This week, several New York Times reporters were subpoenaed by the Justice Department for their reporting on Air Force One. On this week’s On the Media, how a fifty-year-old Supreme Court ruling left journalists exposed to this kind of legal challenge. Plus, hear how Ebay employees launched a bizarre harassment campaign against a couple of e-commerce reporters.
[01:00] Micah Loewinger interviews <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/author/matt-gertz" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matt Gertz</a>, senior fellow at Media Matters, about Todd Blanche’s recent confirmation hearings, his track record of being a Trump loyalist and frequent Fox News guest, and what his appointment reveals about the shifting independence of the attorney general from the White House. 
[16:39] Micah speaks with <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/leelevine.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lee Levine</a>, media lawyer and author of the upcoming book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/in-bad-faith-earl-caldwell-and-the-fight-for-a-free-press-lee-levine/89f9c2f1f2d754a4" rel="noopener noreferrer"> In Bad Faith: Earl Caldwell and the Fight for a Free Press</a>, about the Justice Department delivering subpoenas to New York Times journalists for reporting on security concerns regarding the president’s new Air Force One, and what we can learn from the history of past presidential administrations weaponizing subpoenas against the press.
[32:11]  Brooke Gladstone sits down with Jenny Carchman, director of the documentary <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY2DQ59N?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback" rel="noopener noreferrer">Whatever It Takes: Inside the eBay Scandal</a>, to discuss the harassment and intimidation campaign carried out against Ina and David Steiner, the authors of an online e-commerce trade publication, using tactics straight out of horror movies. 
Further reading / watching:
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/todd-blanche-maga-media-finally-getting-its-dream-ag" rel="noopener noreferrer">With Todd Blanche, MAGA media is finally getting its dream AG</a>,” by Matt Gertz</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.ballardspahr.com/insights/alerts-and-articles/2025/09/the-subpoenas-are-coming" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Subpoenas Are Coming! The Subpoenas Are Coming!</a>” by Lee Levine</li>
 <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/in-bad-faith-earl-caldwell-and-the-fight-for-a-free-press-lee-levine/89f9c2f1f2d754a4" rel="noopener noreferrer">In Bad Faith: Earl Caldwell and the Fight for a Free Press</a> by Lee Levine.</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY2DQ59N?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback" rel="noopener noreferrer">Whatever It Takes: Inside the eBay Scandal</a></li>
</ul>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/onthemedia.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@onthemedia">TikTok</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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