The Powers That Be: Daily

Julia Alexander joins Peter to discuss the TikTokification of the NBA, and how commissioner Adam Silver is tiptoeing the line of dominating the algorithm and flatlining on TV. Then they pivot to the G.O.P.’s renewed crusade against social media in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder.

Dylan Byers joins Peter to game out what a potential WBD–Paramount Skydance mash-up might look like, as an emboldened David Ellison reportedly readies a multi-billion-dollar cash bid for WBD. They break down the implications for CNN and CBS News—and whether Ellison’s grand design could vault him into the rarefied air of tech giants like Netflix and YouTube.

John Heilemann joins Peter to discuss the grotesque state of American politics in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, as a divisive president canonizes him as a martyr while furious White House aides vow retribution against the left. John and Peter consider whether this is the new political norm—or just a particularly rancid chapter we’ll eventually consign to history.

Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to discuss the seismic events from a very busy week in the media industry: the fallout from the Murdoch trust settlement and Ellison’s leaked WBD takeover attempt.

Pablo Torre, former ESPN mainstay turned podcast sleuth, joins John to unravel his latest investigations—into Bill Belichick, the NFLPA, and most recently, his bombshell report on the Clippers’ alleged salary cap circumvention. He also weighs in on the tightrope of balancing independence with partnerships like The New York Times and The Athletic—and his aspirations for his podcast’s future, including potential expansion to television.

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Julia Alexander joins Peter for a check-in on the NFL’s broadcasts so far this season, and whether streamers like Peacock and YouTube are actually showcasing the NFL better than the traditional networks. Julia also breaks down the mounting tensions between A.I. companies and publishers, as search engines stumble in the shadow of chatbots and A.I. tools like Gemini and ChatGPT.

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to break down a handful of blockbuster A.I. lawsuits: WBD, Disney, and NBCUniversal are unloading their legal artillery on Midjourney over claims of copyright infringement, while a group of authors eye a windfall from Anthropic, accused of ripping off millions of books to feed its chatbot. Eriq explains how the outcomes of these cases could rewrite the rulebook for A.I. regulation moving forward.

Dylan Byers joins Peter to chronicle the closing act of the Murdoch succession drama, as Rupert’s massive media empire lands squarely in the hands of his staunchly conservative son, Lachlan, while the other three siblings walk away with a hefty payout. They explore what this means for Fox’s future—and just how long the 94-year-old Rupert will continue to wield his power behind the scenes.

Bill Cohan joins Peter to discuss Paul Ryan’s fresh alarms about the national debt—and what else the former House Speaker told his private audience at a recent Wyoming retreat, including his take on Trump’s tariff policies. Then Bill digs into the nervous chatter brewing on Wall Street about their potential next-mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

Jon Kelly joins Peter to debate whether Bari Weiss’s The Free Press is really worth the rumored $100 million price tag that David Ellison is ready to pony up—and the potential shockwaves that Weiss’s arrival could send through CBS News. They also discuss ESPN’s new do-everything app, and whether Bristol’s brass are truly prepared to build products that can thrive in the direct-to-consumer era.