“Truth and decency, I think, are things that we’re allowed to take positions on, but not just allowed, supposed to take positions on, obligated to take positions on.” – Jake Tapper, episode 226 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
Anchorman and author Jake Tapper (CNN) joins us this week! We discuss his approach to challenging politicians on air (3:15), the danger of “both sides-ism” (5:55), the mental instability he’s come across in Washington (9:53) and why all politicians think of themselves as the “hero” of the story (14:52).
With the release of his new book, The Devil May Dance, Tapper candidly reflects on the power dynamics between journalists and elected officials (16:22), CNN’s role in generating the Trump phenomenon (18:40), the mistakes made in the past four years (21:27), and why he believes the new media can (and will) “rise to the challenge” of better coverage in future elections (29:09). Then, before we go, we return to Tapper’s guiding journalistic principles (37:29), a passage from the late Walter Cronkite (40:30), and why he continues doing the work he’s doing (46:03).
Show notes
- Get your copy of Jake’s new novel, The Devil May Dance.
- Check out his show, “The Lead” on CNN.
- Follow Jake on Twitter & Instagram.
- Read GQ’s 2017 profile of Jake.
- Watch his interviews with Donald Trump: in 2015, by phone (2015), and on the State of the Union (2016).
- Read his Washington City Paper article published in 1998.
- Revisit Walter Cronkite’s final sign-off from CBS.
- Learn more about Jake Tapper’s life and career on his personal website.
- Illustrations by: Krishna Shenoi.