Breaker Pod

Dive deep into the drama at Politico as we uncover exclusive details about internal turmoil, leadership shake-ups, and the future of Washington's most influential newsletter. Plus, scandals at Rolling Stone, the rise of "Scandal PR," and media giants reshaping the industry. 📖 Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: Turmoil at Politico 01:05 - Politico's Big Shake-Up 02:40 - Jack Blanchard's Playbook Struggles 0...

High stakes, high pressure, and a HR nightmare: This week, Breaker takes you inside the New York Times business desk, where tensions exploded over a controversial Harvard story involving some of America's most powerful figures, from Jared Kushner to Condoleezza Rice. Also, SpinCo’s Succession-esque rebrand. Plus, Keith McNally reveals gossip so juicy we can't even print it. 👉 Subscribe to the new...

ABC News landed a huge exclusive—the first broadcast interview with Donald Trump marking his first 100 days in office. Surprisingly, they chose Terry Moran over big names like George Stephanopoulos and David Muir. In this episode of Breaker Pod, Lachlan and Ravi uncover why top anchors were excluded, the implications of media outlets settling Trump lawsuits, and the chilling effects on journalism....

Lachlan and Ravi unpack the explosive firing of Sewell Chan, editor-in-chief at the Columbia Journalism Review. Ravi, who worked under Chan, shares a candid, firsthand account of the workplace tensions, bullying allegations, and journalistic fallout. The conversation dives deep into newsroom culture, leadership pitfalls, and the changing standards of editorial behavior. Plus, get insights into Bil...

How do journalists get scoops, really? From casual barista chatter to LinkedIn deep-dives, this episode of Breaker unpacks how reporters operate in a world of pressure, power, and platform politics. We break down the viral story of the fake news that Walmart was buying TikTok, and how ABC News published it without confirmation — a major journalism ethics fail. You’ll hear about: - The Walmart TikT...

This week on Breaker, Lachlan Cartwright and Ravi Somaiya expose the strange and shifting dynamics of legacy media — from the chaotic search for a new editor at Vanity Fair, to journalists stalking sources for book deals, to the absurdity of The Financial Times being both a calming influence and a fashion statement. Plus: 💥 What it really costs to write three stories for half a million dollars 💥...

In this episode of Breaker, Lachlan Cartwright and Ravi Somaiya peel back the curtain on a dramatic shake-up inside The Wall Street Journal under editor Emma Tucker. From soaring PIP rates and internal lawsuits to newsroom paranoia and “The Grim Reaper,” it’s corporate chaos with a journalistic twist. We also reveal the unlikely financial backer behind Mark Halperin’s comeback, explore Carlos Wats...

In Episode 6 of Breaker, we dive deep into the secretive world of "Scandal PR," uncovering how public relations operatives manage and manipulate celebrity controversies and high-stakes business dramas. Featuring special guest Emily Sundberg, creator of the popular Substack newsletter "Feed Me," this episode explores how modern scandals unfold, the blurred lines between PR and journalism, and the e...

This week’s podcast comes to you from Lure, in Soho, with special guest Alex Isenstadt. We talk about Alex’s new book Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power, the tortured relationship between Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch, how Fox News deals with moles, why Rupert was berating Wall Street Journal editor Emma Tucker, plus Michael Bloomberg’s comfort movie (and ours) and the turmoil...

his week we come to you from Brunetti, a fabulous pizza place with a fabulous oven in the West Village, to talk about an enormous quantity of intrigue from the mayoral race, illustrious club owners with exotic pasts, why it's scary to report on libel lawyers, why you should wear a pink hat to a press conference, and finally why you should watch our podcast at half speed ideally. Get in touch with...

This week we come to you from Local, on Sullivan Street, to talk about the weird world of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, why New Yorkers find DC strange, what unlikely friendships reveal about the world in 2025 and the unfortunate fact that people who take themselves seriously are twice as fun to make jokes about. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and qu...

This week we come to you from Cowgirl, in the West Village, to talk about the man trying to buy Britain's Telegraph newspapers, the man allegedly stopping the sale of New York's Zero Bond , the wonder of the city's ambient music , and newsroom biters. Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your i...

This week we come to you from outside Fanelli Cafe in Soho (iPhone feels-like temperature: minus eight) to talk about private members’ clubs , the absolute joy of human pettiness , the ways politics have riven families , great names for Australian spear fishermen, AI fears as a form of religion and much more. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions...