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
Mike Johnson’s Leap of Faith
Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter for a midterms vibe check, breaking down Democrats’ creeping lead and the nearly $140 million in ad spending Republican groups are rushing into Senate and House races. Then they dig into Speaker Mike Johnson’s unshakable optimism, and why his faith may be the only thing standing between Republicans and a very difficult November.
Inside Don Jr.’s Russian Wedding
Julia Ioffe joins Peter to explain how Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin, quietly bankrolled part of Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding weekend—and what he might want in return. Then they turn to the diplomatic standoff between France and the State Department…over a single tweet.
Emmys Shocks & Ari Emanuel’s Burn Book
Matt Belloni joins Peter to dig into Ari Emanuel’s blistering new memoir—a score-settling account that revisits the chair he nearly hurled at Michael Ovitz and his decades-long grudge against Jeffrey Katzenberg. Then they turn to Monday’s Emmy awards, unpacking Apple’s sweep and the politics of Stephen Colbert’s win over John Oliver.
Leon Black’s Slow Burn
Bill Cohan joins Peter to discuss his new book, Money to Burn, tracing Apollo’s founding after Drexel’s 1990 collapse, its meteoric rise built on distressed debt investments, and leadership under co-founder Leon Black. The pair also dig into Black’s close ties with Jeffrey Epstein—the $158 million in fees and the affair scandal that ended his CEO reign—and what his fall means for everyone who kept
Media Monday: McAfee, Inc. & MS NOW’s Subscription Bet
Jon Kelly joins Peter to unpack Pat McAfee’s takeover of ESPN’s marquee sports coverage, and why the network would rather license his self-owned production for $60 million per year than keep paying a salaried anchor like Stephen A. Smith. Then they digest MS NOW’s new $7.99-a-month subscription play, arguing why winning over cable-free fans of Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell could succeed whe
Are Democrats Out of Ideas? with Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Emanuel, the longtime Democratic power broker, former White House chief of staff, and perennial subject of campaign intrigue, joins Peter on the debut episode of The Making of a President to discuss the rise of democratic socialism, how wannabe 2028 aspirants can win back the middle, and why the party needs a new pitch.Progress doesn’t just arrive. It’s built - one question, one discovery, an
NYFW Fears & GQ’s New Groove
Lauren Sherman joins Peter to report from New York Fashion Week, where insiders are fretting over a looming luxury slowdown—and the middle-class shoppers propping up the biggest brands. Then they size up new-ish GQ editor Adam Baidawi, whose bid to redefine the title’s masculinity has yet to produce a clear vision, seven months in.
Inside the G.O.P.’s Trumpapalooza
Marianna Sotomayor joins Peter from Dallas, where Republicans are gathering for a midterm convention that’s fast becoming a Trumpapalooza—even as they privately grapple with new data giving Democrats a strong shot at retaking the House. The pair also unpack her conversation with a characteristically upbeat Speaker Mike Johnson, and size up Ken Paxton’s uphill Senate bid in a Texas race Republicans
Bartiromo’s Breakup & Bari’s ‘60’ Debut
Dylan Byers joins Peter to break down Maria Bartiromo’s sudden exit from Fox News after forwarding internal guidance to Peter Navarro, which triggered an angry call from the White House. Then they preview Sunday’s high-stakes ‘60 Minutes’ debut under Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton, and why the show’s real vulnerability isn’t sloppy journalism, but the perception of editorial spin.
OpenAI’s Escape Room
Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to unpack new revelations from OpenAI’s postmortem on this summer’s Hugging Face hack, in which the company’s agents broke their sandbox to infiltrate the open-source A.I. platform—and, it turns out, OpenAI’s infrastructure too. Then the pair dig into Bernie Sanders’ bill to ban superintelligence, aimed at a phenomenon that even researchers can’t agree on how to define.
Media Monday: Ballmer’s Billion-Dollar Beef & Wintour’s Galliano Gaffe
Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to dissect the NBA’s punishing verdict against Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers, and why ESPN’s since-contradicted report clearing Ballmer has become its own cautionary tale about journalistic humility. Then the pair turn to Anna Wintour’s stunning Met Gala misfire, unpacking her push to rehabilitate the image of disgraced designer John Galliano—and what
The Information Age
Jessica Lessin, the founder, editor in chief, and C.E.O. of The Information, joins Dylan and Julia to unpack the record growth behind her 13-year-old subscription business. She explains her bet on China coverage as rivals shutter Asia bureaus, the push into finance reporting to track AI’s reshaping of Wall Street, and her expansion into video with TITV and a new AI Deep Dive show. Lessin also weig
Ballmer’s Witch Hunt & Pablo’s Vindication
John Ourand joins Peter to unpack the Clippers scandal shaking the NBA—Steve Ballmer's furious response to penalties for skirting the salary cap with Kawhi Leonard, and the ESPN scoop it undercut. Plus: Tony Romo’s future at CBS, and why the NFL sent its best Week 1 game to Melbourne.
