The Powers That Be: Daily
Join Emmy Award-winning journalist Peter Hamby and the team of expert journalists at Puck as they let you in on the real conversations insiders are having across the four corners of power in America: Wall Street, Washington, Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Puck's contributors bring smart conversation around the inside stories happening in these worlds. Presented in partnership with Audacy, new episodes publish daily, Monday-Friday.
Episodes
How Iger Got the Lakers
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, who broke last week’s big news about the LA Lakers, joins John to walk through how the $12.5 billion deal came together practically overnight. The two dig into the NBA’s exploding franchise valuations, what kind of owner Iger is likely to be, why LeBron James really left for Philly, and the murky, slow-moving investigation into the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard.
Prep Rally
Malique Morris joins Peter to unpack J.Crew’s preppy renaissance—buoyed by buzzy campaigns with Bad Bunny and Jasmine Tookes—and why all that reclaimed cool may not be showing up on the balance sheet. Then they dig into Vette, Condé Nast’s ambitious new affiliate-marketing venture, and debate whether shoppers will really flock to influencer-run storefronts over the retailers they already know.
The Iran–Gaza Election
Julia Ioffe joins Peter to discuss how Trump’s cascading misadventures in the Middle East are hanging over the midterms—driving up gas prices, scrambling party politics on Iran and Gaza, and fueling more insurgent challengers than ever. Then they turn to the president’s renewed tariff threats, and how Israel could become the defining litmus test issue of 2028.
Flock and Awe
Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to unpack the backlash against Flock, the fast-growing surveillance-camera startup whose automated license plate readers are popping up (and being torn down) across the country. Then the pair examine how Democratic operatives are mining opt-in ChatGPT and Gemini transcripts to craft ads for voters who’ve tuned politics out.
DeSantis’s Silent Treatment
Marianna Sotomayor joins Peter from her home state of Florida to unpack today’s primaries, beginning with Ron DeSantis—still polling above Trump, yet oddly absent from the race to replace him. Then they survey the down-ballot field, from a Senate seat Democrats have all but conceded to House primaries crowded with carpetbaggers.
Media Monday: Ellison’s Exit Strategy & The Lakers Flip
Jon Kelly and Peter reunite for a California edition of Media Monday, starting with the standoff between AG Rob Bonta and David Ellison, who’s threatening to pull Paramount out of the state unless Bonta drops his antitrust suit against the Warner Bros. merger. Then they turn to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner’s staggering $12.5 billion deal for the Lakers, and the private equity money reshaping sports.
Politico's Power Play
Jonathan Greenberger, the unconventional editor in chief of Politico, joins Dylan to explain how a business-side executive ended up running the newsroom—and what it means for Politico's future. They discuss the relaunch of Playbook and its early scoop streak, the push to make every franchise multi-platform (podcasts, video, events), and Politico's bet that its global footprint can turn political d
How Wall Street Fell in Love With Sports
Bill Cohan joins Peter to explain why deep-pocketed investors are muscling into pro sports, from Apollo’s $2.6 billion investment in the Yankees to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger’s $12.5 billion grab for the Lakers. Then the two weigh whether even blue-chip franchises have a ceiling, and whether buyers shelling out record prices have simply gotten caught up in deal heat.
Primary Colors
Marianna Sotomayor joins Peter to unpack the stunning collapse of Francesca Hong’s gubernatorial bid in Wisconsin, where a late establishment cash dump and unflattering press erased her double-digit lead against David Crowley. Then they survey the rest of the primary wreckage, from a grassroots Senate upset in Minnesota to a generational shakeup in Connecticut, and what it all says about a Democra
The Row Less Traveled
Lauren Sherman joins Peter to unpack how the Olsen twins built The Row into a nearly $400 million luxury juggernaut, and why the brand sits at a crossroads as quiet luxury falls out of fashion. Then Lauren turns to Karlie Kloss’s Bedford Media and its splashy revamp of i-D magazine, from hiring a new editor to the harder task of restoring the youth-culture bible’s long-lost cool.
A.I.’s Great Escape
Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to unpack a cascade of security snafus at the major A.I. labs, starting with the OpenAI model that broke loose from its sandbox and hacked Hugging Face—only for Anthropic and Meta to discover their own models had quietly done the same. Then Ian breaks down Congressman Ted Lieu’s bipartisan Kill Switch Act and the Trump administration’s new, curiously classified framework
Media Monday: Ellison’s Manifesto & The B.I. New Guy
Jon Kelly chats up Dylan Byers, sitting in for Peter Hamby, about the subliminal intentions of David Ellison’s NYT op-ed and the headwinds facing new Business Insider C.E.O. Christian Baesler.
Succession Obsession
Lauren’s guest today is French journalist and L’etiquette editor-in-chief Marc Beaugé. They go in-depth on the six-part Le Monde series on Bernard Arnault; Marc even watched the standup comedy special released by Xavier Niel, the billionaire investor and husband of Delphine Arnault, so you don't have to. They also discuss the destruction of Bally with its current owner, Michael Reinstein, in the t
The Media Trial of the Century
Eriq Gardner joins guest host Dylan Byers to preview the media trial of the century between California and Paramount over the looming merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Eriq breaks down all of the second- and third-order effects of the case, how it’s affecting the Ellisons and Zaslav, and what it all signals about the growing regulatory power of state attorneys general.
Can Abdul El-Sayed Reunite the Dems?
Marianna Sotomayor joins guest host Leigh Ann Caldwell to dig into the week’s big primaries, with a focus on how Abdul El-Sayed’s surprising win over Haley Stevens could help reunite a fractured Democratic Party. They break down El-Sayed’s appeal to younger voters and the biggest challenges awaiting him in November’s general. They also examine Speaker Mike Johnson’s hands-off approach to members w
The G.O.P.’s Life After Lindsey
Julia Ioffe joins guest host Leigh Ann Caldwell to discuss Republican foreign policy in a post–Lindsey Graham world. They dig into the outsized influence Graham held over Trump’s approach to Ukraine, Iran, and Israel—and what his absence means going forward. They also revisit Julia’s exclusive reporting on Laura Loomer, the MAGA influencer who recently turned from Putin apologist to Zelensky cheer
Zaz in Limbo
Bill Cohan joins Peter to discuss how the frozen Paramount-Warner Bros. merger has left David Zaslav in an awkward spot—hamstrung by deal terms that require the Ellisons’ sign-off on virtually everything. Bill lays out what Zaz can and can’t do while the deal sits in limbo—then considers whether the irrationally exuberant world of Wall Street I.P.O.s can ever actually be reformed.
Media Monday: WarnerMount Nightmare Scenarios & ESPN’s New Era
Jon Kelly and Peter weigh in on the potential fallout from delaying the WarnerMount merger, as Gov. Gavin Newsom raises concerns about what blocking the deal could mean for Hollywood jobs and the state economy. Then the duo chew over ESPN’s recent town hall, where new executive Mike Foss urged talent to “embrace authenticity” and adopt digital trends while keeping their combative on-air personalit
Gotta Buy ’Em All
Marion Maneker joins Peter to report back from a recent round of conversations with the leaders of the four major auction houses about the art market’s big comeback—and the buyers driving it at the top. Marion also explains why the market for sports cards, collectibles, and memorabilia, Pokémon cards included, has gotten so scorching that even the fine art world is taking notice.
South Carolina’s Other Graham
Marianna Sotomayor joins Peter for a close look at two Senate races giving both parties heartburn this midterm season: South Carolina and Michigan. In South Carolina, Darline Graham—Lindsey Graham’s sister, running with a Trump endorsement despite a thin political résumé—has scrambled the picture. Meanwhile in Michigan, Democrats worry they could squander a winnable seat in a critical battleground
OpenAI’s Runaway Model
Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to weigh the political fallout from a startling security breach at OpenAI, where one of the company’s own models broke loose and hacked into an outside company without their knowledge. The duo dig into A.I.’s emerging potential to commit crimes and why A.I. safety legislation faces an uphill climb under the current administration.
