Puck Presents: The Powers That Be

Julia Alexander joins Peter for a deep dive into Disney+'s subscriber exodus in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, and what the backlash really cost the company. She also breaks down YouTube TV's bruising carriage battles, as the scrappy streamer tries to keep pace with ballooning rights fees. 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 unpack Donald Trump's theatrical visit to the United Nations, where he mocked the organization's very existence and took an unusually sharp tone against Russia. Julia breaks down Trump's pivot on Vladimir Putin before turning to explain how the State Department has been strong-armed into executing Trump's aggressive deportation crusade. 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 trade observations about the Jimmy Kimmel resolution, at least for now, and assess the true winners and losers. Then they turn their attention to the NFL's potential premature negotiation 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

Simpsons fans —THE VAULT IS OPEN!  I'm Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson for 35+ years, and I'm finally taking you inside Springfield. Simpsons Declassified is your all-access pass to the world's most iconic, animated  series.   Each week, we crack open wild predictions, eerie coincidences and fan conspiracies and stories  from 36 seasons (that's 800+ episodes!) behind-the-scenes with writers, directors, the cast and  celebrity superfans, PLUS…Simpsons-themed games— play along and test your Springfield IQ.   Hear exclusive stories from our guests who were there! Perhaps some scenes that almost never  aired, the jokes that died, the ones that lived and the moments that still shock me at the mic.  Produced and showrun by Monica Gil-Rodriguez. From Audacy Podcasts and CRE84U  Entertainment. Follow now to get new episodes first — and drop your wildest Simpsons' theory in a review for  a chance to be featured on our uniquely unique podcast, Simpsons Declassified. 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

Pete Nordstrom, co-C.E.O. of the Seattle-based department store group, joins Lauren to reflect on how he got into the family business, and how the company has remained family-run for four generations (without that much trouble). They also discuss the company's recent take-private, the state of multi-brand retail, Pete's hiring philosophy, and much, much more. To subscribe to Fashion People click here 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 puzzle over why billionaire C.E.O.s keep genuflecting to Donald Trump, even though he's in his final term with abysmally low approval ratings. Then they dig into Intel's stock surge after Trump funneled government money its way, and consider whether the stock pop is real or dramatically overhyped. 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 share a behind-the-scenes look at Jimmy Kimmel's return to ABC this week following his suspension from the airwaves. While Kimmel's return on Tuesday was a ratings bonanza, as Matt explains, there's no reason to believe the F.C.C. is going to start pumping the brakes in its crusade against free speech. 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 give a reality check on the F.C.C.'s actual muscle, as Democrats fret that chairman Brendan Carr is trying to throttle political speech on the airwaves and grease the wheels for a conservative-friendly media merger. But how much can he really do to censor broadcasters, other than use his bully pulpit with the backing of 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to discuss the political impact of Charlie Kirk's massive memorial service. Did it herald the resurgence of Christian zeal? Will it engage out-of-touch voters? Or was it merely a spectacle that Republicans are hoping voters will recall when the midterms arrive? 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 share their notes on the roiling Jimmy Kimmel crisis and its impact on the Disney succession sweepstakes. Then they chew over the latest Paramount-WBD deal heat. 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 live taping of Puck's Power Breakfast in D.C., Leigh Ann sits down with Republican whip Tom Emmer for a no-holds-barred conversation on all things crypto: regulation, the in-limbo Clarity Act, and more. Emmer also sounds off on the Jimmy Kimmel drama, heaps praise on F.C.C. chair Brendan Carr, and why he thinks Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is being “foolish.” 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 her latest reporting on the Trump administration's effort to ostensibly root out anti-Christian bias at the State Department. She relays what insiders believe are the motivations behind the push, and why members of other faiths feel as if they've fallen in the crosshairs. 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 the TikTokification of the NBA, and how commissioner Adam Silver is tiptoeing the line of dominating the algorithm and flatlining on TV. Then they pivot to the G.O.P.'s renewed crusade against social media in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's murder. 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 game out what a potential WBD–Paramount Skydance mash-up might look like, as an emboldened David Ellison reportedly readies a multi-billion-dollar cash bid for WBD. They break down the implications for CNN and CBS News—and whether Ellison's grand design could vault him into the rarefied air of tech giants like Netflix and YouTube. 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 Heilemann joins Peter to discuss the grotesque state of American politics in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, as a divisive president canonizes him as a martyr while furious White House aides vow retribution against the left. John and Peter consider whether this is the new political norm—or just a particularly rancid chapter we'll eventually consign to history. 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 Hamby reunite to discuss the seismic events from a very busy week in the media industry: the fallout from the Murdoch trust settlement and Ellison's leaked WBD takeover attempt. 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

