Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino

Latest Episodes:

Murdoch’s Fox News Decision, Trump’s Billionaire Pals In Trouble, Media’s Midterm Polling Problem Nov 06, 2026

Show notes

The blame game is underway in MAGA Media after Republicans were wiped out in shocking midterm losses. Donald Trump is blaming Fox News, while Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers are pointing the finger back at Trump. And as the civil war rages, will Fox News be forced to take a side in a fracturing GOP?

Then, Democrats are preparing to target Trump’s billionaire allies who received billions in government contracts or bent the knee for regulatory approval. We discuss what that could mean for Elon Musk, David Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and more.

Finally, did the media underestimate the blue tsunami? We get into why newsrooms were so cautious in the lead up to the elections.

0:00 Intro

1:16 MAGA Infighting After Midterms Blowout

24:11 Are Billionaires in Trouble after Midterms?

38:42 Did the Press Underplay the Blue Wave?

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Bari Weiss Breaks Silence on CBS Drama; Fox News Ratings Tank; Hasan Piker Sues Scott Jennings Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

Bari Weiss broke her silence this week and addressed the controversies that have erupted under her stewardship of CBS News. Oliver and Jon unpack what she said.

Then, Fox News’ audience is shrinking ahead of the midterms, with some viewership metrics hitting lows that haven’t been seen in 25 years. Finally, Hasan Piker has filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN MAGA pundit Scott Jennings.

0:00 Intro

1:21 Bari Weiss’ Comments on CBS News Controversies

28:09 FOX News Ratings Plummet as Midterms Approach

38:00 Hasan Piker Sues CNN’s Scott Jennings

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Amanpour's Shock CNN Exit, CBS Faces Fresh Blowback, ‘Musk’ Director Speaks Out Oct 23, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode:

After 43 years at CNN, Christiane Amanpour announced this week that she will exit the network. We report on the concerns she had over David Ellison’s ownership and what drove her decision.

Plus, new reporting on the fallout inside CBS News’ London bureau following foreign editor Shayndi Raice’s confrontation with staff. We also discuss Jan Crawford’s deleted tweet applauding a GOP activist’s questioning of Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

Finally, filmmaker Alex Gibney joins Power Lines to discuss “Musk,” the obstacles to advertising his documentary on social platforms, his concerns about its planned HBO release, and the risks of scrutinizing one of the world’s most powerful men.

0:00 Intro

1:20 Christiane Amanpour Leaves CNN

21:54 Fallout After Leaked Shayndi Raice Meeting Audio

29:54 Jan Crawford’s Deleted Abdul El-Sayed Tweet

39:59 Interview with Elon Musk Documentarian Alex Gibney

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Leaked Audio Reveals Explosive CBS News Showdown Over Israel—Plus, Why Lesley Stahl Nearly Quit Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

In a special episode of Power Lines, we publish exclusive audio from a stunning all-hands meeting in which Bari Weiss' handpicked foreign editor, Shayndi Raice, unleashed a lengthy tirade against her own CBS News journalists.

The extraordinary meeting, which followed Status' exclusive reporting on internal clashes over the network's Israel coverage, quickly turned contentious as Raice defended her editorial decisions, warned staffers about "insubordination," and engaged in a heated back-and-forth with veteran correspondent Holly Williams.

For the first time, listeners can hear the remarkable confrontation for themselves, as Oliver and Jon play the most revealing moments from the meeting and unpack what the extraordinary episode reveals about the growing turmoil inside Bari Weiss' CBS News.

0:00 Intro

1:35 Leaked Audio of CBS News All-Hands Meeting

49:59 Leslie Stahl Threatens to Quit ‘60 Minutes’ over West Bank Story

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David Ellison Takes the Reins at CNN & Kara Swisher Zings Casey Newton’s Return to X Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

After completing his acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Ellison is facing questions about his relationship with Donald Trump and his plans for CNN. Jon shares what happened when he pressed Ellison directly on the Paramount lot, and Oliver reports on Anderson Cooper’s pointed questions for his new boss at an internal company town hall.

Oliver and Jon also examine what Ellison’s assurances mean for CNN chief Mark Thompson, whose long-term future remains unresolved, and how CNN and Bari Weiss’ CBS News could come together as the company pursues billions in cuts.

Plus, renowned tech journalist Casey Newton, co-host of the upcoming NPR podcast “Machine Gods,” joins the show to defend his decision to return to Elon Musk’s X after a three-year boycott. Oliver and Jon press him on what changed—and his “podmother,” Kara Swisher, delivers a surprise message you won't want to miss.

0:00 Intro

1:29 CNN and CBS News’ Future at Skydance

18:30 Anderson Cooper Questions David Ellison at Internal Town Hall

36:44 Casey Newton Grilled by Oliver, Jon, and Kara Swisher

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Ellison Makes His CNN Move, Bari Gets Snubbed, and Trump Puts MS NOW In a Bind Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

The future of CNN is coming into focus…at least for now. David Ellison has opened talks with Mark Thompson about extending his tenure as CNN’s chief. Oliver and Jon break down what the move signals to employees inside the network, what it could mean for CNN’s direction under Ellison, and where it leaves Bari Weiss, both now and down the road.

Plus, Donald Trump is using taxpayer money to run propaganda ads on MS NOW. Oliver and Jon report on the discontent amongst some network staffers who do not believe the progressive outlet should air the ads.

0:00 Intro

1:18 The Future of CNN (For Now)

18:30 Will Bari Weiss Run CNN?

36:44 MS NOW Staffers Furious as Trump Ads Air on Network

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White House’s Shocking Self-Own; CNN’s Ellison Anxiety Soars; Axel Springer’s Internal Revolt Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

The anonymous source behind one of the stories that the White House used to justify its press ban was none other than JD Vance himself. We detail our exclusive reporting and get into the latest developments on Donald Trump’s war against the media.

Then, we report on the anxiety coursing through CNN as David Ellison’s Paramount strikes a deal with the state AGs to gain regulatory clearance to take over the news outlet’s parentco. We’ll take you inside the network where chief Mark Thompson is facing mounting questions from nervous staffers.

Plus, the owner of POLITICO and Business Insider is facing backlash from staffers for its decision to honor pro-MAGA billionaire Peter Thiel with help from Bari Weiss.

0:00 Intro

1:39 JD Vance Exposed as Politico’s Anonymous Source

15:57 CNN’s Ownership Uncertainty

37:45 Axel Springer’s Peter Thiel Controversy

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Kaitlan Collins Presses Oliver Darcy On Covering the Media, Leaving CNN, and More Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins turned the tables on Status founder Oliver Darcy for the final interview of the Status Summit. Darcy described what it actually felt like to leave CNN and go independent, including the realization that there’s no undo button once you’ve handed in your badge. They also discuss how sourcing and reporting have changed for both of them since their beginnings in conservative media, and Oliver's plans to grow Status with more journalists, events, and podcasts.

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MS NOW Boss Rebecca Kutler On Taking Trump Live, Hasan Piker, and More Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler joined Natalie Korach and Oliver Darcy at the Status Summit to discuss the network's programming and business strategy. Kutler spoke about the network’s new membership program, her perspective on taking Donald Trump live, whether Hasan Piker is welcome on the channel, and more.

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CEOs of The NYT and Atlantic Get Canndid About AI, Google Search, Kalshi, and More Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

New York Times chief executive Meredith Kopit Levien and Atlantic chief executive Nicholas Thompson joined Oliver Darcy at the Status Summit for a wide-ranging discussion on the business upheavals reshaping the media industry. The duo discussed their different approaches to A.I. giants, whether news organizations should make deals with prediction markets like Kalshi, Google’s crawler behavior, and more. Plus, Kopit Levien responded to Nicole Kidman’s “Lioness” character attacking The Times for its coverage on democracy being under threat.

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