The Powers That Be: Daily

John Ourand joins Peter to break down a Super Bowl ratings bonanza for the NFL and Fox, despite a largely underwhelming game. Then he assesses a prospective deal in which ESPN buys the NFL’s media assets (NFL Network, NFL RedZone, etcetera) and explains why ESPN would even be interested in adding more declining linear assets to their TV portfolio. To learn more about listener data and our privacy...

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to examine the paralysis gripping Democrats as the party debates which fights to pick with an unbridled Trump. They also discuss Mitch McConnell’s stunning transformation, in the twilight of his Senate career, into a major impediment to his imperial presidency. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy...

Jon Kelly joins Peter to talk about the NFL’s 18-game fantasy. They analyze the viability of lengthening the NFL season, whether this is a smart business decision, and envision the potential for major streamers to get involved. Then they dissect the Trump administration cancelling its subscriptions to several D.C. publications—and whether this could actually impact their bottom lines. To learn mor...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to navigate the growing tide of legal challenges surrounding Trump’s contentious executive orders and his efforts, along with Elon Musk, to reshape the federal government. Then Eriq shifts gears to dissect the mounting scrutiny on Shari Redstone’s bid to sell Paramount to Skydance, sparked by Trump’s shaky lawsuit against CBS News. To learn more about listener data and our...

Puck’s newest partner, the legendary Hollywood journalist Kim Masters, joins Peter for a deep dive into the public relations firestorm and social media-fueled disasters surrounding the Oscar-nominated ‘Emilia Pérez.’ Then Kim breaks down the escalating legal kerfuffle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni—and why it's a no-win situation for everyone involved. To learn more about listener data an...

Bill Cohan joins Peter for a deep dive into Trump’s tariff threats against Mexico, Canada, and China. Bill argues that these threats are largely performative, crafted to score political wins rather than serve any real economic purpose. Then they discuss the inevitable market volatility, and whether, despite any potential short-term gains, these tariffs will ultimately prove inflationary and harmfu...

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to analyze the high-stakes confirmation battles of two of Trump’s most contentious cabinet picks: Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence and R.F.K. Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Leigh Ann breaks down the key dynamics at play, the senators to watch as the processes unfold, and what could ultimately tip the scales in their favor—or seal t...

Jon Kelly reunites with Peter to scrutinize the subdued media reaction to the dawn of Trump II—and why it lacks the “five-alarm fire” urgency that defined Trump I. Then they pivot to discuss the looming possibility of Paramount settling Trump’s flimsy lawsuit filed against CBS News, before diving into the fate of Peacock as their financial losses mount and their subscriber growth sputters. To lear...

Bill Cohan joins Peter to unpack the Wall Street chaos triggered by DeepSeek, a low-cost ChatGPT alternative that sent the Nasdaq tumbling and wiped $600 billion off Nvidia’s value in a single day. Then, the duo explore Elon Musk’s bold push to inject startup culture into Washington—and why that attempt is ultimately destined to fall flat. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practice...

John Ourand joins Peter to dissect the NFL’s season-long ratings decline. While “Chiefs fatigue” has been a hot topic, is the broader notion of “football fatigue” more accurate? Then they scrutinize Tom Brady’s rookie season as an analyst ahead of his Super Bowl debut, and debate if he’s worth the $40 million salary Fox Sports is dishing out for him. To learn more about listener data and our priva...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to break down the flood of legal developments emanating from the new Trump regime—from the firing of career D.O.J. prosecutors to the pause on civil rights and environmental litigation to the murky future of the TikTok ban. Then they dive into what antitrust enforcement might look like under Trump 2.0, as F.T.C. chair Lina Khan exits and Republicans grapple with just how f...

Puck’s newest partner and chief Washington correspondent, Leigh Ann Caldwell, joins Peter for an insider’s take on the growing rift within the G.O.P. as they wrestle with whether to roll Trump’s ambitious agenda into one sweeping “big, beautiful bill” or split it in two. Plus, Leigh Ann previews two highly anticipated nomination hearings this week, with Tulsi Gabbard and R.F.K. Jr. gearing up to f...

