

The Powers That Be: Daily
Puck | Audacy
Join Emmy Award-winning journalist Peter Hamby, along with the team of expert journalists at Puck, as they let you in on the real conversations insiders are having across the four corners of power in America: Wall Street, Washington, Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Puck's contributors will bring you smart conversation around the inside stories happening in these worlds. Presented in partnership with Audacy, new episodes publish daily, Monday-Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 2, 2024 • 21min
Media Tuesday: Elon’s Endgame & More!
The podcast discusses Elon Musk's potential involvement with Twitter, comparing his net worth to major corporations like Walt Disney and JP Morgan. It explores Tucker Carlson's power and influence, including his failed venture on X. The chapter also discusses potential mergers and acquisitions in the media industry, including a predicted merger between NBC Universal and Warner Brothers Discovery. The hosts emphasize the need for consolidation and deals in the industry and anticipate a busier year in 2024.

Jan 1, 2024 • 18min
Media Monday: The Bezos Inner Circle & Zaz’s Inside Edge
The podcast discusses potential changes in the executive ranks of the Washington Post, Jeff Zucker's telegraph chase, and the sale of Paramount Global. They also explore the pros and cons of taking the top job at The New York Times and inheriting a depleted newsroom. The Bezos inner circle and hiring process are examined, along with the possibilities of acquisitions by Jeff Zucker and Redbird Capital.

Dec 29, 2023 • 20min
The Trump Insurrection Dilemma
Exploring the Colorado court decision banning Trump from the ballot and the potential Supreme Court ruling. Discussions on the merger of CBS and CNN, the implications of Trump's ineligibility, and the possibility of a Warner Brothers-Paramount merger. Analyzing the changing media industry and the need for mergers in entertainment.

Dec 28, 2023 • 25min
Fashion Week War Stories & Kanye Comeback Odds
Fashion industry expert Lauren Sherman joins Ben to discuss the death of multi-brand retail, Michael Kors M&A, designer musical chairs, and Kanye West's attempted comeback.

7 snips
Dec 27, 2023 • 28min
Elon Debt Bombs & Ackman’s Varsity Blues
Bill Cohan and Peter discuss the leadership crisis at Harvard, the billionaire backlash to DEI, and hedge fund macher Bill Ackman’s crusade to defenestrate Claudine Gay. Then they turn to Bill’s 2024 predictions for Elon, Bidenomics, and Bob Iger’s future at Disney. 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

Dec 26, 2023 • 21min
Washington’s Biggest Losers of 2023
Abby Livingston joins Peter for a special Boxing Day breakdown of the town’s greatest disappointments, degenerates, phonies and villains. Plus a dutiful accounting of a few winners, too. 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

Dec 25, 2023 • 27min
Media Monday: Shari’s Holiday Fantasy & Zaslav Exit Theories
It’s an extra merry Media Monday as Dylan Byers joins Jon Kelly to kibitz about who will buy Paramount, WBD vs Comcast, and whether streaming as we know it is doomed. Then they turn to new Washington Post leader Will Lewis: the editorial opportunity and his Murdoch problem. 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

Dec 22, 2023 • 18min
Media Friday: Zazmount!
Discussion on the possibility of a merger between Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount in Hollywood, the motivations behind the potential merger, challenges faced by the new CEO of The Washington Post, and a simulated conversation between a patient and a pharmacy benefit manager.

Dec 21, 2023 • 16min
The End of Bibi?
Julia Ioffe joins Peter to discuss the increasing complexities in Ukraine and Israel. In particular, they dig into the Biden administration's vexation with Bibi, and ponder how long the Israeli prime minister can hold on to power. 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

Dec 20, 2023 • 22min
Down & Out in Iowa
Teddy Schleifer joins Peter to dig into all the final fundraising, polling, and constituency machinations in Iowa as '24 finally--finally--begins in earnest. 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