The Powers That Be: Daily

Latest Episodes:

The G.O.P.’s Shutdown DOGEball Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down the forthcoming high-stakes showdown in Congress: Will Democrats throw Speaker Mike Johnson a lifeline and help pass the Republican funding bill, or will they stand firm and let the government grind to a halt over DOGE and Trump’s deep spending cuts?

Media Monday: A Zaz Breakthrough & The Dems’ Digital Dilemma Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Jon Kelly and Peter huddle up for a close look at David Zaslav’s Warner Bros. Discovery, which, after three years of P.R. crises, tough management calls, and chipping away at its colossal debt, is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Jon and Peter also weigh into the Democrats’ evolving media strategy as they grapple with the primacy of digital media and capturing voters’ attention beyond traditional TV.

Bezos’s WaPo Gut Punch Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Dylan Byers joins Peter for a close look at ‘The Washington Post’ as the legacy paper endures more staff departures, a fresh round of journalist agita, and the loss of 75,000 subscribers—stemming from the machinations of Jeff Bezos, who recently implemented a new editorial mandate focused on personal liberties and free markets. Dylan and Peter also debate the long term goals for the paper, and whether Bezos and his publisher Will Lewis could be willing to sacrifice their core audience in order to build a new one.

Zelensky’s Art of No Deal Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to reveal what insiders in Washington are really saying about Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous Oval Office meeting with Trump and J.D. Vance, where even Democrats believe the Ukrainian president has blundered—raising serious questions about how much he has weakened his negotiating position as the U.S. looks to wind down the war between Ukraine and Russia. So what exactly does the process to peace look like?

Trump’s 2026 Blacklist Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to discuss Trump’s brass-knuckled tactics to hold the House and Senate in the midterms while ensuring that Republicans remain loyal only to him—a dual mandate that could moderates in an impossible position. Leigh Ann also reveals the growing tensions between Trump’s camp and Tim Scott, whose N.R.S.C. is ostensibly in charge of winning Senate elections next year, and the two Trump flunkies the president has put in charge of keeping dissenters in line.

A Populist Case For Rebooting the Oscars Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Matt Belloni joins Peter for an insider’s review of the Oscars. The duo examine the growing trend of awarding critically acclaimed films that few have actually seen, dissect the highs and lows of ABC’s broadcast, and explore why politics took a backseat on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Media Monday: Bezos Unleashed & MLB’s Media Curveball Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby dissect the latest headwinds at ‘The Washington Post,’ where Jeff Bezos is reshaping the Opinion section around two core pillars: personal liberties and free markets, in yet another sign of Trump administration genuflection. Plus, the duo debate the best landing spots for the MLB’s media rights in a post-ESPN landscape.

Maddow's Prime Time Revolt Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

Dylan Byers joins Peter to discuss the turmoil brewing at 30 Rock where MSNBC’s new president Rebecca Kutler implemented a sweeping programming overhaul—and network star Rachel Maddow openly criticizing her bosses live on air in prime time. But as Dylan explains, some of these changes may be necessary as the network navigates its future beyond Maddow and ‘Morning Joe.’

Musk's DOGE Machete Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down the political fallout of Elon Musk’s cost-cutting bloodbath. While Democrats are weary of Musk slashing government spending, Leigh Ann reveals that Republicans, too, are privately voicing concerns to the Trump administration. Leigh Ann also explores a brewing showdown in Congress, where Democrats may protest the House budget resolution by allowing a government shutdown in the coming weeks.

'White Lotus' Collabmania & Nike's Woman Problems Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Lauren Sherman joins Peter to delve into the slew of brand collaborations tied to HBO’s hit series ‘The White Lotus,’ highlighting the mass-market partnerships that come across to many as distasteful and inorganic. Are these collabs actually driving sales or just diluting the show’s luxury allure? Plus Lauren discusses the Nike-Skims alliance and the broader “woman problem” the iconic athletic brand is aiming to solve.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected