The Press Box

Latest Episodes:

The Ezra Klein Heat Check, Peter King’s Exit, Vice’s Implosion, and the Allure of the First-Person Essay Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

Bryan and David return this week with a lot to talk about! First they discuss Ben Smith’s tweet, which could lead to an instant think piece (:42). Then they get into Ezra Klein’s comments about President Joe Biden, comments that Klein says the president's supporters will not like (8:10)! In the notebook dump, they say a couple of farewells—first to Peter King (30:10), then to Vice (39:09). And later, they talk the allure of the first-person essay (45:05).

Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Covering a Campaign Rematch, Media Free Agency, and the Return of Jon Stewart With The New York Times’ Astead Herndon Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Covering a TK Campaign, Media Free Agency, and the Return of Jon Stewart With the New York Times’ Astead Herndon

On the Final Edition, Bryan is joined by Astead Herndon—reporter at The New York Times and host of ‘The Run-Up.’ They discuss how the election coverage will change since the Republican primary is ending so early (1:54). They also get into his conversation on ‘The Run-Up’ with an organizer of Free Palestine Charleston, who was a protester at President Biden’s campaign at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston (19:10). Later they react to Ryan Clark’s video on X in which he shared his media free agency status (37:56). Astead also discusses what he learned from The Boston Globe in the beginning of his career (44:52). They close out with a discussion of Jon Stewart’s return (51:45).

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Astead Herndon

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Super Bowl Broadcast Reactions, the Right Take on Tony Romo, a Report From Vegas, and How to Cover a Well-Meaning, Elderly Man Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Bryan is back from Las Vegas after covering the Super Bowl, and he shares his observations with David (0:53). They discuss the broadcast, including when Tony Romo sang Adele (21:46), Jim Nantz’s game-winning call (27:43), how Phil Simms botched his own prediction (31:30), and more. Later, they talk about President Biden’s back-and-forth with Fox’s Peter Doocy (42:47). Plus, Only in Journalism, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Radio Row Mega-Show With Nora Princiotti and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

On the Final Edition, Bryan is live in Las Vegas at Radio Row ahead of the Super Bowl. He is joined by two guests! First, by The Ringer’s own Nora Princiotti, and they kick off the show by discussing their favorite Radio Row moments (1:30). They then talk about the race to defend Taylor Swift in the media (7:17); whether or not we need to make new passwords once ESPN, Warner Brothers, and FOX create their new sports network (18:30); and what type of announcer Tom Brady will be this fall (28:52).

Then, he is joined by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and they immediately get into Mad Dog’s interesting relationship with Dan Orlovsky (49:50), whether or not he has been confronted by athletes (51:34), why Tony Romo has a lot of pressure calling this year’s Super Bowl (55:10), and whether or not Mad Dog grades his radio shows (55:15).

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guests: Nora Princiotti and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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How Sportswriters Can Win the Super Bowl. Plus: Inside Radio Row, Politicians Avoiding Nosy Reporters, and the Death of the D.C. Bureau Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

Bryan and David discuss Super Bowl week’s radio row with the Radio Row power rankings (2:12)! Then they host a Super Bowl editorial meeting that touches on Taylor Swift being the biggest story (9:55) and Brock Purdy’s legacy if he wins the big game (19:49). Later they talk about the Wall Street Journal cutting jobs from the D.C. Bureau (31:06). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. And finally, the Media Piss Test returns.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Autopsy for The Messenger, Tom Brady to Fox, 2024 Media Rooting, and Farewell to Anthony Lane With The New York Times’ Benjamin Mullin and Puck’s Teddy Schleifer Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

On the Final Edition, Bryan is joined by two guests! First, Benjamin Mullin of The New York Times to discuss the shut down of The Messenger—a story he broke this week (1:32). Then he is joined by Puck’s own Teddy Schleifer and the latest in media, including the latest media apocalypse (17:51), Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift versus certain elements of the Right (29:41), how long Tom Brady will last calling games for Fox next year (40:28), and the current state of the Presidential election and whether or not reporters are rooting for Nikki Haley (47:12).Plus, Bryan has a few surprise questions for Teddy—and an editor's note.

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guests: Ben Mullin and Teddy Schleifer

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Our Media Apocalypse, NFL Championship Game TV Notes, and the Feel-Bad Presidential Election Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

Bryan and David begin the episode discussing cuts that major publications have been making over the last two weeks, and what it means for the future of journalism (0:37). Then, they discuss the fun sounds from both the AFC and NFC championship games, including Phil Simms being the voice of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s on-field celebration (19:11). Later, they discuss the creative ways that political writers are describing the upcoming election (47:57). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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What Do You Tell Someone Who Wants to Be a Journalist? Plus: Jon Stewart, New Hampshire, and ‘Barbie’ Think Pieces With The Washington Post’s Chris Suellentrop Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

On the Final Edition, Bryan is joined by his big brother in the media, Chris Suellentrop

After thousands of conversations, their first recorded discussion will address the following:

Advice you give to students who want to be in journalism (2:30)
Whether or not the New Hampshire primary is a semi-decisive moment (13:02)
The expectations set for Nikki Haley and how to interpret the results in real time (24:52)
Jon Stewart’s new show coming in February (36:27)
An inevitable “somebody’s got to say it” think piece on ‘Barbie’ (45:52)

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest:Chris Suellentrop

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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The Latest Death of ‘Sports Illustrated,’ Playoff Audio and Observations, and Pitchfork and the Plight of the Midsized Publication Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing the latest news regarding ‘Sports Illustrated’ and its many deaths. (0:37). Then they get into the NFL divisional round and some of the observations from the games, such as the Texans special teams coaches’ reactions (13:20) and Jason Kelce’s reaction to his brother Travis’s touchdown (27:40). Later, talk of Ron DeSantis ending his presidential campaign with a “quote” and some only-in-journalism words from an unlikely source: Donald Trump (41:46). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Read Bryan’s column on the Ringer dot com regarding Sports Illustrated.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Covering a War, Reinventing the Newspaper, and NFL Press Conference Questions With The New Yorker’s Clare Malone Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Covering a War, Reinventing the Newspaper, and NFL Press Conference Questions With The New Yorker’s Clare Malone

On the Final Edition, The New Yorker’s Clare Malone joins Bryan. First she talks about her piece that discusses Clarissa Ward’s coverage of the war in Gaza (2:00). Then they get into Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles’s response to questions about the upcoming weather in Detroit even though the game will be played in a dome (12:39). Then they discuss what newspapers will look like in 2024 (19:30), Mark Thompson's reinvention of CNN (32:22), and a journalist's thoughts when someone calls their work a “great write-up” (51:50)

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Clare Malone

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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