Ben Smith Intrigue & Yellowstone Mania

Dylan Byers joins Peter to discuss the turmoil brewing at 30 Rock where MSNBC’s new president Rebecca Kutler implemented a sweeping programming overhaul—and network star Rachel Maddow openly criticizing her bosses live on air in prime time. But as Dylan explains, some of these changes may be necessary as the network navigates its future beyond Maddow and ‘Morning Joe.’ 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

28 Feb 26min

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down the political fallout of Elon Musk’s cost-cutting bloodbath. While Democrats are weary of Musk slashing government spending, Leigh Ann reveals that Republicans, too, are privately voicing concerns to the Trump administration. Leigh Ann also explores a brewing showdown in Congress, where Democrats may protest the House budget resolution by allowing a government shutdown in the coming weeks. 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

27 Feb 22min

Lauren Sherman joins Peter to delve into the slew of brand collaborations tied to HBO’s hit series ‘The White Lotus,’ highlighting the mass-market partnerships that come across to many as distasteful and inorganic. Are these collabs actually driving sales or just diluting the show’s luxury allure? Plus Lauren discusses the Nike-Skims alliance and the broader “woman problem” the iconic athletic brand is aiming to solve. 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

26 Feb 19min

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to unpack the latest on the war in Ukraine as Trump tries to hash out a peace deal by flouting almost every tradition of U.S. diplomacy—while berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the process. As Julia explains, any deal that gives Vladimir Putin the benefit of the doubt is all but certain to backfire. 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

25 Feb 23min

Jon Kelly rejoins Peter to dissect exclusive polling data on how the media is navigating Trump II—and how Democrats and mainstream news consumers perceive today’s press environment compared to Trump’s first term. Then the duo turn their attention to CBS News and ESPN, two legacy TV networks wrestling with linear decline, digital upheaval, and brutal cost-cutting decisions. 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

24 Feb 27min

John Ourand joins Peter for a midterm review of the NBA season thus far, reflecting on the lousy All-Star Weekend and diving deep into the business of the league. Then the duo switch gears to discuss the standoff between MLB and ESPN over the network’s broadcasting rights. Also, could Stephen A. Smith or Mark Cuban actually run for president? 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

21 Feb 30min

Tara Palmeri joins Peter to debate whether Elon Musk is really an asset to Donald Trump, or merely a disposable blunt instrument for his slash-and-burn agenda. According to exclusive new polling, it all depends on how voters perceive what he’s doing: is he an unelected, self-serving carpetbagger or a crusader for government efficiency? Either way, it seems like Trump is happy to have him… for now. 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

20 Feb 27min

As Trump's war on the media accelerates, Eriq Gardner joins Ben to discuss whether the industry is headed for a state of mutually assured destruction, with MAGA allies chipping away at Times v. Sullivan's libel shield, billionaires financing defamation battles, Elon Musk accusing his enemies of fraud, and his targets contemplating counter-suits of their own.  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

19 Feb 19min