Media's Insurgent Stance--Rebuilding Trust Through Transparency

Galaxy Brain · January 02, 2026 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title: The New Mainstream Media

TL;DR

The "mainstream media" is now a misnomer, as independent podcasters and online personalities command massive audiences, forcing legacy media to adopt an insurgent, fact-based, and more combative posture to regain relevance.
Algorithmic platforms, particularly YouTube's recommendation engine, actively funnel users into increasingly extreme content by prioritizing sensationalism and outrage, creating a "rabbit hole" effect.
Conspiracy theories thrive by offering simplistic explanations for complex societal frustrations, providing a sense of understanding and belonging for those feeling disenfranchised or struggling.
The decline of text's importance is accelerating due to generative AI flooding the web with synthetic information, potentially degrading writing skills and educational value.
A "scrolling backlash" is emerging as people grow tired of constant phone use and algorithmic manipulation, leading to a cultural shift towards "no phone zones" and a desire for more authentic interactions.
Professionalized media must reveal its "steel frame" of reporting, editing, and fact-checking to rebuild trust, demonstrating its integrity and methods rather than just presenting polished content.
The rise of political violence is increasingly "memefied," with perpetrators leaving online clues that are amplified by internet culture, posing a significant challenge for media coverage.

Deep Dive

The media landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift, moving away from traditional "mainstream" gatekeepers towards a more decentralized, algorithmically driven ecosystem that rewards extreme content and sensationalism. This evolution presents significant challenges for established journalistic institutions, forcing them to reconsider their role and adopt a more insurgent, fact-based approach to reclaim public trust and combat misinformation.

The current media environment prioritizes engagement over truth, with algorithms amplifying outrage, fear, and shock. This dynamic incentivizes creators, including those launching new podcasts and YouTube channels, to lean into extreme viewpoints to capture audience attention. While platforms like YouTube's recommendation engine can lead users down "rabbit holes" of increasingly radical content, the underlying human desire for truth persists. Conspiracy theories, in particular, thrive by offering seemingly coherent explanations for complex, unfair, or disappointing realities, especially for individuals feeling disenfranchised or struggling to find a path to success. This tendency is amplified by a media culture that often lacks editorial rigor, presenting unvarnished content as authentic while weaponizing the very mechanisms of trust-building, like fact-checking and editing, against legitimate journalism.

In response, established media must adopt a more combative and transparent posture, framing fact-based reporting as a radical act and showcasing the integrity of their journalistic processes, akin to revealing the steel frame of a building. This involves a deliberate shift away from passive observation and towards an active, "insurgent" stance, embracing the idea that their work is needed and valuable, even if it means operating against powerful algorithmic forces. The goal is not to mirror the sensationalism of less credible sources, but to build genuine relationships with audiences by demonstrating good faith, intellectual honesty, and a commitment to truth, thereby offering a countercultural alternative to the prevailing tide of misinformation and disengagement.

Action Items

Audit media consumption: Track personal engagement with 3-5 platforms for 2 weeks to identify algorithmic influence on content exposure.
Develop "insurgent" media posture: Adopt a combative, fact-based approach to content creation, treating truth-telling as a radical act.
Create a runbook for content creation: Define 5 required sections (e.g., fact-checking process, legal review, editorial decisions) to demonstrate journalistic integrity.
Measure audience engagement with nuanced content: Track metrics for 3-5 "vegetable" stories versus sensational ones to assess audience preference for substance.
Implement a "steel frame" transparency model: Showcase 2-3 core journalistic processes (e.g., source vetting, editorial debate) to build audience trust.

Key Quotes

"I think that i think that should be that should be the new motto right get rid of democracy dies in darkness I'm not going to let the bastards win and emphasize the I and and anyone who's watching you're the I I'm Charlie Rozell and welcome to Galaxy Brain and happy new year hopefully you've all navigated the dead week successfully and had a happy and safe holiday season and thanks for for joining us here as as you start your new year today's episode is going to be a little bit different"

Charlie Warzel introduces the podcast episode, setting a tone of reflection and a departure from typical programming. He proposes a new motto, "I'm not going to let the bastards win," suggesting a spirit of resilience and defiance in the face of challenges. This framing signals that the discussion will likely explore themes of struggle and perseverance.

"what we think of as the mainstream media is actually in a lot of ways a little bit on its back foot right there is a lot of distrust of these institutions there is a lot of um there are a lot of people who simply just don't pay as much attention to them as they used to or or or there's a backlash against some of them and and what what David talks about in this conversation that i think is is really interesting is the idea that the you know formerly we'll call it mainstream media is actually in a position to be more insurgent now"

Charlie Warzel highlights a significant shift in the media landscape, noting the declining trust and attention given to traditional "mainstream media" institutions. He introduces David Frum's perspective that this perceived weakness can actually be an advantage, positioning these established outlets to operate with a more insurgent and forceful approach.

"I think the first one is that if 2025 was really a a year where politics became even more influencer heavy even more internet heavy meme heavy brain rot heavy AI slop heavy I think that that is going to intensify in 2026"

Charlie Warzel predicts an intensification of trends observed in 2025, specifically concerning the increasing influence of internet culture on politics. He foresees a greater prevalence of influencer-driven content, memes, "brain rot," and AI-generated material shaping political discourse in the coming year.

"And then that brings me to the last thing which is uh another backlash and I think it's I I think we're going to see in 2026 a a scrolling backlash that's sort of what I'm calling it I'm doing a little reporting on this and I think there are a lot of indicators out there right now that people are really tired of their phones and tired of the algorithmic internet and tired of this idea of I am being manipulated all the time"

Charlie Warzel introduces the concept of a "scrolling backlash," indicating a growing public fatigue with constant phone use and the manipulative nature of algorithmic internet platforms. He suggests that this sentiment is gaining traction, with people expressing a desire to disengage from the constant stream of curated content.

"I think that the days of Walter Cronkite are gone the people who are imitating Walter Cronkite don't have his ethic the people who are being watched are people who are building relationships and I think some of these relationships may leap the bound I mean I have many relationships that are not para that began as parasocial that are now real"

David Frum discusses the evolution of media consumption and the decline of traditional journalistic authority figures like Walter Cronkite. Frum argues that audiences are now more drawn to personalities who build direct relationships, even if initially parasocial, suggesting a shift towards more personal and relational forms of media engagement.

"And I think that that makes me think a little bit about an article I I recently read this week in the Washington Post um where Pablo Torre one of one of the guests on uh on our show I think episode two gives an interview to the Washington Post about his year in journalism and says that he feels like reporters have forgotten that they have very cool jobs that they are essentially these days like you know detectives right it's our job to you know hunt things down find new information and I think that that Pablo is really good at coming to journalism in 2025 and now uh I'm sure 2026 with this chip on his shoulder with a little bit of that you know insurgent understanding"

Charlie Warzel references Pablo Torre's perspective on journalism, emphasizing the role of reporters as "detectives" who actively seek out new information. Warzel suggests that Torre embodies an "insurgent understanding" of the profession, implying a need for journalists to approach their work with a proactive and combative spirit.

Resources

External Resources

Books

"Out of Office: Unlocking the Power and Potential of Hybrid Work" by Charlie Warzel - Mentioned as the author's 2021 book.

Articles & Papers

"Democracy Dies in Darkness" - Mentioned as a phrase to be replaced.
"Was Hitler Good?" - Mentioned as an example of an extreme topic that would not be covered.
"The Atlantic" - Mentioned as the publication Charlie Warzel joined in 2021 and where his new podcast, Galaxy Brain, is hosted.
"New York Times" - Mentioned as the publication of a column by Michelle Goldberg about Candace Owens.
"Substack" - Mentioned as the platform for a post by Max Read.
"Blackbird Spyplane" - Mentioned as the Substack blog that published an article about scrolling on phones.

