The Kicker is a podcast on the media and the world today. It comes out twice a month, hosted by Josh Hersh and produced by Amanda Darrach for the Columbia Journalism Review. It is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
A CJR Podcast
The Kicker
Chicagoâs Block Club Is Ready for ICE
The independent digital startup has been on the ground covering ICEâs surge and the attacks on journalists.
Elle Reeve on the Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspectâs Inscrutable Memes
The CNN correspondent, who specializes in fringe and internet subcultures, on how to make sense of the killing.
Garrett Graff Thinks the Press Should Be Taking Trumpâs Health Much More Seriously
The author and historian on political coverage in unprecedented times.
Hind Hassan Is Sorry We Didnât Do More to Make Journalism Safe
âWeâre responsible for what our industry stands for,â the documentary news reporter says.
Will the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal Break MAGA Media?
Mother Jonesâs Anna Merlan on how the Epstein files are tearing MAGA media apart.
Whatâs the Matter with the BBC?
Former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger on the challenges facing the venerable British institution.
Whatâs the Point of Investigating Trump?
The Timesâ David Fahrenthold on the value of investigative reporting in a time of shamelessness.
âI Try to Find the Question That People Cannot Squirm Out Ofâ
Nashvilleâs Phil Williams on local investigative reporting.
âThe Threat Is Very Realâ
NPRâs Katherine Maher on the fight to save public media.
Inside El Salvadorâs Dystopian Prison Network
A reporter who covered the gang crackdown on why budding authoritarians like what they see.
Carlos Watson Goes Free: A Surprising Coda to the CJR Podcast
Prosecutors werenât notified in advance, witnesses are in shockâand Watsonâs family celebrates his freedom.
Molly White Knows You Donât Understand Crypto
The researcher and newsletter writer on one of DC’s must-know topics.
The Legal War on Journalism
How Trumpâs attacks on the press are already affecting publishers.
A Spring Training Palate Cleanser
An update on the state of sports journalism, with the Baltimore Bannerâs Chris Korman.
Back in the Whirlwind
CJRâs Jon Allsop on how the media handled Trump’s first week backâand what’s still to come.
A Wild Start to the Year
Codaâs Natalia Antelava on Meta, Trump, and how journalism can survive 2025.
How Trump Won Over the Latino Vote
A deep dive with CJR contributor Jack Herrera.
The end of endorsements at the Post
Former editor Martin Baron on Jeff Bezos and editorial independence
What Trump might do if he loses
NBC’s Ryan Reilly on the future of “stop the steal”
A manic news cycle in New York
Hell Gateâs Chris Robbins on the new New York media landscape
The power of uncomfortable ideas
Jina Moore Ngarambe on her time at Guernica
âThat’s how you run a debate!â
9News’s Kyle Clark on holding politicians accountable
A long, destructive path
Source NMâs Patrick Lohmann on the never-ending wildfire season
â68 state
Heather Hendershot and Ted Koppel on a year for the media to remember
Kamala steps up
Politicoâs Eugene Daniels on a wild month of news
Spanish-speaking journalismâin Iowa
A conversation with Lorena LĂłpez
What did we know and when?
Alex Thompson on Biden’s mental decline
Not even âno commentâ
Paul Farhi on the mediaâs struggles with relevance
Haaretzâs unique role
How Israeli journalists are covering the country
Crisis at Columbia
A conversation with Jelani Cobb
Talking to the minds behind âInside Wagnerâ
Video journalism unmasks Russia’s secretive mercenary group
‘Self-regulated cartels’
How to revive investigative sports reporting in the age of the athlete
