly in that genre.” – Jesse, [18:31]
6. Blowback and Social Media Commentary
[19:55]
- Rafael reads and reacts to critical social posts about the Israel debate, notably from Max Blumenthal and Norman Finkelstein.
- Blumenthal mocked Hughes for “glancing down at his notes,” which the panel rejects as an unfair critique and opposite of responsible journalism.
- Jesse gives context on Finkelstein’s reputation as a far-left provocateur, suggesting Weiss “has all the right enemies.”
“Bari Weiss has all the right enemies.” – Jesse, [22:38]
7. Media Responsibility, Discourse, and the CBS Shift
[23:08]
- Panel wonders if mainstream networks—like CBS under Weiss—will adopt substantive, adversarial debate formats instead of soft daytime talk.
- Rafael, referencing a recent interview incident with California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter, laments political figures’ aversion to even mild scrutiny.
- Porter’s emotional reaction under pressure is seen as emblematic of broader coddling and “gentle parenting” cultural shifts.
“If you are not willing to engage on basic questions about who your electorate is… that’s unserious.” – Jesse, [24:09]
- Carrie notes the political fallout: Porter’s perceived inability to handle tough questions sent her election odds plummeting.
8. Wider Political Landscape: California’s Gubernatorial Field
[28:47]
- Jesse outlines likely beneficiaries from Porter’s troubles, including Javier Becerra, Alex Padilla, and Rick Caruso.
- Specific mention of Caruso as a “Mike Bloomberg type” moderate with bipartisan appeal.
- Carolyn humorously notes the recurrence of MI alumni in the field: “Is this the MI podcast or the former?”
9. Conspiracies and the Information Ecosystem
[32:59]
- Rafael raises the issue of rapid-fire conspiracy sharing in the digital era, using the example of a South Carolina judge whose house burned down.
- He remarks on how polarized expectations warp reactions, noting people instantly blamed political violence with “zero basis.”
“Everyone wants… to just paint their opponents as the worst possible people ever. And it sucks.” – Rafael, [33:53]
- All agree that this trend wastes energy and attention, underscoring the need for more responsible journalism.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On media culture:
- “It’s only something laudable… proof that the excesses of that moment (2020) are now being rolled back.” – Jesse, [03:15]
- “It has treated itself and regarded itself as this exclusive private club… the mean girls who decide who comes in and who goes out.” – Rafael, [05:37]
- On Weiss’s rise:
- “She’s the girl who goes away at the beginning of high school, then she comes back to prom and she’s crowned prom queen… and all the girls who excluded her try and dump a bucket of pig’s blood on her head.” – Carrie, [06:29]
- On debate:
- “We need more Coleman Hughes out there, particularly in that genre.” – Jesse, [18:31]
- On political resiliency:
- “If you are trying to be the leader of a state… and you do not want to talk to a reporter because you are nervous that the conversation is going to be uncomfortable, not only should you not be in that role, but also we as a society should be asking ourselves what is incentivizing this?” – Carolyn, [27:24]
- On conspiracy-fueled discourse:
- “It struck me as this insane moment that we’re living in where… people just feel comfortable putting stuff out there with zero basis whatsoever.” – Rafael, [32:59]
Timestamps: Important Segments
- [00:33] – Opening reaction to Bari Weiss, Free Press, and media jealousy
- [02:04] – Bari’s backstory: NYT ouster, Tom Cotton op-ed, and creating Free Press
- [07:14] – Jesse’s personal anecdotes: DC event & NYT publication via Weiss
- [11:45] – The value of Free Press debates
- [14:19] – Dave Smith vs. Coleman Hughes debate debrief
- [17:42] – Comparing panelists and debate culture
- [22:38] – Who are Bari Weiss’s “enemies”? Finkelstein and Blumenthal commentary
- [23:08] – The Katie Porter interview incident and implications
- [28:47] – Political fallout: California gubernatorial candidates
- [32:59] – Arson rumors and the polarization of breaking news
Tone & Style
The conversation was energetic, irreverent, and driven by a shared enthusiasm for intellectual rigor and free discourse. The panel approached topics with humor, skepticism, and—occasionally—pointed critique, especially regarding legacy media insularity and political fragility.
Conclusion
This episode offers an incisive view of Bari Weiss’s disruptive impact on the media landscape and the broader hunger for unfettered, honest debate in American society. The hosts see her rise as both a repudiation of ideological conformity in journalism and a template for substantive public discourse—one that challenges the in-group dynamics of old media while holding political actors to higher standards of accountability and resilience.