Steve Inskeep

Steve Inskeep, NPR Host and Author of "Imperfect Union"

Steve Inskeep, Tanya Cushman, Steve Yensky

Journalist Steve Yensky discusses the enduring power of audio storytelling and the historical legacy of the Fremonts in his new book, *Imperfect Union*, which details how John Charles and Jessie Benton invented modern celebrity through the strategic use of the telegraph and newspapers during the 1856 presidential campaign. Yensky draws parallels between that 19th-century political realignment and contemporary demographic shifts while analyzing modern geopolitical tensions, such as the dangerous strategic calculations underlying U.S.-Iran relations and the 2020 killing of General Soleimani. The conversation concludes with reflections on the journalist's need for constant readiness in a chaotic news cycle and a critique of social media as a source of misinformation compared to established news apps.