Arnault’s Bad Press & Vogue’s Anonymous Foe
Lauren Sherman joins Peter to discuss Le Monde’s six-part investigation series on LVMH boss Bernard Arnault and his family—which got under Arnault’s skin so much it prompted the elder statesman to join X to respond publicly. Lauren also gets into the anonymous Instagram account making life difficult for Vogue France, and why Vogue’s regional editions across the globe are suddenly under a microscop
Media Monday: ESPN's McAfee Makeover & Netflix Red Flags
Besties Jon Kelly and Peter reunite to discuss the power players in media, politics, and private equity who quietly helped bring LeBron to Philadelphia. Then they turn to the ESPN layoffs and make the case that the future of sports belongs to formats like the Manningcast and personalities like McAfee, not the traditional studio-reporter model. They also break down Netflix’s most recent engagement
Sen. McCormick’s Power Agenda
In this special episode, Sen. Dave McCormick joins Leigh Ann Caldwell to lay out his energy-first agenda. McCormick argues for regulatory certainty and permitting reform, addresses the enduring conflict with Iran and its impact on gas prices, gets into his surprising partnership with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, and much more.
Is ESPN’s Star System Failing?
John Ourand joins Peter to break down the latest round of layoffs at ESPN and the financial pressures behind them, from eye-watering NBA and NFL rights fees to the NFL Network acquisition and the pivot toward stars like McAfee and Stephen A. Then they turn to Tom Brady’s cringey “divorced dad” P.R. tour, including his latest publicity stunt with Logan Paul—and whether he’s quietly scuffing his onc
SpaceX’s Moonshot & An Iran War Paradox
Bill Cohan joins Peter to make sense of the A.I. and SpaceX hype cycles driving the market’s fever pitch. Then Bill breaks down how the war in Iran has sent gas prices climbing—though not as high as many initially feared—and digs into the factors quietly staving off a broader global energy crisis.
Kash Patel’s Moscow Mystery
Julia Ioffe joins Peter to discuss the mystery of F.B.I. director Kash Patel’s voyage to Russia, which has left even Trump administration insiders stumped for answers. Then Julia turns to Lindsey Graham’s final legislative wish—a Russia sanctions bill tied to the war in Ukraine—and why it’s suddenly carrying new momentum in the wake of his death.
The People v. David Ellison
Eriq Gardner joins Peter to get into the legal weeds of the antitrust lawsuit targeting the Paramount–WBD merger. Eriq breaks down how the Democratic attorneys general are aiming to delay the process, hoping that a drawn-out fight will squeeze David Ellison and Paramount’s legal team on both political and financial fronts.
Media Monday: Brian Tyler Cohen’s Media Gospel
In this special episode, Brian Tyler Cohen, progressive content creator and author of The Day After, joins Peter to diagnose the Democratic Party’s persistent media problem. Cohen digs into why the party's reliance on traditional press has left it flat-footed against Trump’s effective use of various platforms. He also takes aim at the F.C.C. under Brendan Carr, and makes the case that broader outr
Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising, from Future Hindsight
Sharing a new series from Future Hindsight, Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising. Occupy Wall Street is the story of the improbable becoming possible. In 2008, millions of people were devastated by an economic crash caused by Wall Street greed, but it wasn’t until 2011 that there was a mass response from the Left. A call to protest went out, and thousands of people responded. They raged against a s
Can Spanx Survive the Skims Era?
Malique Morris joins Peter to examine the fall of Spanx, whose elastane stranglehold on the category loosened dramatically once the Kardashians and Skims entered the picture. Then Malique explains why so many retailers and fashion brands are looking outside the industry entirely to bring in executives from unrelated fields to overhaul their products and storytelling.
Bonta’s Trust Issues
Dylan Byers joins Peter to break down the strengths and weaknesses of the 12-state antitrust lawsuit brought by Democratic attorneys general in a bid to block the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger. Then Dylan digs into the anxieties gripping CBS News, where 60 Minutes is just about two months out from their new season amid the mass exodus of on-air talent and producers.
