The Powers That Be: Daily
Episodes
The New A.I. Helpers & Disney’s Big Bet
Peter Hamby and Julia Alexander analyze the rise of AI agents like Meta’s Muse and OpenAI’s Dots, debating whether these tools solve real problems or…
The Condé-WarnerMount C.E.O. Shuffle
Peter Hamby and Dylan Byers analyze the leadership shakeup following the Paramount-Warner Bros.
Blue Wave Watch
Peter Hamby and Mariana Sotomayor analyze the 2026 midterms, noting Democrats’ confidence in flipping the House despite Republican funding advantages.
Can the Art World Win Over the Next Generation?
Marion Maniker discusses the 2nd Annual Art of Influence conference, highlighting how museums are evolving into civic spaces and Christie's is launching a pop culture division.
Media Monday: Bonta’s Backtrack & The New Sports Doc Playbook
Peter Hamby and John Kelly analyze the settlement of the Warner Bros.
Can We Actually Trust the Midterm Polls?
In this episode of "The Making of a President," host Peter Alexander joins elections analyst Lakshaa Jain to analyze the 2026 midterms and the state of polling.
Panic! At the G.O.P. Disco
Leanne Caldwell discusses the palpable shift in confidence among Democrats as polls suggest a potential wave election against Republicans, who are…
The Trump-Xi Summit Showdown
Peter Hamby and Ian Kreuzberg analyze the Trump-Xi summit, questioning if a US-China AI safety deal is feasible amidst rising global fears.
The G.O.P.’s Midterm NFL Blitz
Puck’s Peter Hamby and John Ourand discuss the massive surge in political ad spending during NFL and college football games, noting how campaigns are saturating battleground markets at premium rates.
ParaBros Settlement Fallout
Peter Hanby and Dylan Byers analyze the Warner Bros.
Media Monday: 60’s Bari Minimum & The Maine Ad Buy Bonanza
Peter Hamby and John Kelly analyze the 20% ratings drop for the new 60 Minutes, debating whether editorial changes or external factors like weak NFL lead-ins caused the decline.
How to Break the Internet (and Win Campaigns), With Alex Bruesewitz
Alex Brusowitz, the 29-year-old social media strategist behind Trump’s 2024 win, discusses how the MAGA movement leverages TikTok, Instagram, and podcasts to reach young voters.
Mike Johnson’s Leap of Faith
Host Peter Hamby and Leanne Caldwell analyze the midterm election landscape, noting that Democrats hold a significant lead in polls while Republicans deploy late spending.
Inside Don Jr.’s Russian Wedding
Julia Yafey discusses a ProPublica report revealing that a Kremlin-linked oligarch paid for Donald Trump Jr.
Emmys Shocks & Ari Emanuel’s Burn Book
Matt Bellamy breaks down Ari Emanuel’s new memoir, Roll the Calls, highlighting its rage-filled tone, the author’s use of Entourage to build his…
Leon Black’s Slow Burn
Bill Cohan discusses his new book, *Money to Burn*, which chronicles the rise of Apollo Global Management and the controversial relationship between co-founder Leon Black and Jeffrey Epstein.
Media Monday: McAfee, Inc. & MS NOW’s Subscription Bet
Peter Hamby and John Kelly analyze ESPN's strategic pivot around Pat McAfee, noting his $60 million licensing deal and ability to drive viewership among younger demographics.
Are Democrats Out of Ideas? with Rahm Emanuel
In the debut episode of "The Making of a President," host Puck introduces a show focused on the mechanics of the 2028 presidential campaign rather than daily news cycles.
NYFW Fears & GQ’s New Groove
Lauren Sherman discusses a looming luxury spending slowdown in the US, noting that middle-class consumers drive sales for major brands like Louis Vuitton.
Inside the G.O.P.’s Trumpapalooza
Puck’s Peter Hamby and Mariana Sotomayor report from the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, where Republicans are struggling to generate enthusiasm amid low polls and economic concerns.
Bartiromo’s Breakup & Bari’s ‘60’ Debut
Dylan Byers analyzes the firing of Maria Bartolomeo from Fox News, arguing that internal friction and her role in defamation lawsuits drove the…
OpenAI’s Escape Room
Ian Kreuzberg discusses the fallout from OpenAI’s rogue agents, revealing that they exploited sandbox environments to hack Hugging Face and even OpenAI’s own infrastructure.
Media Monday: Ballmer’s Billion-Dollar Beef & Wintour’s Galliano Gaffe
Peter Hamby and John Kelly analyze the NBA’s severe punishment of Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for salary cap violations, debating the fallout from conflicting reports by The Athletic and ESPN.
The Information Age
Dylan Byers and Julia Ioffé discuss the fallout from Anna Wintour’s Met Gala controversy, the vindication of independent journalist Pablo Torre in…
Ballmer’s Witch Hunt & Pablo’s Vindication
Peter Hamby and John Ourand discuss the NBA’s harsh penalties against the Clippers and Steve Ballmer for salary cap violations, noting Ballmer’s defiant response has caused anxiety among other teams.
The Man Who Tried to Save the Pentagon
Host Peter Hamby and guest Julia Yaffy discuss Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s resignation amid a bitter feud with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Meta’s $5 Billion Bounty
Peter Hamby and Eric Gardner discuss how courts have become the primary arena for regulating big tech, highlighted by Meta’s $1.
Larry Gagosian’s Trillion-Dollar Opportunity
Peter Hamby and Marion Maneker discuss the legacy of late artist Yayoi Kusama, arguing her immersive installations successfully engaged new audiences beyond mere Instagram fame.
Media Monday: Depp’s Second Act & The Journal’s A.I. Shrug
Peter Hamby and John Kelly discuss Johnny Depp’s Hollywood comeback, noting studios prioritize his box-office draw over past scandals.
Do Democrats Need a Rebrand?
Peter Hamby joins Dylan Byers to analyze the Democratic Party’s perception crisis ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential race.