Puck Presents: The Powers That Be

Live from Washington, Leigh Ann Caldwell sits down with Republican Senator Todd Young to discuss Trump's “little excursion” in the Middle East: why he's against any attempts to rein in the president, his beefs with various loud-mouthed colleagues, and what America misunderstands about the nature of sacrifice. This special episode of The Powers That Be is brought to you by the Association of American Railroads 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

Julia Alexander joins Peter to discuss YouTube's exclusive Coachella deal and what it signals about the future of live entertainment. They also dig into the smart glasses arms race at Meta and Snap, and why putting cameras on fans at concerts and stadiums raises some genuinely thorny copyright questions. Plus, Julia dishes on the Hasan Piker phenomenon—and what his audience loyalty on Twitch reveals about everything linear TV is getting wrong. 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to examine the fallout from Eric Swalwell's resignation from Congress and the collapse of his gubernatorial campaign amid a cascade of assault allegations. Then they consider whether the scandal could widen, potentially drawing in other figures on Capitol Hill. 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

Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to size up Anthropic's mysterious new model—one the company claims is too powerful to release—and whether that's genuine caution or savvy marketing. Ian also recaps the HumanX conference in San Francisco, where thousands of A.I. insiders gathered amid a noticeably more anxious mood about what comes next. 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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter with fresh intel on Pete Hegseth's simmering vendetta against Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, a well-liked Washington figure with close ties to Vice President J.D. Vance. Julia explains why Hegseth views Driscoll as a professional threat and how he's been quietly making his life difficult inside the Pentagon. Julia also critiques J.D. Vance's diplomacy skills—or lack thereof—coming off two fruitless trips in Hungary and Pakistan. 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

Peter Hamby phones in from the Puck Coachella satellite office for a scintillating conversation with Jon Kelly about the big idea behind Politico's major executive reshuffling: Has the pivot to video finally descended in Rosslyn? Then the duo turn their attention to the Democrats' attempt to belatedly dominate YouTube during the midterms. 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

NBC Sports's Mike Florio joins John to tackle the most pressing questions facing the NFL as it stares down a highly consequential offseason—from looming media rights negotiations and the potential loss of its antitrust exemption to referee labor talks, the continued push for an 18-game schedule, the league's expanding appetite for marquee midweek games, and much more. This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating forregulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more atsportsbettingalliance.org. 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

Malique Morris joins Peter to discuss Lululemon's slide from category king to just another player in an increasingly crowded activewear market—and whether the brand can actually engineer a sustainable comeback. Malique also explores the rise of A.I. stylists, as a well-funded startup bets it can fundamentally reshape how consumers shop for clothes. 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 break down ESPN's looming layoffs amid the lingering financial fallout from Disney's carriage dispute with YouTube TV last fall—and whether new C.E.O. Josh D'Amaro would actually consider spinning the network off. Then John explains why the Masters is still TV's gold-standard rights deal, and why CBS doesn't appear to be letting go anytime soon. 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 discuss OpenAI's head-scratching decision to buy TBPN—and the very real possibility that it proves to be more headache than masterstroke for Sam Altman. Then he examines what Politico's future might look like under new global editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger, considering his experience as a TV news executive and deep Washington ties. 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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to break down Trump's maximalist threat to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure “back to the Stone Age” unless they agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—an ultimatum that, for now, Tehran seems content to ignore, betting instead on Trump's eroding political support. Julia also discusses her exclusive scoop on the Trump administration's unprecedented effort to label antifa as a foreign terrorist threat. 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

Besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite during the Final Four to trade hypotheses on why OpenAI acquired TBPN, the vodcast-maximalist media company, and what the trade could ordain for the media M&A market. The duo also discuss how Roger Goodell's media partner shakedown will impact Hollywood studios. 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

Former F.C.C. chairJessica Rosenworcel and former NPR chief Gary Knell join Dylan at the Common Sense Media Summit to discuss the precarious state of the agency under Brendan Carr. They scrutinize his aggressive posture toward broadcasters, the potential implications for the First Amendment, and the broader risks to democracy—while also exploring solutions to support local news, combat consolidation, and protect kids in an age of infinite slop. 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 explore a hypothetical where the NFL hands officiating over to A.I. as the league barrels toward a potential replacement-ref situation when its current C.B.A. expires. Then they discuss F.C.C. commissioner Brendan Carr's argument that leagues should lose antitrust protections as they push more games behind streaming paywalls. 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down Republicans' strategy to lock in funding for DHS and ICE through the remainder of Trump's term—effectively boxing out any Democratic reforms. They also discuss the quiet jockeying to replace Mike Johnson as House speaker, and whether he's ready to step aside from leadership altogether. 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

Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to discuss the wide range of political responses to the growing public anxiety over A.I.—from Trump's promise to hold down energy costs to Bernie Sanders and A.O.C.'s push for a construction moratorium, and more. They also discuss a new documentary on A.I.'s future—and whether it leaves more room for optimism or panic. 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 break down the latest front in the redistricting wars. In Virginia, Governor Abigail Spanberger is pushing a Democratic-friendly map overhaul modeled on California's recent playbook. While the referendum is likely to pass, Abby explains it could carry unintended consequences for Democrats in future cycles—and previews how similar battles are unfolding in Maryland, Illinois, Florida, 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

The besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to sermonize over the real value of Jim Bankoff's podcast business and hypothesize about secondary sales opportunities for Vox. Then they discuss why Sora bombed and Bob Iger's colleagues slow-walked its Disney partnership. 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 unpack the promise—and persistent chaos—of watching Major League Baseball in 2026, from Netflix's Opening Day splash to the still-messy hunt for local broadcasts. They also dive into March Madness's historically big first-weekend ratings and the surprising role prediction markets may be playing in the sudden surge of interest in college hoops. 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 break down a bit of primary election role reversal: in California, a crowded and underwhelming Democratic field risks splitting the vote and opening the door to an all-Republican general. And in Texas, an increasingly contentious and expensive G.O.P. Senate runoff—and Trump's withheld endorsement—gives Democrats a sliver of hope they score a major upset come November. 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 follow the money trail of the Iran war, as Trump's off-the-cuff remarks send oil, Treasury yields, and commodities like gold on a rollercoaster. Bill argues this is hardly incidental—and merely the latest example of an administration that seems to move markets for its benefit with impunity. 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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to confront the central question looming over the war in Iran: Is the U.S. actually winning? Despite the on-brand, overconfident rhetoric from Trump and Pete Hegseth, Julia argues the answer is far murkier—pointing to a lack of international support, myriad strategic missteps, and a conflict with no clear endgame. 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

Besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to pore over Bari Weiss' latest RIFs and the subsequent agony. Then they turn their attention to Major League Baseball's surprising WBC opportunity. 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 the Draymond Green Show, no topic is off limits. In this episode Draymond welcomes Skip Bayless to discuss Michael Jordan, Stephen A Smith, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and they debate whether or not Draymond is really the dirtiest player of all time. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lauren's guest is Oscar nominated costume designer Miyako Bellizzi, the frequent Safdie collaborator who is responsible for everything from Naomi Fry's suit in Marty Supreme to Oscar Isaac's New Balances in Scenes From a Marriage. They discuss her transition from fashion editor to costume designer, how she works with different directors, designing costumes for film versus television, her personal style, and plenty 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

Matt Belloni joins Peter with an inside look at Amazon's blockbuster movie ambitions, spearheaded by Ryan Gosling's new $200 million film, Hail Mary, which Amazon hopes will position the streamer as the go-to studio for major theatrical releases. Plus, some final thoughts on the Oscars: why the ratings were down, who attended the afterparties, Michael B. Jordan's Best Actor win, 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

Dylan Byers joins Peter to whip-around the latest Washington media news: Robert Allbritton's campaign to revamp NOTUS into a veritable Washington Post rival; Jeff Bezos's uneasy détente with the WaPo newsroom; and Politico's high-stakes search for its next editor-in-chief. 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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to scrutinize Trump's attempt to drag NATO into his war with Iran and explain why America's allies, after years of insults and zero consultation, aren't exactly rushing to oblige. She also discusses the unlikely rise of Elbridge Colby, the longtime critic of Middle East entanglements who now finds himself as the face of Trump's misadventure. 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to pull back the curtain on Republican senators and their private worries about Trump's war in Iran. She reveals what they're really thinking about the timeline and economic fallout, whether they'll keep funding the conflict, and if voters can tolerate more American casualties—while noting that standing up to Trump may still be a bridge too far. 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

Besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby work through their Oscars and March Madness hangover to tear through all the CBS News-CNN machinations: what will get pro forma'd; who will be in charge; and how far right will it all lurch? Then the duo dig into a likely forthcoming NBA liquidity event. 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

Sam Feist, the C.E.O. of C-SPAN and former 33-year veteran of CNN, joins Dylan to discuss the long-whispered possibility (now reality) of a marriage between CNN and CBS—a concept that has quietly floated around the industry for more than 40 years. Feist explains why the broadcast reach of CBS and CNN's global reporting capabilities could be uniquely complementary, what the union might look like under the Ellisons, and why trusted journalism matters more than ever in today's hyper-misinformation era. He also shares the new initiatives he's implementing at C-SPAN, in an effort to foster bipartisan dialogue. 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to explain the ins and outs of Trump's latest obsession: the SAVE America Act—a proposed bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Leigh Ann discusses what's actually inside the bill, which has already passed the House, and why it's unlikely to survive a divided Senate. 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 break down the state of paralysis in Texas with Republicans John Cornyn and Ken Paxton locked in a marquee runoff for Senate—and the shadow of a potential Trump endorsement looming over it all. Then they preview next week's consequential Democratic primaries in Illinois and what they portend for the midterm map writ large. 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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to decipher the diplomatic fallout from Trump's war in Iran, and whether his contradictory comments reveal an endgame. Then they get into the risks of radicalization, the potential consequences for U.S. allies in the region, and the unpredictable ripple effects on global energy markets, the American economy, 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

Bill Cohan joins Peter to break down a whiplash week on Wall Street as the conflict with Iran rattled global markets. With equities swinging, futures seesawing, and oil briefly surging past $100 a barrel, Bill explains why the real economic consequences of the crisis are likely to outlast the headlines, regardless of how quickly the military operations wind down. 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 returns to Media Monday to walk through Paramount Skydance president Jeff Shell's likelihood of survival amid a new legal investigation. Then he and Peter figure out how the Ellisons and Redbird can service their $79 billion debtload. 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

Guggenheim analyst Mike Morris joins John to discuss how a combined Paramount-WBD could impact future NFL media rights deals. Then they break down the true value of the league's media contracts and how streamers like Netflix, Amazon and YouTube might eventually take even bigger pieces of the pie. Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World Baseball Classic with rosters featuring 78 MLB All-Stars, the most ever. Learn more at WorldBaseballClassic.com. 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

Ian Kreitzberg joins Peter to discuss the Pentagon's evolving relationship with artificial intelligence, from the use of A.I. tools for combat, intelligence gathering, and surveillance, to the fallout with Anthropic, which the government blacklisted after a dispute over the technology's guardrails. Now, with Anthropic pushed to the side, is OpenAI using the rift to cozy up with the Defense Department? 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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to break down the most pressing questions, developments, and lines of inquiry surrounding the war in Iran: Why Donald Trump decided to attack, the mixed messages coming from the White House and the Pentagon, whether Israel is calling the shots, and what, exactly, the endgame might look like. 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 break down how the war in Iran might ripple through the global economy and impact energy prices. Then they discuss whether the Ellisons' acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is actually a done deal—or if the agreement will collapse under regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe. 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 Hamby to rap about the chaotic primary elections in Texas. The duo discuss the knock-down-drag-out fight for the Republican Senate nomination between Attorney General Ken Paxton and party-backed Senator John Cornyn. They also get into the unpredictable race for the Democratic nom, where 1.3 million votes have already been cast and James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett remain neck and neck. 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

Besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to work through the second and third order effects of Paramount Skydance's stunning WBD victory. Then they duo read the tea leaves on the changes at Politico, including some hypotheses about the next shoes to drop. 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

Jason Zengerle joins Dylan for a deep dive into his new book, ‘Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind.' Zengerle traces Carlson's evolution from print journalist to cable news star—and eventually to media mogul—examining his strategic use of outrage, his close alignment with Trump, and how both have fueled his influence. They also explore the broader impact of conservative media on American political discourse and whether Carlson may ultimately pursue elected office. For more great episodes like this, click here to subscribe 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 new retail correspondent Malique Morris joins Peter to assess the turbulence facing Ssense, the once-buzzy luxury platform that built its name on discounted designer and cult indie labels—only to stumble in the post-pandemic reset. Malique breaks down the company's path through bankruptcy and its uphill bid to profitability in a harsher retail 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

Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to break down the standoff between Anthropic and Pete Hegseth's Department of Defense, which is pressuring the company to loosen safeguards around Claude—the only A.I. model currently deployed on classified systems. As Ian explains, Anthropic has built its brand on being the industry's most responsible actor, but with the Pentagon threatening to walk, the company now faces a tough choice between principle and procurement dollars. 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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to break down the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as protests flare across the country and American envoys travel to Geneva to hear Tehran's latest nuclear proposal—an attempt to find an off-ramp to Trump's military buildup in the Middle East. They also mark the four-year anniversary of Russia's war in Ukraine and consider what, if anything, could finally make Putin pull back. 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to discuss the political crosscurrents heading into Trump's State of the Union, with Democrats split over whether to protest the speech entirely and Republicans managing internal tensions. She also shares an inside look at the combustible National Governors Association meeting from this past weekend, where Republican governors expressed concerns about the Trump administration and some Democrat governors started plotting their run for president in 2028. 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

Besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to chew over Ted Sarandos' media crusade to win the WBD deal. Then the duo contemplate the latest twist in the NFL's manifest destiny (and why the MLBPA is screwing the pooch). 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

NBC Sports president Rick Cordella joins Dylan to discuss a pivotal month for the network, from the Super Bowl to the Winter Olympics and the NBA All-Star Game. Cordella explains how live sports fuel subscriber growth for Peacock, often driving audiences to other programming, and reflects on the enduring value of broadcast television, the challenges of media fragmentation, the strategic importance of retaining premium sports rights, 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

Lauren Sherman joins Peter to break down Les Wexner's testimony for the House Oversight Committee, in which the former Victoria's Secret mogul confronted his long, shadowy ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Then they discuss the biggest trends emerging from New York Fashion Week and what it all signals about the immediate future in luxury. 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 break down what really happened at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where an interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was shunted to YouTube amid accusations that F.C.C. chair Brendan Carr pressured CBS to block the appearance. Then they discuss Anderson Cooper's decision to leave 60 Minutes after two decades—and whether Bari Weiss is playing with fire by meddling with one of television's most revered broadcasts. 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