The Press Box

Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic leader of the U.S. House and NY representative, speaks on stopping a war with Iran and what a U.S.-Israel partnership should look like. He pushes for release of Epstein-related documents and warns about election interference tactics like gerrymandering and voter intimidation. He also weighs in on ICE reforms and closes with a rapid-fire pop-culture round on Jay-Z and NYC rap.

Wolf Blitzer, veteran CNN anchor known for decades of international and U.S. reporting. He recounts covering the Pentagon during the Gulf War. He revisits reporting on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. He reflects on the chaos of 9/11. He walks through anchoring Obama’s historic 2008 win and the surprises of the 2016 Trump night.

Tim Kaine, U.S. senator from Virginia and 2016 VP nominee, gives quick takes from Capitol Hill. Conversation hops between U.S.-Cuba policy and why he still reads print newspapers. They also dig into Trump's rapid media outreach during foreign operations and the Paramount-CNN shakeup, plus what sports rights might mean for streaming.

Amanda Dobbins, journalist and cultural critic, unpacks why the Kennedys endure as American royalty. They debate Ryan Murphy’s Love Story and its mix of archival footage with dramatization. Conversation jumps from George magazine and 1990s New York glamour to Jackie’s post-White House life, JFK Jr.’s public persona and the family’s ongoing political and media afterlives.

They preview plans for watching Trump’s State of the Union and debate how Democrats should respond. They unpack Kash Patel partying with Team USA and praise Mike Tirico’s Olympic play-by-play. They discuss turmoil at CBS News and react to Savannah Guthrie’s emotional video. They analyze a striking photo of Prince Andrew and remember a beloved local sportswriter.

They reflect on Reverend Jesse Jackson’s national impact and a controversy about an off‑the‑record remark. The hosts debate when reporters should break background promises for public interest. They critique The Atlantic’s approach to a measles piece and discuss legal and political fallout around Stephen Colbert’s blocked booking. The show closes with a heated college basketball coach confrontation after a tough loss.

A student rejects a Cleveland paper over AI rewrite practices and the hosts debate acceptable AI use in newsrooms. Barack Obama’s remark that aliens exist sparks conversation. They unpack newsroom clip culture, CBS staffing moves, and whether Stephen A. Smith’s quasi-campaign deserves serious coverage. A creative nonfiction piece about measles and Robert Duvall’s death prompts questions about narrative ethics in journalism.

Logan Murdock, sports reporter and former Golden State Warriors beat writer, shares locker-room tales and how he built trust with stars like Steph Curry. Conversations jump from the Nancy Guthrie media frenzy to Joel’s Winter Olympics takes and debates on fixing the NBA. Short, funny, and insider-packed.

Jason Zengerle, journalist and author of the Tucker Carlson biography 'Hated by All the Right People', discusses Carlson’s shift from magazine writer to TV star. The conversation covers his rise at Fox, televised influence on Trump-era politics, how fringe ideas were mainstreamed, and Carlson’s post-Fox pivot to X and podcasting. Short, sharp takes on media power and personality.

Tim Miller, political commentator and founder of The Bulwark, offers sharp takes from his campaign and comms background. He dissects how Trump’s style reshaped public speech and where he’s shown limits. They unpack the Epstein documents’ fallout, why Bezos still owns the Washington Post, and which politicians impress or unsettle him.