The Powers That Be: Daily

Latest Episodes:

A.I. Panic Disorder Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

Puck’s newest author and resident A.I. expert, Ian Krietzberg, makes his podcast debut with guest host Julia Alexander for a rollicking conversation about the disruptive promise—and misconceptions—of artificial intelligence. Ian unpacks what we’re getting right and wrong about A.I. panic, then turns to break down the major implications of a recent court ruling in a landmark case against Anthropic, one of the biggest A.I. companies in the world, in which a judge found that using copyrighted books to train A.I. models constitutes fair use.

Paramount in Peril & Apple’s Need for Speed Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Kim Masters joins guest host extraordinaire Julia Alexander to unravel the latest twists in the ever-expanding CBS–Trump legal saga: a new mediator proposal, the Paramount-Skydance merger hanging in the balance, and the uncertain fate of ‘60 Minutes’ on the other side of a potential settlement. Then, they weigh whether Apple’s long-awaited ‘F1’ movie could be a defining moment—or a costly misfire—for the streamer’s film ambitions.

The Foxification of the F.C.C. Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Eriq Gardner joins guest host Julia Ioffe to break down the ripple effects of Olivia Trusty’s confirmation to the F.C.C., cementing a new Republican majority that could dramatically loosen media ownership rules—paving the way for more conservative local media consolidation. Then Eriq unpacks NPR’s intensifying legal battle with the Trump administration over its federal funding lifeline.

D.C.’s Iran Fog of War Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

Julia Ioffe and Leigh Ann Caldwell unpack the political fallout from the U.S. strikes on Iran, charting the MAGA coalition’s reflexive support for Trump and the Democrats’ more fragmented response. While Republicans are largely unified, Democrats remain split—more focused on Trump’s sidestepping of Congress than taking a clear stance on the strikes themselves.

Media Monday: Substackistan Jun 23, 2025

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Jon Kelly joins guest host Dylan Byers for a deep dive into Substack’s increasingly precarious business model—marked by a high cash burn rate, flat valuation, and potential dilution. They debate whether the company is truly a tech platform or a media business in disguise, and unpack the growing pains writers face when leaving legacy outlets for the Substack promise.

Hollywood Red Pills & Iger Succession Intel Jun 20, 2025

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The legendary Kim Masters joins Julia Alexander to examine the MAGA turn of mega producer Brian Grazer, a longtime Democrat, and what his conversion portends for the industry. Plus, whether Trump is coming around on the Ellison-Paramount deal and the latest Disney succession chatter following the Dana Walden-Kamala Harris summit.

Zaz Debt Magic & Trump’s Paramount Love Tap Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

The inimitable Bill Cohan joins guest host Julia Alexander to chew over two of the great mysteries before Wall Street: the financial engineering of the Warner Bros. Discovery breakup, and whether Trump’s F.C.C. will bless Shari Redstone and David Ellison’s Paramount deal.

Hot Schatz! Part Deux Jun 18, 2025

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In this special episode of The Powers That Be, Leigh Ann Caldwell sits down with Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz for a wide-ranging chat about Trump’s controversial decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles, the perils of his “invasion” rhetoric, the ongoing dysfunction surrounding the Big Beautiful Bill, and how Democrats can un-DOGE America.

Julia Ioffe on the Israel–Iran War Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

In a timely crossover episode, guest hosts Julia Ioffe and Leigh Ann Caldwell discuss the intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel, and the ripple effects in Washington: the decisions now confronting Donald Trump, the fate of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, and whether there’s any opening for diplomacy. Plus, Julia explains why Trump still can’t stop talking about Vladimir Putin at the G7.

Media Monday: A Zazpocalypse Postmortem & WaPo Woes Cont’d Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Jon Kelly joins guest host Dylan Byers for a postmortem of Zaz’s WBD spinoff, and what it portends for HBO, CNN, TNT, and other networks. They also discuss the long-term viability of his newly formed Streaming & Studios, before weighing into the ongoing challenges plaguing The Washington Post—and much more.

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