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Reliable Sources

Reliable Sources examines how journalists do their jobs and how the media affect the stories they cover in this CNN program. 

Media leaders convene for final episode of 'Reliable Sources' TV show Reliable Sources
Brian Stelter addresses the end of "Reliable Sources" on television and thanks the audience. Carl Bernstein, Jeffrey Goldberg, Jodie Ginsberg, David Zurawik, Claire Atkinson, Eric Deggans, and Brian Karem discuss the past, present and future of journalism and media.
Aug 21, 2022
Shefali Luthra and Alice Miranda Ollstein on covering abortion rights in a post-Roe nation Reliable Sources
Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Shefali Luthra of The 19th discuss their roles as health care beat reporters in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. They tell Brian Stelter about coverage priorities; different types of stories about abortion; and sudden spikes in interest about reproductive rights. "I think what's been so deeply important to me has been trying to prioritize the voices of people who are affected," Luthra says. "I just feel a lot of responsibility to rise to this moment and do the the best and most responsible and hardest hitting reporting I can," Ollstein says.
Aug 19, 2022
Salman Rushdie event moderator recounts stabbing attack that left Rushdie critically injured Reliable Sources
Henry Reese, who was on stage with Salman Rushdie when Rushdie was brutally stabbed, joins Brian Stelter. Plus: Bill McCarren on the ten year anniversary of Austin Tice's disappearance in Syria; Byron Allen on his plans for theGrio; John Dean on Donald Trump's potential legal peril; and Laura Bassett, Oliver Darcy and Caitlin Dickson on anti-FBI rhetoric becoming mainstream in the GOP.
Aug 14, 2022
Elliot Ackerman reflects on Afghan war and how he helped rescue allies amid chaotic withdrawal Reliable Sources
In his new book "The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan," combat veteran and acclaimed novelist Elliot Ackerman documents the horrors of America's evacuation from Afghanistan. He talks with Brian Stelter about why he wrote the book; what people need to know about the August 2021 withdrawal; and the media's coverage of war. In "our obsession not to repeat Saigon... we actually created, I think, a far more terrible image and grisly image," he says. Ackerman also shares how the war in Ukraine relates to last year's images from Kabul. He predicts that "America might be done with Afghanistan, Afghanistan is certainly not done with America."
Aug 12, 2022
Inside the Biden White House, the Alex Jones trial, and the Kansas abortion vote Reliable Sources
First Lady Jill Biden's former press secretary Michael LaRosa talks with Brian Stelter about media coverage of the first family. Plus, Elaine Godfrey, Howard Polskin and Lauren Wright analyze election denialism; Dan Friesen and Jordan Holmes, co-hosts of the "Knowledge Fight" podcast, dissect the trial of Infowars host Alex Jones; and David Bornstein explains how "solutions journalism" can transform the media.
Aug 7, 2022
Jennifer Mercieca and Oliver Darcy analyze the Alex Jones trial and the right's embrace of Infowars Reliable Sources
Oliver Darcy analyzes Alex Jones' legal quagmire and Jennifer Mercieca explains that Jones' media properties have "had a hard time acquiring new customers." Both Darcy and Mercieca comment on Jones' demeanor during the recent trial in Texas and compare his defensive crouch to his past behavior. Mercieca says the Jones case is about accountability for lies: "They're not being gaslit by Alex Jones anymore." At the same time, Darcy points out that Jones has "become more accepted by the right-wing media" in recent years.
Aug 5, 2022
Paul Krugman on the economy, the media, and 'negativity bias' Reliable Sources
The acclaimed economist talks with Brian Stelter about recession fears, inflation and the "dystopian myths of red America." Plus, Tara Palmeri, Oliver Darcy and Liz Mair analyze Jon Stewart's use of TV interviews to highlight veterans' health care needs; Rachel Leingang discusses Arizona's primaries and the growing trend of GOP candidates running against the media; Lydia X. Z. Brown shares what really happened during a White House meeting that was ridiculed by right-wing media; and Katherine Stewart, author of "The Power Worshippers," talks about Christian nationalism.
Jul 31, 2022
Emily Baker-White on TikTok's Chinese ownership, global reach, and content challenges Reliable Sources
With the TikTok app becoming more popular and powerful by the day, BuzzFeed News contributor Emily Baker-White discusses her string of scoops about TikTok and its parent company ByteDance. She says ex-employees have opened up to her because they feel "weird" about "the power that ByteDance has now amassed through TikTok in the US." Regarding TikTok's Chinese ownership, "we've seen a lot of concern from the US government; we haven't seen a lot of action," she says. She also points out that "they're distributing information at a scale where it's incredibly hard to get it right."
Jul 29, 2022
Why the media must distinguish between Trump and 'Trumpism' Reliable Sources
Sarah Longwell shares findings from her GOP voter focus groups and says there is a key difference between "Trump the man" and "Trump the phenomenon." Plus, David From discusses the state of American politics; Jennifer Dresden shares findings from Project Democracy's "Authoritarian Playbook;" David Zurawik analyzes recent anti-Trump editorials in Rupert Murdoch's newspapers; Bill Weir discusses life on the climate change beat; and columnist Lynne O'Donnell describes being detained and threatened by the Taliban in Afghanistan; and Ken Auletta discusses his new book "Hollywood Ending."
Jul 24, 2022
Charles Homans says 'Stop the Steal' is so much bigger than Trump and January 6 Reliable Sources
"How 'Stop the Steal' Captured the American Right" is this week's New York Times Magazine cover story. Author Charles Homans says the movement predates Donald Trump and will outlast him as well. Homans tells Brian Stelter about his interviews with GOP voters; why the conversations "quickly shift from 'stolen election' to abortion or Covid lockdowns;" and what might happen to "democratic trust in the system one step down the road."
Jul 22, 2022
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