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/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 disguise. 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 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/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 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

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 more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a special Saturday episode, Abby Livingston joins Ben to dig into a new drama on Capitol Hill: Democrats like A.O.C. deposing their elders in a leadership-sanctioned act of generational warfare as the party cleans house. Then they discuss the mounting resistance to Pete Hegseth and which Republican senators might throw a wrench in Trump’s transition machine. 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

John Ourand joins Peter to share the latest on ESPN’s potentially historic contract negotiations with Stephen A. Smith, the larger-than-life reporter and unfiltered analyst, as he seeks to recreate himself as the face of the network. Then John and Peter weigh into the golden-at-bat controversy, and the odds that MLB throws out the rulebook to appeal to Gen Z. 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 share an inside look at Art Basel, which kicked off this week in Miami, and previews the notable shows and fairs that are likely to make waves at South Beach. Then he digs into the latest buzz surrounding potential layoffs at Sotheby’s and how owner Patrick Drahi is aiming to streamline the 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

Dylan Byers joins Peter to gab about the latest troubles at The Washington Post: another eight-figure loss, a subscriber exodus, and the confusion inside the newsroom over C.E.O. Will Lewis and interim-ish executive editor Matt Murray’s race to “reimagine” the paper before Bezos pulls the plug. 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

Tara Palmeri joins Peter to dig into the latest headlines captivating the world of politics: Joe Biden’s sweeping pardon of his son Hunter and its potential impact on his legacy, Trump’s controversial nomination to lead the F.B.I., the emerging battle for D.N.C. chair, and much more. 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 rejoins Peter for a spirited dissection of the recent Hearst mega-layoffs, the media-heavy politicking around the D.N.C. chairmanship, and the impact of Trumponomics on the industry. 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

Abby Livingston returns for a deep dive into another brewing legislative headache: The Capitol Hill battle over renewing the Trump tax cuts, which could cost blue state Republicans the House. Then Abby and Ben turn to Washington’s looming trade war, the potential for midterm backlash, and Elon’s F-35 meddling. 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

The one and only Lauren Sherman, the author of Puck’s Line Sheet and host of Fashion People, joins Peter to offer some insights into the modern state of Black Friday, the current vibes of the biggest mall brands, retail Trumponomics, and tariff hypotheticals. 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

John Ourand joins Peter on a special Thanksgiving episode to break down the complicated business of the NFL. They candidly assess Tom Brady's broadcasting chops, debate whether Netflix is truly ready for its Christmas Day NFL debut, scrutinize the current state of Thursday Night Football on Amazon, and much more. 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 unpack the discourse surrounding Maurizio Cattelan’s duct-taped banana, which just sold to a crypto zillionaire for a mind-blowing $6.2 million. Plus, Marion digs into this November’s auction house sales and whether the art market is reviving from the doldrums. 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

Matt Belloni joins Peter to crunch the numbers on the stellar box office returns from this past weekend, led by blockbuster hits “Gladiator II” and “Wicked.” With “Moana 2” slated to debut tomorrow, could we be on the precipice of a record-shattering Thanksgiving weekend? They also dive into early Oscar buzz as the campaigns for awards season are now fully underway in Hollywood. 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 reunites with Peter to dissect Comcast’s seismic spinoff. Is this the beginning of the end for news networks like CNBC and MSNBC? Then they scrutinize Netflix’s viewership numbers for the Tyson-Paul fight and debate whether monoculture can exist in today’s media climate. 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

In a special Saturday episode, Abby Livingston joins Ben to war game what John Thune’s elevation to majority leader portends for the Senate’s looming confirmation battles with Trump. Then they discuss whether Mike Johnson has the votes to fend off the Chaos Caucus, and how Democrats are grappling with the prospect of another two years in the minority. 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 Sherman joins Peter to discuss Vanity Fair’s anxiety-stoking decision to publish its annual Hollywood Issue three months early, raising questions about Condé Nast’s shaky financials. Then Lauren dishes about which Arnault heirs are in the running to inherit the LVMH empire. 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

Dylan Byers joins Peter to decipher Brian Roberts’ decision to spin off NBCUniversal’s declining cable assets and explain why this is a landmark moment in the history of the media industry. Then Dylan offers a behind-the-scenes snapshot of why MSNBC’s co-hosts Joe and Mika made the pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. 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

Bill Cohan joins Peter to put a number on Elon Musk’s growing political clout in Trump’s social orbit—raising the intriguing possibility that Musk’s indebted X, and Trump’s overvalued meme-stock DJT, could merge. 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

Abby Livingston joins Peter to dissect Trump’s latest power move in Washington: attempting to push his controversial cabinet picks through the Senate without confirmation hearings. They dive into the brewing battle, and chew over whether this will ignite a showdown between MAGA loyalists and the remnants of the G.O.P. establishment. 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 reunites with Peter to discuss the latest dramas underpinning the media industry: why TV execs believe the traditional networks are being sidelined in the NFL-Amazon partnership, the plummeting ratings of CNN and MSNBC in the ’wake of Trump’s victory, and much, much more. 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 Sherman and Peter dig into the latest dramas percolating through the fashion industry: Gap’s attempt to revive itself as America’s favorite mall brand, the Arnault family cozying up to Donald Trump, what the former-and-future president’s tariffs could mean for luxury goods, and much more. 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

John Ourand joins Peter to examine ESPN’s efforts to sustain itself as a politics-free zone in anticipation of a second Trump administration. Then they dive into Netflix’s upcoming Tyson vs. Paul fight, signaling the streamer’s plan to expand its sports strategy. 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

Bill Cohan joins Peter to examine how Wall Street is pricing the second Trump era—the tariffs, the tax cuts, and all the corporate bullying. Bill runs down the list of familiar faces jockeying for Cabinet positions (Gary, Schwarzman, Paulson...), plus some surprising names that are suddenly in contention. Then they discuss how investors are playing the market rally, and whether crypto will get a Trump bump. 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

Tara Palmeri joins Peter to sort through the résumés of potential appointees in Trump’s second administration, exploring why this transition may differ from the haphazard process that played out in 2017. Then they discuss the lack of a second #resistance and whether the Democratic Party can discover a new identity beyond its unified opposition to Trump. 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 and Peter jump into a brief recap of last week’s Election Day surprises before diving into the future of the media industry under a second Trump administration. They tackle CNN’s hundreds of impending layoffs, the Washington Post’s eyebrow-raising return-to-work policy, how media at large has grown out of touch with modern politics, and more. 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

Puck's legal expert, Eriq Gardner, joins Peter for an in-depth look at how the returning president would go to war with the regulatory state, installing allies to reshape—or dismantle—key agencies like the F.T.C. and F.C.C., with sweeping implications for Wall Street, Hollywood, and beyond. 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

On today’s episode, Puck Superfriends—Peter Hamby, John Heilemann, and Dylan Byers—huddle up for a post-election post-mortem about how Trump sailed to victory, why Kamala failed to connect, what the next Trump administration might bring, whether Democrats have lost touch with American culture and modern media, and much more. 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