Rephonic
Artwork for Citations Needed
Gaza
Israel
Democratic Party
Palestine
Media Coverage
United States
New York Times
Iran
Biden Administration
Elon Musk
Kamala Harris
ICE
Palestinian Rights
Fentanyl
Media Narratives
Hamas
Social Justice
Artificial Intelligence
Israeli Military
Police Reform

Citations Needed is a podcast about the intersection of media, PR, and power, hosted by Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes375Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Citations Needed

Latest Episodes

In this News Brief, we talk with Chris Mills Rodrigo from Writers Against The War On Gaza about their campaign to boycott the New York Times and remove the "paper of record" from its pedestal of alleged neutrality and editorial rigor.

In this episode, we detail the vague, baseless racism-sowing media coverage and pop culture obsession with so-called "sleeper cells," a construction that has consumed post-9/11 America but suffers from one major problem: there's no evidence it exists... more

This is a live recording between Nima and Adam at the Word is Change Bookstore May 7, 2026. In this conversation, we discuss key findings that can be found in Adam's new book, How to Sell a Genocide: The Media's Complicity in the Destruction of Gaza.... more

In this News Brief, we talk with Miranda Banks and Kate Fortmueller, authors of the new book Boom to Bust: How Streaming Broke Hollywood Workers, about rising inequality and precarity in Hollywood, studio consolidation, and how the dream of fame and ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Trillbilly Worker's Party
Trillbilly Worker's PartyTrillbilly Worker's Party
Chapo Trap House
Chapo Trap HouseChapo Trap House
Blowback
BlowbackBlowback
American Prestige
American PrestigeDaniel Bessner & Derek Davison

Recent Guests

Chris Mills Rodrigo
Organizer for Writers Against The War On Gaza
Writers Against The War On Gaza
Episode: News Brief: The Call to Boycott—and Delegitimize—the New York Times
Mustafa Bayoumi
Award-winning author, journalist, professor of English at Brooklyn College; opinion columnist for The Guardian
Brooklyn College; The Guardian
Episode: Episode 238: The Fictional, Racist, Paranoia-Sowing "Sleeper Cell" Media Construction
Adam Johnson
Author of How to Sell a Genocide, The Media's Complicity in the Destruction of Gaza
Pluto Press
Episode: Live Show: 'How to Sell a Genocide' Book Talk at The Word Is Change Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY
Miranda Banks
Professor of Film, Television, and Media Studies at Loyola Marymount University; author
Loyola Marymount University
Episode: News Brief: "Peak TV," Streamer Studio Accounting Gimmicks, and the Precarity of Hollywood Labor
Kate Fortmueller
Associate professor of film and media history at Georgia State University; author
Georgia State University
Episode: News Brief: "Peak TV," Streamer Studio Accounting Gimmicks, and the Precarity of Hollywood Labor
A. J. Bauer
Historian, ethnographer, and former journalist; Assistant Professor at University of Alabama
University of Alabama
Episode: News Brief: How the Right Invented — and Exploited — the "Liberal Media" Trope
Prem Thakker
Political correspondent and columnist at Zateo
Zateo
Episode: Ep 237: How Selective, Patronizing 'Deradicalization' Discourse Pathologizes Anti-Colonial Struggle
Donald Cohen
Founder and executive director of In the Public Interest
In the Public Interest
Episode: Ep 236: Manufactured Austerity and the Media Assisted 'Public-Private Partnership' Rip-Off
Maryam Jamshidi
Associate professor at the University of Colorado Law School
University of Colorado Law School
Episode: "Shadow Fleets," Sanctions & Western Media's International Law-ification of Arbitrary US Dictates

Hosts

Nima Shirazi
Co-host and editor focusing on media critique and political analysis.
Adam Johnson
Co-host and analyst focusing on media, war, and policy framing.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 7k ratings
  • Sets the standard for media critique and analysis. Only gripe I've ever had are the hosts getting families and not pouring their lives endlessly into more content :')

    Podcast Addict
    5
    kenfinite
    3 months ago
  • Unequivocal Analysis of the Media’s role in propaganda

    This is by far my favorite podcast. Adam and Nima pull back the curtain on the nefarious ways in which the media has made our lives worse and how they carry water for the government and other bad actors. they are a little slow to put out new episodes but everything is so well researched and put together I understand. when they do they are always bangers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    derekrules31
    United States4 months ago
  • Great stuff, but…

    Great show! Top-notch, meaningful analysis!

