I usually write these emails to share what I’ve been working on. I was laying low for a little while because, in November, the same week my book Network of Lies came out, my mother died. I wrote about her life on Instagram here, here and here. As you might imagine, I treasured the holidays with my family even more than usual. Here are some of my January bylines and appearances:

– “The Great Tune-Out:” My latest article for Vanity Fair is about the depth of America’s political burnout and what it could mean for campaigns, media outlets, and the greater political-industrial complex.

– I also wrote for VF about Fox News falling back in line with Donald Trump just like most of the rest of the GOP.

– For The Atlantic, I penned a column about the final punchline of the Ron DeSantis 2024 campaign – claiming to cite Winston Churchill while actually citing a Budweiser ad. It was a perfect distillation of the Fox-powered right's post-truth culture.

— Before DeSantis imploded, I talked with CNN's Abby Phillip about the candidate’s rightful criticism of the right-wing media, plus a few other topics.

— Last week I joined MSNBC's Alex Wagner to discuss the sale of the Baltimore Sun to an owner who is openly contemptuous of the paper. The sale shows why it is crucial to support local, grassroots, subscription startups.

– And if you haven’t subscribed to the Inside the Hive podcast yet, check it out here. My guest last week: CNN’s Kasie Hunt. This week’s guests: Andrea Bernstein and Molly Jong Fast. New episodes drop on Thursdays. Email me anytime with guest ideas.

For more fun stuff, like sledding photos, follow me on Instagram.

All the best,

–Brian

>> On the PBS "NewsHour" earlier today, Amna Nawaz asked me about Donald Trump, Fox, and 2024.

>> On Puck's The Town podcast, Matthew Belloni quizzed me about Fox’s business model and Rupert Murdoch’s “semi-retirement.”

>> One of the questions "Fresh Air" host Terry Gross asked: "What's next for Fox News now that Rupert Murdoch has stepped down?"

>> On MSNBC's "The Beat with Ari Melber," I said fact-checking is important but we also need reality-checking and history-checking – here's what I mean.

>> I returned to CNN with appearances on "The Source with Kaitlan Collins," "CNN This Morning" and "Laura Coates Live."

>> Of all the memorable turns of phrase in Dwight Garner's review of “Lies” in the NYT, I especially liked how he dubbed me a "national pain sponge."

>> Speaking of sponging, here's my segment from Bloomberg earlier today: "Like in HBO's Succession, the Murdoch family actually hired a 'pain sponge."

>> In a Q&A with Poynter's Tom Jones, I explained the motivation for this new book, and how it differed from "HOAX" in 2020.

>> For POLITICO Magazine, I produced this adaptation about Maria Bartiromo and company: "The Inside Story of How Fox Fell for the 'Big Lie.'"

>> For TIME, I wrote an essay titled "The Lies Are The Story in Today's Politics."

>> Fortune: "How Rupert Murdoch settled Fox's Dominion lawsuit."

>> Salon: "The 6 most revealing Fox News details in Network of Lies."

>> BTW: Several of you emailed me about the book's launch day event at 92NY, saying you wanted to be there to watch Kara Swisher interview me. Well, the event will be published on Swisher's podcast, On, in the coming days!

And I enjoyed reading this on my old blog TVNewser: "No one loves a good media party more than Brian Stelter, and scores of New York-based news personalities, executives and the people who cover them turned out to support the former CNN anchor (and TVNewser founder) on Wednesday." The party "was held on the same day that Rupert Murdoch officially stepped down from his role as chairman of News Corp, something Stelter noted in his remarks to the partygoers. A coincidence? Not so sure."

NETWORK OF LIES has some stiff competition this week: My longtime friend Garrett Graff's new book UFO! So this week's episode of Vanity Fair's “Inside the Hive” is a crossover — I interviewed Graff about alien life, how mind-blowing the truth may be, and what our books have in common.

“Inside the Hive” is taking a week off due to Thanksgiving, but I'd love your ideas for guests and topics as the end of the year nears. Email me anytime.

And I saved the most important paragraph for the end: Thank you to my better half Jamie. She believed in this book project even when I did not believe I could finish it in time.

If you’re reading or listening to the book, reply here and share your feedback – the good, the bad, the ugly, the foxy.

All the best,

–Brian

That's what my new book "Network of Lies" is about. (I promise not to spam you about it every day!) But I want to share a few newsy parts before the weekend begins.

>> MSNBC's Alex Wagner kick-started the book tour on Thursday and asked me about Donald Trump, Sean Hannity, Dominion, and Smartmatic. Here's the segment.

