On the Media is a weekly show that uses the media as a lens to understand our world. On the Media listeners say the show is an essential companion, helping them survive the firehose of media coming at them 24/7. Hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, the show does not do ‘hot takes’, instead offering listeners context, historical parallels, media analysis and often a much appreciated deep exhale. On the Media hosts have an eye on the nuances and details regularly missed by other outlets which helps listeners understand where they should be paying attention (and what they can afford to ig...
Latest episodes
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49 min
Midterm Madness
With control of Congress at stake, the 2026 midterm campaigns are on track to spend an all-time record sum on this election cycle. On this week’s On the Media, how political ads ar…
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33 min
The Classroom/Technology Pipeline
OTM producer Molly Rosen has been on a mission to find out what technology her two-year-old kid will confront when he’s old enough to go to school. Today, big tech companies permea…
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50 min
How to Live Forever (or Die Trying)
From ‘Blue Zones’ branded food to anti-aging peptides, the marketplace is flooded with products promising to help us live longer and better. On this week’s On the Media, a research…
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33 min
Micah's Conversation With Lilliana Mason LONG VERSION
A longer version of Micah's conversation with political scientist Lilliana Mason that aired on last week's show. They spoke about the most polarizing issue among Americans: who get…
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50 min
Polarization Is Not Our Biggest Problem
During an I.C.E. operation in New York City, officers shot a man in a car while a child sat in the back seat. On this week’s On the Media, coverage of I.C.E. has decreased since th…
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22 min
Locked Up In Russia
In 2023, Evan Gershkovich was working as a young reporter in Moscow for the Wall Street Journal, when he was arrested by Russian authorities. He was eventually convicted on blatant…
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51 min
Trump's Guide to Stealing an Election
The Supreme Court has denied a bid by the Trump administration to restrict mail-in voting. On this week’s On the Media, hear about the attempts, successful and not, to turn electio…
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31 min
Where Is Austin Tice?
American journalist Austin Tice vanished in Syria 14 years ago. A secret lead suggests he may still be alive. This week we're sharing the first episode of Where Is Austin Tice? NPR…
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50 min
The White House on Mute
When the president barred Politico, CNN, and MS Now from the White House, the press pool boycotted the president, leaving him without his usual TV coverage. On this week’s On the M…
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30 min
The New Rules Of War Are There Are No Rules
At the outset of the war with Iran, Brooke Gladstone spoke to Wes J. Bryant, a former senior policy advisor at the Pentagon and retired Air Force Master Sergeant, about the civilia…
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50 min
How Extinction Entered the AI Debate
AI researchers are warning that the technology they’re creating could kill us all. On this week’s On the Media, unpacking the feverish debate over the dangers of artificial intelli…
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35 min
How To Make A Documentary, With John Wilson
The hit HBO series, How To With John Wilson was huge when it came out during the pandemic, 2020. Wilson begins each episode with a sort of mundane premise like how to split a check…
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50 min
Haitians Live in a Dual State in Ohio Right Now
I.C.E. agents have targeted Springfield, Ohio since Haitians lost Temporary Protected Status. On this week’s On the Media, a reporter from The Haitian Times describes the culture o…
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30 min
Dave Jorgenson on Politics in the Influencer Age
On last week's show we devoted a segment to the plague of online influencers making endorsement videos for politicians in exchange for money, but we wanted to hear from a creator's…
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51 min
The Pentagon is Waging War on Its Own Paper
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth is demanding what he calls “more patriotic” coverage of his cabinet. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the Pentagon is cracking down on its publi…
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17 min
A Look Back at *The* 9/11 Truther Movie
Next Friday will be the 25th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. On the 20th anniversary we broadcast a piece Micah reported called “9/11 broke our brains” — at that time podcast m…
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51 min
Finance Bros Are Coming for the Public Airwaves
Nowadays, scrappy pirate broadcasters rule over shortwave radio. On this week’s On the Media, an unlikely group of finance bros have plans to take over the frequencies for their ow…
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23 min
How AI Chatbots are Infiltrating Classrooms
The introduction of AI tools and chatbots in classrooms across the United States has prompted an outcry among concerned parents, teachers, and students. OTM producer and new parent…
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50 min
Long Live the Art of Shoe-Leather Reporting!
This summer the state of New Mexico sued the Justice department for access to unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein. On this week’s On the Media, an Epstein beat reporter sha…
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41 min
Behind the Scenes of 'American Emergency'
Over the weekend we re-shared the first installment of American Emergency, our 4-part series all about the Federal Emergency Management Agency. OTM’s Senior Producer Eloise Blondia…