CAA Intrigue, Cable News Wars, and The Looming Recession

In this special edition of The Powers That Be, Leigh Ann Caldwell hosts Republican Senator Jim Banks for a far-reaching conversation about tariffs, the road to the midterms, and how the G.O.P. is aiming to avoid a repeat of 2017’s political misfires. Banks also outlines the party’s strategy to counter China’s rising influence—and insists that under Trump’s leadership, Republicans are more unified than ever. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Maj 36min

Bill Cohan joins Peter to unpack Trump’s erratic trade war with China, the ripple effects on the markets, and the chatter on Wall Street about whether MAGA insiders might be profiting from advance knowledge of tariff announcements. Bill also discusses the $400 million jet the Qataris have gifted Trump, as well as the president’s various meme coin and crypto dealings. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

13 Maj 27min

Jon Kelly joins Peter to dig into the likelihood that David Zaslav will spin CNN out of Warner Bros. Discovery, and whether both companies would be better off solo. They also explore what’s behind Biden’s media tour, as Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson prepare to publish a book detailing “the cover up of Biden’s decline in the White House.” To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12 Maj 25min

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to examine Trump’s increasingly ominous fixation on sports—from launching a federal task force for the 2028 World Cup to a commission aimed at fixing college athletics and a bid to host the NFL Draft in Washington. As Eriq notes, each of these initiatives are fraught with legal and regulatory obstacles—not to mention the threat of a D.E.I. crackdown. Eriq also unpacks Ted Cruz’s recent meeting the Roger Goodell over the league’s anti-trust exemption and the NFL’s continued push away from broadcast television and into streaming. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9 Maj 19min

Matt Belloni swings by the pod to break down Trump’s head-spinning announcement that he’s prepared to slap tariffs on overseas film and TV productions. With Hollywood hitting the panic button, Matt explains why the film industry has bypassed Los Angeles as more shoots head to Europe, Canada, and the U.K. But is there actually a political solution to Hollywood’s problems? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8 Maj 22min

Marion Maneker joins Peter for a deep dive into the art fair circuit as it hits a fever pitch this week. Marion unpacks the explosion of events on the calendar, whether demand can keep up with the pace, and why Endeavor’s Ari Emmanuel just placed a high-stakes bet on Frieze. Then, he draws the line between fairs and auctions—and why the distinction matters. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7 Maj 18min

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down the “big, beautiful bill” that Speaker Johnson is trying to muscle through a fractured Congress on a tight deadline. As Leigh Ann explains, despite Trump’s support, Republicans are growing restless with Johnson and worry he might not deliver in time to sell the bill’s economic and political upside to voters. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

6 Maj 18min

Jon Kelly reunites with Peter to dig into HBO’s Zaslav era, and break down their pivot away from the “everything for everybody” strategy as they navigate the streaming landscape in Netflix’s shadow. Then the duo discuss whether Peacock’s $27 billion gamble on the NBA will pay off. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Maj 23min