CNN's Reliable Sources

Sundays, 11AM ET / 8AM PT

Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter examines the media world -- telling the story behind the story -- how news and pop culture get made.

Show Description

This week's show

Team Trump tactics: Deny, conflate, confuse

Brian Stelter examines CNN's Jim Sciutto claim that Trump's team has a "hostility to facts," rejecting information "it finds inconvenient or critical."

Trump putting the press corps on notice

Does the incoming administration view the media as the "opposition party?" MZ Hemingway, Jeffrey Goldberg, David Zurawik and Margaret Sullivan discuss.

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Exclusive Interview with BuzzFeed Editor

BuzzFeed editor-in-chief talks to Brian Stelter about the decision to publish the unsubstantiated Trump dossier.

Did BuzzFeed 'cross the line?'

Margaret Sullivan, MZ Hemingway, Jeffrey Goldberg, and David Zurawik dissect BuzzFeed's decision to publish unverified memos about Trump and Russia.

Bill O'Reilly denies sexual harassment charge

David Zurawik and Brian Stelter discuss reports that Fox News reached a secret settlement with a former host alleging sexual harassment by Bill O'Reilly.

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Brian Stelter

Host

Brian Stelter is the host of "Reliable Sources" and the senior media correspondent for CNN Worldwide.

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Final stretch of the campaign

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Blizzard of misinformation before election day

Michael Oreskes, Lynn Sweet, Jeffrey Goldberg, and Karen Tumulty dissect "fake news" and recent misstatements from the campaign trail.

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Marty Baron on being blacklisted by Trump and on post-election journalism

How is the Washington Post preparing for election night? Printing extra papers? How will Clinton or Trump treat the press? Brian Stelter asks Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron.

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How to cover "rigged election" claims

Ari Berman, author of "Give Us The Ballot," says voter fraud is a "small problem" while voter suppression is a "much bigger problem." He has recommendations for reporters covering the election.

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Controversies involving two CNN commentators

Donna Brazile has resigned from CNN following an email scandal. Corey Lewandowski has been criticized for his ties to the Trump campaign. The "Reliable Sources" panel analyzes both cases.

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This podcast has a message: "Don't freak out all the time"

The "Keepin' It 1600" podcast has been described as a form of therapy for Democratic listeners. Co-hosts Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer explain their approach to the podcast and to the election.

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Bret Baier admits mistake after talking about "indictment"

Bret Baier apologized for his anonymously-sourced claim that an "indictment" is "likely" in the FBI's Clinton Foundation inquiry, but the panel says falsehoods spread a lot more widely than facts do.

After Trump's campaign, can the media regain America's trust?

CNN's Brian Stelter explains Donald Trump's unprecedented and damaging attacks aimed at the press, and the media's uphill battle to regain the country's faith.

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Did journalists "ditch legacy values" while covering campaign?

David Zurawik says yes. Dylan Byers has doubts. Both men discuss how Trump "changed journalism."

Hyperbolic coverage of new FBI email inquiry?

Hilary Rosen and Matt Lewis assess the coverage of James Comey's letter through a Democratic and Republican lens respectively.

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Trump falsely says Google is "burying" FBI news

Brian Stelter explains that there's no evidence to back up Trump's assertion that Facebook, Google and Twitter are "burying" news about the FBI's pursuit of Clinton-related emails.

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Voters living in 'parallel universes' as Election Day nears

Rich Noyes, Jennifer Rubin and Matt Lewis discuss Noyes's study showing "hostile" coverage of Trump, and consider what effect the election is having on conservative media brands like Fox News.

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Clinton supporters sound off on media bias

Double standards and overreactions: Peter Daou, Hilary Rosen and David Brock describe what they see as anti-Clinton bias in the press.

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Toronto Star reporter counts Trump's untruths every day

Daniel Dale of the Toronto Star says Donald Trump lies far more often than Hillary Clinton: "He is not a normal political liar." Dale explains why he checks every word Trump says.

Fake news sites designed to trick you

Fake news has become a plague on social media networks like Facebook. Brian Stelter explains why everyone needs a new rule for the web: "Triple check before you share."

RNC says the media playing field is "tilted" against Trump

RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer says the news media is giving a "very biased, one-sided activist journalist view of this race."

Why "horse race" coverage can mislead viewers

Hillary Clinton has been leading Donald Trump all year long. ABC's Matthew Dowd explains why media claims about a "tight race" are hurtful.

Media "apoplectic" about Trump's "rigged election" remarks?

Dan Rather says Trump's comments are "ridiculous, untrue, and dangerous." MZ Hemingway and Jane Hall debate the significance of it.

Dan Rather: "The election is not over"

Talk of a Democratic sweep in November is premature, Dan Rather says. He says he's reminded of the old saying, "Don't taunt the alligator until after you cross the creek."

Rumors swirling about Trump TV

Jane Hall and MZ Hemingway discuss the prospect of a "Trump TV" network after the election. Hall wonders what it might mean for Fox News.

Journalists managing election year stress

"While people should stay informed, the antidote" to election year stress is "not be having it 24/7 in front of your face," says Dr. Gail Saltz, a psychiatrist and host of the podcast "The Power of Different."

Trust in media: what do voters think?

With trust in media hitting record lows, Brian Stelter convenes a focus group of Nevada voters to ask what can be done to improve confidence in the fourth estate.

Breaking down the AT&T-Time Warner mega-deal

CNN's Brian Stelter breaks down AT&T's impending purchase of Time Warner, one of the biggest deals in media history.

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Essay: Trump's dangerous talk about a 'stolen election'

Donald Trump has been planting seeds of doubt about the integrity of our political system. CNN's Brian Stelter says "we, as a country, cannot allow ourselves to become numb" to the conspiratorial talk.

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Do Trump's lawsuit threats have a chilling effect?

Bloomberg View executive editor Timothy O'Brien, who was once sued by Donald Trump, says the GOP nominee uses threats of lawsuits to "chill the media."

Glenn Greenwald on Wikileaks and what the stolen Podesta emails reveal

The Intercept co-founder Glenn Greenwald says the stolen John Podesta emails published by Wikileaks are very newsworthy. There is some evidence of "serious impropriety," he says.

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Trump falsely claims the media is conspiring against him

Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan and The Atlantic senior editor David Frum discuss fissures within conservative media and the dangers of Trump's attacks on the press.

Trump biographers analyze his behavior and rhetoric

Timothy O'Brien, Michael D'Antonio and Brad Thomas discuss Trump's reactions to assault accusations and claims about a massive conspiracy.

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Trump rallygoers turning against reporters

Timothy O'Brien and Michael D'Antonio express concern about the vitriol directed at Trump beat reporters during the candidate's rallies. D'Antonio is worried that someone will get hurt.

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Unanswered questions about the 'Access Hollywood' tape

Billy Bush is leaving NBC and the leak of the "Access Hollywood" tape is still a mystery. Margaret Sullivan says "the whole thing still seems rather strange."

Surprises in store at final debate?

Trump biographers Timothy O'Brien, Michael D'Antonio and Brad Thomas preview Wednesday's third and final debate, to be moderated by Fox's Chris Wallace.

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M for Mature: Does the debate need a "parental advisory?"

Hilary Rosen, Kayleigh McEnany, Angela Rye, and Matt Lewis discuss the vulgar, personal nature of the campaign ahead of Sunday's debate.

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How the media will judge the second debate

Angela Rye, Matt Lewis, Hilary Rosen, and Kayleigh McEnany discuss the potential media "narratives" about Sunday's debate. Rosen emphasizes judging "substance" over "style."

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Why didn't NBC air its Trump tape air sooner?

Carole Simpson, Douglas Brinkley and Jeff Greenfield dissect the fallout from the lewd tape of Trump talking about women. Brinkley says Trump is "decimated right now."

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The AP's 'Apprentice' investigation

Garance Burke interviewed 20 people who used to work on "The Apprentice." They told her that Donald Trump used "sexist language that they felt was really uncomfortable."

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Behind the scenes with debate commission leaders

Frank Fahrenkopf and Mike McCurry, the debate commission co-chairs, talk with Brian Stelter about the debate process, the format, and the selection of moderators.

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What to bleep, what to air?

TV channels normally shield viewers from offensive words. But not this time. A panel of CNN political commentators discuss the coverage of the "Access Hollywood" Trump ape.

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Commentary: Can media help heal this election's wounds?

Less hateful talk, more empathy: Brian Stelter says news coverage of the election should help a divided America understand the "other side."

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Trump's long week of whoppers

The Daily Beast editor in chief John Avlon says Trump is exploiting the public's growing distrust of the media in order to "diminish truth itself."

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"Unprecedented" anti-Trump editorials this fall

Fred Hiatt, editorial page editor of The Washington Post, explains the intent of his anti-Trump pieces and talks about the other papers "disendorsing" the GOP nominee.

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How the NYT obtained Trump tax records

New York Times reporter Susanne Craig received a letter with records of Donald Trump's 1995 tax filings. She tells Brian Stelter about verifying the records and suggests The Times might have more.

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Politically motivated reporting by NYT?

Newsbusters executive editor Tim Graham blasts the NYT's story on Trump taxes as "partisan spin," while Daily Beast editor in chief John Avlon says the story is necessary and nonpartisan.

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Trump's alternate reality: he's "winning" unscientific online surveys

"The Pollsters" podcast co-hosts Margie Omero and Kristen Soltis Anderson explain why web surveys are not scientific measures of public opinion. Plus: how to properly interpret horse race polls between now and Election Day.

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Media critics talk Trump, "SNL," Hannity, Fox

Baltimore Sun media critic David Zurawik and Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan talk with Brian Stelter about Trump's press shyness, Sean Hannity's role and much more.

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Exclusive: Debate commission boss talks about fact-checking

Janet Brown, executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates, says negotiations with the campaigns have been smooth, despite predictions that Trump might back out.

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Clinton camp says it wants candidates held to equal standard

The Clinton campaign is concerned that Trump is being graded by the media "on a curve." Press secretary Brian Fallon says "the bar needs to be the same for both candidates."

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Former moderators have advice for Holt

This is what Jim Lehrer and Ann Compton what Lester Holt to know before moderating Monday's presidential debate.

Trump is the debate "X factor"

Brian Stelter asks Jim Lehrer and Ann Compton if Trump's presence on stage will fundamentally change the debate.

Major papers say Trump lies more

The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Politico have all concluded that Trump is uniquely fact-challenged. The panel reacts.

Debate expectations game is serious business

Frank Sesno, Eleanor Clift and Dylan Byers join Brian Stelter to dissect the media's role setting expectations for debates.

Seth Meyers is not joking about Trump

Late night host Seth Meyers defends calling Donald Trump "a racist and a liar," and describes what he does as "explanatory comedy."

Donald Trump's contempt for the media

Brian Stelter describes Trump as the "media manipulator in chief." CNN politics reporter Jeremy Diamond says this week was a new low point.

How the press can assert its power while covering Trump and Clinton

Jeremy Diamond, Lynn Sweet, S.E. Cupp, and David Fahrenthold discuss how Trump "plays the media," and Cupp says the press corps should flex its collective power.

Trust in media hits historic low

Lynn Sweet, S.E. Cupp, and David Fahrenthold talk about why so many Americans distrust the media and what can be done to turn the numbers around.

Trump not so accessible anymore

Donald Trump's reputation as an accessible figure to reporters is becoming dated. Brian Stelter says Trump is seeking friendly interviewers and avoiding press conference settings.

Gary Johnson vows to fight on

Brian Stelter asks Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson what's next, now that Johnson has failed to meet the threshold for the first presidential debate.

Imbalanced coverage of the candidates this year?

Carl Bernstein calls for more thorough coverage of Donald Trump, saying the GOP nominee has been able to "preside over a cover-up of his own life."

