The History on Film Podcast

McCarthy v. Murrow

The History on Film Podcast

Show Notes

Ross talks to writer and historian A. Brad Schwartz about the showdown between Senator Joseph McCarthy and broadcaster Edward R. Murrow as depicted in "Good Night and Good Luck", both on screen and stage. They discuss domestic containment, the evolution of broadcast news, and much more!

FURTHER READING: Cloud, Stanley and Lynne Olson. The Murrow Boys: Pioneers on the Front Lines of Broadcast Journalism. Oshinsky, David. A Conspiracy so Immense: The World of Joe McCarthy. Griffith, Robert. The Politics of Fear: Joseph R. McCarthy and the Senate. Schwartz, Brad. Why We Never Got a "Murrow Moment" with Trump. Schwartz, Brad. The Media Spawned McCarthyism. Now History Is Repeating Itself.

FURTHER WATCHING: "Good Night and Good Luck" "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962) "Star Trek: the Next Generation", S4E21 "The Drumhead" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from The History on Film Podcast

Oct 19, 2026

Ross is joined by Dr. Melissa Beattie to discuss fictional countries in modern media. What do these depictions tell us about how the West conceptualizes different parts of the world and how do they reinforce particular views over others? WARNING: MAY CONTAIN A LOT OF FOUCAULTIAN THEORY TALK.

Oct 12, 2026

Ross is joined by returning guest Dr. David Morton to dive into the history of filmmaking in the city of Miami. They discuss the geopolitical influence of the area and Miami's reputation as an unofficial cultural capital of both Latin America and organized crime. David is awarded the podcast's highest and most prestigious honorarium.

Oct 5, 2026

Ross is joined by Dr. Vincent Haddad to talk about his new book NEXT TIME ON DRAGON BALL. They discuss the long-running franchise, including what makes it so beloved globally and why it hasn't received the same scholarly attention as other popular anime.

Sep 28, 2026

Ross is joined by Chris Wade to discuss current trends in the world of music! They dig into the challenges facing artists and the industry as a whole, as well as the recent wave of music biopics and what they tell us about musicians and the state of popular culture. All this, plus nepo baby discourse, a new segment called "RUSH Update", and much more!

Sep 21, 2026

Ross kicks off season 3 with returning guests Drs. Brad Schwartz and Joshua Shepperd talking about NETWORK. They discuss the film's continuing relevancy 50 years later, the mythology of Murrow, and the corporatization of American news media. Plus, a mailbag segment, a detailed breakdown of the QB drama in Cleveland, and something called "Thunderpants". Welcome back!

See all episodes →