Apple Declares War On OpenAI
Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to break down Apple’s shocking lawsuit against OpenAI, which accuses Sam Altman’s company of running a sweeping corporate espionage campaign to steal trade secrets from Cupertino. Then Ian gets into the politics of A.I. this midterm season—and why voter anxiety about A.I. and data centers hasn’t quite caught fire at the ballot box yet.
Can the G.O.P. Survive Losing Lindsey?
Mariana Sotomayor joins Peter to examine the sudden loss of Lindsey Graham and what it means for a Republican Party that’s losing its old-school operators faster than it can replace them. Then they turn to Trump’s continued pressure campaign for the Save America Act, and whether Hill Republicans have any realistic path to passing it before the midterms.
Media Monday: Sun Valley Murmurs & Platner Aftershocks
Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to exchange notes on this year’s Silicon Valley catwalk and the event’s new position in the firmament. The duo also discuss the media’s role in the Graham Platner fiasco.
Trump Fatigue Meets Its Match
The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan join Dylan for an inside look at their new book, ‘Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump,’ which moved an extraordinary 300,000 copies in its first week. They shed light on their reporting process, why the book has cut through despite widespread Trump fatigue in media, where their reporting partnership goes from here, and
Wall Street’s I.P.O. Bubble Watch
Bill Cohan joins Peter to make sense of an I.P.O. market that may be in way over its head. He discusses Bending Spoons, whose portfolio of old internet companies just went public at 35 times EBITDA, and Jersey Mike’s, the popular sandwich chain gunning for a $12 billion valuation. Bill explains why both are probably overvalued and evidence that Wall Street banks are willing to sell anything f
MLS’s New Goals & MLB’s Labor Curveball
John Ourand joins Peter to debrief on a blockbuster World Cup that’s delivering massive TV ratings and renewing optimism among soccer officials about the sport’s future in the U.S. Then they turn to MLB, where an otherwise terrific season is heading into the All-Star break under the familiar cloud of player–owner labor tensions.
Sky’s the Limit
Dylan Byers joins Peter to make the case that Versant is more than its declining linear assets—pointing to the acquisition of Full Swing, the popular golf simulator, as a sign of broader ambitions beyond cable. Dylan also weighs into Sky’s acquisition of ITV, which will make the combined company an attractive acquisition target—assuming they can clear the regulatory hurdles ahead.
Platner’s Maine Squeeze
Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down the Democrats’ Senate fiasco in Maine, where progressive nominee Graham Platner is reconsidering his campaign after an ex-girlfriend publicly accused him of sexual assault. Then Leigh Ann walks through a fascinating research project that’s been tracking a core group of voters since 2024—and what their evolving feelings about Donald Trump reveal about th
Media Monday: Comcast Arbitrage & Axel’s Telegraph Thesis
After a restful fourth, true patriots Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to dig into the second-order effects of the Comcast split news. Who will buy NBCU? What will happen to the news division? Was this cleavage foreshadowed when Brian Roberts overpaid for NBA rights? Then they segue into Axel Springer’s likely vision for The Telegraph in the U.S. market.
Introducing: Money Moves with Jill Schlesinger
There’s a lot of dopey financial advice out there. Jill Schlesinger is here to call it out, answer your questions, break down the financial news that actually matters, and help you manage your money without losing your mind. No jargon. No judgment. Just clear, actionable financial guidance about saving, investing, buying a home, managing your career, and deciding how to spend your hard-earned doll
Fox Sports’ Golden Boot
C.E.O. Eric Shanks joins John to gush about the World Cup and Fox’s decade-long investment in soccer. He discusses his biggest surprises, Fox’s always-on approach to coverage, Zlatan Ibrahimović’s unlikely TV career, the controversial hydration breaks, the looming 2030 rights war, and more.
Sam Altman Biopic Drama & Hollywood’s Box Office Bounce!
Matt Belloni joins Peter with the scoop on where Luca Guadagnino’s big OpenAI movie is landing after Amazon dropped it. Matt also digs into the surprisingly strong box office numbers in 2026, and why Hollywood is on pace to have its most profitable year since the pandemic.
