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On the Media

WNYC Studios
Donald Trump
TRUMP Administration
Social Media
Elon Musk
Democratic Party
Artificial Intelligence
Harvard University
World War II
Climate Change
Media Coverage
Democracy
Shortwave Radio
KAMALA HARRIS
Public Broadcasting
Conspiracy Theories
Fox News
Fact-Checking
Gaza
Silicon Valley
Bob Menendez

On the Media is a weekly show that uses the media as a lens to understand our world. On the Media listeners say the show is an essential companion, helping them survive the firehose of media coming at them 24/7. Hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, the show does not do ‘hot takes’, instead offering listeners context, historical parallels, media analysis and often a much appreciated deep... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1891Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNewsPolitics

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Artwork for On the Media

Latest Episodes

In August of 2023, police raided a small local newspaper in rural Kansas, seizing computers and cellphones. Later, the paper’s publisher would discover there was no legal basis for the search. On this week’s On the Media, find out who was behind the ... more

This week we’re sharing a segment from our friends at the New Yorker Radio Hour. David Remnick sits down with the hosts of the hit podcast, The Rest is History, who turned their childhood love of history into a blockbuster show. They discuss how Brit... more

In Texas, a judge sentenced a group of anti-ICE demonstrators to decades in prison. On this week’s On the Media, how leftist zines were used to convict a group of protesters accused of ties to antifa. Plus, as we approach the nation’s 250th birthday,... more

Top voices on the far right are currently facing the consequences of their own actions. Ben Shapiro is complaining about the rise of a podcaster he made a star; Joe Rogan is upset about the spread of conspiracy theories; and Christopher Rufo is compl... more

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kathryn Hughes
Author of Catland, Louis Wain and the Great Cat Mania
Episode: The Cat Ladies Haven't Forgotten
Rongbin Han
Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
Episode: "Making China Great Again" One Web-Novel At A Time
Brian Merchant
Technology journalist and author
Blood in the Machine author; technology journalist
Episode: How Anthropic Became Holier Than Thou
Vauhini Vara
Contributors for The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: How Anthropic Became Holier Than Thou
Drew Harwell
Technology reporter for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
Episode: I.C.E.'s "Wartime Recruitment" Campaign
Anna Bower
Senior editor at Lawfare, co-author of The President Who Sued Himself
Lawfare
Episode: Trump Sued Himself … and ‘Settled’ for a $1.8 Billion Fund
Maria Kuznetsova
Author, co-author of How to Survive Authoritarianism, a Russian Phrase Book for Everyday Life in America
Author (with Dan Storyev)
Episode: A Russian Phrasebook for Surviving Authoritarianism
Dan Storyev
Author, co-author of How to Survive Authoritarianism, a Russian Phrase Book for Everyday Life in America
Author (with Maria Kuznetsova)
Episode: A Russian Phrasebook for Surviving Authoritarianism
Corey Lewandowski
MAGA operative and advisor
Politics/Administration
Episode: Episode 4 of American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA

Hosts

Brooke Gladstone
Host with long-running role on the program, providing media critique and historical context.
Micah Loewinger
Host of on-the-record discussions and midweek episodes, bringing investigative and data-driven perspectives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 11k ratings
  • june 26, 2026

    Excellent discussion with eddy G. The last lines by his student brought me to tears. Please listen to this epi.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United States7 days ago
  • June 26 2026 episode

    Wow. This conversation floored me. And the last story from the professor… brought a flood of tears and a belief that hope in truth will set us free. Wow. Well done!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Blackbird_dead_of_nite
    United States8 days ago
  • Essential listening.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Rafferty.Butchbellissima
    15 days ago
  • I credible show

    Wow I credible information

    Any thing as a public can do go have the EPSTEIN file releasese

    I ha e write to my senator but nothin g happen

    This ladies need to have JUSTICE and PEACE

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Indyeche
    United Statesa month ago
  • OTM may be running into Radio Lab-type problems

    I normally find OTM to be at least adequate in their programming but this week I heard them re-air a segment on the history of CBS radio that they had aired just a few months ago. And they didn’t even disclose at the front end it was a rerun! This leaves me wondering if the budget cuts to NPR means OTM is on the road to a Radio Lab problem—that is, where old segments start to come up repeatedly. Also,

    It would be a great improvement if Micah would take the incessant “likes” out of his vocabulary... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Western Webspinner
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise rigorous, context-rich interviews and thoughtful critique of media narratives.
Many reviews highlight high-quality journalism and deep dives into media history and accountability.
Some listeners feel the show has become partisan or biased after host changes, citing a shift in tone or guest selection.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#244
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#17
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#44
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#35
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#92
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#99
Canada/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Cat Ladies Haven't Forgotten
Q: Given that people have told you directly, have spoken out, have said that they were offended, they were hurt by those comments, do you wish you never made those childless cat lady comments?
I think that it's much more important for me to just be a normal human being who sometimes says things that people disagree with, and I have regrets, but a joke from three years ago isn't the top concern when considering impact.
Far Right Stars Are Bemoaning the Chaos They Created
Q: So you're saying that Shapiro can't feign ignorance about Candace Owens' past flirtations with antisemitism and claim, oh, this is a new thing, because she has been saying antisemitic stuff all along.
The guest argues that Shapiro's critique is grounded in a longer arc of Owens' rhetoric and public behavior, implying that the critiques are not novel but rather a continuation and reframing of past statements that contributed to the current climate.
The UK’s Violent Riots Were Stoked by Elon Musk and a Global Far-Right Network
Q: What role do extremist networks like Active Club play in these events?
Active Club networks are described as a structural backbone for planning and coordinating violence, using fitness and male-bonding rhetoric to recruit and radicalize youth toward white supremacist ideologies.
The UK’s Violent Riots Were Stoked by Elon Musk and a Global Far-Right Network
Q: What sparked the riots in Belfast and how is social media implicated?
The program argues that a combination of provocative posts by Elon Musk and far-right actors, amplified by major platforms, helped spark and accelerate organized anti-immigrant violence, with real-time mobilization via encrypted channels.
Trump's Glitzy Library Grift
Q: Why is money a central issue in presidential libraries?
Donations from nations, individuals seeking pardons, and companies doing business with the government create potential conflicts of interest; without guardrails, large private funds can sway how histories are told and what materials are prioritized or suppressed.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About On the Media

What is On the Media about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, analysis-driven program that uses media coverage as a lens to understand politics, society, and current events. Episodes feature deep dives into how outlets shape narratives, with guests ranging from journalists and historians to policymakers and disaster-management experts. The show consistently provides historical context, comparative angles, and meta-insights about media dynamics, making it valuable for listeners who crave nuance over hot takes and who want to understand what to pay attention to in a noisy information landscape. Noteworthy traits include long-form conversations, a willingness to challenge power, and a track record of anchoring discussions in evidence, data, and historical parallels. This combination makes i... more

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Which podcasts are similar to On the Media?

These podcasts share a similar audience with On the Media:

1. The New Yorker Radio Hour
2. Fresh Air
3. Reveal
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

How many episodes of On the Media are there?

On the Media launched 21 years ago and published 1891 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 On the Media?

Recent guests on On the Media include:

1. Kathryn Hughes
2. Rongbin Han
3. Brian Merchant
4. Vauhini Vara
5. Drew Harwell
6. Anna Bower
7. Maria Kuznetsova
8. Dan Storyev

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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