The Guardian Announces New U.S. Video Podcast, Stateside

 The transformation from print to digital in journalism have caused seismic changes, many of them counterproductive to cultures around the world. What's been lost is the concept of The Fourth Estate.

The "Fourth Estate" is a term for the press or journalistic profession, acting as an unofficial fourth branch of government that checks the power of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It signifies the media's vital watchdog role in a democracy, exposing corruption and holding leaders accountable It is often attributed to Edmund Burke, who reportedly said, "...in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all". It refers to all news media, including reporters, journalists, and broadcasters, recognized for their influence on political and social affairs. 

The concept stems from European tradition dividing society into three estates (Nobility, Clergy, Commoners). The "Fourth Estate" was coined to describe the influential role of the press.

The Guardian is a prominent British daily newspaper and global digital news organization known for its independent, liberal-leaning journalism. Founded in 1821, it is owned by the Scott Trust, which protects its editorial freedom from commercial or political influence. It has a major online presence, including Guardian US and Guardian Australia. The paper is owned by the Scott Trust, established in 1936 to ensure editorial independence and secure the paper's financial future, with profits reinvested into journalism rather than shareholders. 

Founded in Manchester by John Edward Taylor in 1821, it was originally called The Manchester Guardian. It changed its name to The Guardian in 1959. The Guardian is one of the world's largest English-speaking quality news websites, with a significant global audience.

 The Guardian has just revealed new details about its upcoming U.S. video podcast, Stateside with Kai and Carter. Hosted by Peabody Award-winning host and journalist Kai Wright and Emmy-nominated Guardian journalist and author Carter Sherman, Stateside with Kai and Carter premieres on May 13, 2026. With new episodes three times a week, the interview-led show will bring the Guardian’s global perspective and unique lens on America to life through lively conversations about the rise of authoritarianism, inequality and racial injustice, climate change and corporate power – alongside soccer, wellness, lifestyle, and more.

At a time when other podcasts from news organizations are adapting to video, Stateside with Kai and Carter will launch as a video-first podcast that slows down fast-moving stories, bringing the viewing and listening audience analysis that helps make sense of the news. Stateside will be available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms, and will also have a robust social presence across Instagram and TikTok.

Together, Kai and Carter bring a wealth of journalism experience to Stateside with Kai and Carter in their role as co-hosts. Kai was most recently a host and managing editor at WNYC, the largest public radio station in the U.S., where he was at the helm of Notes From America with Kai Wright and a number of limited series podcasts focused on social justice themes. Until recently, Carter was the reproductive health and justice reporter at the Guardian, and is also the author of The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generation’s Fight Over Its Future.

Stateside with Kai and Carter is executive produced by acclaimed journalist and podcast veteran Jonathan Menjivar, who is tapping into his extensive experience in narrative audio storytelling to shape the unique vision for the podcast. In addition to his work on shows including This American Life and Fresh Air, Jonathan was previously a senior producer at Pineapple Street Studios, and also created and hosted Classy with Jonathan Menjivar, which was named one of TIME’s 100 Best Podcasts of All Time. The show’s deputy executive producer is Rachel Humphreys, a Pulitzer Prize finalist who was most recently with the Wall Street Journal’s daily news podcast The Journal and a senior producer on their award-winning series Camp Swamp Road. She was also a host and producer on the team that launched the Guardian’s flagship UK podcast, Today in Focus. 

Rounding out the production team are Anabel Bacon, senior audio producer joining from The New York Times with prior work at WNYC and Audible; Tiara Chiaramonte, senior video producer with experience at CNN, Today, 60 Minutes, and more; Suzanne Gaber, audio producer joining from This American Life; Mónica Espitia, video producer from the Wall Street Journal Opinion; Ivan Kuraev, show engineer, who joins from Lemonada Media; and Russel Kogan, a social media producer with experience making content for Brut America, PBS, and The Dodo.

Stateside with Kai and Carter is a key element of the Guardian’s latest growth in the U.S. and represents a major step in expanding the newsroom’s audio and video journalism, bringing its independent, global perspective to American audiences in a fresh format. 

The show builds off the success of the Guardian’s award-winning podcasts in the UK, including, The Birth Keepers – a six-part narrative series investigating the Free Birth Society, which reached #1 on the Apple Podcasts Top Series and Documentary charts – and Off Duty, a gripping investigative podcast examining Chicago’s notorious criminal legal system. The Guardian’s U.S. staff now exceeds 200 people for the first time in its history, with substantially larger teams covering U.S. politics, media, sports, culture, breaking news, AI, political movements, and more.

Carter Sherman, co-host and creative director of Stateside with Kai and Carter, said:  “I have been constantly astounded and impressed by my colleagues' incisive reporting over my years at the Guardian, so it is a delight to help bring our newsroom's work to a new format and new audiences. At this critical moment in U.S. history, too much of our media is dominated by celebrity-driven content, political surrogates making partisan arguments, and journalists who pretend not to have an identity or perspective. At Stateside, we'll ask the questions we actually have and say what we actually think – but do so backed by the Guardian's unique brand of global, forward-thinking journalism.”

Kai Wright, co-host and creative director of Stateside with Kai and Carter, said:  “I’ve been making podcasts for a decade, and it’s incredibly exciting to create something that feels genuinely fresh, in our always evolving medium. But for me, the journalistic mission remains the same. The United States is at a pivotal juncture, one in which we will either embrace multiracial democracy or return fully to the apartheid state in which my parents were raised. We want to facilitate a conversation about how the nation can progress rather than devolve, and we hope to build community around the Guardian’s world-class journalism.”

Check out Stateside on May 13th and after that. American journalism needs The Guardian right now. With Stephen Colbert being taken off the air, Jimmy Kimmel being threatened by the administration and its cronies constantly, reporters being investigated and threatened for publishing stories critical of administration officials, the First Amendment is under attack.