Offline with Jon Favreau

Brian Stelter, an author and media journalist, joins Offline to discuss Rupert Murdoch's retirement and the future of Fox News. The hosts also cover the writer's strike, the FTC's investigation into Amazon, and a perplexing interview with X CEO Linda Yaccarino. They explore the compromise on AI in writer rooms, the risks of voice spoofing, and potential transformations in Fox News under new leadership. The relationship between Fox News and Donald Trump, the impact of the network on public opinion, and the need for improvement in American news media are also discussed.

Simon Rich, writer and creator of TBS's Miracle Workers, talks about his book 'I Am Code', written by an AI that raises questions about the future of creativity. Hosts also discuss Senator Fetterman's strategy against conspiracy theorists and Biden's fight against misinformation.

Atlantic reporter Kaitlyn Tiffany and Jon discuss internet trolls, their motivations, and the trend of celebrating strangers' misfortunes. They delve into the dehumanization and bullying faced by victims online. The podcast also covers the U.S. v. Google case, Google's market dominance, and the impact of AI and open source technology. Discussions about the concerns of an individual's influence on military defense and foreign policy are raised as well.

The hosts discuss tech predictions for 2033, surviving the 2024 election, parenting the Internet Generation, and media scandals. They also share the best career advice they received and wonder if Kim Jong Un listens to Joe Rogan.

Political controversies, restaurant rants, Indiana Jones disappointment, Tom Cruise's insane stunts, Bill de Blasio and Charlene McCree's announcement, and discussions on aging and improving the podcast.

Guest Maia Wyman, a movie critic and influencer on Youtube known as Broey Deschanel, discusses how social media is changing movies and their place in society. They explore the impact of social media on film criticism, analysis, community building, and movie appreciation. They also talk about the importance of being provoked by art and movies, and discuss the changes in film criticism and movie culture influenced by social media. Excitement for the future of movies and movie criticism is expressed.

Kate Lindsay, author of internet culture newsletter Embedded, joins Offline to talk about whether the hottest take is to have no take at all. Kate’s most recent Atlantic piece is titled “Is It Time to Embrace “Opinion Fatigue?” which argues that the internet is getting sick of discourse. She and Jon discuss how we arrived at this take apocalypse, how Gen Z cares less about their digital footprints, and how older generations are thinking harder about the virtual caches they pass on to loved ones after they die. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. 

According to a series of new studies published in Nature and Science, the way Facebook influences its users isn’t as straight forward as it seems. Does that mean Facebook is off the hook for polarizing America? Joshua Tucker, NYU professor and lead researcher on the 2020 Facebook Election Research Project, joins Offline to talk about what his team found, what lessons we learned about Facebook’s role in our world, and what its like to collaborate on a project with Mark Zuckerberg’s company. Plus: Max and Jon talk New York City's Twitch-fueled riot, AI learning to write (good) jokes, and the Zuck v. Musk cage match.  For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard, hosts of The Ringer’s “Every Single Album” podcast join Offline to talk about queen of pop — and queen of the internet — Taylor Swift. They break down how the one-time anti-hero has navigated the Internet Age to build one of the most successful music careers of all time and a fanbase that follows her on- and off-line. The three weigh streaming vs. touring as business models for musicians, question whether Taylor’s obsessive internet lurking is an asset, and share predictions for the last leg of the Eras tour. Then, Max returns to Offline’s tech roundup to unpack Elon’s ill-advised Twitter rebrand and Ron DeSantis’ cruel summer.Special thanks to Margaret for providing Jon and Max with their new Forget Me Knits. Learn more at forgetmeknit.com For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Comedian and Writer’s Guild negotiator, Adam Conover joins Offline to talk about how the ethos of Silicon Valley has affected the livelihoods of writers, actors and everyone in the entertainment industry. He gives Jon a behind the scenes look at why Hollywood’s workers and bosses have been so far apart in these negotiations. And they talk about the way streaming era jobs differ from cable era jobs, why, after a decade of streaming, studios look like they’re starting to rebuild a version of the old cable model, and why he’s not afraid of being replaced by artificial intelligence anytime soon. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.