Citations Needed
News & Politics
About
Citations Needed is a podcast about the intersection of media, PR, and power, hosted by Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson.
Episodes
- Live Show: 'How to Sell a Genocide' Book Talk at The Word Is Change Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY
This live episode features Nima and Adam discussing Adam's book, "How to Sell a Genocide: The Media's Complicity in the Destruction of Gaza." The conversation took place at The Word Is Change Bookstore on May 7, 2026.
- News Brief: "Peak TV," Streamer Studio Accounting Gimmicks, and the Precarity of Hollywood Labor
News Brief discusses the book Boom to Bust with authors Miranda Banks and Kate Fortmueller, focusing on inequality and precarity in Hollywood labor due to studio consolidation and wage suppression tactics.
- News Brief: How the Right Invented — and Exploited — the "Liberal Media" Trope
A. J. Bauer, assistant professor at the University of Alabama, discusses his book
- Ep 237: How Selective, Patronizing 'Deradicalization' Discourse Pathologizes Anti-Colonial Struggle
This episode discusses the historical tendency of US media to frame the grievances of resistant populations as "terrorism," "hate," or "radicalism" requiring re-education. The discussion includes guest Prem Thakker.
- Ep 236: Manufactured Austerity and the Media Assisted 'Public-Private Partnership' Rip-Off
The episode discusses how the concept of privatization was rebranded as 'Public-Private Partnerships,' leading to the diversion of public funds to Wall Street. Donald Cohen, founder of In the Public Interest, is featured as a guest.
- News Brief: As American Troops Hide in Civilian Hotels, US Media Ignores Pentagon's Use of 'Human Shields'
This News Brief analyzes reporting from major US news outlets, including CNN, The Atlantic, Washington Post, and The New York Times, regarding allegations of US troops utilizing civilian infrastructure and hotels during Iranian attacks.
- News Brief: How Decades of Media Distortions and Lies about "Iran's Nuclear Program" Lead to War
A news brief from Citations Needed discusses a poll indicating most Americans misunderstand Iran's nuclear program. It details how media fabrications and innuendo over decades have contributed to this widespread public misconception.
- "Shadow Fleets," Sanctions & Western Media's International Law-ification of Arbitrary US Dictates
This episode discusses the use of deceptive language and uncritical reporting to legitimize arbitrary, often unilateral, sanctions against 'Enemy States' as international law. Featuring guest Maryam Jamshidi, an Associate Professor of Law.
- News Brief: As Trump Crushes Academia, the NYT and Atlantic Still Fight 'Woke' Wars from 5 Years Ago
This episode of Citations Needed features Chenjerai Kumanyika and Todd Wolfson discussing the impact of Trump's policies on higher education, the continuation of neoliberal privatization, and the backlash against "woke" academics and prote…
- Ep 234: TikTok, Gen Z's Move to Social Media and Elite Panic Over Unsanctioned News
This episode of Citations Needed discusses the political class's anxiety surrounding TikTok and its role in distributing unsanctioned news, particularly in the context of Gaza and its connection to US and Israeli military contractors. The…
- News Brief: ICE, Senate Dems' Counterinsurgency PR, and the Limits of Body Cam Liberalism
This news brief covers issues with proposed reforms from Senate Democrats, the tactic of waiting for public outrage to subside, and the lack of proposals to reduce ICE's budget.
- Ep 233: How US Media Naturalizes Capital Strikes and Helps the Rich Undermine Democracy
This episode analyzes the portrayal of capital strikes and capital flight by wealthy entities in US media, noting how it is framed as standard practice, thereby weakening populist politicians and movements.
- News Brief: As Dem Leadership Waffles—Labor, Organizers, Immigrants Fight Back in Minneapolis
This episode discusses the response to ICE brutality, highlighting organizers in Minneapolis who are pushing for more than superficial reforms. Guest Janette Corcelius is featured.
- News Brief: For Media Reporting on Iran, Trump Suddenly Morphs into Pro-Democracy Humanitarian
This News Brief analyzes Western media's coverage of protests in Iran, noting how outlets uncritically present US regime change motivations, including potential US military action under Trump, as primarily driven by concern for demonstrato…
- News Brief: How Corporate Media Laid the Groundwork for a Rightwing Incitement Campaign in Minnesota
This News Brief details how CBS, Fox, WSJ, and NYT promoted an essentialized narrative on the "Somali Minnesota fraud" story, which set the stage for a rightwing incitement campaign targeting Minneapolis's immigrant communities.
- Ep 232: US Meddling, the Limits of 'Agency' Discourse and How Media Chooses Which 'Voices' To Center
This episode of Citations Needed examines the misuse of liberal standpoint theory to advocate for US interventionism, including sanctions and bombing. It also explores how media outlets select which perspectives to highlight, featuring gue…
- News Brief: BBC's Gaza Double Standard and Western Liberalism's Crisis of Legitimacy
This episode features journalist Daniel Trilling discussing his findings on the BBC
- Ep 231 - How To Oppose Genocide Without Opposing Genocide (Part 2): AIPAC Dems' Fake Israel Criticisms
This episode analyzes how Democrats utilize superficial critiques of the Gaza situation to gain political advantage without genuine support for Palestine. Guest Tariq Kenney-Shawa joins the discussion.
- Ep 230 - How To Oppose Genocide Without Opposing Genocide (Part 1): Biden World's Reputation Laundering PR Tour
Citations Needed episode 230 discusses how former Biden administration officials are attempting to revise historical accounts of the Gaza conflict and absolve themselves of responsibility. The episode also explores the emergence of a media…
- Citations Needed Live Show Beg-a-Thon: MAHA, TikTok and the Rise of Health-Branded Fascism
This live episode of Citations Needed features Justin Feldman discussing the rise of MAHA, the "Granola-to-Fascist Pipeline," and the influence of corporate food policies and the medical system on hucksterism.
- News Brief: As Trump Attacks Venezuela, Media Takes His Absurd "Drug War" Pretext at Face Value
This News Brief details how major news outlets are framing Trump
- News Brief: Media Helps Sell ICE Raids with Zero Dark Thirty Ride-Along Schlock
Matthew Cunningham-Cook joins this News Brief to discuss his media analysis of embedded reports covering ICE raids, examining how such coverage primes the public for crackdowns on undocumented immigrants.
- News Brief: The Billionaire-Backed Groups Working to Push Dems Right in 2026 and 2028
This News Brief discusses major factions working to frame the 2024 election as a reaction against
- Live Show Beg-A-Thon Monday 10/13 - Promo!
Citations Needed will host a live show on October 13th with Justin Feldman to discuss the rise of MAHA, the Granola-to-Fascist Pipeline, and the impact of corporate food policies and the for-profit medical system.
- Ep 229: Sociopathic 'You Got To Hand it To 'Em' Punditry and the Rise of Politics as Sport
This episode of Citations Needed discusses the trend of political commentary that frames high-stakes issues as a sport, focusing on pundits' perceived wins and losses. Guest Jack Mirkinson joins the discussion.
- Ep 228 - Billionaires as Insta-Experts: How Our Media Conflates Extreme Wealth with Expertise
In episode 228, "Billionaires as Insta-Experts," Citations Needed and guest Rob Larson discuss the media tendency to equate extreme wealth with expertise across various fields, arguing that billionaires are often presented as authorities w…
- News Brief - NYT, BBC, Guardian: Starvation in Gaza Doesn't Really Count if Victim Has Preexisting Condition
This News Brief from Citations Needed discusses how Western media outlets have modified their reporting on Gaza's humanitarian crisis due to external pressure. Guest Beatrice Adler-Bolton joins to detail changes that may obscure the urgenc…
- Ep 227: The Importance of 'Seriousness,' or Why Palestinians Can't Be Witness to Their Own Genocide (Part II)
This episode of Citations Needed discusses the discrepancies in credibility between Western/Israeli journalists and Palestinian journalists covering the conflict in Gaza. It explores why Palestinian reporting is often overlooked until vali…
- Ep 226: The Importance of 'Seriousness,' or Why Palestinians Can't Be Witness to Their Own Genocide (Part I)
This episode of Citations Needed discusses media coverage of allegations against UNRWA staff and its potential contribution to the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. It questions the lack of independent confirmation for sensationalized he…
- Ep 225: How US Media Frames Democracy that Actually Helps People as 'Buying Votes'
This episode of Citations Needed analyzes the tendency of US media to frame economically populist policies, such as student loan forgiveness or price controls, as cynical attempts to "buy votes." It argues that the media often presents the…
- Episode 224: Corporate Self-Regulation and the Fine Art of 'Preempting" Public Outrage
This episode of Citations Needed discusses the corporate public relations tactic of preempting public outrage and regulation through self-policing and superficial reforms, with guest Timi Iwayemi.
- News Brief: ADL, Corporate Media, Dem Elites Manufature "Antisemitism" Scandal to Discipline Mamdani
This News Brief discusses attacks on Zohran Mamdani,
- News Brief: Natural Disaster-izing the Deliberate US-Israeli Starvation Campaign in Gaza
This News Brief discusses media indifference to the US and Israeli-imposed starvation in Gaza, the ADL's strategy involving sectarianism, and a hunger strike by six JVP activists to highlight the famine.
- News Brief: Pundits Speed-Run 15 Months of Iraq War Propaganda for Iran in Five Days
This Citations Needed News Brief analyzes the rapid dissemination of pro-war talking points concerning Iran, referencing alleged "ticking time bomb" scenarios and questionable anecdotes.
