The Powers That Be: Daily

Eriq Gardner drops by the pod to discuss Trump’s all-out assault on the press. Eriq explains why he thinks CBS News will settle Trump’s precarious lawsuit, breaks down Trump’s latest swing at The New York Times, and unpacks the quiet Justice Department update that could make it open season on individual journalists. 

Kim Masters joins Peter to unpack the latest twists in the ongoing Paramount-Skydance saga, from Shari Redstone’s settlement calculus to Brendan Carr’s F.C.C shenanigans, and what Donald Trump might be angling for in his multibillion-dollar lawsuit against CBS. Then Kim discusses Trump's “special ambassadors to Hollywood”: Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight.

Marion Maneker drops by the pod to discuss the ripple effects of Trump’s anti-D.E.I. crusade across the art world—and why the real fallout may not surface for years to come. Then Marion dissects how tariffs and global trade anxieties are impacting the upcoming auction season, which may be busier than expected as luxury buyers and sellers navigate an uncertain economic terrain.

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter for a sober analysis of Trump’s first 100 days back in office—and addresses the question gripping Washington: Is Trump actually an all-powerful executive force, or is he merely a lame duck president in slow-motion collapse? Then Leigh Ann discusses her recent interview with David Axelrod and his thoughts about what Dems need to do ahead of the 2028 election.

Jon Kelly joins Peter to dig into a surprising new survey revealing which actors still put butts in seats. As Denzel, Tom Cruise, and the old guard hold strong, they break down the generational divide between Gen Z and everyone else. Then they turn to Bill Owens’ painful exit from ‘60 Minutes’ and Shari Redstone’s Trump-world courtship as she tries to get the Skydance-Paramount merger across the finish line.

Eriq Gardner joins Peter for a deep dive on F.C.C. chairman Brendan Carr, the pugnacious regulator who seems to be slow rolling the $8 billion Skydance-Paramount merger while lobbing rhetorical grenades at Comcast, Disney, YouTube TV, and others. Then they discuss whether Carr’s campaign against big media is really an audition to become a MAGA media star in his own right.

Julia Ioffe swings by the pod to discuss the state of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia—if there are any negotiations to be made at all. As Putin plays coy and Zelensky holds the line, Julia explains why Trump’s mounting frustration could, ironically, be Kyiv’s best hope.

John Ourand joins Peter to discuss the surging popularity of the NFL Draft, and which of the streaming giants might bid on the rights to broadcast the yearly football spectacle—and why, to no surprise, YouTube and Google are in the driver’s seat. Then, John breaks down the NBA Playoffs ratings, and why a Thunder-Cavs Finals matchup would be “death to ABC.”

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter Hamby to dig into the messy Senate G.O.P. primary showdown brewing in Texas between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton—a race which riled up the White House after Paxton hired political strategist Jeff Roe, a Trump bête noire, to run his campaign. Then they chronicle the hard times facing Democratic lobbyists in Trump’s D.C.

Jon Kelly rejoins Peter to dig into Netflix’s precedent-setting Q1 earnings—its first without subscriber numbers, and the clearest sign yet that Netflix has outgrown the streaming wars, setting its sights not on Hollywood, but on bigger tech rivals like YouTube and Meta. Then, the duo preview White House Correspondents Dinner week in Washington, and what's different about the Beltway party circuit during Trump II.