Accessibility links
David Folkenflik Folkenflik is NPR's media correspondent.
David Folkenflik 2018 square
Stories By

David Folkenflik

Politics

Comedian's Controversial Performance At D.C. Gala Prompts Renewed Criticism

Saturday night's White House Correspondents Dinner featured a controversial performance by comedian Michelle Wolf, prompting renewed criticism of the annual event.

Comedian's Controversial Performance At D.C. Gala Prompts Renewed Criticism

Listen · 4:03
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/606932486/606932487" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

NBC Culture Questioned As Former Anchor Tom Brokaw Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations

Former NBC News Anchor Tom Brokaw is the latest to be accused of sexual harassment allegations at the network, as reports raise new questions about the workplace culture at NBC.

NBC Culture Questioned As Former Anchor Tom Brokaw Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations

Listen · 3:38
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/606580134/606580135" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Comcast's $31 Billion Bid For U.K.-Based Sky Complicates Murdoch Plans

Sky's independent directors have withdrawn their support for a deal for 21st Century Fox to buy the British company, setting the scene for a possible bidding war. Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Comcast's $31 Billion Bid For U.K.-Based Sky Complicates Murdoch Plans

Rupert Murdoch had decided to take over the British media giant and flip it with other 21st Century Fox properties in a sale to Disney. But Sky directors have pulled support from his bid.

Newsroom To 'Chicago Tribune': With 85 Percent Backing, We Have Votes For Union

Organizers of a newsroom union at the Chicago Tribune have given the Tribune's parent company, Tronc, a day to voluntarily recognize the guild and start to negotiate a contract. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Scott Olson/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Newsroom To 'Chicago Tribune': With 85 Percent Backing, We Have Votes For Union

Tribune journalists give corporate owner Tronc a day to recognize the union voluntarily. Otherwise, they say they will force a federal vote that "will result overwhelmingly in our favor."

Newsroom To 'Chicago Tribune': With 85 Percent Backing, We Have Votes For Union

Listen · 2:54
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/605230262/605272458" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Business

AT&T CEO Says Proposed Merger With Time Warner Would Benefit Everyone

The U.S. Justice Department is opposing the proposed merger of AT&T and Time Warner arguing it will weaken competition and harm consumers. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson took the stand Tuesday to argue that the merger will benefit both the companies and the public.

AT&T CEO Says Proposed Merger With Time Warner Would Benefit Everyone

Listen · 3:12
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/604119730/604119733" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Conservative Talk Show Host Sean Hannity Defends Connection To Trump's Lawyer

The revelation that Fox News host Sean Hannity is the mystery third client of President Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen is raising big questions about Hannity's judgment. Hannity defended Cohen on the air and railed against the raid of his home and office, but never disclosed his association with Cohen to Fox viewers.

Conservative Talk Show Host Sean Hannity Defends Connection To Trump's Lawyer

Listen · 3:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/603351942/603351945" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Why FBI Investigators Might Be Interested In 'National Enquirer's' Political Turn

When federal prosecutors served President Trump's personal lawyer — Michael Cohen — a warrant this week - one of the things on the list was Cohen's communications with a man named David J. Pecker, the publisher of the National Enquirer. NPR looks at why the special counsel might be interested in this communication.

Why FBI Investigators Might Be Interested In 'National Enquirer's' Political Turn

Listen · 4:01
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/602288592/602288595" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
In Historic Move At Labor-Skeptic 'Chicago Tribune,' Newsroom Pushes To Form Union

Journalists at the Chicago Tribune say they want to unionize to secure better pay and resources to fulfill their mission. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Scott Olson/Getty Images

The Two-Way

In Historic Move At Labor-Skeptic 'Chicago Tribune,' Newsroom Pushes To Form Union

Journalists at the Chicago Tribune say they want to unionize to secure better pay and resources to fulfill their mission. Parent company Tronc sold the LA Times soon after its newsroom unionized.

Analysis: In Trump's Twitter Feed, A Tale Of Sound And Fury

President Trump's tweets delight supporters who say they find him honest, funny and refreshing. But his tweets distract and dismay his detractors, alienate many of his allies and misdirect much of the media. J. David Ake/AP hide caption

toggle caption
J. David Ake/AP

The New Clash Between Free Speech And Privacy

Analysis: In Trump's Twitter Feed, A Tale Of Sound And Fury

Trump's tweets delight supporters who say they find him honest, funny and refreshing. But his tweets distract and dismay his detractors, alienate many of his allies and misdirect much of the media.

Analysis: In Trump's Twitter Feed, A Tale Of Sound And Fury

Audio for this story is unavailable.

Politics

How The President's Twitter Can Be A Tool To Understand The Trump Administration

In some ways, the best way to understand the Trump White House is to follow the President's Twitter feed. It is a world of aggression, self-praise and display of ALL CAPS anxieties — and where he often announces firings of key officials.

How The President's Twitter Can Be A Tool To Understand The Trump Administration

Listen · 5:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/600317684/600374800" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Warm Relations With Trump Appear To Benefit Sinclair Broadcasting

Sinclair owns more TV stations than any other company in the country. Critics say the company favors President Trump and that in exchange, the FCC has eased restrictions on its efforts at expansion.

Warm Relations With Trump Appear To Benefit Sinclair Broadcasting

Listen · 3:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/599077733/599077734" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Sinclair Broadcast Group Forces Nearly 200 Station Anchors To Read Same Script

The largest broadcaster in the country is forcing its anchors to read a promotional script that warns viewers about "fake news" on other stations and media. Its among the Sinclair Broadcast Group's now infamous "must-run" segments that include conservative commentary and reports about terrorism.

Sinclair Broadcast Group Forces Nearly 200 Station Anchors To Read Same Script

Listen · 4:12
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598916366/598916367" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Advertisers Pull Support From Laura Ingraham's Show After Tweet Mocking Parkland Teen

At least seven companies have pulled their ads from Laura Ingraham's show on Fox News after Ingraham said David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland, Fla., shooting, was whining about college application rejections. Ingraham has apologized for her remarks, but Hogg isn't relenting.

Advertisers Pull Support From Laura Ingraham's Show After Tweet Mocking Parkland Teen

Listen · 3:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598386426/598386427" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript