The Powers That Be: Daily

Jon Kelly joins guest host Dylan Byers to unravel the plot twists in Rob Manfred’s ongoing media rights negotiations for MLB, highlighting their potential deals with NBC and Apple. Then the duo dive into the firestorm ignited by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s new book, ‘Original Sin’—and the fractures it’s revealing within the Democratic Party. To learn more about listener data and our privacy pr...

Julia Ioffe joins guest host Leigh Ann Caldwell to unpack the fallout from Trump’s two-hour call with Putin earlier this week: Trump's growing frustration with the Ukraine conflict, his willingness to hand it off to Europe, and the chilling implications for President Zelensky. Then, they turn to the Oval Office debacle with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in which Julia emphasizes the adm...

Abby Livingston joins guest host Leigh Ann Caldwell to break down the challenges facing House Republicans in passing their legislative agenda, particularly Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” They highlight the tensions between the centrists and hardliners, the pressure on individual members, and, of course, the overarching influence of Trump. Then they dig into the race to replace Democratic Rep. Gerr...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to unpack the Swifties’ intensifying racketeering lawsuit against Live Nation, along with two other serious cases the company is facing: a long-running civil suit from fans and an antitrust case from the Justice Department. Then Eriq explains how Taylor Swift got dragged into the legal drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, and whether this news could hurt Taylor’s...

Dylan Byers joins Peter to break down Wendy McMahon’s resignation from CBS News after four years as the network president, which comes as Paramount angles to settle Trump’s $20 million-plus lawsuit against ‘60 Minutes.’ Then they turn to the chatter surrounding Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s "Original Sin," and how the publication has coincided with the grim news that the former president has bee...

The renaming of HBO Max offers Jon Kelly and Peter a chance to recall some of David Zaslav’s greatest streaming follies during the WBD era. The duo also chew over murmurs of regime change at Politico’s flagship beltway property. 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....

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John Ourand joins Peter to discuss MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision to posthumously reinstate Pete Rose and restore “The Hit King’s” Hall of Fame eligibility decades after his lifetime ban. Did Manfred’s recent visit with Donald Trump play any role in the decision? John also breaks down his week at the upfronts in New York, where networks leaned into their sports deals to woo advertisers. T...

Abby Livingston joins Peter to dig into the mounting buzz surrounding “Original Sin,” the new book from Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson chronicling, in their words, Joe Biden’s decline inside the White House. Abby also unpacks the latest drama inside the D.N.C. as they move to oust their Gen Z vice chairman David Hogg—and the persistent Republican rift over Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” To learn mo...

In this special edition of The Powers That Be, Leigh Ann Caldwell hosts Republican Senator Jim Banks for a far-reaching conversation about tariffs, the road to the midterms, and how the G.O.P. is aiming to avoid a repeat of 2017’s political misfires. Banks also outlines the party’s strategy to counter China’s rising influence—and insists that under Trump’s leadership, Republicans are more unified...

Bill Cohan joins Peter to unpack Trump’s erratic trade war with China, the ripple effects on the markets, and the chatter on Wall Street about whether MAGA insiders might be profiting from advance knowledge of tariff announcements. Bill also discusses the $400 million jet the Qataris have gifted Trump, as well as the president’s various meme coin and crypto dealings. To learn more about listener d...

Jon Kelly joins Peter to dig into the likelihood that David Zaslav will spin CNN out of Warner Bros. Discovery, and whether both companies would be better off solo. They also explore what’s behind Biden’s media tour, as Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson prepare to publish a book detailing “the cover up of Biden’s decline in the White House.” To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to examine Trump’s increasingly ominous fixation on sports—from launching a federal task force for the 2028 World Cup to a commission aimed at fixing college athletics and a bid to host the NFL Draft in Washington. As Eriq notes, each of these initiatives are fraught with legal and regulatory obstacles—not to mention the threat of a D.E.I. crackdown. Eriq also unpacks Ted...

Matt Belloni swings by the pod to break down Trump’s head-spinning announcement that he’s prepared to slap tariffs on overseas film and TV productions. With Hollywood hitting the panic button, Matt explains why the film industry has bypassed Los Angeles as more shoots head to Europe, Canada, and the U.K. But is there actually a political solution to Hollywood’s problems? To learn more about listen...

Marion Maneker joins Peter for a deep dive into the art fair circuit as it hits a fever pitch this week. Marion unpacks the explosion of events on the calendar, whether demand can keep up with the pace, and why Endeavor’s Ari Emmanuel just placed a high-stakes bet on Frieze. Then, he draws the line between fairs and auctions—and why the distinction matters. To learn more about listener data and ou...

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down the “big, beautiful bill” that Speaker Johnson is trying to muscle through a fractured Congress on a tight deadline. As Leigh Ann explains, despite Trump’s support, Republicans are growing restless with Johnson and worry he might not deliver in time to sell the bill’s economic and political upside to voters. To learn more about listener data and our pri...

Jon Kelly reunites with Peter to dig into HBO’s Zaslav era, and break down their pivot away from the “everything for everybody” strategy as they navigate the streaming landscape in Netflix’s shadow. Then the duo discuss whether Peacock’s $27 billion gamble on the NBA will pay off. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more...

Eriq Gardner drops by the pod to discuss Trump’s all-out assault on the press. Eriq explains why he thinks CBS News will settle Trump’s precarious lawsuit, breaks down Trump’s latest swing at The New York Times, and unpacks the quiet Justice Department update that could make it open season on individual journalists.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.au...

Kim Masters joins Peter to unpack the latest twists in the ongoing Paramount-Skydance saga, from Shari Redstone’s settlement calculus to Brendan Carr’s F.C.C shenanigans, and what Donald Trump might be angling for in his multibillion-dollar lawsuit against CBS. Then Kim discusses Trump's “special ambassadors to Hollywood”: Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight. To learn more about listene...

Marion Maneker drops by the pod to discuss the ripple effects of Trump’s anti-D.E.I. crusade across the art world—and why the real fallout may not surface for years to come. Then Marion dissects how tariffs and global trade anxieties are impacting the upcoming auction season, which may be busier than expected as luxury buyers and sellers navigate an uncertain economic terrain. To learn more about...

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter for a sober analysis of Trump’s first 100 days back in office—and addresses the question gripping Washington: Is Trump actually an all-powerful executive force, or is he merely a lame duck president in slow-motion collapse? Then Leigh Ann discusses her recent interview with David Axelrod and his thoughts about what Dems need to do ahead of the 2028 election. To learn...

Jon Kelly joins Peter to dig into a surprising new survey revealing which actors still put butts in seats. As Denzel, Tom Cruise, and the old guard hold strong, they break down the generational divide between Gen Z and everyone else. Then they turn to Bill Owens’ painful exit from ‘60 Minutes’ and Shari Redstone’s Trump-world courtship as she tries to get the Skydance-Paramount merger across the f...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter for a deep dive on F.C.C. chairman Brendan Carr, the pugnacious regulator who seems to be slow rolling the $8 billion Skydance-Paramount merger while lobbing rhetorical grenades at Comcast, Disney, YouTube TV, and others. Then they discuss whether Carr’s campaign against big media is really an audition to become a MAGA media star in his own right. To learn more about liste...

Julia Ioffe swings by the pod to discuss the state of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia—if there are any negotiations to be made at all. As Putin plays coy and Zelensky holds the line, Julia explains why Trump’s mounting frustration could, ironically, be Kyiv’s best hope. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn m...

John Ourand joins Peter to discuss the surging popularity of the NFL Draft, and which of the streaming giants might bid on the rights to broadcast the yearly football spectacle—and why, to no surprise, YouTube and Google are in the driver’s seat. Then, John breaks down the NBA Playoffs ratings, and why a Thunder-Cavs Finals matchup would be “death to ABC.” To learn more about listener data and our...