People

Charlie Warzel - Host of the Galaxy Brain podcast, staff writer at The Atlantic, and author of "Out of Office."
David Frum - Colleague of Charlie Warzel, co-host of a YouTube show and podcast, and participant in the discussion.
Candace Owens - Mentioned as an example of an extreme voice on the right.
Charlie Kirk - Mentioned in relation to his assassination and a conspiracy theory.
Tucker Carlson - Mentioned as a figure on the right.
Joe Rogan - Mentioned as an example of a popular independent podcaster.
Pablo Torre - Mentioned as a guest on Episode 2 of Galaxy Brain and for giving an interview to The Washington Post.
Michelle Goldberg - Mentioned as the author of a New York Times column about Candace Owens.
Erica Kirk - Mentioned as Charlie Kirk's widow.
Max Read - Mentioned as a former Galaxy Brain guest with a post on Substack.
Adrian LaFrance - Mentioned as the executive editor of The Atlantic.
Walter Cronkite - Mentioned as a historical figure whose ethic is no longer present in media.
Hank Green - Mentioned as a YouTuber who was a guest on the first episode of Galaxy Brain.
Donald Trump - Mentioned in relation to politics and the nation's leading concert hall.
Baron Trump - Mentioned in relation to AI-generated videos.
J.D. Vance - Mentioned in relation to AI-generated videos.
Melania Trump - Mentioned in relation to AI-generated videos.
Elon Musk - Mentioned in relation to AI-generated videos.

Organizations & Institutions

YouTube - Mentioned as a platform that pushes creators towards more extreme ideas and for its recommendation algorithm.
CNN - Mentioned as an example of traditional media.
PBS News Hour - Mentioned as an example of traditional media.
The Atlantic - Mentioned as the publication Charlie Warzel joined and where his podcast is hosted.
New York Times - Mentioned as a publication.
Washington Post - Mentioned as a publication.
NFL (National Football League) - Mentioned in relation to sports discussion.
New England Patriots - Mentioned as an example team for performance analysis.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) - Mentioned as a data source for player grading.
Subaru - Mentioned in relation to the "Share the Love" event.
Make-A-Wish - Mentioned as a charity supported by Subaru.
Hamilton College - Mentioned as Charlie Warzel's alma mater.
The Federal Government - Mentioned in relation to potential backstopping of AI companies.
OpenAI - Mentioned as an example of an AI company.
The Trump Administration - Mentioned in relation to potential backstopping of AI companies.
The Atlantic Audio - Mentioned as the department for executive producer Claudina Bade.

Podcasts & Audio

Galaxy Brain - Mentioned as Charlie Warzel's new podcast on The Atlantic channel.
The David Frum Show - Mentioned as a crossover episode with Galaxy Brain.

Other Resources

AI Slop - Mentioned as a type of content intensifying in politics.
Brain Rot - Mentioned as a style of content pervading politics.
Memefied Political Violence - Mentioned as a trend in political violence.
Generative AI - Mentioned as a tool for generating text and a factor in the decline of text importance.
Platform Temperance - Mentioned as a concept discussed by Max Read.
Touching Grass - Mentioned as a concept related to platform temperance.
Scrolling Backlash - Mentioned as a trend of people being tired of their phones and the algorithmic internet.
True Crime Genre - Mentioned as a popular genre that Candace Owens draws from.
Digital Sleuths - Mentioned as people who act as vigilante investigators online.
Conspiracy Theories - Mentioned as a way for people to understand why the world feels unfair or wrong.
Fact Checking - Mentioned as a practice of professionalized media.
Editing - Mentioned as a practice of professionalized media.
Hybrid Work - Mentioned as a topic in Charlie Warzel's book.
The Epstein Files - Mentioned in relation to a podcast discussion.
The Bondi Beach Killing - Mentioned as an event where a mistake was made on air.
The Steel Frame - Used as an architectural metaphor for the structure of professionalized media.
Limestone and Woodwork - Used as an architectural metaphor for the presentation of professionalized media.
Parasocial Relationship - Mentioned in the context of building relationships with audience members.
The Algorithm - Mentioned as a force pushing creators towards extreme ideas and influencing content spread.
Rabbit Hole - Used to describe how YouTube's recommendation algorithm can lead users to more extreme content.
Attention Economy - Mentioned as a context for media creation.
The American Dream - Mentioned in relation to people feeling it is out of reach.
Modern Medical Science - Mentioned in relation to rejecting gifts of modern medical science.
Measles Vaccine - Mentioned in relation to denying children vaccines.
I'm Not Going to Let the Bastards Win - Mentioned as a potential new motto.