Best Escape From Plan A Podcast by Plan A Magazine Podcasts (2025)

1
Brendan Carr’s F.C.C. Has Been Busy. Plus, Rewriting the History of Watergate. 50:27

3d ago50:27

50:27

The Federal Communications Commission is currently investigating CBS for “intentional news distortion” for its editing of an interview with Kamala Harris. On this week’s On the Media, what the new chairman of the FCC has been up to, and what led a top CBS producer to quit. Plus, what a growing effort to rewrite the history of Watergate tells us abo…

1
Ep. 597: The Dog-Eat-Dog World (ft. CS Taniguchi) 1:01:33

4d ago1:01:33

1:01:33

CS Taniguchi joins Teen to talk about trying to live your best life in an objectively bad era.Part 1 of 2To get access to Part 2 and all bonus episodes: patreon.com/planamagBy Escape From Plan A Podcast by Plan A Magazine

1
Left Wing Youtuber David Pakman EXTENDED VERSION 23:24

6d ago23:24

23:24

**EXTENDED VERSION** Micah spoke to left-wing YouTuber, David Pakman for last week's show. This is the long version of that conversation. On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with u…

1
Brooke and Micah Enter the MAGA-verse. Plus, Liberal YouTubers Fight Back. 51:44

10d ago51:44

51:44

Conservative influencers have captured a massive audience on the internet, boasting nearly five times more followers than their progressive competitors. On this week’s On the Media, the hosts spend twelve hours immersed in right wing media and report back on what they saw. Plus, why Democrats are struggling to compete for audiences online. [00:00] …

1
The Coding Language Caught in DOGE's Crosshairs 28:18

13d ago28:18

28:18

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been edged out of the headlines this past week, or so, by the administration’s current flirtation with a constitutional crisis. But the DOGE team is still busy. One project on the office's agenda, originally reported by WIRED late last month, is to rewrite the Social Security Administrat…

1
Ep. 595: The Asian American-ness of Jewish Movies (ft. Trevor Beaulieu) 1:07:40

13d ago1:07:40

1:07:40

Trevor joins Jess and Teen to follow up on the discussion of Jewish American culture and its under-appreciated impact on American culture overall (see ep. 586). This time with a focus on the films 'Annie Hall' and 'Quiz Show' and how the Asian American experience echoes these earlier works, but in ways that don't often get expressed in Asian Americ…

1
The Tariff Week From Hell. Plus, the Bluesky CEO Reimagines Social Media. 50:05

17d ago50:05

50:05

The president’s on-again, off-again tariffs are wreaking havoc on the economy. On this week’s On the Media, how the press is struggling to keep up with covering the chaos. Plus, the CEO of Bluesky, an alternative to Twitter, shares her vision for a better internet. [00:00] Host Micah Loewinger breaks down a wild week in the economy–why the press ca…

1
Sen. Chris Murphy on the Crisis Facing Our Democracy 23:10

20d ago23:10

23:10

This week we’re bringing you an interview from our friends at the New Yorker Radio Hour. It's a conversation between host David Remnick and Democratic congressman Chris Murphy. Murphy is the junior senator from Connecticut and a vehement critic of leaders in his party who’ve taken a “business as usual” approach in dealing with the Trump administrat…

1
Ep. 593: L-Day Has Cometh (ft. Mike) 34:42

21d ago34:42

34:42

Mike joins Teen to break down last week's "Liberation Day" against the whole world, the stock market meltdown, and what kind of sense can be made of what seems to be economic seppuku by the United States. What does any of this shit mean?Part 1 of 2To access bonus pods: patreon.com/planamagBy Escape From Plan A Podcast by Plan A Magazine

1
Harvard and the Battle Over Higher Ed 50:32

24d ago50:32

50:32

The Trump administration has pulled funding for universities like Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania, and is threatening to withhold federal dollars from public schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Harvard is also fighting to retain its funding. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the distinctly American idea of “divers…

