One of Ari's acrimonious relationships among the gaggle (there were many) has been with reporter Russell Mokhiber. The correspondent for Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter has made a sport out of asking questions that few other reporters would dare to, and Fleischer has responded in kind. Mokhiber tells Brooke about ...

White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer announced his resignation this week, after more than two years at the podium in loyal service to the President. He has weathered major events such as the 2000 election, 9/11, and the Iraq war. But among the press corps, few will miss his obfuscating style ...

The government's war on terrorism has left plenty of collateral damage in its wake, especially when it comes to Americans' basic freedoms. So far, it seems that citizens are willing to sacrifice some civil liberties in exchange for national security. But as Bob examines the trade-offs that have already been ...

Each morning, White House officials dial up fellow war planners in London and Qatar. The purpose of the conference call is to issue the Administration's official media message of the day. Terms are specified, and stories are outlined. Chicago Tribune reporter Bob Kemper joins Brooke to review the accomplishments of ...

Somewhere deep within the Pentagon, decisions are made that shape the history books of the future. Battle plans these are not - this is the realm of the linguistic. "Operation Iraqi Freedom" is simply the latest example of public relations campaigning through war naming. But as Professor Conrad Crane of ...

In a rare prime-time press conference last week, President Bush again made his case for military action in Iraq. It left some observers scratching their heads and wondering who was to blame for the remarkable lack of information presented that evening - the Administration, or the media? Bob examines the ...

If another war does happen in Iraq, this time hundreds of reporters will be on the frontlines to witness it. The Pentagon is "embedding" around 500 reporters with military units in the Persian Gulf…on the condition that the reporters agree to certain ground rules. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for ...

This week the Library of Congress inaugurated a National Recording Registry and named the first 50 recordings that will be permanently preserved. The selections range from President Roosevelt’s fireside chats, to Ray Charles’ smooth soul, to nineteenth century Passamaquoddy Indian song. Librarian of Congress James Billington talks with Bob about ...

The Congressional leadership swap returned veteran lawmaker John McCain to the helm of the Senate Commerce Committee. What will Senator McCain's chairmanship mean for the contentious future of media regulation? Brooke speculates with Cable World reporter Alicia Mundy.

This week, amidst a wave of controversy, Senate majority leader Trent Lott announced his resignation from the leadership role. Lott's inflammatory remarks were intitially ignored and it was only days later that the story came under mainstream scrutiny. But according to New York post Columnist John Podhoretz, the comments were ...

As part of his economic team shakeup this week, President Bush recruited three more corporate chieftains into his administration. The appointments underscore the increasing intersections between business and government--but it's a phenomenon that the press has been behind the curve in covering. On The Media's John Solomon reports.

Last summer, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved rules requiring broadcasters airing the opinion of securities analysts to also disclose any business interests that the analysts or their firms might have in the stocks being discussed. Now, the SEC is poised to approve a similar rule for the print media. ...

Last year, Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld unveiled a plan to create an Office of Strategic Influence-the purpose of which was to create and disseminate disinformation. Rumsfeld sidestepped the onslaught of criticism he received by claiming it was all a big misunderstanding and that the idea had been scrapped. But ...

The day before Thanksgiving, Henry Kissinger was appointed by President Bush to lead an investigation into possible intelligence failures leading up to the events of September 11th 2001. On the Media checks in with Scott Armstrong, Washington journalist and founder of the National Security Archive about media coverage, or lack ...

This week both houses of Congress passed the Homeland Security Act, which will result in the biggest overhaul of the federal bureaucracy in 50 years. The Act will have broad ramifications—from the relationship of the federal government with its citizens, to suppressing previously public information. Bob speaks with Mark Tapscott, ...

The White House pool report is a brief synopsis of events, written by a designated reporter, to be used by the press corps. Whereas the pool report used to be circulated strictly among pool reporters, now the reports are circulated widely in email to just about anyone who wants it—journalist ...

House Majority Leader Dick Armey is flexing his political muscle when it comes to pushing policy that would force a major media property-owner in Texas to divest. Armey maintains that he's acting in the best interest of his constituency-but could the move have something to do with Armey's historical distaste ...

Of all the niche publications out there, it seems there never has been one designated explicitly and exclusively for the executive branch, until now. The new Federal Paper newspaper promises to "break new ground by providing behind-the-scenes, insider news about the people, politics, and business of the Executive Branch." Brooke ...

Bush Administration officials have suggested that America’s cool relationship with some of its erstwhile allies has been warming in recent weeks. Brooke asks Bill Falk, editor-in-chief of The Week, what the international media are saying on the subject.

In the weeks after the attacks, the Secretary of Defense emerged to capture the hearts of the public – and media. OTM Producer-At-Large Mike Pesca dissects his techniques, examines his fan base, and hears from media types frustrated that charm has trumped information.