0:00 Intro
0:45 The group chats that changed America
1:52 Silicon Valley and Donald Trump
7:57 Tech CEO's at odds with their workers
11:50 Building ELITE consensus via Group Chats
20:21 Steve Bannon and New Media
24:32 The Great Bundling & Unbundling of Media
29:20 Megyn Kelly crushing Legacy Media
33:30 What makes a great broadcaster
35:55 Political commentary in the creator economy
38:48 What's Ben Smith building with Semafor

I sat down with Ben Smith, co-founder of Semafor and host of the Mixed Signals podcast, to discuss how the Tech-Right builds consensus in secret elite pro-Trump group chats, Steve Bannon, New Media in the White House, Megyn Kelly, and the future of journalism in the creator economy.

Before starting Semafor, Ben Smith was the media columnist for The New York Times, where he covered the transformation of the news business in the digital age. Prior to that, he was the founding editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News, where he helped build the outlet into a globally recognized digital newsroom known for its scoops, viral storytelling, and ambitious investigative journalism. Smith began his career covering politics for outlets like Politico, the New York Observer, and the New York Daily News. In 2022, he co-founded Semafor, a global news startup aimed at restoring trust in journalism through transparency and clarity. Ben is known for his sharp insight into media disruption, platform politics, and the evolving relationship between journalism and power.

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu

0:00 New media disrupting the White House briefing room
3:05 Why is Legacy News upset at the New Media
5:26 Narrative Violation: Immigration and Deportation
11:48 How new media reporting differs from mainstream media
14:55 Dressing flashy for the White House?
16:43 The hypocrisy of the 'objective' legacy media's
20:56 The Right covering culture wars
27:10 Thin, Fertile and Republican: The rise of anti-feminist media
30:30 Alex Clark, The Infertility Crisis
32:35 Is being healthy 'right coded'?
35:10 The Vibe Shift

Mary Margaret Olohan is a friend who I met years ago while working at the Daily Caller. Today, she’s the White House Correspondent at the Daily Wire.

We jammed on the New Media taking over the White House Press Briefing Room and the rise of Anti-Feminist Media, people like Candace Owens, Brett Cooper, and Alex Clark, telling women to be thin, fertile, and Republican.

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu

0:00 Intro
0:17 Immigration crackdown
03:03 Mass Deportations vs First Amendment
07:40 Patriot Act Deja Vu
09:35 Deporting to El Salvador dungeons?
12:01 Deporting college kids writing op-eds?
15:13 Harvard vs Trump
17:40 The corruption in US colleges
21:35 The WOKE Right
25:53 Don't tread on me
28:49 AOC, Bernie, Anti-Oligarchy Tour
31:17 Dems have no brand?
33:10 Elon Musk
34:34 Tariff chaos
37:24 Stock market is only for the rich?
41:11 The Abundance agenda
44:55 Signal Chat chaos, Iran, Pete Hegseth
50:11 Has the Tech Right surrendered to Trump?
52:20 Do immigrants have free speech rights?
55:32 Mahmoud Khalil, slippery slope argument
58:16 The ends shall not justify the means

Robby Soave and I do our best Resistance Lib impression to dig deep into the ongoing free speech crisis amidst the deportation chaos.

Robby hosts the Rising on The Hill and is a senior editor at Reason TV.

He also has great hair and is the first person to suit up for my pod.

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu

Julian Dorey is a friend and one of the best podcasters out there. We react to pompous Douglas Smith's debate with Dave Smith on JRE, we riffed on how the woke virus is crippling the Right because it has a spine made of glass, and a lot more. Enjoy! Subscribe and also go to Julian's channel and help him cross 1M subs.

0:00 - INTRO
0:51 - Julian Dorey Podcast Growth
2:19 - The Trump Cultural “vibe shift”, How Biden f*ed up**
6:46 - NYC when Trump first won in 2016, Tech Bros & Trump
13:06 - Douglas Murray vs. Dave Smith, Woke Right
16:46 - Immigration, Deportations and Israel
28:52 - US Gov, Antisemit!sm & Free Speech
31:24 - Trump’s Relationship w/ Israel, Israeli espionage, Criticizing Israel
35:11 - Gavin Newsom and the failure of Cailfornia
37:39 The Liberal's Abundance Theory, We need to build more
44:49 - Ezra Klein Theory on Why Democrats Lost, Newsom California failures
54:26 - Candace Owens Theory, The Left’s “Search for Joe Rogan”
1:05:44 - Is Alternate Right Wing Media Falling In The MSM corruption trap
1:14:46 - Why Julian looks at everything 10 years out
1:20:06 - How long will Elon Musk last in MAGA
1:24:04 - Julian on Joe Rogan & Elon Musk relationship
1:29:37 - Paul Rosolie theory on long-form podcast downside
1:34:57 - Trad Wives vs Feminism, “Society has sold Women a LIE” - Julian on “Society’s Plan”
1:40:29 - Julian on his Mom, Future Wife & Kids
1:44:00 - The Economy is preventing women from being trad wives and moms
1:47:04 - The College Degree Scam?
1:51:00 - The Pandemic Effects on Children & Adults Socially
1:56:00 - The “Artist” Generation Currently unfolding (4th Turning)
1:59:06 - Julian wants to be #1 in the World

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu

Chris Barnard is a friend and the President of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC). ACC’s mission is to build the conservative environmental movement. He also serves on the Youth Advisory Council for the Republican Party. We sat down to riff on the state of 'Abundance' and Trump's Tariffs.

0:00 Intro
0:17 Who owns 'Abundance'?
3:28 Why can't Liberal cities build more
5:29 Is environmentalism conservative?
8:23 How NEPA stops America from building more
10:30 Why Austin can build more housing
12:18 The issue with Leftist environmentalism
17:33 Does climate change cause wildfires?
19:02 The conservative response to the Green New Deal
22:08 Is environmentalism good or bad for the economy?
25:20 The conservative case against American cities
29:08 GDP is not the end goal?
31:55 Infrastructure Act and Chips Act - the good and the bad
33:38 Manufacturing Comeback
36:01 The Tariff Debate - Free Markets vs The American 'Good'
46:10 How the RIGHT claimed 'Crunchy'
53:00 Tech Right vs MAGA Right
55:55 Innovation Debate - Christian vs Secular
1:03:08 The fate of the Republican coalition

#podcast #interview #politics #tarrifs #trump #news #trending #america

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu

Mary Margaret Olohan is a friend who I met years ago while working at the Daily Caller. Today, she’s the White House Correspondent at the Daily Wire. We recently caught up for a conversation on the state of conservative culture, why so many women are stepping back from the girlboss era and embracing tradwife aesthetics, and our shared love for Pride and Prejudice.

0:00 Intro
0:27 The Girlboss Era is Over
4:50 The Pill and the sexual revolution
8:16 Pride and Prejudice
11:06 Elon Musk - Ashely St. Clair Saga
14:25 MAGA Coalition: Barstool Conservatives, MAHA, Trads
21:30 Gavin Newsom is based?
24:17 Kamal is for they/them
26:13 Harrison Butker controversy
29:30 Taylor Swift's politics
34:30 Leaving work to be a mom?
40:38 TRADWIFE and the aesthetics of modern conservatism
44:00 JD Vance's political evolution
49:39 The masculine and feminine
52:30 Gender wars
53:56 Abortion politics
1:02:15 How Progressives exploit Christian Empathy
1:07:33 Thanks for watching!

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu

0:00 Intro
0:51 Trump's Libertarian Rebirth
4:47Steve Bannon vs Elon Musk - Immigration
7:51 DOGE Draining The Swamp
12:12 MSM Firings, Populist disconnect
16:42 How Trump Won The Podcast Election
20:33 Growing Rising on YouTube
21:25 Robby's come-up in journalism
25:11 The Corruption Of White House Press
28:35 Corporate influence in journalism
32:33 Debunking the Rolling Stone UVA story
37:28 Debunking the Covington Kids story
42:59 Elon Musk's polygamy vs social conservatism
46:36 Is America Default Libertarian?
47:55 Robby's Libertarian bargain with Trump
50:42 How Tech became MAGA
54:04 Breaking up BigTech?
56:56 Facebook never liked conservatives
01:01:04 America Rocks
01:04:04 Will JD Vance inherit MAGA?
01:05:40 Manufacturing is never coming back
01:08:06 Free Speech

I sat down with Robby Soave to talk Elon and DOGE bulldozing the Swamp, the future of libertarianism in America, and the state of MAGA. He hosts the Rising on The Hill and is a senior editor at Reason TV.

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu

0:00 Intro
0:57 The night in Kenosha
4:30 Richie's testimony
8:22 Kyle Rittenhouse - hero or villain?
15:30 What led to the shooting
21:31 Similarities between Daniel Penny and Rittenhouse
24:35 Richie's politics
27:35 Covering January 6
31:12 End of the liberal world order - BLM, Lockdowns, Biden
38:54 Why Richie voted for Obama
42:56 Winston Churchill's imperfection
44:54 Should America police the world?
49:28 History of populism, the Gilded Age
51:56 The Vibe Shift of MAGA - Tech Bro vs Steve Bannon
55:08 The Border Crisis
57:44 The H-1B Visa Drama
59:26 The New Counterculture - Free Speech, Art, Hollywood

Richie is a good friend and was a key witness on that pivotal night in Kenosha during the Kyle Rittenhouse incident. Together, we unpack how that moment reshaped his life and influenced his perspective on American politics.

With experience working for Mark Levin, NBC, and the Daily Caller—where we first crossed paths—Richie brings a unique lens to the conversation.

His new book, Riot Diet, dives deep into his experiences covering the BLM unrest in 2020. Check it out!

#podcast #politics #news

Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.

I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.

This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.

I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.

I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.

IG: @sssagnic

YT: @thesagnikbasu

X: @_sagnikbasu