    But, by God, I dare you to go one episode without saying “pearl-clutching” or “hand-wringing”.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Forten88
    Colombia4 months ago
  • Deep analysis grounded in transparent and thorough research

    An all around excellent source of a solid look at historical trends in media distortion, this show not only does the work to expose the mechanisms and tropes in the propaganda in which we’re immersed, but brings on great guests and shares rich bibliographies. I guess the name says it right there: Citations Needed — Nima and Adam open up all of their citations. This means that even when I disagree with their analysis, it’s clear how they got there, so, even if I don’t come around, it’s a great op... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Puckalish
    United States7 months ago
  • Essential news analysis. Do yourself a solid and subscribe.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    malik3g5
    8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are sometimes dense but highly cited and informative.
Patreon supporters highlight consistent quality and compelling analysis.
Guests are consistently high-caliber and well-prepared, adding credibility.
Listeners value the rigorous sourcing and clear debunking of propaganda.
The show is praised for honesty and thorough historical context, though some wish for more resources or links to sources.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#162
Ireland/News
Apple Podcasts
#205
Mexico/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

News Brief: The Call to Boycott—and Delegitimize—the New York Times
Q: What can readers and listeners do to respond to the Times' reporting on Palestine?
Readers are encouraged to boycott the Times, unsubscribe, and avoid contributing to the opinion section, while supporting alternative independent and local outlets and engaging in a broader writer and cultural boycott to press for reform.
News Brief: How the Right Invented — and Exploited — the "Liberal Media" Trope
Q: Can you discuss the rise of the organization Accuracy in Media, and how they were seminal in establishing and sustaining this idea of liberal bias, and then how the media responded to it?
The guest explains that Accuracy in Media helped codify liberal bias by producing documented examples, filing formal complaints, and collaborating with bodies like the National News Council to pressure outlets toward 'balanced' coverage, a process that both legitimated criticism and pressured journalists to reflect on their practices, setting a pattern that influenced how media criticism operated through the 1960s and beyond.
Ep 236: Manufactured Austerity and the Media Assisted 'Public-Private Partnership' Rip-Off
Q: What is the core mechanism by which public-private partnerships privatize profits and socialize risk?
P3s lock in long-term contracts that ensure revenue streams for private investors while exposing taxpayers to long-term liabilities and reduced public control, making profits private and risks public.
News Brief: As Dem Leadership Waffles—Labor, Organizers, Immigrants Fight Back in Minneapolis
Q: What is the significance of the upcoming shutdown?
The shutdown is seen as a grassroots effort to challenge the federal government's actions and demand real change, potentially growing into a larger movement.
News Brief: As Dem Leadership Waffles—Labor, Organizers, Immigrants Fight Back in Minneapolis
Q: What are the demands of the coalition regarding ICE?
The coalition demands ICE must leave Minnesota, accountability for the officer who killed Renee Nicole Good, no additional federal funding for ICE, and that businesses refuse ICE entry.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Citations Needed

What is Citations Needed about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Citations Needed is a sharp, data-driven critique of media coverage, power, and public policy. Across episodes, the hosts unpack how journalism and political rhetoric shape public opinion, with frequent guests ranging from scholars and journalists to labor organizers and policy experts. The show stands out for its rigorous use of sources, willingness to challenge mainstream narratives, and a focus on how media, propaganda, and state power intersect with issues like imperialism, war, labor rights, and higher education. Potential listeners who crave tight, evidence-based media analysis and discussions with academically-informed guests will likely find this program especially compelling, even when opinions diverge.

Where can I find podcast stats for Citations Needed?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Citations Needed. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Citations Needed and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Citations Needed get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Citations Needed, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Citations Needed?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Citations Needed, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Citations Needed have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Citations Needed has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Citations Needed?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Citations Needed:

1. Trillbilly Worker's Party
2. Chapo Trap House
3. Blowback
4. TRUE ANON TRUTH FEED
5. American Prestige

How many episodes of Citations Needed are there?

Citations Needed launched 9 years ago and published 375 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Citations Needed?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Citations Needed?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Citations Needed from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Citations Needed?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Citations Needed. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Citations Needed?

Recent guests on Citations Needed include:

1. Chris Mills Rodrigo
2. Mustafa Bayoumi
3. Adam Johnson
4. Miranda Banks
5. Kate Fortmueller
6. A. J. Bauer
7. Prem Thakker
8. Donald Cohen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days