Puck Presents: The Powers That Be

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.

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.

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 disruption into a worldwide story. Greenberger also opens up about newsroom AI hackathons, the competitive threat from Punchbowl and Notus, and his pitch to TV talent thinking about jumping ship.

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.

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 Democratic party hungry for new blood.

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.

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 for reviewing frontier models, and why a real reckoning may await the first truly catastrophic event.

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.

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 tabloids, as well as L'etiquette's special issue on 100 icons of French style and whether women should wear ties.

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.

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 with troubled histories like Reps. Max Miller and Cory Mills—and how Johnson's handling of scandals differs from that of past speakers like Paul Ryan and John Boehner.

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 cheerleader.

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.

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 personalities front and center.

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.

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 if Abdul El-Sayed, the insurgent progressive backed by Bernie Sanders, wins the competitive primary.

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.

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 microscope.

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 report and pick apart what's working for the streamer—and what isn't.

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.

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 once-pristine brand inside Fox.

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.

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.

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.

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 outreach—and far less infighting—is the only way forward for his party.

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 system that was rigged against them and tried to create their own anti-capitalist village in a small Manhattan park. The movement quickly spread across the country, inspiring hundreds of occupations and a new generation of activists.Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising, is told through the voices of activists who camped out in Zuccotti Park for almost two months, getting inside the drama of a movement that grew rapidly, felt both transcendent and chaotic, and then violently flamed out. Occupy changed the national conversation about capitalism, popularized the language of the 99%, and inspired a generation of activists. As we approach Occupy's 15th anniversary this September, this series offers a reminder that collective action can reshape what seems possible. Listen to more episodes at http://swap.fm/l/Occupy!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 more.

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 for a quick buck.

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.

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.

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 the political landscape today.

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.

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 dollars.  When it's time to panic, Jill will tell you. When everyone else is panicking and you shouldn't be, Jill will tell you that too. Your money. Your move. Let's go.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 linear business.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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

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. 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