1
Sports Media’s Big Gamble on the Betting Industry 18:40

27d ago18:40

18:40

According to the American Gaming Association, bets on March Madness basketball games could amount to as much as $3.1 billion. Almost every national sports outlet — ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, NBC, CBS, The Ringer — has partnered with a major sports betting company. Big money is changing hands. What does that mean for sports journalism? On …

1
Ep. 591: People Are Just Bugging Out (ft. Mike) 55:53

1M ago55:53

55:53

Mike joins Teen to talk about figuring out an alternative to the career-family path, people just cracking under the pressure, and The White Lotus.Part 1 of 2.For access to bonus episodes: patreon.com/planamagBy Escape From Plan A Podcast by Plan A Magazine

1
The Latest Spin on 'Signalgate.' Plus, a Crypto President is Born. 50:16

1M ago50:16

50:16

When a journalist was accidentally added to a Signal chat that disclosed sensitive war plans, a controversy erupted about our national security. On this week’s On the Media, a look at how right-wing media is processing “Signalgate.” Plus, why Donald Trump is calling himself the crypto president. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Will Sommer,…

1
Trouble At the EPA 20:34

1M ago20:34

20:34

President Trump's appointee at the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, is making a lot of changes at the EPA. Including cutting 31 environmental rules regarding climate change pollution, electric vehicles, and power plants. Environmentalists say this is a gutting of regulation. GOP lawmakers deem the EPA a job killer that does nothing but …

1
Voice of America Goes Quiet. And, Apocalypse Now? 50:18

1M ago50:18

50:18

The Trump administration has cut funding for Voice of America, the 80-year-old state media network. On this week’s On the Media, how pulling federal funds from VOA’s parent organization will imperil press freedom abroad. Plus, a Radio Free Europe journalist describes being detained for nine months in Russia until she was released alongside Evan Ger…

1
"Tough Love For Liberals" 41:08

1M ago41:08

41:08

This week's midweek podcast is a segment from Tuesdays episode of the Brian Lehrer show -- the legendary live call-in show that airs every weekday morning on our producing station, WNYC. The segment features Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the "Work in Progress" newsletter and host of the podcast "Plain English," and Ezra Kl…

1
Ep. 590: Is China Switching to Offense? (ft. John Pang) 1:26:29

1M ago1:26:29

1:26:29

John Pang joins Teen to talk about Trump's escalating trade war with China, and why we in America may have grown complacent with China only playing defense i.e. responding in kind and proportion to American aggression. Is it possible that era of Chinese conservatism is over, and that we could see China taking the tempo of the fight and switching to…

1
Mahmoud Khalil and a New Red Scare. Plus, Press Freedom Under Threat. 50:00

2M ago50:00

50:00

A Columbia University graduate who led protests last year has been detained by I.C.E. Even though he is a green card holder. On this week’s On the Media, hear why the case has conjured comparisons to the Red Scare of the forties and fifties. Plus, a look at the years-long campaign to dismantle press freedoms in the United States. [01:00] Host Brook…

1
The Baltimore Sun Is In Trouble 18:58

2M ago18:58

18:58

Last January the hedge fund Alden Global Capital sold The Baltimore Sun to David Smith, an executive at Sinclair Broadcast Group. Smith once told Trump that Sinclair was "here to deliver your message.” He is also known to support conservative causes like Moms for Liberty. It's been a year and with the release of new circulation numbers, its clear t…

1
Ep. 588: Privatization and the Collapse of Higher Education (ft. Chong and Prof Fred) 1:04:20

2M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

Prof Fred Lee and Chong join Teen to talk about the state of higher education, why universities are bloated with administrators but short on full time professors and instructors, and the way college and grad/professional programs have become finishing schools to sell oneself into the corporate market.Part 1 of 2To access Part 2 and all bonus episod…