- News Brief: US Media, Top Dems Assist Trump and Israel's Unprovoked Attack on Iran
This News Brief examines how The New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN framed Israel's attack on Iran, and details how Democratic politicians and former advisors to Kamala Harris either disregarded or supported the escalation.
- Ep. 223: The Empire Strikes First, Part II — 'Abundance' Pablum as Counter to Left Populism
This episode examines the Democratic Party's "abundance" agenda, promoted by media figures like Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, as a strategy for 2028. It critiques the agenda's vagueness and its framing of issues as solvable by deregulatio…
- Ep 222 - The Empire Strikes First Part I: Party Elites Who Lost to Trump (Twice) Blame Everyone But Themselves
In episode 222, "The Empire Strikes First Part I: Party Elites Who Lost to Trump (Twice) Blame Everyone But Themselves," the show critiques how media allows party elites, responsible for Democratic party struggles, to dictate the narrative…
- Episode 221: Anti-Science Mugging on the Right and the Ascent of American Anti-Intellectualism
Citations Needed episode 221 examines how political figures use scientific studies out of context to appeal to populist sentiments, a phenomenon often amplified by mainstream media.
- News Brief: NPR Asks Starving Palestinian Living On Rubble to Denounce Hamas, Co-Sign His Own Ethnic Cleansing
In this News Brief, the episode examines an instance of perceived racist double standards and condescension in a request made by NPR to a starving Palestinian, asking him to denounce Hamas and endorse his own ethnic cleansing.
- News Brief: Baltimore Uprising 10 Years on: PR Co-option vs Genuine Reform
Taya Graham and Stephen Janis of The Real News Network join Citations Needed to discuss their documentary "Freddie Gray: A Decade of Struggle." The episode covers lessons, pitfalls, and genuine reforms related to the 2015 Baltimore Uprisin…
- Episode 220: The Power of Thought-Terminating Bad Guy Labels
This episode of Citations Needed explores the function and impact of "Bad Guy Labels" such as "Extremist," "Illegal Alien," "Gang Member," and "Terrorist." The discussion analyzes how these terms are used to dehumanize individuals, separat…
- Ep 219: How Elites Concern Troll 'Waste' to Gut Social Welfare and Divide the Working Class
This episode of Citations Needed details the historical use of the "waste, fraud, and abuse" framing. It analyzes how this argument has been employed to justify the reduction of social programs and weaken protections for workers and citize…
- Ep 218: The Siren Song of Rallying Around a 'Common Enemy' to Promote Progressive Causes
This episode of Citations Needed explores the recurring geopolitical message of a "common enemy" used to promote policy, particularly focusing on how progressives employ this trope to advocate for public benefit initiatives. The discussion…
- News Brief: Dem Leaders, 'Free Speech' Warriors Mostly Shrug as Trump Disappears Political Dissidents
This News Brief from Citations Needed examines the quiet reaction from prominent Democrats and
- Episode 217: A.I. Mysticism as Responsibility-Evasion PR Tactic
This episode of Citations Needed critiques the narrative framing AI as the cause of corporate or military abuses. It argues that this "AI mysticism" serves as a public relations tactic to evade responsibility, with Steven Renderos of Media…
- News Brief: Trump's Hollow Working Class Aesthetics and How Unions Can Lead a Real Resistance
This episode features an interview with Rutgers professor Eric Blanc about his book "We Are The Union." It explores how effective resistance to Trumpism must be rooted in a strong and active labor movement.
- News Brief: Israel Kills Over 400 in 12 Hrs, Media Unsure if This Counts as Violating the 'Ceasefire'
This News Brief discusses the challenge of portraying Israel as a defensive, peace-seeking entity given its "openly genocidal rhetoric and acts." It details the media's difficulty in framing Israel's actions in light of a potential ceasefi…
- News Brief: The Disappearance of Mahmoud Khalil and the Phony 'Campus Safety' Panic
This episode details how Center-Left institutions and media have utilized "lived experience" rhetoric to aid a crackdown on dissenting speech, referencing the situation surrounding Mahmoud Khalil and a perceived "campus safety" panic.
- Episode 216: Sunday Morning News Shows and the Problem With 'Agenda Setting' Court Stenography
This episode discusses the history, ideology, and effects of Sunday morning news shows, questioning their journalistic function and impact on policymakers and the public.
- Citations Needed Live Show Beg-a-Thon: Ancient Rome and the False Histories Inspiring Musk & the MAGA World
This live episode of Citations Needed features Dr. Sarah E. Bond discussing her book 'Strike: Labor, Unions, and Resistance in the Roman Empire.' The conversation examines how figures like Elon Musk and the MAGA movement misuse Roman histo…