Recode Decode: Maggie Haberman, New York Times, and David Fahrenthold, Washington Post

The episode features a live interview from the 2017 Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, with Kara Swisher hosting. The guests are two leading journalists, Maggie Haberman of The New York Times and David Fahrenthold of The Washington Post, both prominent for their coverage of Donald Trump. The conversation begins with their personal journeys into journalism, highlighting how they unexpectedly became major sources of White House coverage due to their perseverance and focus on specific issues within the Trump dossier. The hosts discuss the shifting media landscape amid the Trump era, emphasizing the importance of their coverage approach and the challenges faced.

Haberman and Fahrenthold discuss how they fell into their roles as Trump reporters, contrasting their approach with broader media coverage that often chases Trump's every statement. Haberman credits her focus on a single key story (Trump’s charity) and repeated coverage for her insights, highlighting the importance of deep, consistent journalism over chasing every moment of chaos. Fahrenthold’s approach to uncovering Trump’s charity donations exemplifies how persistent, targeted reporting can reveal truths that are often obscured by Trump's strategic distractions.

The conversation highlights the unique strategies journalists have adopted to handle Trump’s unpredictable behavior, including Haberman’s emphasis on incremental reporting and Fahrenthold's focus on specific issues like charitable giving to cut through the noise. They underscore the exhausting nature of covering a president who creates chaos and responds to it, often leaving journalists in a constant cycle of reactive coverage. The speakers also critique the media’s tendency to overreact to Trump’s tweets and rhetoric, advocating for more showing rather than telling, and for reporters to avoid becoming part of the story.

Both journalists share that direct communication with Trump is limited or nonexistent, with Haberman noting she has not spoken to him since a year prior. They discuss his obsession with the New York Times, his tendency to use social media to attack and distract while secretly seeking approval from the same outlets he criticizes. The discussion reveals how Trump heavily depends on media manipulation—using insults to rally his base and undermine credibility—to stay in control of the narrative. The reporters reflect on the difficulties of maintaining objectivity amid these relentless strategies.

Beyond Trump, the journalists talk about potential areas of interest if resources and time were available. Fahrenthold expresses an interest in congressional politics, especially Mitch McConnell’s transformation from a cynical strategist to someone overwhelmed by the current political environment. Haberman would prefer to cover New York City politics, criticizing its broken systems. They comment on how Trump’s interactions with international issues like North Korea are pivotal, but also unpredictable, and how moments of strength or weakness in handling crises will influence future outcomes.

The conversation ends with concerns about media exhaustion and the need for responsible coverage. Haberman criticizes the overemphasis on outrage and the dangers of the media becoming a part of the spectacle, warning that this fosters polarization and complacency. She advocates for more visual, showing journalism and less shrill reaction, emphasizing that the media’s role is to clarify facts amid chaos without fueling it. Both agree on the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity rather than succumbing to sensationalism.

Both journalists are cautiously optimistic, acknowledging the strengths of the current media landscape while recognizing ongoing challenges such as transparency issues and the unpredictable global environment, especially concerning North Korea. Fahrenthold emphasizes the importance of vigilance in moments of crisis, while Haberman expresses concerns about future surprises. The episode concludes with reflections on journalistic perseverance and the importance of nuanced, deep reporting in turbulent times.