On this week’s Power Lines Podcast:

Zohran Mamdani wins New York’s mayoral race: Oliver and Jon break down the reactions, from the predictable outrage on Fox News to the surprising pushback from CNN, and what his rise means for the Democratic establishment as right-wing media gears up to weaponize his every move.

The MAGA civil war heats up: Ben Shapiro publicly torches Tucker Carlson for platforming white nationalist Nick Fuentes and Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts got caught in the crossfire, after his awkward defense of Tucker and the claim he “didn’t know” who Fuentes was.

Plus: Jon Stewart returns to Comedy Central, Marjorie Taylor Greene might be (sort of) maturing, and Netflix doubles down on podcasting.

We’ll see you next week.

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On this week’s Power Lines Podcast:

Tucker Carlson has suddenly ended his feud and embraced Holocaust-denying white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Why is he leaning further into extremist voices?

Oliver and Jon break down the fallout from Comcast helping to fund the White House ballroom — and what that says about media power and influence.

Plus: what the Paramount layoffs reveal about Ellison’s plans for news personalities, CNN head Mark Thompson dodging Bari Weiss questions, Zohran winning over Andrew Schulz, and Elon Musk’s “Grokipedia” — a fact-twisting clone of Wikipedia built in bad faith and fueled by an alternate reality.

Have a Happy Halloween! We’ll see you next week.

00:00 Intro

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On this week’s Power Lines Podcast:

Oliver and Jon break down why all roads lead to David Ellison's WBD takeover and the serious implications it would have for CNN.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt goes viral with a shocking text message response to a reporter.

Oliver and Jon dig into the pay-to-play operation behind the Golden Globes' new podcast award.

Fox News is losing it over Zohran Mamdani

And finally, Oliver and Jon analyze the concrete numbers behind the massive Disney/Kimmel backlash.

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00:00 Intro

00:37 Warner Brothers Discovery's Struggles

02:34 David Ellison's Takeover Bid

06:38 The Media Landscape Shake-Up

08:25 Potential WBD Buyers and Implications

25:54 Karoline Leavitt's Controversial Texts with Reporter

33:30 Far-Right Influencers Replace Pentagon Correspondents

36:03 Golden Globes' New Podcast Category

44:08 Fox News' Obsession with Zohran Momani

50:27 Disney's Backlash Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

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On this week’s episode of the Power Lines podcast:

Pentagon reporters walked out after Pete Hegseth’s team demanded they sign a loyalty pledge—effectively banning the press from one of the most powerful buildings in the world. Oliver and Jon take you inside the standoff, breaking down what led to the walkout and what it means for press freedom.

Then, NBC lays off 150 staffers, gutting its diversity reporting teams as MSNBC and CNBC spin off into a new company. What do the cuts signal about the future of network news and corporate fear of government retaliation over DEI?

Finally, the Manosphere fractures. Joe Rogan, Tim Dillon, Theo Von, Andrew Schulz and more are blasting Trump’s ICE raids as cruel. Are the podcasters who helped Trump win the election turning on the right?

Plus, Trump melts down over his new Time cover, Zohran Mamdani speaks directly to Trump during his Fox News appearance ahead of the NYC mayoral debate, and Olivia Nuzzi reemerges at Vanity Fair with a new book and renewed controversy over her relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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Power Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino break down their exclusive reporting and deliver sharp, uncompromising analysis on how information moves and shapes society. From the Fourth Estate to Silicon Valley to Hollywood, they scrutinize the powerful institutions driving narratives, shaping perception, and steering the culture. __________________________________________________________________________________________

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On this week’s Power Lines, Oliver and Jon discuss:

Bari Weiss at CBS News: Does her both-sides-ism and "Lets fucking do the news" war cry signal a major shift, or is it just corporate noise? We analyze what her new EIC role signals to the Trump administration and debate how hands-on she'll actually be.

Pete Hegseth's New Press Rules: We detail the Pentagon’s new restrictions, question how the former Fox News personality would have reacted if they were imposed by a different administration, and explain why restricting access won't stop great journalism.

Riyadh Comedy Festival Blowback: Top comedians, including Dave Chappelle, are facing heavy criticism for performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival. Now some are justifying it by saying they did it for the Saudi people. Does performing at the request of an oppressive government truly help the citizens of Saudi Arabia?

That’s all for now, have a great weekend. We’ll see you next week.

0:00 Bari Weiss is officially EIC at CBS News

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Welcome to Power Lines. This week, Oliver welcome’s Status’ new media correspondent Natalie Korach! 

Oliver and Natalie kick things off covering the relentless attacks on the free press, Oliver’s role in a Senate "spotlight hearing" on threats to journalism, the chilling effect of pressure applied by Brendan Carr and Pete Hegseth, and the alarming, unprovoked assaults on reporters by masked ICE agents.

Next, the controversy surrounding the Riyadh Comedy Festival, where A-list comedians like Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, and Bill Burr are taking huge paychecks despite Saudi Arabia's atrocious human rights record and restrictions on free expression.

Finally, Oliver and Natalie break down the misleading messaging from MAGA media outlets like Fox News on the government shutdown, and the disturbing celebration of potential mass firings of federal workers.

Have a great weekend, we’ll see you next week.

00:00 Welcome Natalie Korach!

01:39 Oliver Goes to Washington

06:17 Pentagon Press Restrictions

12:50 ICE and Press Freedom Concerns

20:55 Riyadh Comedy Festival Controversy

33:21 MAGA Media's Spin on the Government Shutdown

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Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show returned this week after Disney executives backpedaled on a short-lived suspension that elicited a tidal wave of backlash. But the battle is far from over. Major station groups Nexstar and Sinclair are still refusing to carry the program on their ABC affiliates, effectively blocking it from nearly a quarter of American households. Oliver and Jon break down how the FCC’s targeting of Kimmel ended up backfiring, why even some conservatives are defending his right to speak, and what Disney could be up against next if Nexstar pulls off its bid to acquire TEGNA. One thing is clear: the Kimmel fight is only just beginning.

They also cover the revolt inside CNN’s newsroom over its handling of an on-air story featuring far-right conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec, and how mainstream outlets often miss or downplay the cultural impact of internet personalities.

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Is Jimmy Kimmel done at ABC? That’s the question after the late-night host was suddenly pulled off the air following threats from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Jon and Oliver break down the forces behind Kimmel’s silencing and what comes next.

Also, aspiring media mogul David Ellison is looking to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, raising tensions inside CNN. Oliver and Jon take you behind-the-scenes at CNN and analyze the conservative reshaping of the media under Trump.

And finally, Business Insider has officially gone all-in on A.I. Will it boost efficiency? Absolutely. But will it also flood the journalism industry with errors and sameness?

That’s all for now, see you next Friday.

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0:00 The Jimmy Kimmel Controversy

3:10 Media's Response and Internal Reactions

6:43 The Broader Implications for Free Speech

18:38 The Role of Media Executives

27:41 David Ellison's Ambitious Takeover Plans

29:40 CNN's Uncertain Future Under New Leadership

31:07 The Impact on Warner Brothers Discovery

34:08 Financial Power of the Ellison Family

36:57 Potential Changes in Media Landscape

43:00 Business Insider's AI Policy

45:14 Implications of AI in Journalism

47:44 The Future of News Reporting

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Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s shocking death this week set off a wave of reactions across the media landscape. Oliver and Jon examine the viral spread of graphic footage on social media, how the left and right are reacting to the tragedy, and what the response could mean for America’s already heightened political tensions.

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"Power Lines" is presented by Status, and hosted by Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino. The show is produced by Matt Hevia and Antonio Enriquez, in association with In The Arena Studios.

Please like, share, and subscribe to Power Lines on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen — and watch full episodes and clips on our YouTube page at Status.

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