1
Trump’s On-and-Off-Again Tariffs, and Decoding ‘Make America Healthy Again’ 50:15

2M ago50:15

50:15

President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff announcements sent stock markets plunging. On this week’s On the Media, how to make sense of the ever-changing news about the economy. Plus, the policy behind the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ rhetoric. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Gordon Hanson, an economist at Harvard University’s Kennedy Sc…

1
How Does Kash Patel Compare to J. Edgar Hoover? 17:36

2M ago17:36

17:36

Since Kash Patel was announced as the director for the FBI, pundits have warned of a return to the era of J. Edgar Hoover, who ran the bureau for 48 years. But according to Beverly Gage, the author of G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, under Patel, the FBI could be politicized in ways that even its notorious first direct…

1
Ep. 586: 90s Media Culture and the Jewish POV (ft. Treavor Beaulieu) 1:07:02

2M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

Trevor from Champagne Sharks joins after a long hiatus to talk with Jess and Teen about 90s media culture, the context-lite stochastic New York City of primetime sitcoms, the exceptionalism of 'Seinfeld', and crypto-Jews.Part 1 of 2. To access Part 2 and all bonus episodes, become a supporter at patreon.com/planamag…

1
The New 'State Media.' Plus, Podcasters Are Running the FBI. 50:35

2M ago50:35

50:35

Breaking from a century of tradition, the White House says it will seize control of the press pool covering the president. On this week’s On the Media, the new administration is prioritizing access for an array of far-right influencers and news outlets. Plus, what President Trump’s pivot toward Russia means for Ukraine after three years of war. [00…

1
Writing (and Rewriting) Russian History 15:51

2M ago15:51

15:51

Days before Russia invaded Ukraine 3 years ago, Russian president Vladimir Putin read an essay he’d written in 2021, “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians,” wherein he claimed that Ukraine is a fake country that was invented by Lenin. This version of Russian history, which is full of inaccuracies amplified on Russian state media, has …

1
Ep. 584: Degen Saturday Morning Global Catchup 59:58

2M ago59:58

59:58

Mike, Steve, and Teen find the Lagrange Point of LA, HK, and NYC to catch up on all things degenerate: California, stocks, economy, and the first 30 days of Trump 2.This is part 1 of 2. For access to part 2 and all bonus episodes: patreon.com/planamagBy Escape From Plan A Podcast by Plan A Magazine

1
Learning Elon Musk’s Media Playbook. Plus, Silicon Valley’s Rightwing Roots. 50:32

2M ago50:32

50:32

Elon Musk’s claims of fraudulent government spending contain some wild inaccuracies. On this week's On the Media, how the mythos surrounding tech entrepreneurs paved the way for MAGA’s embrace of Silicon Valley leaders. Plus, meet the scholars and librarians who helped the Allies win World War II. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger looks at Elon Musk’s n…

1
Ep. 582: Stop Attacking Asian Diaspora Women FFS (ft. Lei Gong) 1:15:47

2M ago1:15:47

1:15:47

Lei Gong joins Teen to talk about the continuing attacks online against Asian diaspora women as a group, and whether the use of politics is a just a disguise to hide an underlying racialized misogyny with deep psychosexual roots (guess the answer).Part 2 bonus of this episode is a discussion about Chinese stocks and whether it's time to buy. Totall…

1
How Kash Patel Came to Loathe the Media and Love Trump 17:21

2M ago17:21

17:21

This week, the Senate will consider more of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, including his pick for FBI director, Kash Patel. For this midweek podcast, we're looking back at this conversation host Micah Loewinger had with Atlantic staff writer Elaina Plott Calabro, who charted Patel's rise to power, starting at the very beginning of his legal career. She …

1
Donald Trump is Rewriting the Past. Plus, the Christian Groups Vying for Political Power 50:29

2M ago50:29

50:29

The new administration is purging data from government websites and databases, such as the Department of Justice and the National Security Agency. On this week's On the Media, a historian shares the political playbook for rewriting the past in order to control the future. Plus, meet the different Christian groups vying for power at the White House.…

