Jessica Pressler talks 'lady grifters' + Ken Auletta on the 'frenemies' of the ad business

The evolution of media, the mechanics of high-profile grifting, and the systemic disruption of the advertising industry define the current media landscape. Jessica Pressler details the construction of her profile on Anna Sorokin, illustrating how social status and the "fake it till you make it" culture facilitate scams within New York’s elite circles. Ken Auletta examines the advertising industry’s shift toward digital platforms, arguing that mobile technology and the rise of "frenemy" relationships between agencies and tech giants have fundamentally altered media funding. Auletta also reflects on his decades-long career as a media critic, detailing his early, unsuccessful attempts to expose Harvey Weinstein’s predatory behavior and the eventual shift in media accountability that allowed the truth to finally surface.