The Powers That Be: Daily

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Will Republican Turnout Collapse This Tuesday? with Nate Silver Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

Polling guru Nate Silver joins Peter to offer his final set of midterm election predictions, from the Deep South to the Midwest and explain why his model shows Democrats with a growing chance of retaking the Senate. They also discuss potential polling errors, the problem of ticket splitters, and why Jon Ossoff is Nate’s top pick for Dems in 2028.

Media Monday: CNN Successionology & The G.O.P. Midterm Blitz Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

Jon Kelly and Peter reunite on the eve of the midterms to dig into a high-stakes test for pollsters, and why nearly $12 billion in political ad spending has become a windfall for ESPN. Then they turn to CNN, where Mark Thompson’s postponed contract talks are beginning to look like an audition for David Ellison and Skydance.

Tales From the Trail with Tim Miller Oct 31, 2026

Show notes

Tim Miller, co-founder of The Bulwark, a leader of the anti-Trump resistance, and a veteran of countless Republican campaigns from the pre-Trump era, joins Peter for a wide-ranging conversation. He gives his read on the midterms, Trump’s polling collapse, and whether he fears Democrats could come up short in the Senate, plus some candid talk about J.D. Vance. Tim also considers whether A.O.C. should run for president, which Democrats have a real shot in 2028, and shares some of the best and worst stories from his years on the trail.

Progress doesn’t just arrive. It’s built - one question, one discovery, and one solution at a time. Explore more at ScienceDelivers.com.

The Great Washington Retreat Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

Julia Ioffe joins Peter with reporting on why European leaders are steering clear of formal Washington visits with Trump—where they risk public humiliation or a public berating, and where appearing close to Trump can hurt them back home. Julia explains how diplomacy continues without them, and whether European leaders might turn instead to the Democrats eyeing the White House.

Nathan Fielder Mania & ‘Odyssey’ Oscar Buzz Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

Matt Belloni joins Peter to break down how A24 turned ‘You Can See Everything’ into a genuine national phenomenon, even as some filmmakers bristle at the Nathan Fielder film presenting itself as a documentary. Matt also weighs in on the early Oscar buzz around Hollywood and why ‘The Odyssey’ may already be a lock for Best Picture.

Art Basel’s Confidence Boost & Frieze’s Mood Swing Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

Marion Maneker joins Peter fresh off a European tour that saw his Art Basel visit overshadowed by the riots in France. And yet, Marion explains, the art market hasn’t missed a beat despite the class anxiety roaring through the streets, with some huge sales going down in Paris and at Frieze in London.

Musk’s Moonshot Merger & Anthropic’s $80B Question Oct 27, 2026

Show notes

Bill Cohan joins Peter to consider whether Elon Musk can engineer the largest merger in history by combining Tesla and SpaceX—and why it’s hard to bet against Elon on this one. Then they turn to Anthropic, which filed this week for a massive I.P.O. even after posting an $80 billion loss in the first half of this year.

Media Monday: Netflix’s YouTube Problem & ESPN’s Aikman Math Oct 26, 2026

Show notes

Jon Kelly joins Peter to discuss Peter Rice’s takeover at Netflix and whether he can win back attention from YouTube. Then they turn to ESPN letting Troy Aikman walk, and why it may signal a peak in NFL rights.

The Trump Bro Exodus, with John Della Volpe Oct 24, 2026

Show notes

Veteran pollster John Della Volpe joins Peter to discuss why young men who took a chance on Donald Trump now regret their vote—the surging price of gas, unaffordable groceries, tariffs, the war in Iran. Then they turn to the nuances that have made Della Volpe one of the nation's foremost Gen Z bro-ologists, including what he's heard in focus groups about why young men aren't turning to Democrats either.

Progress doesn’t just arrive. It’s built - one question, one discovery, and one solution at a time. Explore more at ScienceDelivers.com.

The Lame Duck From Hell Oct 23, 2026

Show notes

Marianna Sotomayor joins Peter to look past Election Day at the chaos that could follow: If Democrats reclaim the House, the lame-duck session may turn combustible with spending bills to pass, Republicans refusing to show up, and Democrats potentially launching an impeachment crusade against Pete Hegseth, all before the new Congress is even sworn in next year.

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