1
The J6 Commutations Have Ripple Effects 51:15

3M ago51:15

51:15

Micah joins Anna Sale on Death, Sex and Money to revisit their 2023 conversation with Tasha Adams, ex-wife of Stewart Rhodes the founder of the Oath Keepers. Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6th insurrection –– prosecutors argued that members of the Oath Keepers used force to block the results of the election…

1
Ep. 580: Trumpachev and the Last Days of Empire (ft. MeowMeow Mike) 1:06:19

3M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Part 1 of 2Mike (@Meow_Meow_2020) joins Teen to talk about Trump being a Gorbachev figure in American history. The Final Leader, the Empire's Last Man."You are an old man who thinks in terms of nations and peoples. There are no nations. There are no peoples. There are no Russians. There are no Arabs. There are no third worlds. There is no West. The…

1
How Wired Magazine is Scooping the Competition. Plus, Whither the Democrats? 50:21

3M ago50:21

50:21

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has accessed sensitive information at the treasury and gutted the United States Agency for International Development. On this week’s On the Media, how a tech magazine scooped mainstream outlets with its reporting on the DOGE taskforce. Plus, at the Department of Justice, data wipes and mass firings ta…

1
Musk's Meddling in European Politics 16:42

3M ago16:42

16:42

According to the Financial Times, 225 out of Musk’s 616 tweets and retweets in the first week of January were about UK politics. Meanwhile, Musk has praised the prime minister of Italy, far-right politician Giorgia Meloni, describing her as “even more beautiful on the inside than on the outside.” At a time when his company SpaceX is reportedly in t…

1
Ep. 578: Tell Me About DeepSeek In the Style of 3 Asian Dudes Bullshitting (ft. Mike and Filip) 59:24

3M ago59:24

59:24

Part 1 of 2Filip joins after a long dad-duty break to chat with Mike and Teen about the DeepSeek drop, their experiences and opinions of AI tools, especially whether it's something to fear as a job destroyer or a SuperFriend when we reach are old and lonely.To get access to Part 2 and other bonus pods, support us at: patreon.com/planamag…

1
Is That Legal? Plus, DeepSeek and the A.I. Bubble. 50:13

3M ago50:13

50:13

President Donald Trump has signed dozens of executive orders since returning to office. On this week’s On the Media, how the directives are butting heads with existing laws. Plus, what the DeepSeek saga reveals about American A.I. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with Dahlia Lithwick, a senior editor at Slate and host of the podcast Amicus, …

1
Brooke Talks AI With Ed Zitron 43:49

3M ago43:49

43:49

When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, all the big tech firms were clamoring to make their own versions of the “intelligent” chatbot. Billions of dollars have been thrown into the technology – training the models, creating more advanced computer chips, building data centers. But last week, a Chinese artificial intelligence company called De…

1
Week One of Trump 2.0 50:20

3M ago50:20

50:20

President Donald Trump’s second term began with a flurry of executive orders and press. On this week’s On the Media, how to navigate the onslaught of news. Plus, executives at major outlets are telling reporters to tone down coverage of the new administration. And, what we can learn about Trump by looking at the legacy of his favorite president, Wi…

1
Ep. 576: Trump II: The Reign of Errors (ft. Q. Anthony Ali) 1:02:32

3M ago1:02:32

1:02:32

Part 1 of 2Q. Anthony Ali (@NobleQAli on Twitter) joins Teen to talk about Trump's second term, what the new political alignments will look like, Elon's sieg heil, and whether the fall of the Empire might truly be upon us.To support the pod and gain access to Part 2 of this episode: patreon.com/planamag…

1
Wars Are Won By Stories 27:07

3M ago27:07

27:07

We are living in history all of the time. Nevertheless, there are some times that seem more historical than usual. Like now, when academics and artists and even librarians have come under attack. We mention this particular sign of these times because of a new, delightful book by historian Elyse Graham, professor of Sociology at Stony Brook Universi…

