

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

Oct 26, 2020 • 1h 28min
The Mental Health Break Show. Plus, Ben Macintyre on Spies.
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker take a mental break and try to ax any mention of the pandemic, election, or Trump. They rank pun column names (3:00); throw it back to 1996 to discuss early internet journalism (8:30); test Chris Almeida with a new game, Generational Media Literacy (30:30); and then former producer Jim Cunningham joins to say a few words (44:00). Then author Ben Macintyre stops by to discuss his new book, 'Agent Sonya.'(52:00) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 23, 2020 • 1h 14min
Trump-Biden Debate No. 2 Instant Reaction. Plus, Snapchat’s Peter Hamby
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker react to the second and final Trump-Biden presidential debate. They offer first impressions, discuss each candidate's effectiveness, and predict how the election might unfold moving forward. Plus, journalist Peter Hamby joins to discuss campaign advertising, media coverage, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 19, 2020 • 1h 13min
Trump-Biden Debate Preview. Plus: MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker offer a debate preview prior to the second and last 2020 presidential debate. They then discuss anti-Trump rhetoric, including a New York Times editorial highlighting Trump’s failures. Then, MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff joins to discuss his new book, Separated: Inside an American Tragedy, as well as his career as an MSNBC correspondent. Plus, The Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 15, 2020 • 1h 11min
Keith Olbermann on Political Commentary and Mitt Romney. Plus, Failed October Surprises.
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker break down the top Failed October Surprises, ranging from Hunter Biden’s emails to a Benghazi conspiracy theory. Then, Listener Mail, when they address the most pressing questions regarding the restaurant Ruby Tuesday. Then Keith Olbermann joins to discuss his political commentary on YouTube and how he got denounced by Senator Mitt Romney. Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 14, 2020 • 1h 12min
Trump’s Campaign of Self-Sabotage. Plus, The Washington Post’s Robert Costa.
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker break down the Trump campaign after Trump declined to participate in a virtual presidential debate. They then weigh in on the re-reporting of The New York Times' narrative podcast, ‘Caliphate.’ Plus, The Washington Post’s Robert Costa joins to discuss covering politics, interviewing Trump, and booking John Mayer for his senior prom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 8, 2020 • 40min
Pence-Harris Debate Instant Reaction
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker react to the 2020 vice presidential debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris. They discuss each side's game plan, who came out victorious, and how they expect this debate to impact the candidates' respective campaigns going forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 5, 2020 • 1h 13min
The President Has COVID. Plus The New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin.
President Trump has tested positive for COVID-19. Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker discuss the president’s well-being, the impact it has on the election, and how the media has responded (0:38). Then on Listener Mail, they answer the question “How would the media have covered the last four days if Joe Biden were the one in the hospital?” (26:58) Then, The New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin joins to talk about his new book and his career in journalism (36:30). Plus, David Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 1, 2020 • 56min
Debate Fallout and Texas Monthly’s Skip Hollandsworth
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker discuss the fallout from the first presidential debate. They weigh in on responses from several reporters and news anchors (2:38) and discuss conspiracy theories that have surfaced. Then on Listener Mail, they answer the question “What cardboard cutouts should be put in the audience at the presidential debates?” (22:53) Then, Texas Monthly writer and editor Skip Hollandsworth joins to discuss his new crime podcast, ‘Tom Brown’s Body’ (32:32). Plus: the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 30, 2020 • 42min
Biden-Trump Debate Instant Reaction
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker react to the first presidential debate of the 2020 election with Trump and Biden. They offer their impressions and reactions, as well as predictions for the upcoming debates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 24, 2020 • 1h 14min
A Mega-Preview of Next Week’s Debate. Plus, James Poniewozik on Trump and TV.
With presidential debates around the corner, Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker break down what to expect from both Trump and Biden (3:20). Then they answer your questions during Listener Mail and say their farewell to newspaper editor Sir Harold Evans (26:10). Plus, NYT TV critic James Poniewozik joins to discuss Trump’s impact on television, and what he expects television to look like after Trump's presidency (41:28). Plus, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline and the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices