The Powers That Be: Daily

Julia Alexander joins Peter to break down Barstool’s new multi-year deal with Netflix and the Oscars’ jump to YouTube—and what both moves reveal about two giants in the middle of an identity swap. Julia also serves up her media predictions for 2026, from Substack’s next act to the fate of pay TV and the sneaky upside of connected television. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practi...

Matt Belloni joins Peter to break down why the Oscars are ditching ABC for YouTube, which will begin broadcasting the awards in 2029 after years of eroding TV ratings. Matt breaks down why, though it may be a risk for the Academy, the move is a no-brainer in the long run. They also discuss Matt’s interview with Senator Elizabeth Warren, who’s already sharpening her antitrust scrutiny around a pote...

Abby Livingston joins Peter to assess how the redistricting wars may fizzle into a draw, as Democrats float counter-moves, Indiana Republicans reject Trump’s push to redraw the map, and weary G.O.P. lawmakers admit the whole exercise is chaotic and exhausting. Abby also breaks down Jasmine Crockett’s ambitious jump into the Texas Senate race—her clash-of-styles matchup against James Talarico, and...

Bill Cohan joins Peter with fresh intel on why Warner Bros. Discovery remains skeptical of the Ellisons and Paramount Skydance’s offer, as questions linger over whether they actually have the money they’re offering—and whether foreign financing from the Saudis, Qataris, and beyond could spark a lengthy national security headache. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: h...

Jon Kelly and Peter reunite to discuss all the various reasons that Netflix actually needs Warner Bros. and HBO Max. Yes, the company may have definitively won the streaming wars, but it also currently finds itself in the middle of a two-front battle between insurgent F.A.S.T. platforms, like Tubi, and social platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. To learn more about listener data and our privacy p...

Yahoo C.E.O. Jim Lanzone joins Dylan and Julia for a tour of the company’s Apollo era, four years after the private equity behemoth bought the business for just $5 billion—nearly $120 billion shy of its peak valuation. Lanzone breaks down Yahoo’s growth strategy: the metrics that actually matter, how the company monetizes at scale, and what the endgame looks like. They also dig into Yahoo’s A.I. a...

Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to dissect the growing friction between Trump and state regulators over A.I. governance, as Trump pushes for an industry-friendly executive order to slam the brakes on states passing their own rules—just what the A.I. evangelists ordered. They also weigh whether Democrats are missing a huge political opening to harness public anxiety about A.I. and carve out a populist s...

Bill Cohan joins Peter to break down the latest WBD deal frenzy as Paramount goes hostile and Netflix plays patient opportunist. Bill forecasts how high the Ellisons might go, what this M&A knife fight portends for Warner’s TV assets—and why the assets’ share price may ultimately decide the endgame. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privac...

John Ourand joins Peter to reveal the sleeper issue in the WBD acquisition wars: the fate of the company’s high-value sports rights. What happens if Paramount wins and absorbs the WBD portfolio—or if Netflix prevails, and the Global Networks division is spun off? The twosome also dig into Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff snub, and why the school’s media-savvy athletic director is now waging a...

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down what a sluggish, Republican-controlled Congress might look like next year, as G.O.P. lawmakers grow frustrated with the gridlock and are bracing for midterm losses—while some are already packing up amid promises of retirement. Can Trump breathe new life into the party, or is it too late to rally the troops? To learn more about listener data and our priv...

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...