1
Farewell TikTok? Plus, the Role of Memory and Forgetting with the L.A. Wildfires. 50:10

3M ago50:10

50:10

The Supreme Court has upheld a ban on TikTok. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the ruling could affect other media companies, and where TikTokers are going next. Plus, California’s latest wildfires are devastating, but they’re not unprecedented. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with David Cole, professor of law and public policy at Georg…

1
A Shake Up In The Briefing Room? 10:26

3M ago10:26

10:26

There have been hints dropped that the incoming administration intends to shake up the White House briefing room to potentially allow in more podcasters and outlets friendly to Trump. Whether or not it happens, the threats set the tone for another period of bad relations with the press corps. Time Magazine’s Olivia Waxman told Brooke back in 2017 t…

1
Ep. 574: United States of Malaysia? (ft. John Pang) Pt. 1 58:26

4M ago58:26

58:26

Part 1 of 2Friend of the pod John Pang joins from Hangzhou to discuss his home country of Malaysia with Teen. Why do Malaysians seem so familiar to us Asian Americans? And why does the modern history of Malaysia track that of America in surprising ways? The story of Malaysia can radically alter how Asian American diaspora understand our own place i…

1
Public Broadcasting Is In Danger (Again) 49:58

4M ago49:58

49:58

NPR and PBS stations are bracing for war with the incoming Trump administration. On this week’s On the Media, the long history of efforts to save—and snuff out—public broadcasting. Plus, the role of public radio across the country, from keeping local governments in check to providing life-saving information during times of crisis. [01:00] Hosts Bro…

1
How Trump Re-Wrote the History of January 6 26:57

4M ago26:57

26:57

In the aftermath of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, politicians, pundits, and the American public condemned the violence—while many considered Donald Trump responsible for what had happened. In a few weeks, Trump will be sworn in for a second term at the very same place rioters overran four years ago. For this midweek podcast …

1
Ep. 572: No Bullshit Discussion on China and Economics (ft. Han Feizi) Pt. 1 1:01:46

4M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

Pt. 1 of 2The elusive Han Feizi (aka @DoggyDog1208 on X) joins Teen to discuss how to think about Chinese economics, as well as national security ideas, without the usual Western media ideological bullshit distortion field.You can read his wry, informative columns at Asia Times: https://asiatimes.com/author/han-feizi/To join our Patreon and get acc…

1
America’s Empire State of Mind 50:45

4M ago50:45

50:45

The complete story of American imperialism is missing from our history books. On this week’s On the Media, how the United States worked to capture territory and expand power, while preaching democracy and freedom. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with historian Daniel Immerwahr, on the hidden history of the United States empire. For American…

1
Do Sex Scandals Matter Anymore in Politics? 43:38

4M ago43:38

43:38

With Trump’s imminent return to the White House, we’ve decided to take stock of how political and journalistic norms have evolved over the years. For this week’s midweek podcast, we’re sharing an episode from Radiolab that aired in October, on the whirlwind history of Gary Hart, a young charismatic Democrat who in 1987 was poised to win his party’s…

1
Ep. 570: Calling A Wrap on Asian American Liberalism Pt. 1 1:04:56

4M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

Part 1 of 2Jess joins Teen to talk about how 2024 appears to be the decisive end point of the multi-decade liberal era. With that comes the necessary end of the Asian American liberal identity and its beliefs about culture, race, assimilation, and what the good life means in America.Also, ~~Happy New Year Escape From Plan A listeners!!!~~To get acc…

1
How AI and Algorithms Are Transforming Music 50:42

4M ago50:42

50:42

It’s been almost a year since the historic music outlet Pitchfork shrank considerably. On this week’s On the Media, why the distinctive voices in music journalism are worth saving. Plus, how AI music generators could upend the industry. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger, speaks with Ann Powers, critic and correspondent for NPR Music, on Condé Nast's acq…

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