How do journalists get scoops, really? From casual barista chatter to LinkedIn deep-dives, this episode of Breaker unpacks how reporters operate in a world of pressure, power, and platform politics.

We break down the viral story of the fake news that Walmart was buying TikTok, and how ABC News published it without confirmation — a major journalism ethics fail.

You’ll hear about:

If you follow Puck, The Information, Semafor, or you live on media Twitter, this episode is for you.

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#Journalism #MediaPodcast #NewsroomDrama #Scoops #FakeNews #MediaTwitter #TikTokBan #LinkedInTips #ReporterLife #MediaInsiders #PuckMedia

00:00 - Opening Banter & The Barista Theory  

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This week on Breaker, Lachlan Cartwright and Ravi Somaiya expose the strange and shifting dynamics of legacy media — from the chaotic search for a new editor at Vanity Fair, to journalists stalking sources for book deals, to the absurdity of The Financial Times being both a calming influence and a fashion statement. Plus: 💥 What it really costs to write three stories for half a million dollars 💥 Why the next great media mogul might be on YouTube, not in Condé 💥 How a chef who “doesn’t give a flying f***” became a hero 💥 And the truly unlikely friendship between Tom Hardy and the Wu-Tang Clan 🔥 Topics Covered: The Vanity Fair editor search no one wants to win How Anna Wintour still runs the show Ravi’s obsession with the pink pages of the FT Mary Trump, book deals, and rogue journalists Private members clubs and the death of downtown cool Why outdoor dining in NYC is a bureaucratic nightmare 🎧 Subscribe for weekly scoops, media gossip, Lower Manhattan glamor, and very unfiltered commentary: 👉 / @breakermedianyc #BreakerPodcast #VanityFair #FinancialTimes #TomHardy #WuTangClan #AnnaWintour #MediaNews #Gossip #Journalism #Substack #BookDeals #CondéNast #PinkPaper #NewYorkCity

In this episode of Breaker, Lachlan Cartwright and Ravi Somaiya peel back the curtain on a dramatic shake-up inside The Wall Street Journal under editor Emma Tucker. From soaring PIP rates and internal lawsuits to newsroom paranoia and “The Grim Reaper,” it’s corporate chaos with a journalistic twist.

We also reveal the unlikely financial backer behind Mark Halperin’s comeback, explore Carlos Watson’s last-minute sentence commutation, and dive into the curious case of PR fixer Juda Engelmayer—now repping Harvey Weinstein.

Plus:

In Episode 6 of Breaker, we dive deep into the secretive world of "Scandal PR," uncovering how public relations operatives manage and manipulate celebrity controversies and high-stakes business dramas. Featuring special guest Emily Sundberg, creator of the popular Substack newsletter "Feed Me," this episode explores how modern scandals unfold, the blurred lines between PR and journalism, and the evolving dynamics of online personas. Discover surprising insights into the ongoing Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuit, how a former CIA operative allegedly controls narratives online, and why private members clubs are becoming New York City's latest hotspots for powerful figures. Stay tuned as Emily reveals her secrets to Substack success, why controlling the narrative is increasingly challenging in today's media landscape, and what happens behind closed doors at exclusive clubs like Casa Cipriani. Hit subscribe and join Breaker as we uncover the hidden sides of media, celebrity, and culture, and more! Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.

This week’s podcast comes to you from Lure, in Soho, with special guest Alex Isenstadt. We talk about Alex’s new book Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power, the tortured relationship between Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch, how Fox News deals with moles, why Rupert was berating Wall Street Journal editor Emma Tucker, plus Michael Bloomberg’s comfort movie (and ours) and the turmoil at Columbia University.

Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us.

And if you have found this via the alleyways of the web, you can subscribe at Breakermedia.com/subscribe. Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.

his week we come to you from Brunetti, a fabulous pizza place with a fabulous oven in the West Village, to talk about an enormous quantity of intrigue from the mayoral race, illustrious club owners with exotic pasts, why it's scary to report on libel lawyers, why you should wear a pink hat to a press conference, and finally why you should watch our podcast at half speed ideally. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions. We’re just our first names at breakermedia.com. Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us. And if you have found this via the alleyways of the web, you can subscribe at Breakermedia.com/subscribe.

This week we come to you from Local, on Sullivan Street, to talk about the weird world of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, why New Yorkers find DC strange, what unlikely friendships reveal about the world in 2025 and the unfortunate fact that people who take themselves seriously are twice as fun to make jokes about. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions. We’re just our first names at breakermedia.com. Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us.

Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week.

The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.

This week we come to you from Cowgirl, in the West Village, to talk about the man trying to buy Britain's Telegraph newspapers, the man allegedly stopping the sale of New York's Zero Bond, the wonder of the city's ambient music, and newsroom biters.

Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.

Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions. We’re just our first names at breakermedia.com. Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us.

And if you have found this via the alleyways of the web, you can subscribe here. 

This week we come to you from outside Fanelli Cafe in Soho (iPhone feels-like temperature: minus eight) to talk about private members’ clubs, the absolute joy of human pettiness, the ways politics have riven families, great names for Australian spear fishermen, AI fears as a form of religion and much more. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions. We’re just our first names at breakermedia.com. Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us.

Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.