Inside Puck and LinkedIn Spies

How do journalists get scoops, really? From casual barista chatter to LinkedIn deep-dives, this episode of Breaker unpacks how reporters operate in a world of pressure, power, and platform politics.

We break down the viral story of the fake news that Walmart was buying TikTok, and how ABC News published it without confirmation — a major journalism ethics fail.

You’ll hear about:
- The Walmart TikTok deal that never was
- Press leaks, story theft, and media gossip inside top outlets
- Why journalists treat LinkedIn like a spy tool
- A legendary British journalism phrase: “Why is this bastard lying to me?”
- How scoop culture fuels high-stakes competition across the newsroom
- And why yes — baristas might be the most underrated sources in media

If you follow Puck, The Information, Semafor, or you live on media Twitter, this episode is for you.

🎧 Subscribe for more episodes exploring:
- Scoop culture and newsroom drama
- Journalism, subscription churn, and the rise of paywalls
- The intersection of media strategy, social media, and reporting tactics
- How fake news spreads, and what separates good reporting from chaos

#Journalism #MediaPodcast #NewsroomDrama #Scoops #FakeNews #MediaTwitter #TikTokBan #LinkedInTips #ReporterLife #MediaInsiders #PuckMedia

00:00 - Opening Banter & The Barista Theory  
01:00 - British Food Slander & Book Covers  
03:00 - Chasing Down Reviewers (And Getting Petty)  
04:30 - Journalism Hustle: Tracking Sources & Tactics  
06:30 - LinkedIn Is a Weapon (for Reporters)  
08:00 - The Fake Walmart Scoop: ABC’s Big Miss  
12:00 - “Why Is This Bastard Lying to Me?” (Press Mindset)  
15:00 - Frenzied TikTok Buyout Rumors & Speculation  
18:30 - What Happens When a Scoop Gets Stolen  
22:00 - Media Ethics, Pressure, and the Cost of Being First  
25:00 - Wrap-Up: Why Journalism Still (Kind of) Works  

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