The Powers That Be: Daily

Jon Kelly and Peter chew over Netflix’s shock victory in the WBD bidding war—outmaneuvering Paramount and Comcast to nab WBD’s Studio and Streaming assets. They parse every angle of this $83 billion deal: whether the Trump administration will actually scrutinize the merger, whether David Ellison is ready to give up and walk away, what this all means for the CNNs of the world, and more. To learn mo...

It’s been 20 years since How I Met Your Mother premiered, and just over 10 years since the finale. Josh Radnor, who played “Ted” for nine seasons teams up with series co-creator Craig Thomas for this episode-by-episode rewatch podcast. For the superfans, HWMYM (listen to the trailer to learn how it’s pronounced) will get into all the secrets, theories, and pineapples, but we'll also use HIMYM – an...

Varsity favorite Andrew Marchand reunites with John to debate the week’s biggest sports-media plot lines: the NFL’s holiday-week stacked matchups and Amazon Prime’s outsized role in juicing viewership; MLB’s new media-rights math; ESPN’s quiet strategic wins; and whether streamers like YouTube are ready to jump into the next bidding war. Plus: what Netflix poaching ESPN talent like Elle Duncan rea...

Dylan Byers joins Peter to discuss the latest twists in the never-ending Nuzzigate saga, as Olivia Nuzzi and her angry ex-fiancé Ryan Lizza keep trading barbs around this week’s release of Nuzzi’s “tell-nothing” memoir. They also dig into CNN’s new deal with prediction market Kalshi—further gamifying cable news and amplifying the media’s obsession with predicting the future. To learn more about li...

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to discuss the heartburn inside the Republican Party heading into next year’s midterms: last month’s Democratic dominance, Trump’s plunging approval ratings, the G.O.P.’s messaging problem regarding the country’s enduring affordability crisis, and more. Is an insurmountable blue wave on the horizon? Leigh Ann says the Republicans she's spoken to fear so. To learn mor...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to assess the White House’s laissez-faire posture toward regulatory and antitrust enforcement, as favored corporations seem to get free passes while everyone else is left guessing which rules still apply. Plus: Could a WBD–Paramount merger be derailed because the president hates CNN? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.c...

Julia Ioffe joins Peter for a sober reality check on the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, as the Trump administration tries once again to broker an end to the war—and keeps running into the same dead ends. Then they turn to the U.S. drone strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and whether Pete Hegseth, or anyone at the Pentagon, will be forced to explain what Democrats say could be war c...

Jon Kelly and Peter discuss the latest Substack discourse and offer their hypotheses about the future of the platform, for better or worse, and what it means for legacy media. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lauren’s guest is ace podcaster Avery Trufelman, creator and host of Articles of Interest, the series that explores why we wear what we wear. (This season is all about outdoor gear, “from its military roots to its mainstream explosion.”) They discuss what makes clothes American, the future of Armani, shopping during the holidays, Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme merch push, and plenty more. For m...

Sarah Shapiro joins Peter to unwrap this holiday shopping season, and whether consumers are still decking the halls despite tariff jitters and gloomy consumer sentiment. Then they dive into the department store turf war, as Saks struggles financially and Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s compete for luxury shoppers’ wallets.  See all the ways bp is investing in America at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmer...

John Ourand and Peter break down why today’s NFL games might be the most watched regular season games in league history, as the NFL expands its reach to streaming platforms and curates better matchups to maximize Thanksgiving viewership. Plus: John weighs in on NBC potentially licensing next year’s Big Ten championship game to Amazon. See all the ways bp is investing in America at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bp.com/I...

Julia Alexander joins Peter to break down Apple’s early exit from its 10-year, multibillion-dollar MLS rights deal, why the partnership was probably doomed from the get-go, and what MLS should be looking for in its next partner. They then consider Netflix’s growing appetite for sports, and whether the streamer will snag marquee one-off events like the Home Run Derby or NBA Slam Dunk Contest to hel...

Abby Livingston joins Peter to dig into the midterm storm brewing around the G.O.P. as they now trail on the generic ballots and Hill Republicans are suddenly grousing about Trump's policies. Meanwhile, former MAGA star Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning from Congress, and rumors of more House resignations are floating around Washington. Yet, while the House is looking increasingly flippable for...