NBC faces storm of criticism after presidential forum

CNN's Brian Stelter and a panel of media critics discuss the role of fact checking in journalism following Matt Lauer's controversial performance as moderator of NBC's Commander-In-Chief forum.

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How the "basket of deplorables" comment was covered

Tara Setmayer, David Zurawik and Brian Stelter discuss how Hillary Clinton's controversial comment about Trump's "deplorable" supporters was handled by media outlets.

Media grading Trump on a curve?

Soledad O'Brien, Jacob Weisberg and Mark Leibovich compare coverage of Trump and Clinton. Is the press "normalizing" Trump? What are the perils of "he said, she said" treatment?

Has exposure helped or hurt Trump?

Mark Leibovich argues that "hyper-exposure" of Trump "has been, in a weird way, very good journalistically."

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"Social anxiety" motivates Trump supporters

"Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance says "social anxiety," including a complex mix of issues, fuels support for Donald Trump. He calls for more "nuance" in campaign coverage.

Why it's risky to cherry-pick polls

Rigged polls? Hidden support for Trump? Slanted samples of voters? 538 founder Nate Silver cuts through the noise and explains how to interpret polling data.

Trump and the media

Trump actually LOVES the media

Michael Wolff, who recently interviewed Trump, says the candidate isn't from the Democratic or Republican Party, he's from the "media party."

Questioning Clinton's lack of pressers

Bardella: Breitbart is a "Trump super PAC"

If Trump loses, will he launch Trump TV?

"Racial anxiety" as a factor in Trump's rise

Trump campaign taking aim at media bias

Trump aide says New York Times published a "garbage" story

Former Time Inc. editor says Trump is a "demagogue"

Trump's "art of the blame"

Inside the "press pen"

Day in the life of a pro-Trump commentator

Meet Trump's press-shy press secretary

What journalists should do when Trump talks about conspiracy theories

Washington Post editor explains Trump investigation

Nate Silver answers critics of Trump call

Treating Trump like news or entertainment?

Is Trump a "post-truth" candidate?

The 2016 election

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How the press handled the primaries

Some of Brian's favorite interviews

What it was like to anchor the news on 9/11
Former CNN anchor Aaron Brown tells CNNMoney's Brian Stelter what it was like to report on September 11, 2001.
Glenn Beck speaks out about Trump
Radio and TV host Glenn Beck explains why he believes Trump will launch a network after Election Day. He is urging people to come together and reject hateful rhetoric.
AP editor answers critics of Clinton Foundation story
Recent tweets by the AP were "clumsy" and "sloppy," the news agency's top editor Kathleen Carroll says, but she defends its much-scrutinized Clinton Foundation story, calling it "rock solid."
Interviews with Seacrest, Coles, Thompson at Cannes Lions festival
The heads of AOL, The New York Times, iHeartMedia, and Cosmopolitan talk with Brian Stelter about how print publications, radio stations and TV networks are all seeking digital growth.
Margaret Sullivan's legacy as NYT public editor
What did Margaret Sullivan accomplish in her tenure as The New York Times in-house watchdog? What will she miss about the newsroom -- and what won't she miss? In her last month on the job, Sullivan sits down with Brian Stelter.
Maury Povich and Connie Chung talk 2016
The television legends decry phoned-in interviews, praise follow-up questions and say the election "circus" reminds them of an episode of "Maury."
How Roger Ailes reshaped media and politics
Jeff Greenfield, Jane Hall and Jeffrey Lord examine how Roger Ailes changed television and what the harassment allegations against him may reveal about Fox News.
Trump's top communications advisor tackles media bias
Jason Miller, who joined the Trump campaign as senior communications advisor in June, discusses media bias, journalists' treatment of the Trump campaign, and the so-called "blacklist" of prominent news outlets.
Larry King on Trump and "electoral dysfunction"
Larry King volunteers to moderate a fall debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. He says he "can't predict anything" about this election.
Headliners: interview with IAC chairman Barry Diller
Media mogul Barry Diller explains how the radical transformation of the Internet is changing how we define "cable" and "television."
Phil Donahue on 9/11, the Iraq war, Trump, and more
In a rare interview, television talk show legend Phil Donahue speaks with Brian Stelter about his anti-war views, media consolidation and Donald Trump.
New York Times' top editor talks about subscriptions, digital plans, corrections
Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times, describes its digital transformation and answers questions about its past "screw-ups."
WDBJ shooting survivor returning to work
Vicki Gardner, the sole survivor of an attack that happened on live television in August, speaks with Brian Stelter about her recovery.

