The Powers That Be: Daily

Discussion on Speaker Mike Johnson's temporary majority of one in the House. How each party is trying to win the House this fall. Pressure on House Republicans, divisions on Ukraine funding, and upcoming campaign season. Speculation on control of Congress and uncertainty of the presidential election.

Discussion on The Messenger's financial struggles, the appointment of a new CEO at Puck, the lack of excitement in the current political campaign, and the challenges of presidential campaign coverage.

Bill Cohan discusses the ascent of Peter Orszag, the new CEO of Lazard, and his plans to double revenue by 2030. They explore the culture and history of Lazard as a Wall Street bank. They also discuss the disconnect between positive economic trend lines and pessimistic sentiment under the Biden administration.

Discussion on the performance of holiday movies at the box office, including the success of 'Wonka' and disappointment of 'Aquaman 2'. A look into the impact of strikes on the box office and the absence of major franchise films in 2024. Gossip and predictions surrounding the Golden Globes, including surprising nominations and the awards show moving to CBS.

The podcast discusses the generational divide within the Democratic Party regarding the war in Gaza and its impact on Democrats and their staffers. It also covers the New York Times lawsuit against OpenAI and the influence of Wall Street, Washington, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood on the podcast's subject matter. The lawsuit filed by the New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement is analyzed, exploring its potential implications on the media and AI industries. The chapter also highlights the potential legal challenges and outcomes for both parties. The repercussions of a negotiation breakdown in a lawsuit involving AI platforms and its parallels to past discussions about tech platforms and news sites are explored.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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