The Powers That Be: Daily

Live from Washington, Leigh Ann Caldwell sits down with Republican Senator Todd Young to discuss Trump’s “little excursion” in the Middle East: why he’s against any attempts to rein in the president, his beefs with various loud-mouthed colleagues, and what America misunderstands about the nature of sacrifice. This special episode of The Powers That Be is brought to you by the Association of American Railroads 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 Alexander joins Peter to discuss YouTube’s exclusive Coachella deal and what it signals about the future of live entertainment. They also dig into the smart glasses arms race at Meta and Snap, and why putting cameras on fans at concerts and stadiums raises some genuinely thorny copyright questions. Plus, Julia dishes on the Hasan Piker phenomenon—and what his audience loyalty on Twitch reveals about everything linear TV is getting wrong. 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 examine the fallout from Eric Swalwell’s resignation from Congress and the collapse of his gubernatorial campaign amid a cascade of assault allegations. Then they consider whether the scandal could widen, potentially drawing in other figures on Capitol Hill. 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

Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to size up Anthropic’s mysterious new model—one the company claims is too powerful to release—and whether that’s genuine caution or savvy marketing. Ian also recaps the HumanX conference in San Francisco, where thousands of A.I. insiders gathered amid a noticeably more anxious mood about what comes next. 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 with fresh intel on Pete Hegseth’s simmering vendetta against Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, a well-liked Washington figure with close ties to Vice President J.D. Vance. Julia explains why Hegseth views Driscoll as a professional threat and how he's been quietly making his life difficult inside the Pentagon. Julia also critiques J.D. Vance’s diplomacy skills—or lack thereof—coming off two fruitless trips in Hungary and Pakistan. 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

Peter Hamby phones in from the Puck Coachella satellite office for a scintillating conversation with Jon Kelly about the big idea behind Politico’s major executive reshuffling: Has the pivot to video finally descended in Rosslyn? Then the duo turn their attention to the Democrats’ attempt to belatedly dominate YouTube during the midterms. 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

NBC Sports’s Mike Florio joins John to tackle the most pressing questions facing the NFL as it stares down a highly consequential offseason—from looming media rights negotiations and the potential loss of its antitrust exemption to referee labor talks, the continued push for an 18-game schedule, the league’s expanding appetite for marquee midweek games, and much more. This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating forregulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more atsportsbettingalliance.org. 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

Malique Morris joins Peter to discuss Lululemon’s slide from category king to just another player in an increasingly crowded activewear market—and whether the brand can actually engineer a sustainable comeback. Malique also explores the rise of A.I. stylists, as a well-funded startup bets it can fundamentally reshape how consumers shop for clothes. 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

John Ourand joins Peter to break down ESPN’s looming layoffs amid the lingering financial fallout from Disney’s carriage dispute with YouTube TV last fall—and whether new C.E.O. Josh D’Amaro would actually consider spinning the network off. Then John explains why the Masters is still TV’s gold-standard rights deal, and why CBS doesn’t appear to be letting go anytime soon. 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 to discuss OpenAI’s head-scratching decision to buy TBPN—and the very real possibility that it proves to be more headache than masterstroke for Sam Altman. Then he examines what Politico’s future might look like under new global editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger, considering his experience as a TV news executive and deep Washington ties. 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 break down Trump’s maximalist threat to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure “back to the Stone Age” unless they agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—an ultimatum that, for now, Tehran seems content to ignore, betting instead on Trump’s eroding political support. Julia also discusses her exclusive scoop on the Trump administration’s unprecedented effort to label antifa as a foreign terrorist threat. 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

Besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite during the Final Four to trade hypotheses on why OpenAI acquired TBPN, the vodcast-maximalist media company, and what the trade could ordain for the media M&A market. The duo also discuss how Roger Goodell's media partner shakedown will impact Hollywood studios. 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

Former F.C.C. chairJessica Rosenworcel and former NPR chief Gary Knell join Dylan at the Common Sense Media Summit to discuss the precarious state of the agency under Brendan Carr. They scrutinize his aggressive posture toward broadcasters, the potential implications for the First Amendment, and the broader risks to democracy—while also exploring solutions to support local news, combat consolidation, and protect kids in an age of infinite slop. 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 explore a hypothetical where the NFL hands officiating over to A.I. as the league barrels toward a potential replacement-ref situation when its current C.B.A. expires. Then they discuss F.C.C. commissioner Brendan Carr’s argument that leagues should lose antitrust protections as they push more games behind streaming paywalls. 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 Republicans’ strategy to lock in funding for DHS and ICE through the remainder of Trump’s term—effectively boxing out any Democratic reforms. They also discuss the quiet jockeying to replace Mike Johnson as House speaker, and whether he’s ready to step aside from leadership altogether. 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

Ian Krietzberg joins Peter to discuss the wide range of political responses to the growing public anxiety over A.I.—from Trump’s promise to hold down energy costs to Bernie Sanders and A.O.C.’s push for a construction moratorium, and more. They also discuss a new documentary on A.I.’s future—and whether it leaves more room for optimism or panic. 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 joins Peter to break down the latest front in the redistricting wars. In Virginia, Governor Abigail Spanberger is pushing a Democratic-friendly map overhaul modeled on California’s recent playbook. While the referendum is likely to pass, Abby explains it could carry unintended consequences for Democrats in future cycles—and previews how similar battles are unfolding in Maryland, Illinois, Florida, and beyond. 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

The besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite to sermonize over the real value of Jim Bankoff’s podcast business and hypothesize about secondary sales opportunities for Vox. Then they discuss why Sora bombed and Bob Iger’s colleagues slow-walked its Disney partnership. 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

John Ourand joins Peter to unpack the promise—and persistent chaos—of watching Major League Baseball in 2026, from Netflix’s Opening Day splash to the still-messy hunt for local broadcasts. They also dive into March Madness’s historically big first-weekend ratings and the surprising role prediction markets may be playing in the sudden surge of interest in college hoops. 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 joins Peter to break down a bit of primary election role reversal: in California, a crowded and underwhelming Democratic field risks splitting the vote and opening the door to an all-Republican general. And in Texas, an increasingly contentious and expensive G.O.P. Senate runoff—and Trump’s withheld endorsement—gives Democrats a sliver of hope they score a major upset come November. 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