By: Zach Crenshaw
A massive shift is happening in this general election. Journalists are being avoided. Podcasters are taking their place.
The same week former President Trump spurned 60 Minutes, the most-watched news program in America, he sat on a couch for a comedian’s podcast.
A month after Axios highlighted VP Harris’ glaring lack of interviews, she appeared on ‘Call Her Daddy’ and Howard Stern – both shows known less for their probing policy questions and more for their raunchy content.
There are many factors here, but I think the two most significant are:
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Politicians no longer feel they have to risk tough questions to reach Americans. Why get pinned down by a seasoned political reporter who knows when you’re ‘bridging’ or ‘pivoting’ when you can chop it up with someone who will ask friendly questions and tee up your talking points?
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Americans are watching less news and consuming content elsewhere (YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, etc). The news industry may, understandably, lament this shift: it diminishes journalists’ political relevance and allows politicians to skirt accountability and scrutiny. The reality is, though, politicians are making calculations – they don’t feel like the reach of news organizations is worth it. If newspapers and TV news stations, local or national, can’t make the case – with hard data – that their stories are getting in front of independent voters, then politicians will continue to run from Scott Pelley and to Joe Rogan.
I don’t see this trend changing anytime soon. In fact, I think it will be more pronounced in 2028. That said, if a return to tough questions is in the future, it will happen because Americans use their clicks, streams, and remote controls to tell to politicians that they want a probing interview, not a puff podcast.
