The Powers That Be: Daily

Latest Episodes:

The Epstein Pressure Cooker Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to examine the political bind facing the G.O.P., as Speaker Mike Johnson chooses to recess the House rather than confront growing demands from his own party to release new information about Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. They discuss the political calculations behind the move, the pressure mounting on Trump, and why Republicans remain deeply conflicted over the handling—or mishandling—of this situation.

Trump’s $10B War Against the Journal Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Eriq Gardner joins guest host Julia Ioffe to unpack Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over a lewd birthday card he allegedly doodled for Jeffrey Epstein, and which he vehemently denies creating. Eriq explains why this lawsuit is notably flimsy—and why Trump may be aiming for a settlement rather than a public reckoning.

Trump’s Anti-Woke A.I. Agenda Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Ian Krietzberg joins guest host Julia Ioffe to unpack the class-action lawsuit against the A.I. company Anthropic, and how publishers are drawing a line in the sand when it comes to A.I. models training on their content. They also dig into Trump’s supposed “anti-woke A.I.” action plan and how it ties into the mass sell-off of public lands envisioned in the Big Beautiful Bill.

Media Monday: Substack’s Wild Valuation & Bari Weiss’s Big Decision Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Jon Kelly reunites with Peter to unpack Substack’s billion-dollar valuation and its pivot from newsletter darling to multimedia hype darling. Then they dig into the culture-war-infused intrigue surrounding David Ellison’s potential bid for The Free Press, and what it could mean if he folds Bari Weiss into CBS News.

What’s Eating Angie Craig? Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode of The Powers That Be, Leigh Ann Caldwell is joined by Rep. Angie Craig for a Puck Power Breakfast at Ned’s Club in D.C. Craig digs into the crypto-related conflicts dogging the White House, and explains why the current administration’s rural agenda is alienating the very farmers it claims to support. She also opens up about her new political group, Majority Democrats, and her campaign to reimagine the party’s strategy, messaging, and leadership.

Paging Marco Rubio! Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Julia Ioffe joins guest host Leigh Ann Caldwell to unpack the implications of the sweeping layoffs at the State Department, which have left 1300 staffers out in the cold. Then they examine Marco Rubio’s tenure as Secretary of State, illuminating his emerging role as a key architect of Trump's evolving foreign policy—while sidestepping his actual duty to manage the reorganization of the State Department.

Elon’s Third Party Fantasy & The G.O.P.’s Texas Tangle Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Abby Livingston joins Leigh Ann Caldwell to cover the most pressing topics underpinning the political landscape: the latest drama with the redistricting efforts in Texas, the Dems’ and G.O.P.’s respective Q2 fundraising trends, and whether Elon Musk is actually gaining any traction with his quixotic third-party ambitions.

Vogue Succession Watch & The Bezos-Sánchez Whisper Network Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Lauren Sherman joins guest host Julia Alexander to cut through the noise surrounding the Anna Wintour-Vogue succession story—and why the rumors of Jeff Bezos acquiring the storied fashion mag are more fantasy than fact. Lauren also digs into the $10 million sale of a prototype Hermès Birkin bag, and highlights which other luxury bags could reach cult collectible status in the future.

Ackman’s Unforced Errors & Saks’ Debt Spiral Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Bill Cohan joins guest host extraordinaire Julia Alexander to dissect Bill Ackman’s latest headline-generating antics—this time at a tennis tournament—and the optics of his increasingly erratic behavior. Then Bill breaks down the escalating crisis at Saks Global, where a debt restructuring effort has devolved into intra-creditor warfare, and why Chapter 11 may be on the horizon.

Media Monday: Apple’s F1 Power Play & Yaccarino’s X-it Plan Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Jon Kelly joins guest host Julia Alexander to assess Apple’s reported $150 million-a-year offer for F1's U.S. media rights—nearly twice what ESPN currently pays. With ESPN tightening its belt and prioritizing strategic clarity, Apple may have the inside lane. Then they pivot to Linda Yaccarino’s exit from X, and discuss what her retreat signals about the company’s Musk-era dysfunction and long-term viability.

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