The Grill Room

MSNBC’s Jen Psaki joins Dylan for a candid convo about her next chapter: hosting the network’s forthcoming nightly show. With today’s political discourse more combustible than ever, Psaki reflects on how she’s drawing from her tenure as White House press secretary to navigate a political-media ecosystem in overdrive. She also dishes on what it takes to cut through the noise in today’s oversaturated landscape—and why thriving in the chaos means doing everything, everywhere, all at once.

Julia Alexander reunites with Dylan for a deep dive into the media industry’s most compelling flashpoints: Formula One’s fantasy of a $180 million rights deal, the growing anxiety around non-football sports rights, Mark Zuckerberg’s F.T.C. showdown, and more. As Julia explains, with audience engagement plateauing, streaming giants are under pressure to reinvent the playbook—because where engagement lags, monetization follows.

The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica

The inimitable Michael Wolff stops by The Grill Room to discuss his new profile in New York magazine of Warner Bros. Discovery C.E.O. David Zaslav. Wolff digs into his head-spinning financial incentives, how Zaz became an “accidental media mogul,” and the challenges WBD faces from tech giants like Amazon and Netflix. Then they speculate on the future of the media businesses and CNN’s place in the shifting landscape.

The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica

Puck’s resident streaming guru Julia Alexander swings by the pod to discuss a handful of hot-button media topics: the MLB’s crafty use of the “torpedo bat” to boost ratings, the challenges and opportunities for CNBC in the looming SpinCo era, and the early signs of stagnation in the creator economy.

The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica

Bill Cohan stops by the Grill Room to diagnose the anxiety plaguing media executives as MAGA’s economic “detox” takes hold. Bill and Dylan discuss the $11 trillion market loss since the election, the global headwinds to corporate earnings, and whether consumers are due for another bout of inflation—a perfect storm that is tickling the media industry’s 2008 era PTSD.

The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica

Julia Alexander joins Dylan for a wide-ranging symposium on the state of the media industry: the future of TikTok, Meta’s UFC play, Radhika Jones’ exit from Vanity Fair, the impact of A.I., and how Trump’s global trade war is ricocheting through the advertising market.

The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica

Jon Kelly swings by The Grill Room to chronicle the current media moment in Washington D.C.--the evolving major players, the business models, and the after hours schmoozing that lubricates the whole town.

The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica

In this special crossover episode with The Powers That Be, Dylan connects with Peter Hamby to discuss the chatter swirling around The Atlantic, which made headlines this week after E.I.C. Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he was added to a group chat filled with high-ranking national security officials discussing war plans. They discuss why the imbroglio has boosted the magazine’s reputation among the political and media elite, before turning to what CNN’s latest hires reveal about Mark Thompson’s digital transformation master plan.

Puck’s streaming guru Julia Alexander joins Dylan for a high-level conversation about YouTube’s stranglehold on the news industry—and the seismic shift it’s triggering. Julia explains how digital creators, news influencers, and opinion leaders across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are rewriting the playbook, forcing legacy media giants to either adapt or risk irrelevance in a world where independent voices are driving the narrative.

Caitlin Thompson, founder of ‘Racquet,’ joins Dylan for a deep dive into her mission to make tennis more vibrant and accessible through her quarterly magazine, blending top-tier journalism, tennis fashion, travel, and escapism—and offering a refreshing contrast to the sport’s corporatized past. Caitlin also weighs into the evolving media landscape, underscoring the need of mission-driven storytelling to elevate the sport.