Reputation Nation

What does it really take to push a blockbuster media deal through today’s hostile antitrust environment? In this episode of Reputation Nation, Anne Marie and Stacy sit down with former FTC Chief Trial Counsel and WilmerHale partner Susan Musser to unpack the high‑stakes fight over the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount merger. They get into how regulators, state AGs, unions, and the White H...

This week on Reputation Nation, Anne Marie and Stacy unpack yet another 30 Under 30 fraud case and why investors seem to never learn their lesson. They dig into a first-of-its-kind trial over whether social platforms are deliberately built to hook kids, and how AI is quietly supercharging the “WebMD effect” in lawyers’ offices. Then they wrap with a sharp look at the new trademark arms race, from...

Anne Marie and Stacy are back with Fast Four—four stories, four takes, and four lessons in what not to do when the spotlight hits. This week, Costco’s $5 rotisserie chicken lands in a “no preservatives” class action, Apple gets sued in a fight over platform power and camera tech, the early-2026 layoff wave proves “efficiency” can become a credibility crisis overnight,  and the Lively–Baldoni saga...

On the final Fast Four of 2025, Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher break down a turning point for AI’s public image. Politicians, publishers, and the public are taking a harder line on accountability and governance when it comes to AI. The New York Times files another copyright lawsuit, The Washington Post’s new AI podcast is bending its own facts, state attorneys genera...

Co-hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher examine how AI lawsuits can quickly evolve from legal problems into full‑scale reputation crises for companies in every industry. Using The New York Times v. OpenAI and Mobley v. Workday as case studies, they cover how long‑running battles over copyright, bias, and data demands test stakeholder patience, drive media coverage, and force leaders to mana...

On this episode of Reputation Nation, Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher dig into how AI is rapidly becoming a high‑stakes legal, regulatory, and reputational risk for companies in every industry. They unpack Mobley v. Workday as a potential blockbuster AI hiring class action and The New York Times v. OpenAI as a case study in the new wave of AI copyright and training data lawsuits. Throughout...

On this week's Fast Four episode, Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie and Stacy break down the Cracker Barrel rebrand backlash and why monitoring and mitigating online bot-driven narratives matters more than ever. They move through the Louvre jewel heist’s operational fallout, what Twitch’s federal defamation suit could mean for creators, and how Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau’s headline-grabbin...

In the series finale of the Lively v. Baldoni saga, Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher dissect the headlines, crisis moments, and reputational fallout from one of Hollywood’s most watched legal battles. From Blake Lively’s lengthy post-trial statement and Taylor Swift’s rumored deposition to the strategic choices facing Justin Baldoni, this episode reveals what goes into...

On this episode of Reputation Nation, Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher take you straight into the heart of the Lively v. Baldoni showdown, focusing on the role of subpoenas, the impact stakeholder interests have on legal decisions, and the strategy behind each move in this ongoing dispute. They break down how tactical filings and evidence gathering set the tone for both courtroom proceedings...

Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher return for part 2 of the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni series with defamation expert Joe Meadows to explore how lawsuits, leaks, and “receipts” collide in court and the media. From the timing of administrative complaints to the strategic use of litigation websites and selective disclosures, this episode examines how courtroom tactics...

Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher examine high stakes litigation through the Blake Lively v. Justin Baldoni case, exploring the critical relationship between legal strategy and crisis communications when every filing makes headlines and every statement goes viral. They break down why "no comment" is never neutral, crisis management as a containment discipline...

Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher examine how AI is reshaping crisis, regulatory, and reputation landscapes, spotlighting Penske Media’s antitrust lawsuit alleging Google’s AI Overviews siphon traffic from outlets like Rolling Stone and threaten digital media economics. They break down a federal ruling that lets Particle Health’s antitrust claims proceed against Epic Sy...

In this episode of Reputation Nation, Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher dive into how 23andMe’s breach escalated into a governance and trust crisis, including mass board resignations, founder dynamics, and a communications response that blamed users and arrived late on key safeguards like multifactor authentication (MFA). The hosts explain why a $30M class action is small next to the brand’s r...

In this episode, the conversation delves into the legal and crisis management challenges faced by 23andMe following a significant data breach. The discussion highlights the importance of trust, governance, and effective communication strategies in managing crises, particularly in sectors dealing with sensitive personal data. The Reputation Nation hosts, Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher, bring...

This episode dissects how 23andMe’s data breach spiraled into a governance and trust crisis: board resignations, founder buyback optics amid bankruptcy, and a public response that blamed users. Hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher detail why entity-based health privacy expectations collided with a consumer retail DNA product, how directors’ fiduciary duties and D&O coverage factor into...