Podcast Summary: On the Media – "Fire and Brimstone"

Release Date: September 17, 2021
Hosts: Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger (Hosted by Sacha Pfeiffer in Brooke’s absence)
Produced by: WNYC Studios

1. Introduction: The State of Free Speech and Public Discourse

The episode begins with a poignant reflection on the erosion of free speech in contemporary society. Sacha Pfeiffer sets the stage by highlighting how individuals increasingly fear speaking out due to potential backlash from online mobs.

[00:01] Speaker 1: “We have become that place that you can't speak.”
[00:05] Speaker 2: “You can't speak for the fear of the mob attacking you.”

2. The Nicki Minaj Controversy: Social Media and Vaccine Misinformation

A significant portion of the episode delves into the controversy surrounding rapper Nicki Minaj's Instagram live session. After posting a tweet that spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, Minaj became the target of widespread criticism.

[02:25] Sacha Pfeiffer: “This is rapper Nicki Minaj speaking on Instagram live... Her tweet went viral pretty much instantly, as did Ballgate.”

Minaj's tweet claimed adverse effects of vaccines based on an anecdote, which experts later debunked.

[04:02] Dr. Terrence Dayalsing: “As far as we know at this point in time, there has been no such reported either side effect or adverse event.”

Instead of retracting her statement, Minaj doubled down, arguing that her critics were infringing on her freedom of speech.

[04:33] Sacha Pfeiffer: “…Minaj doubled down. She took to Instagram Live to riff on her feeling that her critics had robbed her of their freedom to speak their mind.”

The controversy underscores the challenges of combating misinformation on social platforms and the fine line between free speech and public health.

3. Biden’s Vaccine Mandate and Religious Exemptions

Transitioning from individual cases to broader policies, the discussion shifts to President Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees. Critics labeled it as “medical tyranny,” a term they also applied to previous administrations.

[05:12] Speaker 2: “Medical tyranny is still tyranny and that's exactly what this Biden administration is trying to push on the American people.”

Sacha Pfeiffer counters this viewpoint by providing historical context, noting that vaccine mandates have been legally upheld in the U.S. for over a century.

[05:44] Sacha Pfeiffer: “History shows that vaccine mandates... are neither bullying nor tyrannical.”

However, the mandate introduces complexities regarding religious exemptions. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 allows employees to refuse vaccines based on sincerely held religious beliefs, raising questions about what constitutes legitimate religious exemptions.

[07:17] Sacha Pfeiffer: “...even though the Pope has come out in favor of vaccinations, Catholics have the right to make an individual case to their employers for opting out.”

This segment highlights the tension between public health measures and individual religious freedoms, emphasizing the role of the Supreme Court in adjudicating such disputes.

4. Supreme Court’s Stance on Religion and Reproductive Rights

Linda Greenhouse, a respected Supreme Court correspondent, provides an in-depth analysis of recent Supreme Court decisions that favor religious conservatives. She points out the Court's increasing deferential stance towards religious expressions in public life.

[16:03] Speaker 2: “...allowing employers to opt out of covering contraception last week, a decision in which they said that Montana could not exclude a school from a scholarship program simply because that school was church-run.”

Furthermore, Justice Amy Coney Barrett's comments on maintaining impartiality in the Court raise concerns about perceived partisanship.

[16:30] Justice Barrett: “Justices must be hyper vigilant to make sure they're not letting personal biases creep into their decisions.”

Greenhouse critiques how legislative bodies are increasingly influenced by religious motivations, particularly in the context of abortion laws.

[20:00] Greenhouse: “...we need to call out those who invoke God as their legislative drafting partner.”

She emphasizes that while individuals have the liberty to hold religious beliefs, imposing these beliefs through legislation infringes on others' rights.

5. Media Coverage of Climate Change: An Ongoing Challenge

The episode transitions to the media’s inadequate coverage of climate change. Host Sacha Pfeiffer references a study by Media Matters, which found that only 4% of TV news segments on Hurricane Ida attributed the storm to climate change.

[29:44] Speaker 2: “...of the 774 total TV segments... only 34 mentioned climate change, just 4%.”

Mark Herzgerd, Environment Correspondent for The Nation and Executive Director of Covering Climate Now, criticizes the media for treating climate change as a partisan issue rather than a scientific reality.

[32:14] Herzgerd: “We have treated climate change as a politics story rather than a science story... We have treated climate change as a politics story rather than a science story.”

He advocates for "solutions journalism," which balances reporting the dire impacts of climate change with stories of technological advancements and grassroots movements combating the crisis.

[36:30] Herzgerd: “We have a civic responsibility to inform the people about the good, the bad, the ugly, but also the possible.”

6. Fossil Fuel Industry’s Influence on Media Narratives

A critical examination is presented on how fossil fuel companies have historically manipulated media narratives to downplay climate change. The podcast references the investigative work of Amy Westervelt’s podcast Drilled, which explores the deep-rooted relationship between the fossil fuel industry and the media.

[40:14] Speaker 2: “Schmertz didn't just focus on placing particular stories. He set about fundamentally changing the relationship between corporations and the media.”

Herb Schmertz, Mobil Oil’s VP of Public Affairs, pioneered advertorials and issue advertising to subtly influence public opinion and media discourse.

[43:04] Schmertz: “We believed strongly about the importance of public policy issues... participating in the marketplace of ideas.”

The legacy of these strategies persists today, with major newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post continuing similar practices through their brand studios, blurring the lines between editorial content and corporate propaganda.

[50:05] Speaker 3: “It's now part of the solution. They want to look like they are part of the solution.”

This manipulation not only skews public perception but also hampers objective reporting on environmental issues, contributing to the ongoing climate crisis.

7. Conclusion: The Interplay of Media, Policy, and Public Opinion

"Fire and Brimstone" intricately weaves discussions on free speech, religious freedoms, judicial influence, and media integrity. It underscores the pervasive impact of misinformation—whether through individual actions like Minaj’s tweet or institutional strategies employed by the fossil fuel industry. The episode calls for vigilant media practices, informed public engagement, and a critical reassessment of how legal and constitutional frameworks interact with evolving societal challenges.

Notable Quotes:

• Nicki Minaj’s Tweet Reaction:

  [02:25] Speaker 1: “We have become that place that you can't speak.”

• Supreme Court on Reproductive Rights:

  [20:00] Linda Greenhouse: “...we need to call out those who invoke God as their legislative drafting partner.”

• Climate Change Reporting:

  [34:26] Herzgerd: “We have treated climate change as a politics story rather than a science story...”

This episode of On the Media offers a comprehensive exploration of how media narratives shape and are shaped by political and social forces, urging listeners to critically evaluate the information landscape surrounding pivotal contemporary issues.