Huffington Post / New York University
Michael Calderone is a senior media reporter for the Huffington Post and an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Journalism. He is a former media reporter for Politico.
PROFILE
Michael Calderone
Guest
FROM Michael Calderone
To the Point
New life for an American institution: Leaking… Every administration is subject to leaks of information, but the Era of Donald Trump is setting some kind of record. The President portrays himself as a victim, telling reporters, "The entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, I can always talk for myself – and the Russians, zero. I think it divides the country." But this week began with news that he was the leaker of intelligence secrets to Russia. Since then, reports about Israel, Turkey, James Comey and Michael Flynn have been attributed to "anonymous sources." Who are they? What do they want? Leaks can be self-serving, even against the law or a threat to national security. Are they, sometimes, necessary reinforcement of the people’s right to know?
To the Point
Trump takes questions from the press Today, Donald Trump held his first news conference in six months — staged at Trump Tower in New York -- while his cabinet nominees were being scrutinized by Senate Committees in Washington. For the first time, the President-elect said he believes the Russians hacked Hillary Clinton's campaign and called about potential relations with Vladimir Putin "an asset, not a liability." Trump thanked some news outlets for not publishing an unsubstantiated dossier published in full by BuzzFeed, but refused to take a follow up question from CNN's Jim Acosta. Michael Calderone is senior media reporter for the Huffington Post .
To the Point
All Trump All the Time Broadcast and cable networks are breaking the rules for news coverage of a presidential campaign. No other candidate could just call on the phone and get on the air to hold forth before details of the terror attacks in Belgium had been reported. Donald Trump has received almost $2 billion worth of free media coverage, building audience share and driving ad revenue through the roof. No presidential candidate has received so much free time as the former reality star – and he is almost never called to account. Broadcast executives are unapologetic about the advantage it gives him over his competition. Is real journalism being sacrificed for the bottom line?
To the Point
Who Owns the Las Vegas Review-Journal? Tonight's Republican presidential debate will be on stage at the Venetian hotel and casino, creating new interest in a local political mystery. The biggest newspaper in Nevada was changing hands. Is the owner of the Venetian also the new owner of Nevada's major newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal ? Las Vegas Strip at night Photo by Jon Sullivan Michael Calderone, senior media reporter for the Huffington Post , says the mystery raises other issues.
To the Point
Politicians on Prime-Time Shows, Anti-Elitism? No candidate wants to be called "elitist," even if that means they're better than everyone else. When he played the sax for Arsenio Hall's audience in 1992, Bill Clinton established the precedent for presidential candidates to let down their hair on late-night television. This week, White House incumbent George W. Bush made it to prime-time, not with a speech from the oval office, but with some self-deprecating humor on NBC's hit game show, Deal or No Deal . Michael Calderone is media reporter for Politico.com .
Recommended
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
To the Point
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.