>> MSNBC viewers preordered the book in such huge numbers that it's now in the top 20 on Amazon's new releases chart — and in the top 100 of all books globally. Thank you!

>> Tonight I'll be back on CNN, visiting "The Source with Kaitlan Collins," to discuss the book and whatever else she wants 😊

>> The book hits stores on Tuesday. If you haven't reserved a copy yet, please do. For a signed or personalized copy, order through WORDS Bookstore in Maplewood, NJ. I was there signing dozens of preordered books earlier this week, and I'll be back again soon.

>> On this week's episode of "Inside the Hive," I caught up with two of Dominion's lawyers, both of whom were key on-the-record sources for the book. "Dominion's Fox News case was just the beginning..."

>> In CNN's Reliable Sources newsletter (my favorite!), Oliver Darcy highlighted some of the book's scoops about Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch.

>> Rolling Stone published an excerpt about Fox's prime time stars and what they were secretly telling each other during the 2020 election.

>> Outlets like The Daily Beast, The Guardian, The Hill, Mediaite, and TheWrap have followed up on some of the revelations.

>> Live events: I will be at 92NY with Kara Swisher on Tuesday night and in DC with The Bulwark in DC on Thursday night.

In other news... "The Morning Show" season three finale is now streaming on Apple TV+, and showrunner Charlotte Stoudt was very kind to mention my role in her interviews. We're working on season four now.

Til then,

–Brian

“Network of Lies” comes out in two weeks, and it’s about so much more than a single cable host. It’s about the Trump indictments; the Big Lie; the January 6 attack; the Dominion case; the radicalization of the GOP; and Fox's role in all of it.

Would you do me a favor and preorder a copy now if you haven't already? Preorders are invaluable to authors and publishers. Check it out on Amazon, B&N, or Bookshop; or order a signed/personalized copy through WORDS in Maplewood, NJ. Thank you!

» "Network of Lies" was the first hot topic on Wednesday's episode of "The View." Here's the segment.

» I will be interrogated by Kara Swisher at 92NY on launch day, Nov. 14, and I will be on stage with The Bulwark in DC on Nov. 16. Tickets are on sale now, as they say.

A few other links to share with you:

» The Hollywood Reporter asked me to assess media coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. Journalists told me about four overwhelming and overlapping challenges: dangerous conditions, factual disputes, distortions and disinformation.

» For this week's episode of Vanity Fair's "Inside the Hive" podcast, I interviewed author and activist Naomi Klein, a longtime board member of Jewish Voice for Peace, about the information wars that are happening alongside the missile strikes and raids. The episode will be out Thursday morning.

» This Saturday afternoon I will be hosting a screening and Q&A for "Subject," a new film that "explores the life-altering experience of sharing one’s life on screen through key participants of acclaimed documentaries." Details here.

I would have written this email yesterday, but Halloween was an all-day extravaganza for the Stelters, between class parties and parades for Sunny and Story; several hours of trick or treating; and Jamie's Halloween parade broadcast on NY1. Sunny was Skater Barbie and Story was Leonardo the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle:

Now I’m going to go hide their remaining Halloween candy.

‘Til next time,

–Brian

My new book “Network of Lies” comes out in three weeks. I’d be remiss not to ask you to preorder a copy. Preorders are crucial for authors and publishers. Reserve a book via Amazon, B&N, Bookshop or your favorite store. For a signed and personalized copy, please preorder through Words, one of my local indie bookstores in New Jersey.

I’m writing for a few other reasons. I'm working on a column following up on my recent comments to Dan Abrams about media coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. Is the public being well served by the reporting from the region? Hit reply to tell me what you’ve noticed about the news coverage and what you’d like to know.

On a recent episode of Vanity Fair’s “Inside the Hive,” I interviewed journalists in both Jerusalem and Gaza City.

Another recent “Hive” episode examined how right-wing media in the U.S. has caused congressional commotion and chaos. “Why is it so hard for the GOP to pick and keep a speaker?” Because, guest Brian Rosenwald said, "It's really all about conservative media and how they've inverted the power structure on Capitol Hill." Hear from Rosenwald and Abigail Tracy here.

Last week I hosted a PaleyFest event all about The Onion. On Monday in NYC I’m moderating a Center for Communication event on media literacy, AI and journalism. Sign up here.

And speaking of AI: For Esquire’s 90th anniversary issue, the editors asked me to assess what the next 90 years in media might look like. I began by reflecting on the 1930s and the transition from silent film to "talkies." We’re living through a period that is equally revolutionary.

There is no stopping what’s coming: 24/7 streams of customized AI-generated audio and video. A truly infinite amount of content. I believe many of us will still seek out communal experiences and stories made by humans and will pay a premium for it. But the future of media is all of the above: trash and treasure, pro and am, human and robotic, cheap and costly, streaming side by side. Here’s the essay.

In the Stelter household, Sunny and Story are asking to see the Taylor Swift concert movie a second time…

Time to work on my possibly-related Halloween costume.

‘Til then,

–Brian

But first, I thought I'd say hello. Thursday was a marathon day of TV, radio and podcast appearances about the news. For The Atlantic, I wrote about Rupert's shrinking stature and why, in the words of one longtime Murdoch lieutenant, "There was a time when Rupert would say jump and people would say how high. But not anymore."

For Vanity Fair, I talked with Gabriel Sherman about the news on a special edition of the Inside the Hive podcast. On MSNBC, I said Rupert's news wasn't a "Succession" series finale or even season finale – it was more like a mid-season finale. We’re going to find out more in the days to come.

I highly recommend this week's other episode of Inside the Hive, which is all about the madness of the looming government shutdown, and which is a reunion of sorts with my former CNN colleague John Harwood, as well as VF's Abigail Tracy.

September is a packed month on the media conference circuit. Last week I was in Des Moines, courtesy of Poynter, talking with reporters who will be covering the Iowa caucuses. Earlier this week I was in Boston for a Globe Summit conversation about AI and media. And today I'm in Austin for a well-timed Texas Tribune Festival panel about the future of Fox. Message me if you're in town.

In between the trips I drove out east with Jamie and sang "Dial Drunk" in the car approximately 800 times:

And back home in Jersey, I now have a new title that I'm very proud to share: Class Dad. Yes, I’m helping out Sunny’s first-grade class with fundraising, field trips and class parties. Best job I’ve ever had!

I'‘ll see you back on the tube this Sunday morning. ‘Til then,

–Brian

First, a recommendation: If you haven’t read John Herrman’s latest bit of brilliance for NYMag, “The Nowhere Election,” check it out today. Herrman nails how and why the 2024 election will be an informational nightmare.

It may also feel like a repeat episode. My latest column for Vanity Fair, running in the summer print issue, is about Biden, and Trump, “The Office,” the gerontocracy, revisionist history, and politics as a rerun. The title: “Deja View.”

After a short-term stint covering the Fox-trial-that-wasn’t, I’m also back behind the mic for Vanity Fair, hosting the weekly Inside the Hive podcast. Recent guests have included Wesley Lowery, Joe Hagan, Marisa Lagos, and Robert Costa. Ideas for future guests are more than welcome: Just reply here!

When Esquire offered me a chance to contribute to “What I’ve Learned,” a feature I’ve been reading for 25 years, I jumped at the chance. I interviewed “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt and learned so much about him. This quote resonated most: “More than ever in my career now, I measure the words. I measure every word.”

I guess I haven’t sent out one of these updates in a while! When a leadership change was imminent at CNN, I filed a story for NYMag’s Intelligencer about why it was happening, and afterward I wrote an essay for the Washington Post about the network’s next chapter.

Otherwise I haven’t been writing much I have been writing a couple thousand words a day, but mostly in the form of book chapters that won’t be out until this fall. Do you know what it feels like when your enthusiasm about a project gets stronger and stronger every day? It’s electric. It's what I feel working on “Network of Lies.” Pre-order here!

And whenever I hit a writing wall, I go do this instead:

I’ll write again when I finish the manuscript,

–Brian

It’s hard to believe that the Dominion-Fox settlement happened twelve short days ago. In a post-deal column for Vanity Fair, I signaled that “one or more Fox personalities ensnared in the case will exit in the coming months,” but I did not think that one of the hosts would be Tucker Carlson. His ouster was an utter shock to the entire media industry. If you think about it as a breakup, though, it makes sense: It wasn't just one thing, it was everything – all the insults and disagreements and resentments added up and led Rupert Murdoch to dump him.

In the immediate aftermath of the Carlson news, I was interviewed by dozens of outlets, from NBC to NPR to the BBC. (Time to upgrade the old “home studio.”)

I wrote for VF about why his firing was so brutal and penned a guest essay for the NYT about what Carlson and Don Lemon’s terminations revealed about cable news. The takeaways: Cable’s power is in its reach and repetition, not ratings; and the networks, not the stars, are in charge.

While en route to DC for WHCA weekend parties, I filed a followup column for VF about both Carlson and Lemon, describing how the two very different men suddenly have a lot in common and revealing that they’ve been texting back and forth. (Speaking of Vanity Fair, the next edition of our “Inside the Hive” podcast will come out Thursday.)

In other news, I authored the May cover story of Los Angeles magazine, a deep dive into the sorry state of late-night TV. The reporting about “Late Late Show” losing millions of dollars a year prompted followup coverage and a response from Ben Winston via Matt Belloni’s podcast.

A few more notes:

» World Press Freedom Day is coming up this Wednesday. At the recent International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, I spoke about the links between press freedom, distrust, and safety. Here’s the video.

» The coronation of King Charles III takes place this Saturday. My wife Jamie is heading to London to cover the celebrations for NY1 and Spectrum’s channels across the country.

» Bluesky is all the rage now, but Twitter continues to be my main method for sharing media news. I just tweeted a scooplet about the post-Lemon plans for “CNN This Morning.”

» If you’re somehow not tired of this news cycle yet, you can hear more from me on the latest edition of “The Press Box” podcast from The Ringer.

And finally, a photo full of joy, which is the word that Sunny asked me to define today: Her little brother Story proudly reading a book during story-time.

Afterward, I tried to show him my NYT guest essay in the print edition, but alas, he was not impressed 🤣

All the best,

–Brian

I have joined Vanity Fair as a special correspondent for the duration of the trial. The two assignments: Writing a weekly column and hosting a special edition of VF’s “Inside the Hive” podcast. New episodes of “Fox on Trial” will drop on Thursdays, around the same time as the column. Check out the debut pod, with guest Gabriel Sherman, right here.

Dominion v. Fox cries out for a nonfiction examination, so that's what I am writing : A new book. It will be called "Network of Lies" and it will pick up where "Hoax" ended in 2020. I’m grateful to Julia Cheiffetz and her team at One Signal, part of Simon & Schuster, for supporting this project. It’s never too early to pre-order 😉

We’re aiming to publish this book in November, so I could use your input. What aspects of the story about Fox, the Big Lie and the GOP have been underreported or underrated in your view? What should I make sure to include? Who should I talk to? Reply and let me know.

Like many other media reporters, I’m gearing up for trial coverage. I was on the Apple News In Conversation podcast on Friday to preview the high stakes of the case. I’m about to join the CBC’s prime time newscast via Zoom. And I'll be popping up on some U.S. TV programs later in the week.

Fox is far from the only story on the media beat. For Slate, I wrote about a very 2023 sensation: “The more you scroll, the less you know.” For Air Mail, I profiled The Lever founder David Sirota. And I have a newsy cover story for Los Angeles magazine coming out later this month. 

Last but not least, if you want to see me getting pelted with dodgeballs by a pack of 3 and 4 year olds at a birthday party, well, that’s what my Instagram page is for. My wife thinks I should rename it my “Fun Dad” page.

Speaking of my kiddos – In Kindergarten, Sunny is learning about the difference between FACTS and OPINIONS. I introduced a third option: LIES. She already has it all down pat. Too bad she’s a tad too young to serve on the jury in Wilmington.

All the best,

–Brian

Today I'm out with two new stories. For The Atlantic, I wrote about the news media's role during bank runs, with insights from Jessica Lessin, Bill Grueskin and John Authers. For FORTUNE, I wrote about the dispute between DirecTV and Newsmax, which started as a simple carriage fee fight but turned into a political standoff.

Coming soon: Some more reporting about Dominion v. Fox News. My recent stories about the case have appeared in Vanity Fair, Air Mail, and The Atlantic.

This winter I have also written for Esquire, Poynter, and the Boston Globe. It’s been my not-so-secret goal to write for the outlets I have read and admired over the years.

Tomorrow I'll be in Boston for the Goldsmith Awards, an annual gala by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, where I'm a fellow this spring. And I'll be back this weekend to keynote the Power of Narrative conference at Boston University.

Most importantly: Six months into blissful stay-at-home dad life, I have achieved a breakthrough. My daughter is finally letting me put her hair in a ponytail before school. That part of my life is chronicled over on Instagram.

I figured I should end with an old “Reliable Sources” newsletter feature, Pet of the Day. Here are the two new additions to our farm:

My better half Jamie has all the details over on her Instagram.

Have an idea for a story I should be writing? Reply and let me know. I’ll send out this note once in a while with my recent work.

Carpe diem,

–Brian

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