Jon Kelly and Peter discuss Netflix’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and evaluate the pure play streamer’s interest in its theatrical business and obligations. They also touch on NBC Sports’ interest in selling off next year’s Big Ten championship and what it portends for the future of the industry. See all the ways bp is investing in America at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . To learn...

In this special episode, live from the latest Puck Power Breakfast, House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie sits down with Leigh Ann to chart America’s energy front lines—from the A.I. arms race with China to the hangover from Trump’s renewable rollback. They also dig into energy prices—and why it could be the sleeper issue of next year’s midterms. To learn more about listener data and our p...

Lauren Sherman joins Peter to share her thoughts on the latest star-studded, all-male Vanity Fair ‘Hollywood’ Issue cover, and why Lauren is surprisingly into it. “It’s a million times better than anything they’ve done in years, potentially decades,” she insists. They also dive into the rumor mill around Missoni’s possible sale to Authentic Brands Group—and whether the iconic Italian house is abou...

Matt Belloni joins Peter to pull back the velvet curtain on Oscars campaign season, where agents, publicists, and stars are already gearing up for the big awards push. Matt breaks down the early frontrunners—and which Hollywood heavyweights might get cold-shouldered by the Academy. See all the ways bp is investing in America at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . To learn more about listene...

Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to discuss the newest frontier in American campaign politics: the deep-pocketed, scorched-earth war against politicians who dare to regulate artificial intelligence. As Ian explains, Silicon Valley giants—from OpenAI to Andreessen Horowitz—are ponying up millions to kneecap Democrats pushing for oversight of these fast-growing, opaque, and increasingly powerful companies...

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down today’s House vote to finally unleash the Epstein files—after Trump’s weekend about-face when he realized mass Republican defections were inevitable. They also dig into the G.O.P.’s healthcare quagmire as worries mount over Obamacare subsidies disappearing, leaving them on the defensive heading into an election year. See all the ways bp is investing in...

Jon Kelly returns to the booth for a candid chat with Peter about what really went down regarding RedBird’s decision to pull the plug on its Telegraph deal—the latest unexpected turn of events in a multi-year saga filled with a potent mix of private equity, enraged journalists, Emiratis, and U.K. regulators. The duo also explore the dynamics of the Disney-YouTube TV negotiations. See all the ways...

Steve Bornstein, the architect behind both ESPN’s golden age and the launch of NFL Network, joins John to remember the late, great Paul Tagliabue—the commissioner who helped turn football into a billion-dollar religion. Bornstein also offers a seasoned view on today’s sports media circus, from the streaming wars to A.I.’s slow invasion of the industry. To learn more about listener data and our pri...

Dylan Byers joins Peter with intel from two embattled media empires facing existential reinvention: MSNBC, which officially rebrands tomorrow as MS NOW, is embarking on a risky new chapter amid the network’s streaming-era identity crisis. Meanwhile, over at Condé Nast, four unionized employees were abruptly fired after protesting the shuttering of Teen Vogue. (Incredibly, even many people who are...

Bill Cohan joins Peter to break down Paramount’s first earnings call since merging with Skydance—which, ironically, was barely about earnings at all. Instead, David Ellison dazzled Wall Street with talk of new investments, new technology, and, of course, some important cost-cutting measures. Bill reads the tea leaves on what’s next for Ellison and Co.—and whether acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery f...

Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to discuss the legal inferno engulfing OpenAI, as multiple families sue the company for allegedly driving users toward suicidal delusions—and why it would be disastrous for Sam Altman’s empire if these cases ever make it to discovery. Meanwhile, Altman is already in damage-control mode after his finance chief suggested that the government might step into help them out if...

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter with the inside scoop on why the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is likely to come to an end this week—thanks to a few Senate Democrats who broke ranks and braved the wrath of their own base to cut a deal with Republicans. Plus, Leigh Ann on the Hill’s latest parlor game: is Chuck Schumer still the Democrats’ guy, or just the last one to know he’s not? Se...