Ask the Editor - Pop your media bubble

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Friday, February 5th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher.

WORLD listeners and readers regularly ask editor in chief Marvin Olasky about his sources for news and political commentary. On this month’s Ask the Editor, here they are.

MARVIN OLASKY, EDITOR IN CHIEF: One frequent question these days comes from conservative readers who realize the danger of paying attention only to right-wing media. They are grateful to WORLD for introducing them to people or places they would otherwise be unaware of. They are looking for additional ways to be saved from life in a bubble.

I’ll start by saying I don’t fault anyone for falling into bubble life. Conservatives have endured four decades of increasing disparagement by liberal media. Why follow what slanders you? But the bubble isolates us. Some recent Trump voters know no one who voted for Joe Biden. It was easy to generalize from personal experience and think Donald Trump won in a landslide.

The January 6 assault on the Capitol opened many eyes to the dangers of bubble life. That’s why some WORLD members want to develop a Twitter stream that includes both liberals and conservatives. I follow on Twitter liberals like Conor Friedersdorf, Emma Green, Sarah Posner, Michelle Boorstein, Michael King, Megan McArdle, and others. I also follow conservatives from National Review and City Journal, along with David French, Ross Douthat, Andrew Sullivan, and Rod Dreher.

When asked, I also explain that after last year’s racial tension it seemed good and right to read more from black Christians—so I follow on Twitter George Yancey, Esau McCaulley, Derwin Gray, Jemar Tisby, Glenn Loury, Mika Edmondson, Trillia Newbell, and others. (All these names are on the World and Everything website.)

Many WORLD members listen to podcasts, so I’ve also told them about my own listening during daily walks with my dog. I usually start by listening to the Bible through a podcast titled ESV: The Story of Redemption. It’s a daily read through the English Standard Bible. Also in my first tier are The World and Everything In It and our weekly Effective Compassion podcast.

My second tier includes three excellent podcasts by church leaders and teachers: Gospel in Life, which is Tim Keller sermons. Christ Covenant Church, which is Kevin DeYoung sermons). The Briefing, which is Al Mohler’s daily commentary.

The third tier is made up of the Listening In podcast, but also two liberal programs: On the Media from NPR flagship WYNC, and Church Politics from prolife Democrats Michael Wear and Justin Giboney.

Two little nuances. First, I use Tweetdeck rather than Twitter: That allows me to see at one time what my wife Susan posts, what my WORLD colleagues post on the World News Group feed, and what the hundred people I follow post. Second—here’s my dirty secret—I play all the podcasts at 1 ½ speed. 

I’m Marvin Olasky.

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