For about two hours every day, the White House coronavirus task force, led by President Trump, briefs reporters and a national audience about the latest developments in the federal response to the pandemic. The briefings can can be lengthy and often stray beyond their intended purpose. A week ago, CBS News launched Debriefing the Briefing, a short-form daily podcast with Chief Washington Correspondent Major Garrett, that concentrates on the main news topics from the briefing.
Think of it like condensing a three-hour NFL football game into the 14 minutes of actual football action.
The podcast is another example of how news organizations are thinking creatively, quickly and throwing talent and smarts at the coronavirus to explain the disease — its impact on health, on the economy and on our daily lives. We wanted to know the backstory on Garrett’s new effort. He emailed us responses to our questions.
How did this podcast come about? What’s your intended audience, and what was the timeframe from conception to soft launch?
Garrett: The team that helps me on “The Takeout” podcast — my chief producer, Arden Farhi, and radio producer Jamie Benson — thought there might be an appetite among radio stations for a summary or distillation of the daily White House coronavirus task force briefing. I agreed. We had a hunch. It was valid. Stations want to give their audiences what radio always has — concise and factual information. “Debriefing the Briefing” is our attempt to do that. When a briefing runs 1 hour and 45 minutes or 2 hours and 15 minutes, it is almost impossible for the typical news consumer to separate the wheat from the chaff. We try to isolate the biggest developments and offer perspective, reporting, and science from CBS correspondents and medical professionals or related subject experts. We give a 6-minute show to radio stations and then produce a 12-minute show for the podcast. We went from concept to pilot episode in 18 hours. We began serious content and editorial discussions the afternoon of March 31 and recorded our pilot after the April 1 White House briefing.
The president often bristles at certain questions and lashes out at reporters, including members of your own team. How do you intend to address those outbursts for your podcast audience?
Garrett: With context and precision. We haven’t isolated a hostile exchange yet because we want the show to focus on what is known, what is knowable and what information best distills the essence of the briefing. I have been around the president enough to know some of these battles are done purely for show. Sometimes they illustrate a lingering issue he has grown uncomfortable with. We will take these matters up in proportion to their value to understanding where the COVID-19 story and where it is heading.
How would you describe the overall tenor and usefulness of the briefings?
Garrett: They are presidential events as a pandemic unfolds across America and the world. By any definition, they are straight-up news events. But the briefing can wander. The president can indulge in familiar talking points about the economy, China, the Iran nuclear deal or impeachment. But everything he says during this crisis carries weight. We thought it would be a useful and challenging exercise to bring the audience a concise, factual summary at the end of each briefing. We were right. It is a challenge. We hope the audience finds value in this unique exercise. It’s a unique news presentation.
What has the audience reaction been?
Garrett: Very positive among radio stations. By April 2, WTOP and WCBS in New York took the show. Many other stations followed. The reaction has been uniformly positive. We are building the podcast audience as rapidly and widely as we can.
How do you fit the podcast into your reporting routine, and how much longer are you working these days?
Garrett: My team spends the day preparing for the White House briefing by tracking information in other states, like governors’ briefings and similar updates from metro- area mayors. We look for relevant expert voices to augment the podcast. We track the briefing and exchange notes in real time about key issues and statements and build the show out as rapidly as possible after the briefing. In addition, I am also trying to do three episodes of my main podcast, “The Takeout,” each week. I am working as hard as I can remember — from 7 a.m. roughly until about 10 p.m. I just do it from my dining room table.
How does the collaboration process work, and what, if any, remote work obstacles do you have to overcome?
Garrett: I text with my team throughout the day. We usually have one conference call in the afternoon hours leading up to the briefing. If we are doing an episode of “The Takeout,” we focus on that. My show prep there is usually several hours or more, work I do on my own for the interview. Technology has worked pretty well, but there are always small glitches with microphones, software and bandwidth. We are adjusting like everyone.
The virus has been indiscriminate, striking — sadly — your own CBS family. How do you stay resilient in the face of tragedy?
Garrett: We weep. We pray. We exhale. Then we go back to work. I have done this work since I was 21, and it has never not felt vital and meaningful. But it feels those two things now as much as ever.
There is no upside to grief or loss. But there is perspective. We lost a lovely friend and colleague in Maria Mercader. We know what she would want us to do — report the news and follow the story as purposefully as we can. I also have friends affected by COVID-19, friends who have lost colleagues or family. It is a very tough time. We are redefining resilience each day.
How are you taking care of yourself?
Garrett: I only go out for a jog or to obtain necessary supplies. Even with that caution, I wash my hands about 20 times a day. I also have learned how to do workouts with my trainer via FaceTime. I do take a break for three one-hour workouts each week.