Nate Silver and FiveThirtyEight Teammates Launch 'Still Counting' on Crooked Media
Nate Silver, Clare Malone, and Galen Druke are launching a new podcast called 'Still Counting' to cover the 2026 midterm elections and emerging political topics like AI and prediction markets. The show aims to revive the nonpartisan, data-driven approach of the now-defunct FiveThirtyEight, which was shut down last year following corporate layoffs and strategic shifts. The new program will be hosted on Crooked Media, a network known for its partisan leanings, creating a contrast between the show's intended neutrality and its platform's ideological reputation.
Key points
- The new podcast, 'Still Counting,' features Nate Silver, Clare Malone, and Galen Druke, the former hosts of FiveThirtyEight's flagship show.
- The series will focus on the 2026 midterm elections, artificial intelligence, and prediction markets, maintaining an empirical and nonpartisan tone.
- FiveThirtyEight was closed last year after its corporate owner implemented layoffs and strategic changes.
- The new show is being produced on Crooked Media, a podcast network that is widely recognized for its partisan perspective.
- The hosts aim to resurrect the spirit of their previous work despite the ideological mismatch with their new platform.
Background
This development follows the closure of FiveThirtyEight, a prominent political analysis and prediction site, which ceased operations last year due to corporate restructuring. The archive contains unrelated stories about media reunions, such as the 30 Rock cast and Soundgarden, but no prior coverage of FiveThirtyEight's closure or the specific hosts involved in this new venture.
Why it matters
The launch of 'Still Counting' highlights the ongoing tension between nonpartisan data-driven journalism and partisan media platforms. It also reflects the resilience of popular podcast hosts in adapting to industry shifts, such as the closure of major outlets like FiveThirtyEight, by finding new homes that may not align perfectly with their editorial ethos. This move could influence how audiences consume political analysis in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms.
What to watch
The podcast is expected to begin airing soon, with initial episodes likely focusing on the 2026 midterm election landscape. The hosts will also explore the impact of artificial intelligence and prediction markets on political outcomes, potentially setting a new standard for data-centric political commentary on a partisan platform.
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