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Semafor Media: 🟡 Gatekeeping
In this edition: Insights from ‘Original Sin.’
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Mixed Signals: ‘Substack isn’t cool,’ gatekeepers are, and other strong opinions from tastemaker Chris Black
The ‘How Long Gone’ co-host on building a cult hit podcast, the surprising comeback of media gatekeepers in 2025, and why he still believes in the power of institutions.
A behind-the-scenes look at Biden’s dark debate night
Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper’s book, ‘Original Sin,’ includes previously unreported details about how the administration tried to keep the press from reporting on Joe Biden’s age.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Vice’s Shane Smith recruits podcasters for new collective
Vice News is launching the second season of the show along with the Vice News Collective, an expansion of the company’s podcast platform with news influencer talent from across the political spectrum.
Screenshot/Vice News
Bill Maher’s heterodox podcast studio shuts down
The network was originally intended to elevate voices from the late night host’s extended universe of comedians, musicians, and journalists.
Screenshot/Youtube/Club Random Podcast
Analysis: Delusion vs. conspiracy
There was, as “Original Sin” shows, an extended effort to conceal Biden’s infirmity. But for many people in Washington, it was also, as Orwell wrote, hard to see what’s in front of your nose.
Why a decade-old video game still fuels social media hoaxes
High-profile social media accounts have been spreading “Arma 3” gameplay as if it were real combat footage.
Screenshot/X/Government of Pakistan
Shapiro solicits backers — or buyers — for a built-out Daily Wire
The Daily Wire has entered a moment of transition, having built the young audience and subscription base its cable rivals covet while apparently trying to bring down spending on a widening array of projects.
Analysis: The fog of information war
We may have reached the end of a long and uneven march toward transparency in global crises.
Looking for direction, Democrats consult pundits
The party is increasingly seeking out policy answers from prominent figures in the media.
PR pros have discovered how to influence the chatbots: Talk to a journalist
The public relations business is poised for a resurgence in the AI age. It just needs someone to write the stories.
538’s former top numbers guy to launch data journalism site
G. Elliott Morris, the data journalist who took over 538 in 2023, is launching Strength In Numbers, a paid Substack.
Legal sports betting was a ‘gold rush’ for Clay Travis: ‘We made $2M on Super Bowl Sunday’
“Everything changes almost overnight,” the OutKick founder said on Semafor’s Mixed Signals podcast.
Mixed Signals: Clay Travis on mixing sports and politics, his ‘pudding strike,’ and the billion-dollar bet on sports gambling
The outspoken media entrepreneur discusses how sports and conservative politics became intertwined, how gambling and sports media became intertwined, and how to attract an audience of men.
Sanders, Democrats urge Paramount not to settle ‘shakedown’ CBS lawsuit
“Rewarding Trump with tens of millions of dollars for filing this bogus lawsuit will not cause him to back down on his war against the media and a free press,” read a letter from Sanders to Paramount’s owner.
Activists come for the media moguls
The industry may be in managed decline, but investors see opportunities for growth — and value extraction.
Paramount cuts ties with political groups working on ‘Daily Show’ project
The initiative, called “Take A Seat,” is meant to encourage people across the country to run for local office.
Trump’s social media strategy, by the numbers
In the administration’s first 100 days, the White House account on X saw more than 2 billion impressions, officials told Semafor.
Slate taps new podcast chief
Slate is bringing on Mia Lobel, formerly of Pushkin Industries.