The Powers That Be: Daily

Latest Episodes:

Dem Paralysis & McConnell's Twilight Era Feb 11, 2025

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Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to examine the paralysis gripping Democrats as the party debates which fights to pick with an unbridled Trump. They also discuss Mitch McConnell’s stunning transformation, in the twilight of his Senate career, into a major impediment to his imperial presidency.

Media Monday: NFL’s 18-Game Fantasy & A Politico Microscandal Feb 10, 2025

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Jon Kelly joins Peter to talk about the NFL’s 18-game fantasy. They analyze the viability of lengthening the NFL season, whether this is a smart business decision, and envision the potential for major streamers to get involved. Then they dissect the Trump administration cancelling its subscriptions to several D.C. publications—and whether this could actually impact their bottom lines.

Elon's Wrecking Ball & Shari's Last Dance Feb 07, 2025

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Eriq Gardner joins Peter to navigate the growing tide of legal challenges surrounding Trump’s contentious executive orders and his efforts, along with Elon Musk, to reshape the federal government. Then Eriq shifts gears to dissect the mounting scrutiny on Shari Redstone’s bid to sell Paramount to Skydance, sparked by Trump’s shaky lawsuit against CBS News.

Emilia Pérez P.R. Panic & The Lively-Baldoni Legal Tangle Feb 06, 2025

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Puck’s newest partner, the legendary Hollywood journalist Kim Masters, joins Peter for a deep dive into the public relations firestorm and social media-fueled disasters surrounding the Oscar-nominated ‘Emilia Pérez.’ Then Kim breaks down the escalating legal kerfuffle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni—and why it's a no-win situation for everyone involved.

Trump's Tariff Theater Feb 05, 2025

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Bill Cohan joins Peter for a deep dive into Trump’s tariff threats against Mexico, Canada, and China. Bill argues that these threats are largely performative, crafted to score political wins rather than serve any real economic purpose. Then they discuss the inevitable market volatility, and whether, despite any potential short-term gains, these tariffs will ultimately prove inflationary and harmful to U.S. relations with key allies.

Cabinet Confirmation Roulette Feb 04, 2025

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Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to analyze the high-stakes confirmation battles of two of Trump’s most contentious cabinet picks: Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence and R.F.K. Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Leigh Ann breaks down the key dynamics at play, the senators to watch as the processes unfold, and what could ultimately tip the scales in their favor—or seal their fate.

Media Monday: Paramount's Trump Gamble & Peacock's Peril Feb 03, 2025

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Jon Kelly reunites with Peter to scrutinize the subdued media reaction to the dawn of Trump II—and why it lacks the “five-alarm fire” urgency that defined Trump I. Then they pivot to discuss the looming possibility of Paramount settling Trump’s flimsy lawsuit filed against CBS News, before diving into the fate of Peacock as their financial losses mount and their subscriber growth sputters.

Wall Street’s A.I. Meltdown & Musk’s Washington Makeover Jan 31, 2025

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Bill Cohan joins Peter to unpack the Wall Street chaos triggered by DeepSeek, a low-cost ChatGPT alternative that sent the Nasdaq tumbling and wiped $600 billion off Nvidia’s value in a single day. Then, the duo explore Elon Musk’s bold push to inject startup culture into Washington—and why that attempt is ultimately destined to fall flat.

An NFL Ratings Mystery & Brady’s $40M Season Jan 30, 2025

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John Ourand joins Peter to dissect the NFL’s season-long ratings decline. While “Chiefs fatigue” has been a hot topic, is the broader notion of “football fatigue” more accurate? Then they scrutinize Tom Brady’s rookie season as an analyst ahead of his Super Bowl debut, and debate if he’s worth the $40 million salary Fox Sports is dishing out for him.

Trump’s Law & Disorder Jan 29, 2025

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Eriq Gardner joins Peter to break down the flood of legal developments emanating from the new Trump regime—from the firing of career D.O.J. prosecutors to the pause on civil rights and environmental litigation to the murky future of the TikTok ban. Then they dive into what antitrust enforcement might look like under Trump 2.0, as F.T.C. chair Lina Khan exits and Republicans grapple with just how far they’re willing to go in siding with consumers over big business.

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