Roger Ailes (Fox News) in 1996 and Bari Weiss (CBS) in 2026
In this episode of Then and Now, hosts Julian Zelizer and Jonathan Alter compare the influence of Roger Ailes at Fox News in 1996 with the current impact of Bari Weiss at CBS in 2026. They discuss Ailes' deep political roots and production expertise that helped shape Fox into a right‑leaning news powerhouse, contrasted with Weiss’s relative inexperience and more moderate, neocon‑leaning approach under pressure from the Trump administration. The conversation also touches on recent CBS moves, such as appointing Nick Bulletin to lead 60 Minutes, and the potential consequences of reshaping a successful news brand.
Then and Now: Iraq (2003) and Iran (2026)
In this episode of Then and Now, Julian Zelizer and Jonathan Alter compare the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq with the 2026 military operation against Iran, highlighting how both conflicts were launched on false pretenses and political misinformation. They note...