<p dir="ltr">Viktor Orb&aacute;n&rsquo;s authoritarian grip on Hungary became a model for the American right. He hollowed out the country&rsquo;s democracy and turned much of the media into a government megaphone. Then a small newsroom called <a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/">Direkt36</a> exposed a <a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/titkosszolgalati-nyomasra-tortent-hazkutatas-a-tiszat-segito-informatikusoknal-aztan-kibukott-egy-gyanus-muvelet-a-part-ellen/">plot</a> against the opposition party involving a mysterious political operative, a young IT worker, a raid on a boat in the Danube and a <a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/megszolal-a-nyomozo-aki-belulrol-ismeri-a-tisza-elleni-muvelet-ugyet/">whistleblowing police captain</a>. A few weeks later, Orb&aacute;n was ousted from power in a landslide election.&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">Sean Cole reports on the investigation, called the Hungarian Watergate, and what it shows about why an independent press still matters.&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">Question Everything is a production of <a href="http://www.kcrw.org">KCRW</a> and <a href="http://www.placementtheory.com">Placement Theory</a>. And don&rsquo;t forget to sign up for our <a href="http://questioneverything.substack.com">newsletter</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Guests:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/author/zsuzsi/">Zsuzsanna </a><a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/author/zsuzsi/">Wirth</a>, Direct36 investigative reporter</li> <li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/author/andraspetho/">Andr&aacute;s </a><a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/author/andraspetho/">Pethő</a>, Direct36 editor</li> <li dir="ltr"><a href="https://cmds.ceu.edu/people/marius-dragomir">Marius Dragomir</a>, Director of the Center for Media, Data and Society</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Please support the organizations that support this show:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr">Ground News is a platform that makes it easy to compare news sources, read between the lines of media bias, and break free from algorithms.&nbsp;Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://ground.news/landingV8/questioneverything?utm_source=questioneverything&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=questioneverything">GroundNews.com/QUESTION&nbsp;</a>to get 40% off the unlimited Vantage plan.</li> <li>Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://zbiotics.com/QUESTION">https://zbiotics.com/QUESTION</a>&nbsp;and use QUESTION at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.</li> <li dir="ltr">DeleteMe makes it quick, easy and safe to remove your personal data online. Get 20% off DeleteMe consumer plans when you go to&nbsp;<a href="https://joindeleteme.com/20off/?inf=Question+Everything+with+Brian+Reed&amp;utm_source=influencer&amp;utm_campaign=Question&amp;coupon=QUESTION">joindeleteme.com/QUESTION</a>&nbsp;and use promo code QUESTION at checkout.</li> </ul>