Podcast Summary: "The Truth with Lisa Boothe: Mainstream Media’s Collapse — Exposing Bias, Double Standards, and Declining Influence"

Guest: Joe Concha (Fox News contributor, author of "The Greatest Comeback Ever")
Date: September 25, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)
Host: Lisa Boothe

Overview

This episode explores the current state of the mainstream media in America, focusing on its perceived collapse, bias, and double standards. Lisa Boothe is joined by media critic and Fox News contributor Joe Concha for an in-depth discussion on the media’s handling of recent political violence, high-profile controversies (notably the Charlie Kirk assassination and Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks), and the ongoing transformation of the news and entertainment landscape. Insights include the role media plays in political polarization, the impact of economic pressures and audience fragmentation, and where the industry is heading.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Jersey Gubernatorial Race and Political Landscape

(03:12–07:07)

• Boothe opens by connecting national media trends to local politics, using NJ’s gubernatorial race between Mikie Sherrill (D) and Jack Ciattarelli (R) as an example.
• Concha draws a parallel between Sherrill and national Dem figures:

  "My gut feels like I'm watching Kamala 2.0 with Mikie Sherrill... you take her outside that teleprompter and she becomes another human Chernobyl."
  — Joe Concha (05:10)

• Discussion centers on tone-deafness in the political left, particularly relating to high-profile tragedies and inability to issue simple human condolences.

2. Media Response to the Charlie Kirk Assassination & Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

(07:07–14:35)

• Boothe and Concha dissect media and celebrity reactions, specifically focusing on Jimmy Kimmel’s false claim that Charlie Kirk’s killer was MAGA-aligned, when evidence showed otherwise.
• Concha criticizes Kimmel’s lack of an apology and his portrayal as a "free speech martyr":

  "It just angers me so much that he is exploiting this now because he thinks somehow he's a free speech martyr, like he's a bigger victim than Charlie himself."
  — Joe Concha (08:02)

• Notable Moment: Concha contextualizes Charlie Kirk’s remarks about Martin Luther King—distinguishing between public legacy and personal flaws (09:00–10:24).
• Boothe notes the outpouring of support for Kirk’s family and legacy, highlighting viral content that rebutted claims he would not be remembered.

3. Media Double Standards and Free Speech Debate

(12:14–14:35)

• Concha highlights the hypocrisy in media circles, especially around the concept of "censorship" and free speech:

  "Now he's screaming about how free speech is under attack... but he said himself in 2028, 'a network doesn't have to pay you to say it' after Roseanne Barr was fired."
  — Joe Concha (12:14)

• He points out economic drivers (ratings, ad dollars) behind programming decisions, arguing that poor ratings and toxicity, not ideology, will ultimately remove toxic voices from the air.

4. Changing Media Landscape: Podcasts, Cable, and Network TV

(20:51–23:03)

• Boothe asks about recent network/cable upheaval (e.g., CBS, possible CNN buyout).
• Concha explains the end of the "big contract days" for TV anchors and the rise of podcasts as primary news sources:

  "I think podcasts are the next big great thing... the days of sitting down and watching the news like people used to with Cronkite or Peter Jennings... are long, long gone."
  — Joe Concha (21:28)

5. Media Self-Destruction and Bias: Major Stories and Downplaying Violence

(23:03–24:06 & 24:06–27:07)

• Boothe references a media executive’s anonymous 2024 comment about the end of mainstream media influence if Trump won, suggesting the industry’s own biases are killing it.
• Concha traces the decline from the 2008 Obama campaign’s coverage, through Trump’s ascension (aided by media exposure), to the Russia collusion narrative, COVID, and Biden-era censorship.
• He points to collapsing ratings (e.g., CNN primetime below 500,000 viewers), arguing that Fox's mix of news and entertainment is a rare success story.

6. Media’s Role in Political Violence and Polarization

(30:24–33:44)

• Boothe draws connections between media narratives (e.g., "hands up, don’t shoot," ICE agents as "Gestapo") and subsequent real-world attacks on police and ICE.
• Concha denounces media amplification of extreme voices and terms:

  "You have Tim Walz... and Hakeem Jeffries, Gestapo. They're using Nazi language to describe agents who are just trying to remove violent criminals... that's going to get somebody killed eventually."
  — Joe Concha (31:08)

• He accuses the media of chasing clicks by booking the most provocative guests, undermining reasoned debate.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Left’s Response to Tragedy:

  "Why can't people just be human beings? Regardless of what you think of Charlie's beliefs... why can't people just be human?"
  — Lisa Boothe (07:07)

• On the Shift from TV to Podcasts:

  "I'm a podcast person... I haven't listened to music in my car for years. Podcasts are the next big great thing."
  — Joe Concha (21:28)

• On Media's Economic Realities:

  "It’s not that Kimmel said something bad—take him off because he's losing your network a ton of money and he's a toxic brand."
  — Joe Concha (13:55)

• On Media Incentivizing Outrage:

  "The media will put on the loudest voices, the most provocative voices possible because they're looking for that cheap click or viral moment."
  — Joe Concha (31:08, expanded)

Closing and Personal Notes

(33:44–36:26)

• Boothe and Concha shift to lighter banter about new show formats, Fox News production quirks, and personal anecdotes.
• Plug for Concha’s book "The Greatest Comeback Ever."
• Concha expresses hope and admiration for Kirk’s widow, Erica, and wider reflections on family, career, and legacy.

Key Timestamps

• NJ Gubernatorial Race discussion: 03:12–07:07
• Charlie Kirk & Jimmy Kimmel controversy: 07:07–14:35
• Media double standards/free speech: 12:14–14:35
• Media economic/podcast shift: 20:51–23:03
• Mainstream media decline: 23:03–27:07
• Media’s role in violence: 30:24–33:44

Takeaway

This episode presents a critical view of the mainstream media, arguing that collapsing ratings, double standards, sensationalism, and denial of responsibility for contributing to political polarization have rendered old models obsolete. The conversation is punctuated by poignant anecdotes and a call for greater integrity, emotional honesty, and adaptation in the information age. The future, suggest both Boothe and Concha, lies in direct-to-consumer formats like podcasts and independent media.