Episode Summary: "Off the Radar" | On the Media

Release Date: November 3, 2017
Hosts: Brooke Gladstone (absent this episode), Bob Garfield

1. Fox News and Media Bias

Overview:
The episode opens with Bob Garfield critiquing Fox News' coverage of President Donald Trump's legal challenges. Garfield argues that Fox News employs misdirection and misrepresentations to portray Trump as being uniquely persecuted while insinuating widespread Democratic wrongdoing.

Key Points:

• Dual Justice Systems: Garfield asserts that Fox News operates under the premise of two separate justice systems: one favoring the Clintons and Democrats, and another disadvantaging others (00:02 - 01:15).

• Discrediting Investigations: Fox News is criticized for undermining the legitimacy of the Mueller investigation by questioning its scope and motives. Garfield notes that the indictments do not directly mention Trump's campaign but Fox attempts to link them to broader Democratic corruption (01:09 - 03:56).

• Rupert Murdoch's Influence: The discussion shifts to Rupert Murdoch's role in shaping Fox News' agenda. Sarah Ellison, a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, highlights Murdoch's close relationship with Trump and his influence over the media landscape (05:46 - 13:18).

Notable Quotes:

• Garfield: “Fox voices aren't merely passing along White House talking points. They're offering talking points to their biggest fan, Trump.” (02:45)
• Ellison: “Rupert Murdoch is running Fox News newsroom...he has the personal ear of the president.” (07:07)

2. NPR Sexual Harassment Scandal

Overview:
The episode transitions to a critical examination of sexual harassment allegations within NPR, focusing on the misconduct of Michael Oreskes, NPR's Senior Vice President for News.

Key Points:

• Oreskes' Misconduct: Investigative reporting by David Folkenflik reveals that Oreskes engaged in inappropriate behavior, including unsolicited kisses and advances towards female colleagues (25:00 - 31:05).

• Institutional Response: Despite prior knowledge of Oreskes' behavior, NPR management failed to take decisive action until the Washington Post published detailed accounts. CEO Yarl Mone's delayed response raises questions about institutional accountability (27:48 - 33:20).

• Corporate Culture: The episode discusses the broader implications of a culture of impunity within NPR, where female employees felt discouraged from reporting misconduct (30:37 - 34:18).

Notable Quotes:

• Folkenflik: “It really behooves the press in high profile cases like this to explain things that are normal in any kind of prosecution.” (16:24)
• Oreskes' Accuser: “He said, I close my eyes at night and fall asleep thinking of you.” (31:05)

3. Robert Mueller's Indictments and Media Coverage

Overview:
Marcy Wheeler, an independent national security journalist, provides an analysis of the first wave of indictments from Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Key Points:

• Indictments Overview: The indictments of Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, and the plea agreement with George Papadopoulos are discussed. Wheeler explains that the charges against Manafort and Gates are primarily financial, not directly linking them to election interference (15:01 - 17:20).

• Media Misrepresentation: Wheeler criticizes the media, particularly Fox News, for emphasizing sensational aspects of the indictments without providing necessary context, such as explaining standard prosecutorial practices (17:27 - 19:53).

• Potential Scope of Investigation: She suggests that the indictments hint at a broader scope of investigation into the Trump campaign's interactions with Russian figures, indicating that the president is indeed under investigation despite public statements to the contrary (21:33 - 22:42).

Notable Quotes:

• Wheeler: “Fox voices are misleading its audience with debunked conspiracy theories.” (03:56)
• Wheeler: “We now know there was a meeting where it did happen and he didn't disclose it.” (21:33)

4. Guantanamo Diary and Human Rights Violations

Overview:
The latter part of the episode delves into "Guantanamo Diary," an unredacted account of Mohamedou Ould Slahi's fourteen years of detention at Guantanamo Bay. Kellyanne Conway and Slahi discuss the impact of his memoir on public awareness of detainee abuses.

Key Points:

• Slahi's Ordeal: Slahi recounts his wrongful detention without evidence linking him to terrorism, the severe torture he endured, and his eventual release after being cleared of any wrongdoing (37:16 - 50:57).

• Publication Challenges: Kellyanne Conway explains the process of editing the heavily redacted manuscript into a publishable format, highlighting the extensive censorship imposed by the government (39:24 - 41:06).

• Cultural and Legal Implications: The discussion emphasizes the ongoing presence of Guantanamo Bay as a human rights issue and the necessity for America to confront its past mistakes to uphold justice and humanity (43:11 - 50:19).

Notable Quotes:

• Slahi: “I don't have to hate anyone. I don't have to vindicate what they say I am.” (48:50)
• Conway: “No writer or journalist has ever been able to speak with a prisoner while they're in Guantanamo.” (39:56)

5. Advertisements and Promotional Segments

Throughout the episode, various advertisements and promotional segments are strategically placed. Notable advertisements include:

• USAA Auto Insurance Discounts: Multiple discounts such as multi-vehicle, safe driver, new vehicle, and storage discounts are briefly mentioned (24:03 - 24:14; 35:21 - 35:26).

• Podcast Promotions:

  • Strict Scrutiny: Sean Hannity promotes his podcast focusing on Supreme Court battles (24:08 - 24:38).
  • Decoder Ring: Marcy Wheeler promotes her Slate podcast about cultural mysteries (35:21 - 35:49).

Conclusion

In "Off the Radar," "On the Media" provides a critical lens on several pressing media and political issues of late 2017. From dissecting Fox News' biased coverage and exposing institutional failures at NPR to analyzing the implications of Mueller's indictments and shedding light on human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay, the episode underscores the persistent challenges to media integrity and justice in America.

Produced by: WNYC Studios
Roles: Produced by Alana Casanova Burgess, Jesse Brennaman, Michael Loewenger, Leah Feder; Edited by Katya Rogers; Technical Director Jennifer Munson; Engineers Sam Baer and Terence Bernardo; Vice President for News Jim Schachter.

Listen to the full episode here (link placeholder).