March 5, 2026 - Hour 1

Segment 1: Walter Cronkite and the Devolution of NewsIn March of 1981, Walter Cronkite signed off CBS’ evening broadcast for the final time. He represents an era when the news industry was trusted, conveying a sense of authority with every declaration of “And that’s the way it is.” Al Kresta frequently observed that the industry has devolved into “News as Entertainment” and multiple surveys show public trust in mainstream news is plummeting. What happened? Marcus has some thoughts.Segment 2: Making Sense of our Childless AgeAround the world, some of the most developed and advanced nations are reporting low birth rates and aging populations. Many are discussing why no one wants to have children. Experts debate the causes, but few present convincing conclusions. We discuss the cultural shifts that have happened with John Horvat.Segment 3: The Death of Stalin and the Inevitable Fate of Communism (2 segments)March 5 is the anniversary of two separate, yet linked events: Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946, and Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953. Paul Kengor looks at the relationship between these events and what they mean for us today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com