Vance’s Foreign Policy Pivot
Julia Ioffe joins Peter with fresh reporting on J.D. Vance’s increasingly pointed criticism of Israel as the U.S. works through its ceasefire deal with Iran, explaining how Vance is playing to a nationalist populist base that’s grown deeply skeptical of American involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.
A24’s “Betrayal” & Netflix’s NBC Wish List
Julia Alexander joins Peter to explain why A24—cinephiles’ favorite studio—just struck a $75 million partnership with Google’s DeepMind. The studio's fanbase is alarmed, but Julia makes the case for why fears of a sellout are premature, at least for now. Then she turns to Comcast’s decision to spin off NBCUniversal and breaks down which NBC properties are most likely to catch Netflix’s eye.
Can NBCUniversal Survive Without Comcast?
Dylan Byers joins Peter to make sense of Comcast’s bombshell decision to spin off NBCUniversal—including NBC News, Peacock, Bravo, and much more—after 15 years in the content business. Dylan discusses the strategic thinking behind the move and addresses the elephant in the room: while Netflix, Amazon, and Apple would love the I.P. and content libraries, nobody in streaming wants to inherit a linea
Media Monday: Amazon Politics & Ben Shapiro I.P.O. Conspiracy Theories
Jon Kelly rejoins Peter to discuss the fallout stemming from Matt Belloni’s scoop about Amazon’s decision to dump ‘Artificial.’ Then the duo hypothesize about why The Daily Wire, Ben Shapiro’s media company, suddenly needs so much cash.
FanDuel’s Next Gamble
FanDuel President Christian Genetski joins John to talk shop about World Cup engagement, the sports betting scandals putting the industry under a microscope, and FanDuel’s foray into prediction markets. Genetski addresses the looming transparency and regulation questions head-on, and explains how he’s threading the needle between legal complexities and a consumer appetite that's only intensifying.
Is Bitcoin Not Gonna Make It?
Bill Cohan joins Peter to explain why Bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies are plummeting, and whether big investors in the crypto space are risking too much by holding on. Then he breaks down the price drop in SpaceX, which made a splashy I.P.O. debut just over a week ago, but has since come back down to earth.
The NYT’s Athletic Problem
Dylan Byers joins Peter to dig into the rekindled tensions between The New York Times and The Athletic over the Times’ investigation into Dianna Russini, whose secret relationship with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel turned into salacious tabloid fodder. Dylan also weighs in on the potential CBS-CNN merger and what kind of leader it will take to navigate the transition.
World Cup Euphoria & A YouTube Sports Mystery
John Ourand joins Peter to revel in the World Cup’s TV ratings bonanza, and why all the haters were wrong. Then John weighs into YouTube’s relentless pursuit of a marquee sports rights deal—and whether the platform is on the verge of becoming a genuine player or just phoning it in.
Vance’s Iran Trump Card
Julia Ioffe and Peter untangle the framework peace deal between the United States and Iran, which seems to shift by the hour as Israel, Tehran, and Washington trade competing details. They also explain why J.D. Vance has emerged as the deal’s most visible champion, using the moment to cement his standing with Trump.
Media Monday: CNN-CBS News Pro Forma Realities & Fox-Roku Vulcan Chess
Jon Kelly and Peter reunite to work through the CNN-CBS News pro forma possibilities as the era of belt-tightening beckons at WarnerMount. Then the duo trade some final observations about Fox’s acquisition of Roku.
The James Dolan Paradox
Fresh off of the Knicks' historic championship victory, John sits down with ESPN's Brian Windhorst and New York's own Mike Breen to dig into James Dolan's ownership of the team, the undervalued roster Leon Rose quietly assembled, and why Jalen Brunson is essentially funding his own teammates. Breen also expands on his emotional call as the clock hit zero.
