The Powers That Be: Daily
Puck | Audacy
Join Emmy Award-winning journalist Peter Hamby, along with the team of expert journalists at Puck, as they let you in on the real conversations insiders are having across the four corners of power in America: Wall Street, Washington, Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Puck's contributors will bring you smart conversation around the inside stories happening in these worlds. Presented in partnership with Audacy, new episodes publish daily, Monday-Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 4, 2026 • 25min
Carr Crash at the F.C.C.
Gary Knell, media executive who led NPR, Sesame Workshop, and National Geographic programming, reflects on mission-driven public media. He discusses fighting irrelevance in an age of endless content. He warns of a Wild West for children’s media and calls for a new Sesame Street moment. He also explores threats to local news, trust, and democracy from aggressive FCC actions.
Apr 3, 2026 • 20min
The NFL’s Robo Ref Era
Eriq Gardner, legal journalist who analyzes media and NFL labor and antitrust law, breaks down a world where AI handles officiating and the league faces replacement-ref risks. He discusses how automated review might work and its limits. He also examines FCC commissioner Brendan Carr's push to challenge leagues' antitrust exemptions as games move to streaming.
12 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 20min
The G.O.P.’s ICE Box
A deep dive into the Republican plan to secure long-term DHS and ICE funding and how that could block Democratic reform. A breakdown of the two-track Senate approach and why parts of the GOP pushed back. A look at the behind-the-scenes maneuvers around House leadership and which figures are positioning to replace Mike Johnson.
Apr 1, 2026 • 26min
Bernie vs. the Bots
Ian Kreitzberg, journalist and AI expert and author of The Hidden Layer, breaks down how AI anxiety is shaping politics. He explores why data centers became a flashpoint. He contrasts Hochul’s middle-path with calls for a construction moratorium from Bernie and A.O.C. He also reflects on a new documentary that mixes dread with cautious hope.
Mar 31, 2026 • 17min
Etch-a-Sketch Democracy
Abby Livingston, a political reporter specializing in redistricting and congressional politics, breaks down Virginia’s referendum modeled on California’s plan. She explains how the map could create a Democratic-leaning 10-to-1 outcome. The conversation covers polling odds, risks of backfiring for Democrats, Spanberger’s political gamble, and similar battles unfolding in other states.
Mar 30, 2026 • 22min
Media Monday: The Vox Auction & Sora Eulogies
Two media insiders debate the value and potential buyers for Vox’s audio business and how podcasts might be repackaged or spun off. They also dig into why OpenAI’s Sora app failed, the legal and product missteps, and how Disney’s caution complicated the tie-up. A broader thread considers tech firms pivoting from consumer experiments toward enterprise monetization.
Mar 27, 2026 • 23min
Netflix’s First Pitch
John Ourand, a media reporter focused on sports business and broadcast rights. He breaks down Netflix’s Opening Day strategy and why MLB hopes it leads to bigger bids. They unpack the chaos of regional sports networks and how fans will actually watch local games. They also explore the surprising ratings surge for March Madness and the role of betting and prediction markets.
Mar 26, 2026 • 24min
The G.O.P.’s ’26 Brain Transplant
Abby Livingston, a Texas politics reporter, analyzes California and Texas statewide races. She explains how a crowded Democratic field in California could split votes and let two Republicans advance. In Texas she breaks down a bruising GOP Senate runoff, Trump’s withheld endorsement, and the national stakes of nasty, expensive fights.
12 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 26min
Wall Street’s Iranomics
Bill Cohan, author and Wall Street journalist, explains how political remarks move markets and create trading opportunities. He traces sudden oil and commodity swings, spotlights traders who profit from rapid moves, and discusses bond-market signals and ripple effects on commodities and farmers.
9 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 24min
Who’s Winning the War in Iran?
Julia Ioffe, political journalist and foreign policy analyst, gives on-air analysis of the war in Iran. She questions whether the U.S. is really winning. She explores why allies resist a bullying approach. She contrasts tactical strikes with a lack of clear strategy and examines Iran’s bargaining leverage.
