The Powers That Be: Daily

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to walk through the explosive P.R. and legal war engulfing Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni—including Baldoni’s $250 million counterattack against The New York Times. Then the duo uncover the China subplot behind Trump’s campaign to force the Supreme Court to delay a ban on TikTok. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/...

Abby Livingston joins Peter to discuss the challenges and prospects for Republicans in passing legislation during Trump’s second term—especially after the harrowing pre-Christmas government spending bill near-disaster. Then they turn to the potential for executive orders by Trump and what, if anything, Democrats can do about it. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: ht...

Jon Kelly reunites with Peter to chew over the exodus of key departures from The Washington Post and whether C.E.O. Will Lewis can pivot the newsroom with a wave of new talent. They also discuss Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL games and why sports rights seem destined for the big streamers. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Lear...

Bill Cohan joins Ben to discuss how the triple threat of Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet have forced the legacy TV incumbents—Comcast, WBD, Disney, and Paramount—to countenance their own M&A visions of what Bob Iger famously called the "everything on the table" era.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad ch...

In a special best-of replay episode, Lauren Sherman drops by to discuss the rise and fall of Victoria’s Secret, Les Wexner’s apparel empire, and the Epstein mystery. Then Lauren and Peter dig into a designer shakeup at Fendi, and where the next fashion house dominos could fall.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more a...

From the archives: Baratunde Thurston joins Peter Hamby to dissect the heated A.I. arms race between Google, Meta, and OpenAl, and how a new wave of generative search tools, like Perplexity AI, are making it difficult for tech incumbents to outpace disruptors. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choice...

From the archives: Eriq Gardner joins Peter Hamby to unwind the myriad legal challenges facing sports business behemoth Fanatics and its brash billionaire founder Michael Rubin. Plus, news on an under-the-radar trial surrounding the Skydance-Paramount merger. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices...

It’s a food media-themed doubleheader in The Grill Room! First, Dylan convenes with The Infatuation C.E.O. Paul Needham, who discusses the economics of his restaurant recommendation empire. Then acclaimed food writer and entrepreneur Alison Roman stops by to discuss her journey from legacy media to entrepreneurship and why her defenestration from The New York Times turned out to be a blessing in d...

Lauren Sherman joins Ben to dish about what's next for Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors after their $8.5 billion merger with Tapestry fell apart. Plus: How shareholders lost out on billions as Nordstrom, the family-controlled luxury department store chain, belatedly goes private after 50 years. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privac...

Marion Maneker joins Ben for a rollicking deep dive into everything that's gone wrong at Sotheby's: the layoffs, the Emirati entanglement, and why C.E.O. Charles Stewart suddenly reversed course on the auction house's radical new fee structure. Then they dig into how the art market could bounce back in 2025. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.c...

In this special replay of The Varsity, Former Turner Network prez David Levy joins John Ourand for a rollicking discussion of Comcast’s bombshell decision to spin off its cable channels, Amazon’s moves to dominate the R.S.N. market, the genius of Netflix’s Tyson-Paul fight, the ripple effects of the TNT-ESPN deal, and so much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit:...

In a special Christmas Eve throwback, Peter hands the mic to Lauren Sherman and Dylan Byers to discuss the sartorial trends among the .0001 percent at the Allen & Co. conference. Then Casey Lewis, author of the After School newsletter, joins Lauren to dissect Gen Z’s consumer behaviors and brand loyalties. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com...

Jon Kelly reunites with Peter to weigh in on the latest headlines occupying the media landscape this holiday season: a new set of details regarding ABC News and Disney’s defamation lawsuit settlement, the beleaguered Washington Post concluding their executive editor sweepstakes, the budding December rivalry between the NFL and college football, and much, much more. To learn more about listener dat...

Abby Livingston joins Ben to discuss the latest spending bill mishegoss and how Mike Johnson lost control of his conference. Then they investigate why Nancy Pelosi worked the phones to kill A.O.C.'s leadership bid. 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

Marion Maneker joins Peter to walk through the latest drama at Sotheby’s, with the auction house revealing nearly 100 layoffs in New York and possibly more to come across the globe. He also takes a close look at the relationship between Sotheby’s C.E.O. Charles Stewart and billionaire owner Patrick Drahi—and how their cost-cutting will impact buyers on a practical level. To learn more about listen...

Baratunde Thurston joins Peter to break down how A.I. is playing a role in each of the nation’s power corners, and what experts are saying about how it will remake our society and politics in 2025 and beyond. Then they discuss the widespread skepticism surrounding the technology, and whether certain industries should adapt or resist. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visi...

Bill Cohan joins Peter to speculate about Warner Bros. Discover potentially selling its declining cable assets as Zaslav doubles down on streaming. Then they delve into how BuzzFeed, on the brink of bankruptcy, is scrambling to pay off its colossal corporate debt. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad ch...

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to break down ABC News and Disney's $15 million decision to settle the defamation lawsuit brought by Trump. He also dives into Trump’s freshly-filed lawsuit against former pollster Ann Selzer and whether this signals a warning shot for other pollsters who could face similar lawsuits. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.c...

Jon Kelly connects with Dylan Byers to chew over the latest media industry buzz, starting with David Zaslav’s sweeping WBD restructuring and what this move portends for his longstanding cable networks, including CNN. Is Zaslav positioning to spin off these networks, a la Brian Roberts’ SpinCo? Plus they dive into the latest developments at The Washington Post, Politico, and much more. To learn mor...

Abby Livingston returns with a grand unified theory of how tech took over Trump's White House: the V.C. players in his inner circle, the crypto money that fueled the election, whether lawmakers will back off regulation of Big Tech, and why Washington dismisses Elon Musk at its peril.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn...

Tara Palmeri joins Ben to discuss how a cheating Don Jr. got his fiancée banished to Greece, and what the non-scandal scandal portends for fellow sex fiends RFK Jr. and Pete Hegseth. Then they assess Tulsi Gabbard's charm campaign on the Hill and whether Kash Patel will be the next nominee to fall.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privac...

John Ourand joins Peter for a candid conversation about the booming college football business as the inaugural CFP is slated to begin this weekend—and Bill Belichick's striking move to become UNC's next head coach. Then they discuss whether the NBA Cup is having a positive impact on the league's ratings and competition. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www...

Legal expert Eriq Gardner joins Peter to explain the latest twist in Rupert Murdoch’s high-stakes succession battle against his children. Then they debate the chances that Trump saves TikTok after a federal court upheld the app’s ban slated for January. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Dylan Byers joins Peter with the latest on The Washington Post's executive editor sweepstakes, where a surprising twist sees one of the leading contenders defecting to The New York Times. Then Dylan delves into the never-ending controversies surrounding tech and culture writer Taylor Lorenz, and the baggage that seems to follow her at every turn. To learn more about listener data and our privacy p...

Jon Kelly joins Peter to chat about the media’s portrayal of the Hegseth confirmation tour. The old friends also chew over the Conde Nast layoffs, Rashida Jones’ impending departure from MSNBC, and other related industry subplots. 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://podcastchoice...