Podcast Summary:

Podcast: YouTube Creators Hub
Host: Dusty Porter
Episode: How Clayton Morris Built Redacted to 3M Subscribers
Date: January 23, 2026
Guest: Clayton Morris, Redacted News

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dusty Porter sits down with Clayton Morris, a former Fox News anchor and now independent journalist, to discuss the remarkable rise of the "Redacted News" YouTube channel, which has amassed nearly 3 million subscribers. The conversation examines Clayton's transition from mainstream media to independent content creation, the evolution of the YouTube platform, monetization strategies, the value of evergreen content, and future trends for creators. With candid anecdotes and actionable insights, Clayton pulls back the curtain on what it takes to build a meaningful and resilient YouTube presence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin and Evolution of Redacted News

[02:28 – 05:09]

• Channel Origins:
  • Clayton started what eventually became “Redacted News” after noticing widespread misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic while living in Europe.
  • Originally titled “Morning Invest,” the channel shifted focus as Clayton noticed "so many lies" and "redacted" (censored/withheld) information in mainstream media coverage.
  • The show name and ethos were inspired by moments like reporting on Pfizer court documents full of redactions and other "untold or omitted stories."

"I spent nearly 20 years in the mainstream media and they lie by omission. Now I don’t work for anybody. I work for myself." — Clayton Morris [04:10]

• Team Expansion:
  • Clayton’s wife, an experienced journalist and researcher, joined the channel, moving “Redacted” further toward in-depth, research-driven reporting.

2. Defining Success and Hitting a Nerve with Audiences

[05:09 – 07:02]

• Tipping Point:
  • The COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war were catalysts for explosive growth.
  • The channel’s commitment to covering stories ignored by mainstream outlets struck a chord with audiences seeking alternative viewpoints.

"Honestly, the truth works. It was really the truth that changed everything for us." — Clayton Morris [06:39]

3. YouTube’s Changing Landscape and Creator Strategies

[07:02 – 12:54]

• YouTube Terms of Service:
  • The drastic 180-degree shifts in YouTube's policies, especially concerning COVID-19 coverage, caused headaches for creators like Clayton:
    • He experienced bans and loss of monetization, only to see the very rules that triggered them later reversed.

"We were reporting Pfizer’s own documents—we got banned for ‘medical misinformation’. Then, months later, YouTube reversed their terms of service 180%. It was amazing. They did it overnight." — Clayton Morris [08:30]

• Format Shifts:
  • Shorts are being algorithmically prioritized despite not fitting Clayton’s preferred content style.
  • He sees a growing hunger for long-form, deep-dive content, especially around evergreen topics.
  • The "middle ground" (10-20 minute clips) is being "squeezed" between the rise of Shorts and long-form content.

4. Evergreen Content and Analytical Approach

[12:54 – 15:06]

• Evergreen Focus:
  • Clayton is prioritizing in-person, two-hour interviews on timeless topics, believing they're more valuable over time.
  • News-of-the-day content has a short shelf life, but long-form interviews continue to accumulate views.
  • Example topics: Lasik surgery risks, government tech secrecy, whistleblower accounts.

"Evergreen long form content has been my focus… I think people want that." — Clayton Morris [14:44]

5. Monetization Tactics & Revenue Streams

[16:47 – 21:29]

• YouTube Monetization:

  • Primary income from video uploads, not from live ads (which he finds too intrusive).
  • Live ads during live streams are disabled due to concerns over harming viewer experience.

• Platform Diversification:

  • Simultaneous streaming on Rumble and X (formerly Twitter) yields significant live viewership and helps diversify revenue.
  • Rumble is growing, sometimes outweighing YouTube’s concurrent live viewers.

• Ad Reads & Sponsors:

  • Instead of traditional YouTube ads, integrated sponsor ad reads (either by himself or his wife) run between show segments.
  • Sponsorships focus on long-term relationships; most sponsors book ad slots for six months to a year to build brand association and loyalty.

"You have to be diverse… it’s hard out there for independent creators." — Clayton Morris [19:20]

• Sponsor Loyalty:
  • Brand integration leads to organic audience adoption ("I got one for my grandson for Christmas. He loves it." — on a recent sponsor’s product) [21:17]

6. If Starting Over: What Content Should You Create?

[21:29 – 24:53]

• Strategic Advice:
  • Prioritize authentic, evergreen content with minimal editing—viewers gravitate to real, raw, unfiltered personalities.
  • The “old guy in the rocking chair” format: relatable, honest, and unscripted.
  • "Only speak about what you know."

“People can see right through fakery… only speak about what you know for sure.” — Clayton Morris [24:35] (quoting Tucker Carlson’s advice)

• Editing Trends:
  • While quick-cuts (Mr. Beast style) have their place, there's an emerging appetite for less-produced, more genuine content.

7. Video Packaging: Thumbnails, Titles, and Clickbait

[24:53 – 29:20]

• Thumbnails & Titles:
  • Headlines should be intriguing but not give away the point—encourage the click without revealing the outcome.
  • Pulling direct, compelling quotes for titles adds intrigue and authenticity.
  • "Clickbait" as fishing—leading viewers with a promise you actually fulfill.

“Clickbait… you gotta get people to click. You’re in a sea of noise, then you have to deliver on it. I like the term clickbait, actually… we want you to watch the video because we did hard work on it.” — Clayton Morris [26:48]

• AI Tools:
  • Leveraging AI for ideation: Run scripts through AI to generate multiple YouTube titles. While most are discarded, it’s a useful springboard.
  • Human-generated titles overwhelmingly outperform AI in split tests.

8. The Future of YouTube & Content Creation Space

[29:20 – 31:45]

• Predictions:
  • More emphasis on "You" in “YouTube”: personality-driven, authentic, gritty content.
  • "Lean-back" long-form experiences will grow as more people watch YouTube on TVs rather than phones.
  • Shorts are being pushed hard by YouTube to compete with TikTok, but long-form, meaningful content will retain its place for “lean-back” viewing.

“I think you’re going to see a lot more ‘you’ in YouTube and more reality and truth and groundedness and not over-polished editing… more lean-back experiences.” — Clayton Morris [29:50]

9. Live Streaming: Building Community & Best Practices

[31:45 – 36:16]

• Benefits:

  • Best for fostering audience interaction and loyalty; live chats and super chats offer direct engagement.
  • Even smaller live audiences on niche channels (e.g., Clayton’s gaming channel) offer fun and community.

• Tips for Beginners:

  • Start simple: a clean, well-lit background, a clear agenda, and open interaction.
  • Don’t stress about live mistakes—the YouTube editor lets you trim them after the stream.
  • Repurpose livestreams into clips and shorts for further reach and optimization.

“To me, live streaming is a community nurturing tool.” — Clayton Morris [32:29]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I spent nearly 20 years in the mainstream media and they lie by omission… Now I don’t work for anybody. I work for myself.”
  — Clayton Morris [04:10]

• “Honestly, the truth works. It was really the truth that changed everything for us.”
  — Clayton Morris [06:39]

• “We were reporting Pfizer’s own documents—we got banned for ‘medical misinformation’. Then, months later, YouTube reversed their terms 180%. It was amazing. They did it overnight.”
  — Clayton Morris [08:30]

• “People can see right through fakery… only speak about what you know for sure.”
  — Clayton Morris [24:35]

• “Clickbait… you gotta get people to click. You’re in a sea of noise… then you have to deliver on it.”
  — Clayton Morris [26:48]

• “I think you’re going to see a lot more ‘you’ in YouTube and more reality and truth and groundedness and not over-polished editing… more lean-back experiences.”
  — Clayton Morris [29:50]

• “To me, live streaming is a community nurturing tool.”
  — Clayton Morris [32:29]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Channel Origin Story & Philosophy: [02:28 – 05:09]
• Channel Growth & Tipping Points: [05:09 – 07:02]
• YouTube Shifts & Format Changes: [07:02 – 12:54]
• Evergreen Content & Analytics: [12:54 – 15:06]
• Monetization & Platform Diversification: [16:47 – 21:29]
• Advice for New Creators: [21:29 – 24:53]
• Packaging & Clickbait Strategy: [24:53 – 29:20]
• The Future of YouTube: [29:20 – 31:45]
• Live Streaming Best Practices: [31:45 – 36:16]

Takeaways for Creators

• Authenticity resonates: Real, unfiltered personalities and perspectives foster deeper connections and growth.
• Evergreen, long-form content is a strong investment: It has a much longer shelf-life than breaking news or trend-reactive material.
• Diversify income and platforms: Don’t rely solely on one platform; build multiple monetization streams.
• Be adaptable, not reactive: Platform rules and trends shift—remain flexible but focus on what builds lasting value.
• Lean into your expertise: Speak about what you genuinely know and care about.

For more, check out Clayton Morris on Redacted News and his gaming channel, Clayton Morris, and explore more creator insights on future episodes of the YouTube Creators Hub.