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How to Be Smarter About the News | TED Explains the World with Ian Bremmer
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Key Moments
Financial Times is the most trustworthy public news source, but even it isn't perfect. Trustworthy analysis hinges on a broad network, not a single source, to avoid being spun.
Key Insights
While previously reliable, general news coverage in top US newspapers (NYT, WSJ) is now more politicized than a decade ago, while the Financial Times remains a strong, objective global news source.
Consuming news from international sources like NHK (Japan), Deutsche Welle (Germany), CBC (Canada), BBC (UK), and Al Jazeera (Middle East) can provide valuable, less structurally biased worldviews.
Building trust with world leaders for confidential information takes years of one-sided briefing and consistently providing value in return for their time, without a personal political or commercial agenda.
Avoiding being spun requires a broad network of contacts; a single leader's perspective is less influential when compared against multiple, diverse inputs from interconnected individuals who meet and share information constantly.
Eurasia Group categorizes global risks by likelihood, imminence, and impact, deliberately limiting focus to 10 'top risks' to avoid being overwhelmed by less consequential events, even those with high humanitarian impact like Sudan.
Authentic analysis, not personal preference, is key to navigating complex global issues; emotional detachment and the ability to 'let it go' are crucial, as demonstrated by avoiding fights in graduate-level classes on contentious topics.
The decline of trust in traditional news sources
Political scientist Ian Bremmer observes that public sources of information and analysis are increasingly difficult to trust. He notes a significant shift over the past decade: while op-ed pages of publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal always had clear slants, their general news coverage has become much more politicized. Bremmer highlights the Financial Times as a rare exception, maintaining good, objective political and economic global coverage, partly because its focus is on serving its core audience rather than broad distribution. This erosion of trust means that discerning reliable information requires a more critical and diverse approach than in the past. The framing and angles of reporting, even if factually correct, can obscure the broader reality by emphasizing specific, politicized narratives.
Expanding your media diet beyond national borders
To counteract national biases, Bremmer advocates for consuming news from international outlets. He specifically mentions NHK (Japan), Deutsche Welle (Germany), CBC (Canada), BBC (UK), and Al Jazeera (Middle East) as valuable sources for global coverage in English. While acknowledging that each outlet has its biases, he finds their worldviews generally sound and often less structurally biased than American media. These sources are keenly interested in global events and also closely track developments in the United States, offering a different perspective on American actions and their global implications. This practice is uncommon among his US-based peers but is considered an increasingly smart strategy for a more comprehensive understanding of world affairs.
Cultivating trust for privileged access to leaders
Bremmer's ability to access world leaders and private conversations is built on years of relationship-building, not immediate results. He emphasizes that trust is earned over time, often starting with one-sided briefings where he provides value to busy leaders by offering macro-level analysis they lack time for. Crucially, he doesn't present himself as having a driving political or commercial agenda. His long-standing weekly update, sent to leaders for 28 years, subtly informs them through analysis derived from these conversations without ever directly attributing information or quoting individuals. This approach is akin to intelligence gathering, where aggregated public information, filtered through trusted analysis, becomes highly valuable knowledge. Consistency, authenticity, and honesty, even when admitting mistakes, are paramount in building and maintaining this crucial trust network. He notes that personal connections, such as knowing someone when they were coming up and later seeing them in positions of power, also solidify these networks.
The power of a diversified network to resist 'spin'
To avoid being 'spun'—manipulated into adopting a specific, often short-term, viewpoint—Bremmer relies on the breadth and depth of his network. He assumes that every leader he speaks with has a unique perspective shaped by their context (e.g., Prime Minister of Japan vs. Saudi Foreign Minister). This understanding of differing perspectives is distinct from being 'spun.' Spin, for Bremmer, is an attempt to push a specific point, not a broad argument. By maintaining relationships with numerous interconnected individuals across various sectors and governments, he creates a 'matrix' of information. This allows him to cross-reference narratives and identify inconsistencies. If one leader attempts to spin him, their influence is mitigated by the multitude of other inputs available. This is contrasted with journalists who develop deep ties with a single leader or government, risking a narrow worldview and susceptibility to being spun, even if they are otherwise professional and dedicated to scoops.
Methodology for analyzing global risks
Bremmer's firm, Eurasia Group, distills complex global issues into a manageable framework by focusing on 'top risks.' They identify and rank the 10 most consequential global risks annually, deliberately avoiding a 'number 11' to maintain focus. The methodology involves assessing risks based on three criteria: likelihood (how probable an event is), imminence (how soon it might occur), and impact (the significance of its consequences). A baseline risk, deemed highly likely, warrants more attention than a low-probability event. Imminence is critical because misjudging timing can be disastrous for policy and markets. Impact considers not only geopolitical and economic effects but also humanitarian consequences, though Bremmer notes that less globally significant events, like the crisis in Sudan, receive less coverage than those with broader spillover effects, like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, even if the humanitarian toll is higher. This approach prioritizes issues that are most likely to alter how humanity collectively organizes, governs, and develops.
