The New Yorker: The Journalistic Pitfalls of the Trump Era
By Isaac Chotiner
The authors of a new book discuss how political reporting functioned during a period of upheaval, how quickly journalists should share scoops with the public, and what Mitch McConnell managed to extract from Donald Trump.
I recently spoke by phone with Martin and Burns, with the intent of talking less about the book’s scoops and more about how journalism has functioned in the Trump era, during which they have both covered national politics for the Times. In our conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, we discussed the ethics of saving important reporting for a book’s publication, how Republicans have tried to launder their reputations through the media, and what really drives Mitch McConnell.