The Man Who Tried to Save the Pentagon
Julia Ioffe joins Peter to illuminate the stunning resignation of Dan Driscoll, the Army’s top civilian leader: his friendship with JD Vance, media rivalry with Pete Hegseth, his push to modernize the military and inevitable clash with Boeing, Lockheed, and Raytheon. Then they turn to Hegseth’s political decapitation of DoD leadership and Driscoll’s final, Hail Mary attempt to alert Trump to the t
Meta’s $5 Billion Bounty
Eriq Gardner joins Peter to explain why Meta’s settlement with state attorneys general is less about the $18 billion price tag than the precedent it sets: courts writing the rules for social media. Then they dig into the deal’s wildest clause—an extra $5 billion if regulators get TikTok, Snap, and YouTube on board—and why litigation may be the only path left for policing Big Tech.
Larry Gagosian’s Trillion-Dollar Opportunity
Marion Maneker joins Peter to remember Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist who died last week at 97, and unpack her multifaceted career—from a polka-dot obsession to her LVMH collaborations and museum-conquering studio. Then they dig into a recent Bloomberg article claiming Baby Boomers’ art collections may not find younger buyers, and why megadealer Larry Gagosian spies a buying opportunity.
Media Monday: Depp’s Second Act & The Journal’s A.I. Shrug
The besties Jon Kelly and Peter dig into Hollywood’s embrace of Johnny Depp’s comeback, proving real movie stars remain rare enough to forgive almost anything—even among the audiences likeliest to hold a grudge. Then they turn to the backlash emanating from Stanley Druckenmiller’s A.I.-assisted ‘WSJ’ op-ed, and why the paper is standing by it.
Do Democrats Need a Rebrand?
Peter Hamby joins Dylan to decipher new polling on the Democratic Party’s perception problem—to wit, Trump may be historically unpopular, but voters still don’t love Democrats, either. Then they dig into the A.O.C.-Mamdani favorability gap, why Bernie’s brand of populism ages better than the “intersectional” variety, and the Gavin Newsom content-studio model for winning back young men and Latino v
The Social Reckoning
Julia Alexander joins Peter to unpack Meta’s landmark $17 billion settlement with U.S. states over claims Instagram and Facebook harmed teens—and why fixes like two-hour limits and midnight curfews might be easy to dodge. Then they get into Kalshi’s push into sports media, including a possible tie-up with The Athletic and The New York Times, and what it means for journalism’s growing embrace
60 Minutes of Fame
Dylan Byers joins Peter to break down 60 Minutes’ star-studded, controversy-shadowed relaunch under Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton: its new correspondents, the internal drama, and whether the show’s reputation—and Weiss’s—survives its September 13th debut. Then they unpack The New York Times’s quest for its own AI search tool, betting that readers want to talk to the paper the way they talk
A.O.C. on the Clock
Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s mounting 2028 presidential calculus, which is colliding with her new single life while she chronicles her egg-freezing journey in real time. The pair walk through her options, her calculated endorsement restraint this primary season, and why encouraging early-state polling numbers still can’t erase real doubts about her genera
Grassroots vs. Gigawatts
Bill Cohan joins Peter to break down the swift, bipartisan grassroots revolt against data centers and the A.I. companies racing to build them—from Josh Shapiro’s about-face in Pennsylvania to Kathy Hochul’s New York moratorium—and why Wall Street’s trillion-dollar financing spree suggests nobody’s slowing down yet. Then the pair try to wrap their heads around why Bitcoin is suddenly surging after
Media Monday: Pablo’s Paper Trail & MS NOW’s Streaming Bet
The besties Jon Kelly and Peter reunite to examine the New York Times’s uneasy relationship with creator-journalists like Pablo Torre, whose bombshell Clippers investigation—now contradicted by ESPN’s reporting—may not have survived The Gray Lady’s standards desk. Then they turn to MS NOW’s $8-a-month streaming offering, and whether a partisan network can build a subscriber business the way T
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.
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