The role of political science in understanding the world
Bremmer identifies as a political scientist, not primarily a journalist, a distinction that shapes his access and credibility. He believes his approach, which prioritizes understanding the world's trajectory rather than breaking news, resonates with leaders who value insights into the 'macro' picture. Figures like Fareed Zakaria, who also transitioned from political science to prominent media roles, exemplify how this academic rigor can foster trusted access. Bremmer's firm, Eurasia Group, employs over 250 political scientists, economists, and analysts who cultivate deep expertise in specific regions, sectors, or geopolitical lenses. This academic grounding, combined with relationship-building, allows them to provide analysis that is valued for its insight into underlying trends, distinguishing it from traditional journalistic pursuits focused on immediate story acquisition.
Managing bias and emotional investment
Bremmer stresses the importance of recognizing personal biases. He shares an anecdote about avoiding professional analysis of Armenia due to his family's Armenian heritage, fearing his bias would compromise objectivity. For those wanting to stay informed without excessive emotional distress, he advises identifying personal 'hot button' issues and avoiding news sources that reinforce those biases, as this leads to confirmation bias and unproductive online engagement. Objectivity in analysis is paramount; personal preferences, even strong ones (like his view on Trump's fitness for office), must be separated from objective assessment of policies and events. He advocates for a 'lighter touch' in reacting to world events, practicing a form of mental detachment—'let it go'—to avoid aligning personal identity with external realities. This approach, modeled on meditative principles, helps manage the emotional toll of engaging with difficult global news and facilitates constructive dialogue, even with those holding opposing views, as evidenced by the respectful discussions in his graduate seminars.
The deliberate disconnection from technology
Bremmer employs a disciplined approach to managing his phone usage, moving between 'fast,' 'faster,' and 'sleep' modes. He intentionally turns his phone off during meetings, meals, and especially during physical activities like playing tennis. This deliberate disconnection enhances his focus and presence in the moment. He views checking his phone during such times as completely distracting, leading to an immediate shift in his mental engagement. The slightly longer startup time for an iPhone also serves as a subtle signal when he needs to turn it on, indicating he has been intentionally offline. This practice demonstrates a commitment to focused engagement with his immediate environment and conversations, prioritizing depth of interaction over constant digital connectivity. It highlights a conscious effort to manage the pervasive influence of technology on attention and presence.
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How to Be Smarter About the News
Practical takeaways from this episode
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Common Questions
Trustworthy news sources often have less structural bias, focus on serving their audience well rather than broad distribution, and maintain objectivity in their reporting. Examining a source's framing, angles, and the consistency of its reporting across different topics is crucial.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Ian Bremmer's geopolitical risk analysis firm, employing over 250 people including political scientists.
Mentioned as a source of news coverage whose op-ed pages have clear slants, with general news coverage also becoming more politicized.
Considered a good and objective source for news coverage, both politically and economically, due to its focus on service for its core audience rather than broad distribution.
A Japanese public broadcaster that Bremmer consumes in English for global coverage.
A German international broadcaster that Bremmer consumes for global coverage.
The British Broadcasting Corporation, mentioned as a source for global coverage.
Mentioned as a cable news network where sound bites are insufficient for complex geopolitical discussions.
The media arm of Eurasia Group, focused on reporting and analyzing global stories.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, mentioned as a source for global coverage.
The social media platform that Ian Bremmer uses extensively to follow experts and gather information, curating his feed carefully.
A Middle Eastern media network that Bremmer consumes for global coverage, noting its specific biases but generally good world views.
An AI bot that can be used to help digest news if prompted properly, offering analytic balance and pushback.
An AI bot that can be used to help digest news if prompted properly, offering analytic balance and pushback.
Mentioned in the context of potential talks between Americans and Iranians regarding an agreement, and as an issue that generates significant global attention due to its impact.
Home to Deutsche Welle, a news source Bremmer trusts for global coverage, and its context is noted as having less structural bias.
Mentioned in the context of demonstrations that occurred during a class at Columbia University, which were discussed without conflict.
Mentioned in the context of the Ukraine conflict and its impact on Europeans and global food supply.
Ian Bremmer discusses media bias within the US, his patriotic but critical view of the country, and its role in international relations.
Noted as a country with significant humanitarian impact that receives virtually no media coverage due to lack of geopolitical or economic knock-on implications for other nations.
Home to CBC, a news source Bremmer trusts for global coverage, and its foreign minister is mentioned.
Mentioned as a country the US might have a closer relationship with than Saudi Arabia, and also in the context of a potential agreement between Americans and Iranians regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Mentioned as a country that might tilt more towards China due to the U.S. becoming a large oil producer, and in the context of potential talks with Americans regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Mentioned in the context of the conflict and its impact on Europeans and global food supply, as well as regarding the unlikely scenario of a tactical nuclear weapon deployment.
Home to NHK, a news source Bremmer trusts for global coverage, and its Prime Minister's context is noted.
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