progresswear/news

If you spent your entire week under a rock, free from exposure to a single news story via any form of media and could only pass one hour absorbing "what really happened," this is the show to catch.

On the Media's frank analysis of not just the week's news and its various under or over reporting and its myriad slants, but historical perspective on the issues at hand is unparalleled. Brook Gladstone and Bob Garfield have no fear in holding feet to the fire, be they reporters, subjects of stories or government officials. Listening to the show you'd think you were in another country so fearless are their questions, so relentless their refusal to accept sound bites in lieu of real answers.

I find it especially significant that Garfield is an editor at Advertising Age. What better credentials could one have to examine the media landscape than someone whose regular beat consists of covering an industry whose very business is to cleverly persuade and divert.

Their coverage extends far beyond the news of the day. The publishing industry, the blogosphere and other new media, the history of language itself are beautifully and often comically delivered. If your local NPR station doesn't carry it, shame on them, but thankfully you can listen to the podcast at your leisure.

Every era needs a public conscience and Michael has done an impressive job of being ours.

I had the pleasure of meeting him at a taping of the Daily Show. He loved our shirts and laughed out loud at several. Trying to track down his production company to see what size he wears. He's not just large, he's VERY tall.