Tarjay or Not Tarjay
Malique Morris joins Peter to discuss Target’s big bet on bringing Isaac Mizrahi back as creative director at large, hoping his playful, kitschy sensibility can revive the “Tarjay” magic as Amazon, Walmart, and Quince push in. Then they get into Net-a-Porter’s shrink-to-grow overhaul under Mytheresa’s new ownership.
Inside the White House–Anthropic War
Ian Krietzberg and Peter get to the bottom of why Trump put the kibosh on Anthropic’s powerful new Fable model, how Dario Amodei screwed the pooch, whether the freakout is overblown, and what it all means for the rest of us.
Murdoch’s Streaming Masterstroke
Julia Alexander joins Peter to get into Fox's first giant move under Lachlan Murdoch: a $22 billion bet on Roku, the ubiquitous TV operating system in 100 million U.S. households. Then they get into the record-breaking World Cup and Knicks ratings, and the perennial mysteries of Nielsen numbers.
Schumer’s Platner Problem
Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down Graham Platner’s momentum, and the public restaurant blow-up between Chuck Schumer and David Krone over the candidate Schumer reluctantly inherited. Then they discuss Trump’s Iran ceasefire, which has already been downgraded from “peace deal” to a “memorandum of understanding.”
Media Monday: The Pelley Post-Mortem & More McAfeebucks
The besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby are reunited to share their deep readings on the latest reverberations of Pelleyghazi before turning their attention to the realities of Pat McAfee economics.
Fox One's Big Moment
Dylan sits down with Fox One head Pete Distad to discuss why the World Cup is a make-or-break moment for Fox's streaming service. They dive into the platform's new features designed to pull in and retain fans and why sports fans are sticking around for Fox News in greater numbers than anticipated.
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The People v. Netflix
Eriq Gardner swings by to discuss two mind-melting legal sagas: Ken Paxton’s “dark patterns” lawsuit accusing Netflix of ensnaring kids with addictive algorithms, and the University of Cincinnati’s lawsuit against a transfer quarterback for potentially breaching the terms of his $1 million NIL contract.
Can Democrats Still Take the Senate?
Abby Livingston joins Peter to break down key Democratic Senate races, from the Platner-Mills showdown in Maine to Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan wild card and James Talarico’s slim lead in Texas. Then they discuss the surprisingly deep Democratic bench—and why this cycle is starting to look like 2010 in reverse.
The Bari Diaries
Dylan Byers and Peter Hamby sit down to discuss the latest developments in the world of Bari Weiss. They set the record straight on the Axios report about Paramount bringing in back-up for Bari, why the names on the list don't make sense, and the real test for new 60 Minutes EP Nick Bilton when the show premieres this fall.
The Trump Endorsement Slump
Marianna Sotomayor joins Peter to discuss Tuesday’s primaries—and the growing evidence that Donald Trump’s once-vaunted endorsement is losing its punch. Then they discuss Graham Platner’s controversy-mired march through Maine, and the FISA reauthorization Democrats are holding hostage over Bill Pulte, Trump’s underqualified D.N.I. pick.
Media Monday: Too Scott to Handle!
Besties Jon and Peter weigh into the latest developments in the ‘60 Minutes’ soap opera: the firing of Scott Pelley, the Nick Bilton showdown, and the newsroom murder-suicide pact. Then they dig into the media meta-narrative surrounding the New York Times oppo drop on Senate wannabe Graham Platner, and whether the lawyers watered it down.
French Hill on the Senate Crypto Stalemate
The G.O.P. chairman of the House Financial Services Committee joins Leigh Ann Caldwell in Washington to walk through his ambitious legislative agenda: the stalemate over crypto, sticking points on housing reform, his complicated position on Ukraine, and more.
The Graham Platner Dilemma
Abby Livingston joins Peter to chew over the newest damaging revelations surrounding Senate candidate Graham Platner, the Marine veteran turned progressive folk hero. Could his checkered past cost Democrats a winnable seat in Maine? And if the oppo bombs keep coming, is the Senate majority out of reach?
Elon’s Trillionaire Coronation
Bill Cohan joins Peter to dig into the SpaceX I.P.O. that could value the company at $1.8 trillion and make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. Bill breaks down the three businesses inside the prospectus, and why the Anthropic and OpenAI offerings now sneaking into 401(k)s should make everyone nervous.
