Topic: Circular Reporting

PBS NewsHour and other mainstream outlets faced criticism for reporting on the BuzzFeed Cohen story without independent verification. The practice of "circular reporting" is examined, where outlets cite each other's unverified claims to create a false sense of consensus. Despite the Special Counsel's dispute, some journalists continued to defend the narrative by parsing the specific wording of the official denial.

Representative Will Hurd, a former CIA undercover officer, explains the concept of "circular reporting" in intelligence gathering. He argues that the FBI used unverified rumors and media articles—which were themselves based on the original unverified source—to justify FISA warrants, a practice he criticizes as a failure of oversight.

A brief discussion on the decline of journalistic standards highlights how modern news sites often link to each other in a circular fashion without reaching the original source. The hosts encourage listeners to find original research papers and legislative text rather than relying on interpretations from tech blogs like Wired.