Jon Kelly connects with Peter to scrutinize CNN’s post-layoff digital transformation and how long it'll take for Mark Thompson’s vision to come to fruition, before discussing the strategic decisions by the Times, CNN, and other news outlets to tone down their political coverage during Trump 2.0. Finally, they gab about NFL’s declining ratings as Amazon and Netflix become major players in sports me...

Matt Belloni joins Peter to break down this year’s Oscar nominations, from the snubs to the surprises—and the picks guaranteed to plug right into the culture wars. Then they dive into Netflix’s latest earnings call, in which the streaming behemoth announced a record-breaking 19 million new subscribers in the last quarter, bringing their total to over 300 million. Matt explains the tactics they can...

Abby Livingston joins Peter to discuss the dawn of Trump’s second term, and his preference for flexing executive power rather than navigating a gridlocked House and Senate. They also dive into Congress’s reaction to the J6 pardons, the Democrats’ messaging strategy, why the upcoming Virginia governor’s race could serve as a good indicator of public sentiment towards Trump, and much more. To learn...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to break down how CNN ended up paying $5 million to Navy veteran Zachary Young in a stunning, potentially precedent-setting defamation case. Then they dissect Donald Trump’s head-spinning lawsuit accusing ‘60 Minutes’ and CBS News of election interference—and why, despite the specious nature of the case, Paramount might settle. To learn more about listener data and our pri...

Bill Cohan joins Peter for a sobering analysis of the first family’s cynically timed and self-dealing launch of multibillion-dollar meme coins over the weekend, and how the crypto donation box could become a five-alarm constitutional fire. Then they scrutinize the seating chart (and hidden motives) of the tech billionaires at his inauguration. To learn more about listener data and our privacy prac...

Jon Kelly and Peter come together to debate the viability of Maverick Carter’s fascinating plan to create an NBA-adjacent international basketball league, touching on Maverick's ambitious fundraising efforts, and discussing the potential conflicts of interest and red flags. The duo also foreshadow the long-term effects of the catastrophic L.A. fires: the politicization of aid, price gouging, and t...

Bill Cohan joins Peter to speculate on the longevity of the Musk-Trump bromance, as the two titanic egomaniacs seem destined for an inevitable clash. They also delve into how long Musk's self-indulgent foray into the political arena can persist, given the weight of his responsibilities running a multitude of high-maintenance companies like Tesla, X, SpaceX, and others. To learn more about listener...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter for an in-depth discussion on the looming Sunday deadline for TikTok’s ban or forced sale, exploring Trump’s potential solutions to save the app. The conversation then shifts to Drake’s baffling lawsuit against his record label Universal Music Group, sparked by Kendrick Lamar’s now-iconic diss record “Not Like Us.” Eriq breaks down the complexities of proving defamation in...

Dylan Byers joins Peter to reflect on the ongoing wildfire disaster in Los Angeles, and the political blame game that’s only just begun–underscored by Mayor Karen Bass’s perplexing response to the crisis. The duo also discuss MSNBC’s president Rashida Jones’ foreshadowed departure from the network and who could potentially replace her. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices vi...

Tara Palmeri joins Peter to delve into the most recent developments surrounding the looming TikTok ban, with the app slated to go black come Sunday. Tara walks through the Supreme Court’s skepticism towards TikTok’s arguments and explains how Trump could potentially use his executive power to halt the ban. Tara also discusses the broader implications for U.S.-China relations. To learn more about l...

Jon Kelly checks in on Peter Hamby and the two old friends discuss the fates of Karen Bass, the film industry, and order derivative impacts of the tragedy in L.A. Then they dip into the demise of Venu and the future of the Murdoch empire. 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://podca...

Sarah Shapiro joins Peter for a deep dive into the wild world of affiliate marketing and the billion-dollar business of influencers. Sarah discusses the massive impact of creators in the retail space and chronicles an exploding battle between the industry’s perennial leader, LTK, and the bold upstart ShopMy—a rivalry defined by two cultures and starkly different visions for the business. To learn...

Dylan Byers joins Peter to discuss the devastating wildfires and winds that are ravaging Los Angeles. While Dylan praises the local media for their commendable coverage, Peter criticizes the lack of leadership from Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices....