0:00 Intro
0:45 The group chats that changed America
1:52 Silicon Valley and Donald Trump
7:57 Tech CEO's at odds with their workers
11:50 Building ELITE consensus via Group Chats
20:21 Steve Bannon and New Media
24:32 The Great Bundling & Unbundling of Media
29:20 Megyn Kelly crushing Legacy Media
33:30 What makes a great broadcaster
35:55 Political commentary in the creator economy
38:48 What's Ben Smith building with Semafor
I sat down with Ben Smith, co-founder of Semafor and host of the Mixed Signals podcast, to discuss how the Tech-Right builds consensus in secret elite pro-Trump group chats, Steve Bannon, New Media in the White House, Megyn Kelly, and the future of journalism in the creator economy.
Before starting Semafor, Ben Smith was the media columnist for The New York Times, where he covered the transformation of the news business in the digital age. Prior to that, he was the founding editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News, where he helped build the outlet into a globally recognized digital newsroom known for its scoops, viral storytelling, and ambitious investigative journalism. Smith began his career covering politics for outlets like Politico, the New York Observer, and the New York Daily News. In 2022, he co-founded Semafor, a global news startup aimed at restoring trust in journalism through transparency and clarity. Ben is known for his sharp insight into media disruption, platform politics, and the evolving relationship between journalism and power.
Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide.
Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.
I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.
This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.
I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.
I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening.
IG: @sssagnic
YT: @thesagnikbasu
X: @_sagnikbasu
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