I used to recommend Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar to anyone looking for thoughtful, independent analysis outside the mainstream media bubble. Not anymore. The show has changed, and I’m not sure I fit their audience now.
Saagar’s absence is a big part of it. He was absent again this week, off shooting Flagrant with Andrew Schulz. I get that he has obligations, but as a subscriber, I’d rather his priority be Breaking Points. When he’s gone the show feels off balance. He’s not afraid to push back, and his informed, well-reasoned takes add the depth the show needs. Without him, it’s tough to get through an episode.
Krystal, on the other hand, is usually there. I still respect her, but she’s become hard to listen to. She dominates conversations with emotive rhetoric, repeats herself constantly, and interrupts - not to challenge ideas, but to restate her points. Repeating the same point over and over insults the listener’s intelligence and weakens the argument.
Every episode, I find myself hoping she’ll be back to the sharp, insightful voice she used to be. At the very least, please be mindful of the fact that some us have ear buds in and use an inside voice.
Emily and Ryan are fine, but I rarely watch their episodes unless I’m desperate for the news. Emily respects the others so much that it seems to get in the way of her ability to challenge or debate them. Ryan is knowledgeable but takes forever to get his thoughts out. He can have a debate, but his delivery makes it tough to stay engaged.
And then there’s the shift toward clickbait. "Bill Burr HUMILIATES Ben Shapiro in Anti-Woke GRIFT"? The segment itself was just a short clip of Burr dismissing Shapiro, with Krystal and Emily chuckling along. No real discussion, no deeper dive - just culture war fluff. And sure, that's the title to a YouTube clip - I get it. Though, the headlines to the episodes are not much better. They used to call out the mainstream media for this kind of engagement and low-effort "news" coverage.
Maybe I’ve just outgrown the show, or maybe they’ve changed who they’re making it for. Either way, between the imbalance in hosting, Krystal’s current approach, and the clickbait shift, I'm not sure where this puts us. I think my subscription is up at the end of the year, we'll see how it goes.
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In my home town Crystal Lake, IL. Don’t care which side of the aisle you’re on—this sign is friggin’ hilarious!
From the moment I saw Saagar and Krystal interview on Joe Rogan, I was in. Once Breaking Points was created, I was in! I’ve been with these two from the very beginning and it was exactly what I needed. I trusted the content and I loved the interesting and thoughtful debate between both political positions.
Honestly I enjoy Saagar just as much, perhaps even moreso. Krystal on the other hand, I believe, has devolved into rhetoric, condescension, hate, hyperbole, and an overall disgust with anyone who doesn’t see things her way, including Saagar. It’s awful to listen to and it must change. Listen, I love that Krystal has an opposing view, let’s get after it! But I think she has grown an ego. I think she believes that she is on a pedestal to preach, and she has completely forgotten about the listener. The paid subscriber.
My subscription re-ups in October so I’m committed until then. I have already prioritized other podcasts over this one and if things don’t change I will not be a...
