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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes374Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Citations Needed

Latest Episodes

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

In this News Brief, we talk with A. J. Bauer, assistant professor at the University of Alabama, about his new book," Making the Liberal Media: How Conservatives Built a Movement Against the Press". In our discussion we break down the corporate and id... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Todd Wolfson
President of the American Association of University Professors and associate professor at Rutgers University.
American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
Episode: News Brief: As Trump Crushes Academia, the NYT and Atlantic Still Fight 'Woke' Wars from 5 Years Ago
Chenjerai Kumanyika
Assistant professor at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at NYU and a Peabody Award-winning podcast host.
NYU
Episode: News Brief: As Trump Crushes Academia, the NYT and Atlantic Still Fight 'Woke' Wars from 5 Years Ago
Omar Zahzah
Writer, journalist, and assistant professor
San Francisco State University
Episode: Ep 234: TikTok, Gen Z's Move to Social Media and Elite Panic Over Unsanctioned News

Hosts

Nima Shirazi
Co-host and producer, known for insightful commentary on media narratives and their social implications.
Adam Johnson
Co-host and producer, recognized for sharp critiques of media and political power dynamics.

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
    2 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 States3 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 States6 months ago
  • Essential news analysis. Do yourself a solid and subscribe.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    malik3g5
    7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback highlights a mix of praise and constructive criticism regarding specific content choices made by guests.
Many express enthusiasm about the hosts' ability to tackle challenging and timely topics while maintaining a critical perspective on mainstream narratives.
The commitment to transparency through extensive citations is highly valued, enhancing the learning experience.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth, meaningful analysis of media narratives and their societal implications.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#210
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#203
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#46
Finland/News
Apple Podcasts
#127
New Zealand/News
Apple Podcasts
#196
Argentina/News
Apple Podcasts
#206
Taiwan/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Ep 233: How US Media Naturalizes Capital Strikes and Helps the Rich Undermine Democracy
Q: Kevin, what different tools do local industries have to incentivize politicians?
Local industries can threaten disinvestment or capital strikes, influencing political decisions.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Citations Needed

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

Exploring the intricate connections between media narratives, public relations, and sociopolitical power structures, this podcast critically examines how information is shaped and disseminated in contemporary society. The hosts engage in deep analysis of various topics, from the impact of elite media on public perception to the implications of government policies affecting social justice and education. Noteworthy episodes feature discussions on issues such as immigration policy, the effects of capitalism on democracy, and the challenges faced by marginalized communities in current media coverage. This analytical podcast is likely to resonate with listeners seeking a critical understanding of media dynamics and their implications in shaping ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Citations Needed?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Citations Needed:

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

How many episodes of Citations Needed are there?

Citations Needed launched 9 years ago and published 374 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Citations Needed?

Recent guests on Citations Needed include:

1. Miranda Banks
2. Kate Fortmueller
3. A. J. Bauer
4. Prem Thakker
5. Donald Cohen
6. Maryam Jamshidi
7. Todd Wolfson
8. Chenjerai Kumanyika

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.

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