The Powers That Be: Daily

It’s Media Monday! Jon Kelly joins Peter to discuss MSNBC’s vexing inactivity to plug its Maddow-sized hole in prime time. Is Jeff Shell making a statement about linear? Or are executives out to lunch? And will Zaslav pivot CNN+ or, worse, essentially cut its cord?   To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad...

Teddy Schleifer joins Peter to discuss why the emergence of a new class of ultra-ultra wealthy Democrats, such as MacKenzie Scott and Laurene Powell Jobs and the Zuckerberg-Chans, has the G.O.P. so fired up. And William D. Cohan swings by to discuss the panic in the Twitter board room as Elon Musk readies for the kill shot. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https:/...

What will Elon Musk do next in his gruesome hostage negotiation with the Twitter board? William D. Cohan tells Peter why Musk is so dangerous right now, and how he could eat Twitter alive. Also: Puck’s VP Alex Bigler swings by to share our community’s most intimate feedback. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about...

Tina Nguyen joins Peter to discuss the head-spinning Pennsylvania Senate primary, where Trump has endorsed Dr. Oz (Dr. Oz!!) over the former C.E.O. of Bridgewater, who happens to be married to former Trump cabinet member Dina Powell, and is employing Hope Hicks, Cliff Sims, and other Trump J.V. alums. Plus: Ben Landy documents CNN’s woes and Maddow’s surprise. To learn more about listener data and...

Julia Alexander, the Parrot Analytics analyst and Puck contributor, joins Peter to explain HBO Max’s success and what to expect under Zaz Rule. Meanwhile, Teddy Schleifer gets into Mackenzie Scott’s business. 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

Jon Kelly joins Peter for a discussion about the D.C. media fascination du jour--will the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner take place this year or get Covid-cancelled? The gala, a veritable celebrity event in the Obama years, essentially went on hiatus in the Trump era. Is it back? Are D.C. reporters going to reprise their star power or revert to C-SPAN cover stars? As usual, t...

Matt Belloni talks with Peter about The Academy’s meeting today about Will Smith’s punishment. Will his Oscar be taken away? Meanwhile, Jon Kelly swings by to talk about The Times, Zazworld, and the G.O.P.s gross fetishes. Follow @PuckNews on Twitter and Subscribe to Puck. News The Power's That Be is a presentation of Cadence 13 Studios. Please listen, rate, review, and follow all episodes whereve...

Puck’s executive editor Ben Landy joins Peter for a conversation about Biden’s tenure thus far: his dismal approval ratings, his post-Afghanistan hurdles, and his best shot yet at recovering his message. And Baratunde Thurston explains the latest revelations on the Web3 phenomenon. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn mor...

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to explain the Ukrainian president’s strategy, Putin’s Gordian knot, and whether the Russian president could actually face trial for war crimes. And Puck executive editor Ben Landy swings by to explain David Zaslav’s latest moves. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

William D. Cohan joins Peter to explain why Elon Musk spent 1% of his net worth, or nearly $3 billion, to become Twitter's largest individual shareholder. Is he out to gobble up the company? Does he want to let Trump back on the platform? Or is he just thrilled to make $800 million for passively owning the stock for a few days. Hint: all the above and more. Then, Tina Nguyen stops by to explain ho...

Jon Kelly joins Peter to discuss Jen Psaki’s decision to pick MSNBC over CNN and whether she’ll be able to handle the green room heat. They also chew over whether Alex Wagner—or anyone, for that matter—can adequately fill Maddow’s shoes. Lastly, the duo discuss the latest batch of Trump books. Too late or is too much never enough? Follow @PuckNews on Twitter and Subscribe to Puck. News The Power's...

William D. Cohan joins Peter Hamby to examine the C-suite headache at Disney, where former C.E.O. Bob Iger appears to be trolling his successor, Bob Chapek. It’s reminiscent one of one of the most thorny successions in all of corporate America. Meanwhile, Julia Ioffe swings by to presage how, and when, Putin’s bloodthirsty and misguided invasion of Ukraine might end. It could shock you. Follow @Pu...

Tina Nguyen joins Peter to explore Ron DeSantis’s 2024 calculus for staying quiet about Ukraine, his strategic non-aggression pact with Trump, and perhaps the biggest question hanging over the G.O.P. right now—will he still run for president if Trump does too? And will Mike Pence help him kill the king? Also: Teddy Schleifer swings by to unveil some unfolding billionaire drama. Follow @PuckNews on...

Teddy Schleifer joins Peter Hamby to discuss the emerging political ambitions of a previously anonymous billionaire with some big political aspirations. Jeff Lawson, the C.E.O. of Twilio, is positioning himself to become the biggest political donor on the left, an heir to Benioff, and the latest avatar of how Silicon Valley is reshaping Washington D.C. Follow @PuckNews on Twitter and Subscribe to...

Baratunde Thurston joins Peter Hamby to discuss the tragedy of Will Smith’s Oscar night, pinpointing the most critical mistakes that the actor made beyond the infamous clocking of Chris Rock. They also discuss what Smith should have said, and needs to reflect on, if he wants to regain his dignity (and career). Follow @PuckNews on Twitter and Subscribe to Puck. News The Power's That Be is a present...

Peter Hamby is back just in time for another Media Monday. Jon Kelly joins to discuss Chris Wallace's parting words to Fox News, the respected journalist's jump to CNN+ and his Norman Rockwellesque new tv show. Then they lament how BuzzFeed News became a listicle of itself.  Follow @PuckNews on Twitter and Subscribe to Puck. News The Power's That Be is a presentation of Cadence 13 Studios. Please...

In part two of their intimate conversation, Julia Ioffe explains to Teddy Schleifer the seismic generational undercurrents at play now in Russia: the battle between an aging generation that came of age during the USSR and the millennials who grew up accepting Ukraine’s sovereignty.  Julia channels her own childhood in the final years of the Soviet Union to paint the image of a divided country, unc...

Julia Ioffe joins the show to discuss Putin’s most unlikely nemesis—a Moscow model-turned-activist who has been using social media platforms (first Insta, now Telegram) to reveal Putin’s propaganda machine for the masses. Julia and Teddy Schleifer dig into his campaign, and the fascinating similarities between the generation divisions in Russia and our split screen reality in the U.S. Follow @Puck...

Former M&A senior banker William D. Cohan joins Teddy Schleifer to discuss how Wall Street is navigating the crippling sanctions on Putin’s regime, why some banks are still operating in Russia, and how hedge funds are playing both sides of the sell-off. On Wall Street, after all, the horror of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also become a uniquely dark investing opportunity. To learn more about l...

Tina Nguyen joins Teddy Schleifer to explore what Ron DeSantis is doing to position himself as the front runner of a post-Trump MAGA world. They discuss DeSantis' attempts to placate his base, how Trump would handle "Don't Say Gay," and how the war in Ukraine has divided the G.O.P. Follow @PuckNews on Twitter and Subscribe to Puck. News The Power's That Be is a presentation of Cadence 13 Studios....

Puck co-founder Jon Kelly joins Teddy Schleifer for a far-reaching conversation on the NFL's bull market for former QB announcers, its inevitable plural broadcast strategy, and future on streaming. Plus, they weigh whether Netflix will one day embrace an AVOD tier, and catch up on the latest dish surrounding Ben & Justin Smith's new company. Follow @PuckNews on Twitter and Subscribe to Puck. News...

Disney’s still-newish C.E.O. Bob Chapek has had a hell of a week—first coming out as neutral on Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation before issuing a too-late mea culpa condemning the bill. Chapek has had a difficult time filling the very large shoes of his predecessor, Bob Iger. But even if he wants to push Disney closer to the center, it seems like he may be more comfortable with the number-cru...

America's largest companies are pulling out of Russia, holding their heads high for their decision to penalize Putin's war in Ukraine. But, over time, many will look to recoup their losses by going after their insurance companies-- a potentially dizzying torrent of realpolitik litigation that reveals the gruesome underbelly of the global economy. Peter speaks with Eriq Gardner, Puck's legal expert...

Dylan Byers, Puck's founding partner, and media expert, swings by to discuss MSNBC's overwhelming problems: Maddow's oncoming departure, Ari Emanuel's vulcan grip on the network's leadership, and the widening chasm with CNN, just to name a few. MSNBC seems to be running the Trump-era playbook in an entirely new age. So what's next? And does anyone at NBCU even care? Follow @PuckNews on Twitter The...

Over the past decade-plus, Yuri Milner has achieved first-name status in Silicon Valley--like Mark, Sheryl, Jack, Reid, and Ev. But Milner's origin story as a mega-watt investor involves deep ties to the Kremlin, which is why Silicon Valley's elite are looking for him to take a stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. What is Milner saying? Well, it's complicated... On Today's show, Peter sits...