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Welcome to another edition of Power Lines. Here’s what Oliver and Jon are covering this week:

0:00 Intro

1:03 Google Bends the Knee

14:18 Reporting on Jay Penske's Hollywood Media Empire

22:41 CNN Poaches from WSJ

32:00 Analyzing Swift-Kelce Engagement Coverage

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This week on Power Lines…

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Welcome to another episode of Power Lines. This week, Oliver and Jon dive into:

The National Guard in DC – and MAGA media’s reaction. Let’s just say President Trump’s base seems to have moved on from their old “Don’t Tread on Me” mantra.

Alex Jones’ Infowars for sale (again) – as Jones is ordered to liquidate his assets to pay the families of Sandy Hook victims.

Taylor Swift’s podcast debut – where she announced a new album… but the reveal was a little underwhelming. Plus, the amount of brand bandwagoning is, frankly, gross. All that, plus a spirited debate over the best Taylor Swift album—featuring Jon’s pick for the one that nearly put him to sleep. We’re sure Swifties will respond with their trademark calm and kindness.

"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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On Thursday, Oliver had a front-row seat as David Ellison and his team of executives fielded questions during Skydance’s official takeover of Paramount. He takes us inside the room and breaks down the answers to key questions about how South Park will be handled, Jon Stewart’s contract status, the future of 60 Minutes, and who might end up running CBS News. He also shares a few intriguing tidbits from one-on-one conversations after the press conference that offer deeper insight into how the new leadership plans to approach Paramount’s biggest personalities and properties.

Plus: Sean Hannity has officially entered the MAGA Civil War, lashing out at former Trump loyalists who are now turning on him. His rant sounds an awful lot like a shot at the Rogans, Schulzes, and Joe Kernens of the world—and it’s clear he’s had enough.

Have a great weekend—we’ll catch you next week.

"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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Welcome to another jam-packed episode of Power Lines by Status.

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In this latest episode of Power Lines, we're dissecting the seismic shifts rocking media and politics.

First,  the Washington Post, which is undergoing a dramatic reshaping under new opinion editor Adam O’Neal. Journalists and editors are being encouraged to take buyouts as Jeff Bezos seemingly shifts the paper's editorial direction. Is Bezos trying to appease Donald Trump to protect his other business interests by making the WaPo more conservative? Probably. Does that make him a bad steward? Probably. Does he care? Probably not. 

Then, the entertainment world is in an uproar. Stephen Colbert's The Late Show franchise is ending due to alleged financial constraints, a move met with widespread skepticism and outrage. We dive into the fiery reactions, including Jon Stewart's direct message to Paramount brass, Colbert's own questions about the reported $40 million annual loss, and South Park's pointed reference to Paramount "giving in to Trump" via Colbert's removal. 

Finally, the Jeffrey Epstein story continues to reverberate, but with a surprising silence from MAGA Media. A week after The Wall Street Journal's revelations about a birthday card from Donald Trump to Epstein, right-wing outlets have largely gone quiet. Oliver and Jon debate: Is this a calculated move? Will this scandal finally stick, or can Donald Trump walk away unscathed yet again?

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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In this week’s loaded episode of "Power Lines," Oliver and Jon cover:

A Wall Street Journal Bombshell & Trump's Fury: Status reports that Donald Trump attempted to suppress a Wall Street Journal story about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, even going so far as to personally call the editor-in-chief. Despite his efforts, the story came out, and now, unsurprisingly, Trump is threatening to sue. 

Colbert Out at CBS: It was announced this Thursday that "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" will be ending for good in May of 2026, with CBS citing "financial reasons." Oliver and Jon question this official narrative, arguing it's far more likely that Stephen Colbert is the most recent domino to fall as David Ellison prepares to take over and fundamentally remake CBS.

Axel Springer’s AI Mandate: The parent company of Politico and Business Insider delivered a stark message in a recent town hall: the use of AI in journalism is no longer optional – it’s a mandate. This bold move raises serious questions about accuracy, ethics, and retaining reader trust in a rapidly evolving news landscape.

Zuckerberg's Undisclosed Friendship: We also dive into the ethical concerns surrounding Jessica Lessin of The Information, who conducted a recent interview with Mark Zuckerberg without disclosing their long-standing friendship.

Superman's Political Message: And finally, we unpack the not-so-subtle commentary on immigration embedded within the new Superman movie.

"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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 In the inaugural episode of "Power Lines," Oliver and Jon break down:

Elon's X Factor: Get the inside story on the sudden departure of CEO Linda Yaccarino from X. What led to this "blow-up" with Elon Musk, and what are the long-term implications for the social media giant and its advertisers? We analyze the true power dynamics at play.

Trump's Late Night Target? With David Ellison's acquisition of Paramount, speculation is rampant. Is Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart's future at CBS in jeopardy? We investigate whether Donald Trump's influence could lead to a seismic shift in late-night television.

F1 Movie: Box Office Hit or Flop? The highly anticipated F1 film starring Brad Pitt hit theaters. Was it a roaring success, or did it stall at the box office? Oliver has strong thoughts, and he’s ready to defend them.

Superman's Box Office Fate: The Man of Steel returns! We make our bold predictions for the box office success of "Superman"

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 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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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. New episodes drop every Friday.

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