Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino

Latest Episodes:

2026 Predictions That Will Reshape Hollywood, Media, and Big Tech Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

Happy New Year! On the first episode of Power Lines in 2026 Oliver and Jon drop their top five predictions for what will take place this year, across Hollywood, Media, and Big Tech. 0:00 Intro

1:26 Looming Hollywood Shake-Ups

19:02 The Future of News Media

41:23 What's Next for A.I.? Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status

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The Most Impactful Media Stories of 2025 Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

As the clock counts down to the end of a dizzying and tumultuous year, Oliver and Jon take a look at the five biggest and most impactful media stories from the year that was 2025.

00:00 Intro 01:00 Legacy Media Talent Exodus and Layoffs 11:09 MAGA Media Civil War 21:08 The Bidding War for Warner Brothers Discovery 24:28 AI's Growing Influence in Media and Entertainment 32:19 Tech and Media Giants Bow to Trump

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Vanity Fair Exposes White House, Fox Hosts Turn On Trump, and Bari’s Town Hall Trouble Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

On this week’s Power Lines: A Vanity Fair bombshell revealed chief of staff Susie Wiles privately torching Donald Trump and his cabinet alongside unflattering photos of the White House staff. Oliver and Jon unpack why Wiles went on the record and what it actually shows about Trump’s team. Then, Fox News and the MAGA Media ecosystem openly break with Trump after his shocking post blaming the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife on “TDS.” Plus, why Warner Bros. is rejecting Paramount again, Ted Cruz confronts Brendan Carr, and Bari Weiss’ much-hyped town hall with Erika Kirk falls flat. 00:00 Intro

00:51 Vanity Fair's White House Profile

09:32 The Controversial Photo Spread

14:56 Trump Faces Backlash Over Rob Reiner Comments

24:21 Bari Weiss' Erika Kirk Town Hall Ratings Disaster

31:47 Warner Brothers Discovery Takeover Battle

36:15 Ted Cruz's Comments on FCC Head Brendan Carr Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [STATUS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod #ad

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Trump Demands CNN Be Sold, Tucker Trashes CBS Chief Bari Weiss, & Politico's Trump Softball Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

Donald Trump brazenly inserts himself into the looming Warner Bros. Discovery sale, demanding that CNN be sold and calling the global news network's coverage "poison" and a "disgrace." Jon and Oliver discuss the inappropriate weaponization of government and the disturbing silence from David Ellison and Paramount, who are now reportedly tapping into Saudi and Qatari funding to bolster their bid.

Then, the focus shifts to CBS News: Bari Weiss' controversial primetime interview with Erika Kirk is dissected, highlighting the "Fox News-ification" of CBS. This follows an outrageous attack from Tucker Carlson, who questioned Weiss's appointment as the network's chief, dismissing her as someone who "shouldn't be more than a secretary."

Plus:

Politico's "Softball" Interview: The controversy around Dasha Burns' interview with Donald Trump, where she failed to challenge his repeated claims that the election was "rigged."
Tim Pool's Financial Meltdown: Far-right podcaster Tim Pool suggests his show is on the brink after his alleged Russian funding seems to have dried up.
Golden Globe Snubs: Ben Shapiro's massive, expensive campaign for "Best Podcast" ends in total defeat as he is shut out of the nominations.

00:00 Intro

00:58 Trump's Involvement in Warner Bros. Discovery Sale

05:01 Business Leaders Bowing to Trump

11:58 Paramount's Bid and Middle Eastern Funds

13:01 Democrats' Concerns and Potential Investigations

14:30 Bidding War and Regulatory Hurdles

17:44 Bari Weiss Interviews Erica Kirk

26:55 Tucker Carlson Criticizes Bari Weiss

31:45 Politico's Softball Interview with Trump

37:36 Tim Poole's Podcast Struggles

41:24 Golden Globe Nominations and Snubs

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Nuzzi Breaks Silence, MAGA Rallies Behind Hegseth & Sabrina Carpenter Slams the White House Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

On today’s Power Lines, Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino break down Olivia Nuzzi’s first public comments since her scandal—an emotional, but evasive interview with Tim Miller. What’s the real plan for her future at Vanity Fair?

Then, a closer look at how MAGA Media is defending Pete Hegseth, whose boat bombings are being widely described as potential war crimes. First came a surreal softball interview with Katie Miller, then a grotesque, unhinged response from whatever remains of Megyn Kelly’s public persona.

Plus:

Sabrina Carpenter calls out the White House for using her music in a deportation video

David Ellison reportedly taps Saudi money to bolster his bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

Dan Bongino melts down on X (again)

00:00 Intro

04:03 Olivia Nuzzi's Controversial Memoir

21:35 A Pentagon "Press Briefing"

28:53 Snowflake Pete and War Crimes Allegations

34:19 Megyn Kelly's Disturbing Comments

43:47 Ellison Gets Help from Saudi Arabia for WBD Bid?

47:09 Sabrina Carpenter's ICE Rebuke

49:49 Dan Bonino's Social Media Meltdown

54:31 Outro

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Fox News Hosts Exposed (Again); Bari Weiss’ Both-Sides Pitch; Vanity Fair’s Olivia Nuzzi Disaster Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

This week on Power Lines:

Both Sides Bari: Bari Weiss outlined her groundbreaking vision to "redraw the lines" of acceptable debate by elevating voices like Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch, while sidelining “extremists" like Tucker Carlson and Hasan Piker. Oliver and Jon criticize this "both-sides-ism" approach—and point out that in the Trump-era, iit often requires platforming individuals willing to distort facts. They also address the bizarre reaction piece on the topic, from Mediaite, aimed at Oliver.

Fox News Hosts Exposed: New documents from the Smartmatic lawsuit reveal explosive private communications from top Fox News figures, many of whom chose ratings over facts due to fear of losing ground to Newsmax and OAN during the 2020 election.

Olivia Nuzzi's Scandal Heats Up Vanity Fair: The fallout continues for Vanity Fair's West Coast Editor, Olivia Nuzzi. The magazine's choice to publish a nude portrait of her was an odd one. Now Global Editorial Director Mark Guiducci is under pressure as Vanity Fair examines its relationship with Nuzzi moving forward.

Trump Forces “Rush Hour 4”: Donald Trump personally intervened to push Paramount's David Ellison into producing a new “Rush Hour” film, likely due to ties with disgraced director Brett Ratner. Plus, the strange irony of Trump propping up the career of a star (Jackie Chan) who has publicly pledged allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party.

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. We’ll see you next week.

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Olivia Nuzzi Scandal Rocks Vanity Fair, Trump’s Disturbing MBS Defense, and Fox News’ Epstein Spin Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Former star political reporter Olivia Nuzzi is back in the spotlight after her ex-fiancé, Ryan Lizza, alleged that she had a second romantic relationship with a subject she was reporting on. Oliver and Jon are joined by Status’ own Natalie Korach to break down the ethical fallout and how her new employer Condé Nast is responding.

Then: Donald Trump attacks an ABC News reporter while defending his “friend,” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during an Oval Office appearance. Saudi money and influence seem to be everywhere right now, evidenced by the long list of attendees at the MBS state dinner.

Among them was David Ellison, who has spoken to Middle Eastern funds as he makes a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Oliver and Jon dig into the speculation and outline the grim reality facing CNN, no matter who ultimately ends up in charge of WBD.

Plus: Ben Shapiro’s Golden Globes hypocrisy, and Fox News’ embarrassing attempt to spin the Epstein files into a non-story—or at least a story that somehow has nothing to do with Donald Trump.

We’ll see you next week.

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Epstein Emails Expose Fox News Bias; Trump Threatens BBC; ‘South Park’ Airs White House Sex Scene Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

This week on Power Lines: Newly uncovered Epstein emails reveal troubling ties between Jeffrey Epstein, Michael Wolff, and Donald Trump. Why was Wolff giving Epstein so much advice? Trump threatens to sue the BBC over an edit in a months-old documentary. Why now? Was it misleading—or just convenient timing? Plus: South Park’s unhinged Trump-Vance sex scene, Sydney Sweeney’s lackluster response to her “Jeans/Genes” ad, and Tucker Carlson goes full-Alex Jones with chemtrail conspiracy theories. We’ll see you next week. 00:00 Intro 01:05 Epstein Emails and Fox News' Reaction 09:55 Michael Wolff's Messages with Epstein 18:17 BBC's Leadership Crisis 31:23 South Park Went There 36:51 Tucker Carlson's Chemtrails Conspiracy 44:16 Sydney Sweeney's Box Office Bomb 46:03 Sweeney's Lackluster Jeans Ad Response Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status

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Zohran’s Big Win, the Tucker–Shapiro Feud, and Jon Stewart’s Return Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

On this week’s Power Lines Podcast:

Zohran Mamdani wins New York’s mayoral race: Oliver and Jon break down the reactions, from the predictable outrage on Fox News to the surprising pushback from CNN, and what his rise means for the Democratic establishment as right-wing media gears up to weaponize his every move.

The MAGA civil war heats up: Ben Shapiro publicly torches Tucker Carlson for platforming white nationalist Nick Fuentes and Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts got caught in the crossfire, after his awkward defense of Tucker and the claim he “didn’t know” who Fuentes was.

Plus: Jon Stewart returns to Comedy Central, Marjorie Taylor Greene might be (sort of) maturing, and Netflix doubles down on podcasting.

We’ll see you next week.

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Tucker Embraces White Supremacist, MSNBC Hosts Rip Comcast, and Mamdani’s Media Strategy Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

On this week’s Power Lines Podcast:

Tucker Carlson has suddenly ended his feud and embraced Holocaust-denying white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Why is he leaning further into extremist voices?

Oliver and Jon break down the fallout from Comcast helping to fund the White House ballroom — and what that says about media power and influence.

Plus: what the Paramount layoffs reveal about Ellison’s plans for news personalities, CNN head Mark Thompson dodging Bari Weiss questions, Zohran winning over Andrew Schulz, and Elon Musk’s “Grokipedia” — a fact-twisting clone of Wikipedia built in bad faith and fueled by an alternate reality.

Have a Happy Halloween! We’ll see you next week.

00:00 Intro 03:15 Tucker Carlson Hosts Nick Fuentes 08:38 Mainstream Media's Challenge with Extremism 19:57 Comcast's Controversial Donation to Trump 29:46 Paramount Layoffs and CBS News Cuts 32:54 Oracle's AI Investments and Media Cuts 34:41 CBS News Restructuring and Political Shifts 37:44 CNN's New Streaming Service and Bari Weiss 46:29 New York Mayor's Race Media Strategy 56:10 Elon Musk's Wikipedia Alternative, Grokipedia

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