Kathryn Cramer Brownell

The prominence of politicos-turned-pundits is a product of cable news' turn to opinion commentary as a cheap and easy way to meet the needs of 24/7 coverage.

Cable TV's backers sold the technology as a boon to democracy, but embraced a business model that chased niche audiences.

Richard Nixon decided a powerful new medium should appeal to the marketplace, not to citizens.

Ukraine’s wartime communications strategies have roots in World War II.

The history of tuning in to televised election returns.

The New Hampshire returns tell us a lot about the leading candidates.

Why Anthony Scaramucci’s turn on “Celebrity Big Brother” shouldn’t come as a surprise.

These days, Hollywood is more democratic than Washington.

Conservatives have used celebrity glitz effectively, too.

Donald Trump is not the first person to gain power by questioning, undermining, and delegitimizing once-trusted institutions.