Channels with Peter Kafka

Max Chafkin, Bloomberg Businessweek columnist and author who has tracked Elon Musk for years. He maps what SpaceX now contains — rockets, Starlink, and AI bets. He discusses the push to take SpaceX public, the narratives Musk sells to investors, and how Tesla, Starlink, and X fit into a larger power-and-capital strategy.

Kate Knibbs, a Wired technology reporter who digs into prediction markets and regulatory gray areas. She explains why prediction markets surged from sports betting to politics and media. She traces how platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket went mainstream. She outlines the regulatory tug-of-war, insider-trading fuzziness, and the broader casinofication of public life.

Neil Vogel, CEO of People Inc., former Dotdash/Meredith leader who rebuilt legacy magazine brands. He explains losing Google traffic yet growing through brand revival, platform-native editorial, AI licensing deals, and buying established titles. The conversation covers reorganizing teams for TikTok and apps, negotiating with AI companies, and doubling down on a few core brands to drive audience growth.

Matt Belloni, veteran Hollywood journalist and Puck founder, offers insider perspective on awards season and industry shakeups. He talks Oscars attendance, how YouTube might reshape the show, and the impact of a potential Ellison-led Paramount/Warner deal. He also explores betting markets, studio strategy shifts, and the rising role of creators in Hollywood’s next chapter.

Roger Bennett, co-founder of Men in Blazers and author of We Are the World Cup, explores how the 2026 tournament will sweep America. He predicts cities turning into temporary versions of visiting nations. He talks fan zones, ticket dynamics, politics and security, rising underdogs, and which U.S. towns will feel the biggest cultural impact.

Alex Sherman, senior CNBC media reporter, breaks down the Netflix-Paramount-WBD bidding drama. He recounts why Netflix walked away, market reactions, and the regulatory and political hurdles at play. He explores what a Paramount/WBD tie-up could mean for jobs, news brands like CNN and CBS, and the Ellisons’ plans for studios and debt-fueled control.

Brian Stelter, CNN chief media analyst and author of Reliable Sources, walks through how Trump is shaping big media deals and the Netflix/Paramount scramble for Warner Bros. Discovery. He unpacks presidential influence on M&A, pressure on broadcasters and late-night, fears of self-censorship in newsrooms, and the strange bedfellows of lawsuits and media power.

Reed Duchscher, founder/CEO of Night who builds businesses for internet-native creators, and Janice Min, CEO of The Ankler and longtime entertainment journalist. They debate Hollywood’s crisis and creator economy growth. Janice warns of consolidating studios, job loss, and AI impact. Reed explains creator strategies, long vs short form, Twitch opportunities, and scaling creator businesses.

Joe Weisenthal, a curiosity‑driven markets journalist and long‑time internet personality, and Adam Bhala Lough, documentary filmmaker behind Deep Faking Sam Altman, join for a wide-ranging chat. They talk about building a hit business podcast, finding perfect interview subjects, tariffs and policy chaos, the rise of deepfakes, and how AI is reshaping filmmaking.

Eric Wemple, an experienced media reporter who covered the Washington Post and now writes for The New York Times, walks through the newspaper’s dramatic staffing cuts and shifting strategy. He recounts Bezos’s 2013 purchase and early investments. The conversation focuses on reasons for the layoffs, editorial tensions, business missteps, and what the Post’s future might look like.