WEEKEND REFLECTION

THINKING ABOUT THE PAST, THE FUTURE, AND FAKE NEWS...

As the year inches towards a close, I’m reflecting on how grateful I am.

First, I’m grateful for my family and their sacrifice.

There are six generations of Wright men and their wives that have brought me to this place…

The Wright Men

They and their wives crossed the Atlantic… moved through New England… onwards to Indiana… and then West on the Oregon Trail. I remember seeing the family’s first log cabin homestead when I was a boy in Oregon’s Blue Mountains. It’s been lost to time now.

Meanwhile, the homestead at the ranch still stands and serves as our family museum, with the rifles and Bibles that the Wright men and their wives carried along the way.

The Homesteads

Second, I’m so very grateful for you!

As I considered launching The TWR, I faced a lot of adversity — but I knew I had incredible listeners that would back me. And good thing… my old podcast company had used me for a year like utter trash. There’s so much I couldn’t talk about during that year, and can’t talk about even still. But bottom line: I was stuck in a contract that made me their whipping boy. It was a painful lesson about how media works…

I’ve also faced headwinds from old CIA colleagues who wanted to see me fail, China-backed hackers who’ve damaged my equipment, and ad companies who’ve stolen money.

In the midst of it all, life has happened… like a week of kidney stones last March but no time to stop the podcast. Just had to push through and hope I wouldn’t lose listeners.

And that’s why I’m so grateful for you as this year inches to a close: I haven’t lost listeners. You’ve been there for me and with me… Whether that be through buying of products, donations, paid subscriptions, good cheer emails, and your time.

I’m so very grateful. Without you, I couldn’t build something that I think has unique value in the world of media.

In the coming months, I hope to use new tools to engage with you all more. Substack is rolling out new live-stream options which I’m excited to explore… probably on Saturdays with both audio and video where you can ask questions. It’ll be a great way to engage live and go “off script!”

In all, 2026 will hopefully be a banner year for more well-sourced TWR content — and getting to know each other. And for you to better know me!

Which takes me to a final reflection on Fake News.

Since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, I’ve seen and heard lots of podcasters and YouTubers emphatically claim that something is true or spread cockamamie baloney couched as “I’m only asking questions!”

As I’ve shared before, it’s an industry tactic… designed to drive up numbers and make money. Lots of money!

This past week, Dan Bongino (a guy I’ve appreciated in years gone by and still do) said something very important about “New Media.” He acknowledged how the podcast / YouTube world functions. It’s all opinion, he said. The frothier and more fantastical the opinion the better (and more lucrative). Facts and data are irrelevant.

Here’s the statement Mr. Bongino offered to Sean Hannity on Fox News this past week:

“Listen, I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions. That’s clear. And one day I will be back in that space, but that’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy FBI director, and we base investigations on facts.”

He’s right. Mr. Bongino got paid — via ads and subscriptions — to offer opinions with hot fire and rock-solid certainty that were only loosely connected to facts and data. That’s how the industry works. And it made him incredibly wealthy, as it’s now doing for a range of others…

For example, we’ll remember that some got caught taking cash from foreign governments last fall (eg - the scandal of conservative podcasters taking Russian propaganda money). Others are paid through ads / clicks when they say inflammatory things (eg - a famous podcaster right now saying that Pres. Trump helped organized the assassination of Charlie Kirk, etc).

I offer this as a reminder for two reasons. First… it’s really easy to get caught up in the fiery opinions and personality of on-line commentators. We live in a very unsteady world and we’re all seeking to make sense of it. Their fist-slamming personalities and “I know the truth! Follow me! I raise questions that no one else will!” gets very enticing and comforting. But it’s fool’s gold for their listeners… designed to be real gold for them.

Second, I offer this Fake News tidbit because I want TWR to be different. And I sure hope that it is. I have daily transcripts with sourcing… I separate my opinions… I offer degrees of confidence in my views… And I welcome reasoned opinions and debate, encouraging those to flourish on Substack.

I hope that such remains TWR’s value. And I appreciate your support these past years — and for the year to come.

May your holiday season be joyful, my fellow Tribe.

An early Merry Christmas to all! I send my continued gratitude.

— Bryan