Trump’s Iran “Skinny Deal” Fantasy
Julia Ioffe joins Peter to discuss the Iran war’s three-month stalemate, and Donald Trump’s Monday night phone call where he allegedly told Netanyahu “You'd be in prison if it weren’t for me.” They zero in on Iran’s newly discovered Strait of Hormuz leverage, whether a so-called “skinny deal” is on the horizon, and why Iran thinks it’s winning the war.
Inside the ‘60 Minutes’ Contretemps
Dylan Byers joins Peter to discuss Monday’s blow-up at CBS News, where 60 Minutes legend Scott Pelley torched new E.P. Nick Bilton and accused Bari Weiss of “murdering” the show—in an all-hands meeting that predictably leaked to every media reporter in town. Dylan discusses whether Pelley just dared David Ellison to fire him, and how long the patience at Paramount Skydance can last.
Media Monday: Bari’s Dating Advice & Ben Shapiro’s Haircut
The besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby are reunited to contemplate the Free Press’ new suite of products—including a community forum for exchanging views on topics from Kharg Island to romantic tips. Then the duo discuss the latest changes at The Daily Wire and what might lurk around the corner of the O.G. right wing creator company.
Byron Allen Tells All
Media investor and new BuzzFeed majority stakeholder Byron Allen joins Dylan to discuss his plans for the platform—and his long-term goal of building the world’s biggest media company. They discuss how the acquisition could help boost awareness for his app, Local Now, and his plan to ultimately turn BuzzFeed into a free streaming service (like YouTube) to appeal to advertisers and content creators
The NBA’s Wemby Ratings Rocket
John Ourand joins Peter to chew over the NBA’s buzzy postseason, and assess how the league’s media rights holders are faring: NBC and Peacock pulling 9 million-plus per game, ESPN nursing a four-game-sweep hangover, and Amazon a distant third in ratings. Then they discuss how the NFL, MLB, and Apple are adjusting their playbook ahead of the 2028 rights cycle.
The Great Texas Shakeup
Marianna Sotomayor joins Peter to discuss Ken Paxton's blowout victory over John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff—and whether Trump’s endorsement tipped the scales. Then they turn to the Republican backlash over the president’s $1.8 billion legal slush fund, his D.C. building spree, and the possibility that the party is throwing away the midterms.
Publisher Search & Destroy
Julia Alexander joins Peter to discuss Google’s pivot from traditional search to Gemini-powered agentic A.I.—and what happens to publishers when nearly 70 percent of queries no longer produce a single click. Then they discuss Byron Allen's $20M BuzzFeed bet, and his (slightly muddled) plan to YouTube-ify the brand.
The Ken Martin Autopsy
Jon Kelly returns in the hot seat for a spirited conversation about the roiling drama at the DNC: the botched autopsy report, Ken Martin’s tenuous hold on power, and whether it’s all navel-gazing in between news cycles or a midterm asterisk.
Media Monday: Vox-Murdoch Aftertastes & Bezos's Warning Shot
On a very special Memorial Day episode, Jon Kelly rejoins the show to discuss a plethora of pressing digital media agenda items: the second- and third-order effects of James Murdoch's Vox acquisition; Barbara Peng's ouster from Business Insider; and the between-the-lines on Jeff Bezos's warning shot about The Washington Post during his CNBC sit-down.
Pro Sports’ Private Equity Pickle
Jason Stein, the sports investor and indefatigable pickleball advocate, joins John to discuss the flow of private equity into sports at all levels, the commercialization of the NCAA, the future of youth sports…. and Apollo’s $225 million investment in Pickleball Inc.
Sam Altman Unleashed!
Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to discuss a wild week for OpenAI, from the (somewhat anticlimactic) denouement of Elon Musk’s “stealing a charity” lawsuit to Sam Altman signaling that a potential I.P.O. filing is on the near horizon. Then they take a microscope to Donald Trump’s latest round of A.I. investments.
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