The Powers That Be: Daily

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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to sift through the geopolitical implications of Trump’s middle-finger diplomacy as he retreats from U.S. commitments abroad and edges closer to an alliance with Vladimir Putin. Then they discuss what’s next for Europe as France ramps up support for Ukraine, Poland seeks its own nukes, and Germany rearms: If this is the end of Pax Americana, is it a new beginning or the end for NATO, 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

Leigh Ann Caldwell joins Peter to break down the forthcoming high-stakes showdown in Congress: Will Democrats throw Speaker Mike Johnson a lifeline and help pass the Republican funding bill, or will they stand firm and let the government grind to a halt over DOGE and Trump’s deep spending cuts? 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 and Peter huddle up for a close look at David Zaslav’s Warner Bros. Discovery, which, after three years of P.R. crises, tough management calls, and chipping away at its colossal debt, is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Jon and Peter also weigh into the Democrats’ evolving media strategy as they grapple with the primacy of digital media and capturing voters’ attention beyond traditional TV. 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

Dylan Byers joins Peter for a close look at ‘The Washington Post’ as the legacy paper endures more staff departures, a fresh round of journalist agita, and the loss of 75,000 subscribers—stemming from the machinations of Jeff Bezos, who recently implemented a new editorial mandate focused on personal liberties and free markets. Dylan and Peter also debate the long term goals for the paper, and whether Bezos and his publisher Will Lewis could be willing to sacrifice their core audience in order to build a new one. 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

Julia Ioffe joins Peter to reveal what insiders in Washington are really saying about Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous Oval Office meeting with Trump and J.D. Vance, where even Democrats believe the Ukrainian president has blundered—raising serious questions about how much he has weakened his negotiating position as the U.S. looks to wind down the war between Ukraine and Russia. So what exactly does the process to peace look like? 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 discuss Trump’s brass-knuckled tactics to hold the House and Senate in the midterms while ensuring that Republicans remain loyal only to him—a dual mandate that could moderates in an impossible position. Leigh Ann also reveals the growing tensions between Trump’s camp and Tim Scott, whose N.R.S.C. is ostensibly in charge of winning Senate elections next year, and the two Trump flunkies the president has put in charge of keeping dissenters in line. 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