ABSTRACT

This case study considers the framing of messages within the conservative media system. The study used a grounded theory approach to consider two mainstream conservative podcasts, the Ben Shapiro Show and The Daily Standard, and two on the far right, The Stormfront Podcast and Alt-Right Politics. Despite differences regarding specific conspiracy theories and overtly racist language, mainstream and far right podcasts shared considerable organizing principles and rhetoric. This study suggests many such differences are more stylistic than substantive, prompting an evaluation and reconsideration of the definition of “news” in modern conservative media.