The Powers That Be: Daily

Julia Alexander, a media and entertainment analyst at Puck, joins the discussion to unpack the flops of recent Hollywood films like ‘Snow White’ and ‘The Electric State.’ They explore the disconnect between high-budget investments and audience engagement. Julia highlights how shifting expectations and marketing miscalculations are reshaping the industry. As Disney faces critique over its remakes and Netflix shifts its strategy, the conversation raises questions about the future of film in a changing landscape.

Eriq Gardner, an expert journalist at Puck, dives into Donald Trump’s contentious relationship with high-profile law firms. He reveals how Paul Weiss agreed to a staggering $40 million in pro bono work, highlighting a climate of fear within the legal community. Eriq explains the chilling effect this has, leading firms to shy away from meritorious cases against the government. The conversation also touches on the broader implications for legal representation as firms grapple with the intersection of law and politics amid Trump’s unpredictable influence.

Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby dive into The New York Times' complicated dance with artificial intelligence, exploring legal battles against OpenAI while weighing the tech's potential benefits. They also scrutinize DraftKings' failed attempt to create a content ecosystem for sports betting, facing harsh market realities. The duo discusses the balance between AI efficiency and journalistic integrity, emphasizing the evolving landscape of media jobs. Expect insights on how passion drives success against the backdrop of a shifting media industry.

Bill Cohan, a financial journalist and author of "Dry Powder," joins to tackle Wall Street's bewildering reaction to President Trump’s economic policies. They discuss the chaos sown by protectionism, questioning the absence of major power players. Cohan also reflects on the potential of Scott Bessent as a stabilizing force in these turbulent times. The dialogue reveals the stark disconnect between Wall Street and everyday consumers, while also shedding light on broader market implications amid the political landscape.

Lauren Sherman joins Peter for an inside look at the ongoing LVMH succession saga. With père Arnault pushing to immortality, Lauren and Peter speculate about which heir will take the reins—and whether any of them even want to. Then Lauren breaks down how Trump’s tariffs will impact the price of popular European alcohol brands in the U.S. 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

Streaming guru Julia Alexander joins Peter for a rollicking conversation about the wild state of the industry war in 2025: Netflix’s enduring dominance, Apple TV’s strategic nod to the HBO playbook, and why the Peacocks of the world exist merely as consolidation bait. Then Julia dives deep into how YouTube is flying under the radar as potentially the most dominant streamer in the game… and why Hollywood ignores it at its peril. 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to unpack the frustrated chatter surrounding Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who’s taking major flack from his party after sidestepping the activist base to avoid a government shutdown. Leigh Ann shares what Democrats on The Hill are saying privately about whether Schumer is actually up for the moment—and what his lack of fight back portends for the rest of his tenure as leader. 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

Jon Kelly joins Peter to weigh into Gavin Newsom’s new Rogan-esque podcast and debate whether his MAGA-friendly strategy is helping Democrats or simply repositioning Newsom, himself. Then they turn to Bill Simmons’ new role at Spotify, and explore why video is poised to dominate the future of audio. 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

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to dissect the fate of the Paramount-Skyance merger, which remains in F.C.C. purgatory under the new Trump administration. Then Eriq scrutinizes Trump’s grudge-driven crusade against the white shoe law firm Perkins Coie—and their titanic response, landing a major blow against Trump in federal court in the process. 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

Abby Livingston reunites with Peter to dissect the forthcoming showdown over a looming government shutdown. With House Republicans managing to push a spending bill through this week, the ball is now in the Senate’s court—where Democrats face an unusual and uncomfortable dilemma: crossing the aisle to support the G.O.P.’s budget resolution, or stand their ground against Trump’s spending cuts and risk bringing the government to a halt. 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