Here's an odd story for you: an Evangelical Christian from a TV show that celebrates traditional family values is accused of sexually molesting five young girls. That is, of course, Josh Duggar. And who broke the story? Not CNN, or the Huffington Post, but the tabloid magazine In Touch. On today's show we talk about tabloid journalism and follow it up with the idea of a monument dedicated to free speech ... you'd think it would be a welcome endeavor. Then, Man Who Allegedly Licked Toad Arrested For Trespassing, and Guy Wakes Up To Find Bear Nibbling At His Ankle: a conversation about oddball news. And finally, from the Owl and the Pussycat to Hedwig, a life with Mumble the Owl in a London apartment.
Listen to the full show
Tabloid Journalism
Anne Helen Petersen wrote for Buzzfeed about how In Touch's Duggar's coverage changed tabloid journalism -- you can read her article here.
A Monument to Free Speech
From Roman Mars of the 99% Invisible podcast: a monument dedicated to free speech. You would think it would be welcome, but free speech has always been easier in principle than it is in practice. You can listen to the story again at prx.org.
Oddball News
Daniel Engber is a contributor to Pacific Standard, where he wrote about how the internet has forever changed the way we consume ... and maybe appreciate ... bizarre news. Here you can read his article "Who, What, Where, When, Weird: How Oddball Items Came to Dominate the New Business, and Became Normal in the Process."
The Owl Who Liked Sitting On Caesar
Martin Windrow is the longtime military editor for Osprey Publishing, and author of several books on military history. His latest book, "The Owl Who Liked Sitting On Caesar" tells a slightly different story: his relationship with a tawny owl named Mumble.