Media industry leaders

Hollywood Reporter editor Janice Min: Trump is 'aware of his star status'
Janice Min, the top editor of The Hollywood Reporter, shares details from her interview with Trump and describes how he's the Brad Pitt of the GOP.
Moonves says NFL is 'best product on TV'
Brian Stelter asks CBS boss Les Moonves about Super Bowl coverage; $5 million ads; Stephen Colbert's post-game show; how CBS journalists cover the NFL; and much more.
Washington Post editors react to Rezaian's release
Marty Baron, the Washington Post's executive editor, and Doug Jehl, the foreign editor, tell Brian Stelter they are elated that Jason Rezaian has been freed.
Sir Patrick Stewart playing a cable news host
Brian Stelter gets advice from Sir Patrick Stewart, star of Starz' 'Blunt Talk,' a new show about a TV host struggling with more than just ratings.
Interview with legendary CBS newsman Bob Schieffer about his retirement
Legendary CBS newsman Bob Schieffer joins Brian Stelter for an in-depth interview as he prepares to retire after the May 31 broadcast of "Face the Nation."
Josh Earnest's first Sunday interview
New WH Press Secretary Josh Earnest steps away from the podium and talks to Brian Stelter about his new role.
Chuck Todd meets the press
Chuck Todd on his new role as "Meet the Press" moderator, plus the future of political journalism.
Greenwald reacts to winning Pulitzer
Back in the US and now a Pulitzer Prize winner, Glenn Greenwald joins Brian Stelter for an exclusive interview.
What is Glenn Beck's biggest regret?
Glenn Beck opens up about divisions in the U.S. and a surprising congressman he respects.
Anderson Cooper's inside story
Anderson Coopers discusses how he landed big exclusive interviews with Donald Sterling and Magic Johnson.
Jorge Ramos on point of view journalism
Jorge Ramos, the most popular Spanish-language news anchor in the U.S., talks about immigration coverage.

Online exclusives

NYT CEO discusses Trump's treatment of media
New York Times Company CEO Mark Thompson compares Donald Trump's media "blacklist" and more severe limitations on the press in other countries.
Pincus on problems with terror coverage
Walter Pincus, acclaimed national security reporter says the "personal" nature of the current terror threat preys on people's fears.
Fired L.A. Times publisher Austin Beutner laments the state of newspapers
Newspaper owners are "hoping tomorrow looks like today" instead of adapting to the Internet, former L.A. Times publisher Austin Beutner tells Brian Stelter.
Dan Rather says CBS News 'caved' to corporate pressure
Dan Rather says the "firewall" between newsgathering and corporate interests has been "completely obliterated."
How it feels to be one of Bill O'Reilly's pinheads
When Scott Weiner, a San Francisco city official, was ambushed by Fox News, he refused, saying "Fox News isn't real news." He tells Brian Stelter the story.
A media double standard when a shooter is Muslim?
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a correspondent for HBO's "Vice," and Noor Tagouri, an independent journalist, discuss the coverage of the Chattanooga shooting.
Does the subpoena sent to Reason magazine threaten free speech?
Brian Stelter speaks with Matt Welch, the editor of Reason magazine, about the recent DOJ subpoena regarding web comments that rocked the publication.

This week's show

January 8, 2017

Looking ahead to 2017

End of the Obama years

Greatest hits from December

Greatest hits from November

Final stretch of the campaign

Trump and the media

The 2016 election

How the press handled the primaries