Pablo Torre, former ESPN mainstay turned podcast sleuth, joins John to unravel his latest investigations—into Bill Belichick, the NFLPA, and most recently, his bombshell report on the Clippers' alleged salary cap circumvention. He also weighs in on the tightrope of balancing independence with partnerships like The New York Times and The Athletic—and his aspirations for his podcast's future, including potential expansion to television. To subscribe to The Varsity, click here 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 for a check-in on the NFL's broadcasts so far this season, and whether streamers like Peacock and YouTube are actually showcasing the NFL better than the traditional networks. Julia also breaks down the mounting tensions between A.I. companies and publishers, as search engines stumble in the shadow of chatbots and A.I. tools like Gemini and ChatGPT. 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 a handful of blockbuster A.I. lawsuits: WBD, Disney, and NBCUniversal are unloading their legal artillery on Midjourney over claims of copyright infringement, while a group of authors eye a windfall from Anthropic, accused of ripping off millions of books to feed its chatbot. Eriq explains how the outcomes of these cases could rewrite the rulebook for A.I. regulation moving forward. 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 chronicle the closing act of the Murdoch succession drama, as Rupert's massive media empire lands squarely in the hands of his staunchly conservative son, Lachlan, while the other three siblings walk away with a hefty payout. They explore what this means for Fox's future—and just how long the 94-year-old Rupert will continue to wield his power behind the scenes. 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 discuss Paul Ryan's fresh alarms about the national debt—and what else the former House Speaker told his private audience at a recent Wyoming retreat, including his take on Trump's tariff policies. Then Bill digs into the nervous chatter brewing on Wall Street about their potential next-mayor, Zohran Mamdani. 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 debate whether Bari Weiss's The Free Press is really worth the rumored $100 million price tag that David Ellison is ready to pony up—and the potential shockwaves that Weiss's arrival could send through CBS News. They also discuss ESPN's new do-everything app, and whether Bristol's brass are truly prepared to build products that can thrive in the direct-to-consumer 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

Agriculture Committee chairman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson joins Abby Livingston for a candid conversation about the state of what he's dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Farm Bill,” the politics of SNAP, and the fights over pesticides. They also dig into the virtues—and drawbacks—of Republican committee term limits, and how Pennsylvania's shifting political terrain could reshape the next election. 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 sort through the reputational storm engulfing Sotheby's and its reclusive billionaire owner, Patrick Drahi, stemming from a sprawling ‘New Yorker' exposé that suggests employees have been feathering their nests with off-book side deals. As Marion further explains, this now gives rival Christie's fresh ammunition as the auction giants joust for big-spending clientele. 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 dissect Trump's hands-on meddling in the private sector from his White House perch—picking corporate winners and losers, carving out slices of deals, and steering federal dollars into equity stakes in major companies. As Bill explains, Trump's motivations remain murky, beyond projecting himself as America's ultimate dealmaker—often at the expense of taxpayers and shareholders alike. 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 guest host Leigh Ann Caldwell to preview a frenetic month ahead in Washington, as Congress barrels toward a government funding deadline less than 30 days away. They also weigh how Iowa Republican senator Joni Ernst's retirement could scramble the G.O.P.'s future, and lay out the emerging midterm roadmap for both parties. 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 reunite for a second consecutive day to chew over a pair of relevant media industry topics as we head into the fall: the brutal carriage dispute between Fox and YouTube TV in addition to Gavin Newsom's podcasting ubiquity. 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 Hamby reunite for a spirited chat about some proprietary data regarding Gen Alpha's movie theater fixation before offering their views on the Bill Belichick college sports (and media) experiment. 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

With every episode, Lena Dunham and Alissa Bennett take you on a historical deep dive into the life of a woman society dismissed by calling her mad, sad, or just plain bad: Lindsay Lohan, Judy Garland, Winona Ryder, Mariah Carey, Lil Kim and many more. Join them for a rich, hilarious, and heartbreaking look into exactly what it means when we call a woman “crazy.” The C-Word was originally published behind a paywall from 2019 - 2022. This is the first time it's being released to all major podcast platforms. 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

Andy Lack, former chairman of NBC News and MSNBC, joins Dylan to pore over the myriad existential crises rattling television news, from CBS's messy Trump settlement to the Versant spin that leaves MSNBC in the wilderness—and more. He also discusses his new act as a purveyor of local news startups across the Deep South, and his bid to build sustainable outlets at a time when local journalism is facing significant headwinds. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we're investing in America: ⁠https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica For more episodes of The Grill Room, click here 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 Heilemann joins Peter Hamby to assess how Democrats in blue states and cities are countering Trump's false claims about violent crime, and his threats to deploy the National Guard in places like Chicago, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. They also discuss what these clashes reveal about the positioning of potential 2028 presidential candidates like Gavin Newsom, J.B. Pritzker, and Wes Moore—and whether they have the savvy to thrive in America's nonstop political media 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 discuss the booming business of college football as the season kicks off this weekend. They dig into the broadcast bonanza surrounding the legendary Lee Corso's final College GameDay, how the attention economy is reshaping sports media, Fox's controversial Dave Portnoy hire and so-called “ban” from the Ohio State opener, Bill Belichick's arrival at UNC, the professionalization of the college game—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

Eriq Gardner joins guest host Leigh Ann Caldwell to game out a bizarre but plausible future in which Trump insists on a cut of individual copyrights to assert control over intellectual property, particularly in the entertainment industry—and how that gambit could, paradoxically, bolster the case for A.I.-created works. 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 guest Leigh Ann Caldwell to dissect Donald Trump's latest diplomatic maneuvers with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, and why his failure to deliver security guarantees or a trilateral meeting may embolden Russian aggression and strain U.S.-European relations. They also examine the strange role of Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff—fresh off receiving a medal from Putin—and the wider geopolitical currents involving China and India. 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 Hamby are reunited for a rapturous dissection of MSNBC's dreary new acronymic name and some learned hypotheses about ESPN's new gaming-first-ish streamer and its multichannel universe. 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

Designer, writer, and non-profit founder Aurora James returns to Fashion People to discuss Robin Givhan's exit from The Washington Post, the tariff nonsense, the nostalgia trap, Travis Kelce's GQ cover, Taylor Swift's political responsibility as a deeply influential famous person, flea markets, Alexander Wang Spring/Summer 2010, 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to puzzle over the latest congressional maps, from Texas and California to Indiana, where Trump wants to lock Democrats out of power forever. Then they size up Gavin Newsom's palpable 2028 ambition, as liberals go ga-ga for a Trumpian fighter of their own. 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 Hamby to break down why tech stocks have started to cool off, and whether A.I. is overhyped or underhyped as a long-term play for investors—all while “Big Tech” players like Sam Altman and Mark Zuckerberg find ways to continually enrich themselves and their employees. Then they take a look at Chamath Palihapitiya getting back in the SPAC game, and whether his new venture can warm his relationship with MAGA. 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 guest host Julia Alexander to parse the incentives for streaming platforms like Spotify to embrace A.I.-generated content, spotlighting the precarious case of the A.I. band The Velvet Sundown, which racked up over a million plays before being exposed. They also discuss CharacterAI's shift from chasing A.G.I. to role-playing entertainment, and the ethical questions and implications that come with this pivot. 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 guest host Julia Alexander to break down the massive success of KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix's second-most-watched original film, and why it's keeping Sonys executives up at night. Then they debate the Duffer brothers' jump from Netflix to Paramount—and whether their defection signals a broader shift 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 and Peter Hamby reunite for a talmudic reading of David Ellison's first week on the job and some obsessive theorizing about his tech fantasies. Then they delve into the convergence of cable news and podcasting. 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

Axios's Sara Fischer returns to the pod to help make sense of the biggest sports media plot lines from the past few weeks: Paramount's $7.7 billion deal with UFC, ESPN's respective bombshell pacts with the NFL and WWE, the network's forthcoming D.T.C. product, and much, much more. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you subscribe to The Varsity. 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

Lauren Sherman joins Peter to assess how much magazine covers actually move the cultural needle in today's digital-first media landscape. While big stars are still lining up for attention-grabbing shoots, Lauren suggests these expensive productions now mostly serve industry insiders, celebrity egos, and social media feeds. Peter and Lauren also explore the shrinking footprint of legacy magazines and the growing dominance of digital platforms in shaping pop culture. 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 Hamby to break down a consequential stretch in sports media, with Paramount cutting a $7.7 billion check for UFC rights and ESPN expanding its sports empire ahead of football season with its forthcoming super app. As John explains, these moves are part of a concerted push by legacy media to fight back against the rise of tech platforms and streamers. And despite the industry upheaval, the old guard still holds one powerful advantage: bigger audiences. 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 guest host Julia Ioffe to discuss Sam Altman's latest gambit: offering ChatGPT Enterprise to U.S. government agencies for next to nothing, in hopes of building muscle memory inside the government and promoting the widespread adoption of A.I. in day-to-day operations. Yet, as adoption grows, so do the questions and concerns—about security, reliability, and the costs of running energy-hungry systems prone to unpredictable errors. 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 guest host Julia Ioffe to break down the August recess town halls, where some members of Congress are dodging the spotlight while others face heat over the Big Beautiful Bill and the Epstein scandal. They also discuss the latest Texas redistricting battle—and what it all means for the road to the 2026 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

Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to discuss some of the overlooked complexifiers in David Ellison's conquest of Paramount. They also assess the challenging points of leverage between ESPN and Fox and their respective college football media heroes, Pat McAfee and Dave Portnoy   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

Katie Drummond, global editorial director of Wired, joins the pod to reflect on her overhaul of the tech magazine—transforming it into a sharp-edged outlet covering the dystopian intersection of technology, politics, and culture. She discusses the significance of original reporting, Wired's notable growth and ambitions growth strategy, A.I.'s threat to journalism, and much, much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we're investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica Make sure you subscribe to The Grill Room here 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

Kim Masters joins Peter to dig into the latest buzz around Hollywood: that Paramount C.E.O. David Ellison is eyeing a slimmed-down Warner Bros. as a potential acquisition target. They consider the potential upsides of a merger, the regulatory hurdles, and the implications for the entertainment ecosystem 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

John Ourand joins Peter Hamby to break down ESPN's flurry of major announcements this week, from its big NFL broadcast deal to the addition of RedZone and premium WWE content. As ESPN prepares to launch its long-awaited D.T.C. product later this month, Jimmy Pitaro has outined a future where sports fans no longer need to toggle between cable, YouTube TV, Hulu, and Disney to watch the games and programming they want. Can it deliver? 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 guest host Leigh Ann Caldwell to discuss the strange and unsettling appointment of Lew Olowski, a Trump loyalist, to lead H.R. at the State Department. They examine his history of erratic behavior—from accessing classified files to delivering bizarre speeches—and how his rise reflects a broader push to reshape U.S. diplomacy around political allegiance rather than competence. 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