How a Tiny Newsroom Helped Bring Down Hungary’s Authoritarian Leader

<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>, Direkt36 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>, Direkt36 editor</li>

<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://journalismresearch.org/tag/marius-dragomir/">Marius Dragomir</a>, Director of the Media and Journalism Research Center</li>

</ul>

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