

The Press Box
The Ringer
The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 27, 2023 • 41min
How to Cover the 2024 Campaign, Weekend NFL Audio, and the McMurtry Mystery Solved
Bryan and David revisit Chip Gaines's recent used-book purchase, with clarification on why this purchase was made (0:33). Then, they kick off the show with some audio—from a weekend full of football from the Hail Mary turned “Hell” Mary during the Jets-Dolphins game to the record breaking pick-6 by Cowboys cornerback, Daron Bland (7:30). Later, they talk through news from Futurism that claims Sports Illustrated has been using fake AI generated writers, before then predicting what we could see in the 2024 campaign coverage if Trump is reelected (23:21). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 20, 2023 • 46min
Making Up Sideline Reports, Musk’s Latest Meltdown, and Weekend Audio
Bryan and David discuss the companies that have withdrawn ads from Twitter due to Elon Musk’s endorsement of an antisemitic post and what the next move should be for journalists (00:34). They then go over Charissa Thompson’s remarks on ‘Pardon My Take’ regarding fabricating sideline reports, the outrage from most of those in sports media, and more (06:10). After, they do a quick round of weekend audio, including the Rock being asked questions on Capitol Hill and Brandon Staley’s heated postgame press conference (26:41). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducer: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 snips
Nov 13, 2023 • 1h
Should Sportswriters Bet on Sports? Plus, the Taylor Swift Beat Writer and Logan Murdock on Covering the NBA.
Bryan and David rehash football notes from this weekend starting with the Michigan-Penn game and the Dallas Cowboys’ second win against the New York Giants (0:40). Then, they review the guidelines that ESPN employees will have to follow once their new sports-betting app launches (6:20), before then dissecting the intersection between journalism and fandom, as Gannett Media has hired a Taylor Swift beat writer (16:56). Later, Logan Murdock from the ‘Real Ones’ podcast joins to discuss his career covering the NBA and his thoughts on the evolution of journalism from reporting in locker rooms to player podcasts around the league (28:48). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerGuest: Logan MurdockProducer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 6, 2023 • 46min
A Shocking Biden Poll, Bobby Knight Obits, and Weekend Audio
Bryan and David dissect the week's goings-on and a poll that could spell bad news for Joe Biden. Then they dive into the weekend audio, including Benny Hill as well as a college football coach's call-in radio show, and their thoughts on the NBA's new tournament (10:45). Then in the notebook dump, they weigh in on the Bobby Knight obits (26:30) And later, HBO has a message for its TV critics, one that folks really may not like. Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerSenior Producer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9 snips
Oct 30, 2023 • 1h 3min
Strange Times at The Messenger, and Weekend Audio. Plus, McKay Coppins on Mitt Romney.
Bryan and David dissect what’s happening at ‘The Messenger’ with a recent partnership with an artificial intelligence firm and news that the publication is out of money (0:33). Then, they tackle another round of ‘Weekend Audio’ that touches on Fox’s Kevin Burkhardt’s comment about Miguel Castro, as well as NC State football coach David Doeren firing shots back after a recent comment about his organization (10:49). Later, reporter and author McKay Coppins joins to discuss his new book, ‘Romney: A Reckoning’ where he discloses what the reporting process was like working with Mitt Romney and what he learned while writing the book (26:29). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerGuest: McKay CoppinsProducer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 23, 2023 • 52min
Twitter’s Past, Present, and Future With Peter Kafka. Plus: How to Watch the New NBA Season.
With the start of the NBA season underway, Bryan and David address the new ESPN lineup, with Doc Rivers, Doris Burke, and Mike Breen, and discuss where exactly you can catch the game (0:33). Then, they touch on Weekend Audio, including baseball announcers, Brian Anderson vouching for the sport, and Joe Davis calling Altuve's home run in the ninth (11:19). Lastly, Vox’s Peter Kafka joins to talk through his upcoming podcast, ‘The Twitter Fantasy,’ that dissects how the platform has evolved over the years and to discuss what is currently happening under Elon's supervision (32:20). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerGuest: Peter KafkaProducer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 snips
Oct 19, 2023 • 30min
Katie Baker on Covering the Sam Bankman-Fried Trial, Courtroom Body Language, and Doing a Close Reading of Michael Lewis
Bryan is joined by Ringer senior writer Katie Baker to discuss her reporting of the ongoing Sam Bankman-Fried trial, which can be found here. They delve into the biggest components of the case, what it’s like to be inside the courtroom as a reporter, the testimony of Caroline Ellison, and Michael Lewis’s depiction of Bankman-Fried.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Katie BakerProducer: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 16, 2023 • 51min
Twitter in a Time of War, Weekend NFL Audio, and More on Paying for Interviews
Bryan and David talk through the news that Aaron Rodgers is receiving a paycheck in exchange for his interviews on 'The Pat McAfee Show' (0:36). Then, they further discuss Twitter’s approach to covering the war in the Middle East with actions such as removing moderators and promoting accounts with a blue check mark (15:44). Later, they get into more Weekend Audio, where they highlight a few interviews with MLB player Nick Castellanos and a play-by-play call from Mike Tirico on clock management (27:15). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 13, 2023 • 38min
Aaron Rodgers Gets Paid, a Braves’ Clubhouse Controversy, and the Long-Form “Nobody Believed in Us!” Club With Jason Gay
Bryan is joined by Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Gay to run through some media topics, including the Braves’ clubhouse controversy over a writer quoting an overheard conversation (01:13). Then, they discuss the report that Pat McAfee is paying Aaron Rodgers for his weekly show appearances (14:12), the idea of the NFL buying a television network like ABC (23:06), and a few writers who are saying “nobody believed in us” (29:24).Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Jason GayProducer: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 9, 2023 • 48min
Twitter Took Your Headlines, CNN’s War Coverage, and Audio of a Miami Meltdown
Bryan and David touch on Twitter’s approach to excluding news headlines on the platform and debate whether this will contribute to the rise of big art (0:31). Then, they discuss CNN’s ongoing coverage of the war in the Middle East and touch on reporters and correspondents on the ground (11:05). Then, they switch gears and review more Weekend Audio, from Georgia Tech's win over Miami to Kirby Smart's insistence that he doesn’t know who Miley Cyrus is (22:51). Lastly, they highlight the L.A. Clippers' new hire, recent grad Carlo Jiménez, who will take on the role of radio play-by-play announcer. Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices