Key Takeaways
- Iran faces its "fourth revolution" since 1979, driven by economic hardship and regime corruption.
- Tony DeKoppol aims to restore trust at CBS Evening News by prioritizing truth and audience perspective.
- Hugh Hewitt recounts his extensive career from Nixon's staff to legal and broadcast roles.
- Legacy news organizations face declining viewership and accusations of becoming "political actors."
- Disappointment surrounds Ohio State's football loss, prompting fan debate on recruitment strategies.
Deep Dive
- The host describes current protests as Iran's "fourth revolution" since 1979, fueled by endemic corruption and the plummeting value of the Iranian real.
- US foreign policy should condemn regime violence against protesters, but a dissident urged external parties to stay out.
- Past US administrations, including Clinton and Obama, are noted for weak responses to earlier Iranian uprisings in 1999, 2009, and 2022.
- Tony DeKoppol, incoming anchor of the CBS Evening News, promises to prioritize the audience and report truthfully, acknowledging past media failures.
- He will focus on issues like NAFTA, the Iraq War, and Hunter Biden's laptop, holding all public figures to the same standard.
- CBS News' new head is Barry Weiss, described as center-left, with a background at The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
- Evening news viewership has declined significantly from Walter Cronkite's peak of 27-29 million viewers, with Fox News' 'Special Report' sometimes outperforming CBS.
- Hugh Hewitt discusses his Ohio roots, detailing his family's history in Ashtonville and Warren, where his father served in World War II.
- He grew up in Warren, a 'Steeltown' that experienced economic decline since the 1970s.
- His education included Catholic school and Harvard, where he studied government but initially did not get into law school.
- Hewitt's career began working for David Eisenhower on 'Eisenhower at War', then as a ghostwriter for Richard Nixon until 1980.
- After law school at the University of Michigan and a D.C. circuit clerkship, he joined the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel's office.
- He later ran OPM, helped build the Nixon Library, and transitioned into broadcasting in 2000 with Salem Radio.
- Since 1996, he has taught constitutional law at Chapman Law School and moderated presidential debates in 2015-2016.
- Matt Continetti identifies Iran as the world's biggest story, noting President Trump's vocal support for protesters contrasts with previous administrations' responses.
- The Trump administration employed a 'maximum pressure' approach, including economic sanctions and withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
- Donald Trump indicated to Prime Minister Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago that the US and Israel would act if Iran restores its nuclear program.
- Matt Continetti views Tony DeKoppol's approach to CBS Evening News as a "breath of fresh air" in corporate media.
- The discussion highlights Nick Shirley's influential journalism, uncovering a welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota.
- Anchors like Brett Baer and Jake Tapper significantly influence news presentation through their personality and story selection, even if not directly reporting.
- Eli Lake suggests elite news organizations shifted from chroniclers to "political actors" after 2016, eroding trust and fairness.
- He likens this to Seymour Hersh's evolution from journalist to advocate, damaging journalistic credibility.
- Television news viewership has significantly declined, with specific ratings cited for ABC, NBC, and CBS in October, reflecting a fragmented media landscape.
- Donald Trump's 'Truth Social' posts on Iran hint at action without explicitly stating military intervention; non-military options like cyber operations and publicizing abductions are discussed.
- The State Department, under Marco Rubio, has tracked Iranian activists and protests for months.
- Support for Iranians includes raising funds for secure communications and strike funds, with Elon Musk's Starlink noted for potential role.
- The merchant class's involvement is highlighted as significant, paralleling historical Iranian revolutions.
- Doug Lesmerises expresses disappointment over Ohio State's recent loss, particularly for players and fans, preventing a historic back-to-back national championship.
- Coaches and players, including Ryan Day, made themselves available for post-game interviews, unlike Kirby Smart after Georgia's loss.
- Ohio State fans' high standards mean losses are devastating despite team success, citing factors like Miami's pass rush.
- The team's reliance on traditional recruiting is contrasted with other teams' high transfer numbers, raising questions for future strategy.