Advertise on podcast: Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino

Bari Weiss broke her silence this week and addressed the controversies that have erupted under her stewardship of CBS News. Oliver and Jon unpack what she said.  Then, Fox News’ audience is shrinking ahead of the midterms, with some viewership metrics hitting lows that haven’t been seen in 25 years. Finally, Hasan Piker has filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN MAGA pundit Scott Jennings. 0:00 Intro 1:21 Bari Weiss’ Comments on CBS News Controversies 28:09 FOX News Ratings Plummet as Midterms Approach 38:00 Hasan Piker Sues CNN’s Scott Jennings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode: After 43 years at CNN, Christiane Amanpour announced this week that she will exit the network. We report on the concerns she had over David Ellison’s ownership and what drove her decision. Plus, new reporting on the fallout inside CBS News’ London bureau following foreign editor Shayndi Raice’s confrontation with staff. We also discuss Jan Crawford’s deleted tweet applauding a GOP activist’s questioning of Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Finally, filmmaker Alex Gibney joins Power Lines to discuss “Musk,” the obstacles to advertising his documentary on social platforms, his concerns about its planned HBO release, and the risks of scrutinizing one of the world’s most powerful men. 0:00 Intro 1:20 Christiane Amanpour Leaves CNN 21:54 Fallout After Leaked Shayndi Raice Meeting Audio 29:54 Jan Crawford’s Deleted Abdul El-Sayed Tweet 39:59 Interview with Elon Musk Documentarian Alex Gibney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special episode of Power Lines, we publish exclusive audio from a stunning all-hands meeting in which Bari Weiss' handpicked foreign editor, Shayndi Raice, unleashed a lengthy tirade against her own CBS News journalists. The extraordinary meeting, which followed Status' exclusive reporting on internal clashes over the network's Israel coverage, quickly turned contentious as Raice defended her editorial decisions, warned staffers about "insubordination," and engaged in a heated back-and-forth with veteran correspondent Holly Williams. For the first time, listeners can hear the remarkable confrontation for themselves, as Oliver and Jon play the most revealing moments from the meeting and unpack what the extraordinary episode reveals about the growing turmoil inside Bari Weiss' CBS News. 0:00 Intro 1:35 Leaked Audio of CBS News All-Hands Meeting 49:59 Leslie Stahl Threatens to Quit ‘60 Minutes’ over West Bank Story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After completing his acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Ellison is facing questions about his relationship with Donald Trump and his plans for CNN. Jon shares what happened when he pressed Ellison directly on the Paramount lot, and Oliver reports on Anderson Cooper’s pointed questions for his new boss at an internal company town hall. Oliver and Jon also examine what Ellison’s assurances mean for CNN chief Mark Thompson, whose long-term future remains unresolved, and how CNN and Bari Weiss’ CBS News could come together as the company pursues billions in cuts. Plus, renowned tech journalist Casey Newton, co-host of the upcoming NPR podcast “Machine Gods,” joins the show to defend his decision to return to Elon Musk’s X after a three-year boycott. Oliver and Jon press him on what changed—and his “podmother,” Kara Swisher, delivers a surprise message you won't want to miss. 0:00 Intro 1:29 CNN and CBS News’ Future at Skydance 18:30 Anderson Cooper Questions David Ellison at Internal Town Hall 36:44 Casey Newton Grilled by Oliver, Jon, and Kara Swisher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future of CNN is coming into focus…at least for now. David Ellison has opened talks with Mark Thompson about extending his tenure as CNN’s chief. Oliver and Jon break down what the move signals to employees inside the network, what it could mean for CNN’s direction under Ellison, and where it leaves Bari Weiss, both now and down the road. Plus, Donald Trump is using taxpayer money to run propaganda ads on MS NOW. Oliver and Jon report on the discontent amongst some network staffers who do not believe the progressive outlet should air the ads. 0:00 Intro 1:18 The Future of CNN (For Now) 18:30 Will Bari Weiss Run CNN? 36:44 MS NOW Staffers Furious as Trump Ads Air on Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The anonymous source behind one of the stories that the White House used to justify its press ban was none other than JD Vance himself. We detail our exclusive reporting and get into the latest developments on Donald Trump’s war against the media. Then, we report on the anxiety coursing through CNN as David Ellison’s Paramount strikes a deal with the state AGs to gain regulatory clearance to take over the news outlet’s parentco. We’ll take you inside the network where chief Mark Thompson is facing mounting questions from nervous staffers. Plus, the owner of POLITICO and Business Insider is facing backlash from staffers for its decision to honor pro-MAGA billionaire Peter Thiel with help from Bari Weiss. 0:00 Intro 1:39 JD Vance Exposed as Politico’s Anonymous Source 15:57 CNN’s Ownership Uncertainty 37:45 Axel Springer’s Peter Thiel Controversy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins turned the tables on Status founder Oliver Darcy for the final interview of the Status Summit. Darcy described what it actually felt like to leave CNN and go independent, including the realization that there’s no undo button once you’ve handed in your badge. They also discuss how sourcing and reporting have changed for both of them since their beginnings in conservative media, and Oliver's plans to grow Status with more journalists, events, and podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler joined Natalie Korach and Oliver Darcy at the Status Summit to discuss the network's programming and business strategy. Kutler spoke about the network’s new membership program, her perspective on taking Donald Trump live, whether Hasan Piker is welcome on the channel, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times chief executive Meredith Kopit Levien and Atlantic chief executive Nicholas Thompson joined Oliver Darcy at the Status Summit for a wide-ranging discussion on the business upheavals reshaping the media industry. The duo discussed their different approaches to A.I. giants, whether news organizations should make deals with prediction markets like Kalshi, Google’s crawler behavior, and more. Plus, Kopit Levien responded to Nicole Kidman’s “Lioness” character attacking The Times for its coverage on democracy being under threat.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The numbers are in for the “60 Minutes” premiere under Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton and… they’re not pretty. Oliver and Jon break down the shockingly low ratings, the industry’s reaction, and what it says about the show’s new direction. Next, an explosive, four-hour-long Elon Musk documentary is set for release in early October, and Universal is feeling the heat. Will the Comcast-owned studio release the film internationally? Or is it getting cold feet? Finally, the removal of Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's current tour has caused massive backlash and served as yet another example of free speech under attack in Donald Trump’s America.  0:00 Intro 1:23 ‘60 Minutes’ Season Premiere Flops 23:02 Universal Pulling Plug on Elon Musk Documentary? 35:47 Macklemore-Ed Sheeran Backlash Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Yorker Editor David Remnick and Associated Press Executive Editor Julie Pace joined Oliver Darcy at the Status Summit to discuss the Trump administration’s assault on the First Amendment. The duo also touched on other topics, with Remnick calling Jeff Bezsos’ stewardship of The Washington Post “unforgivable” and arguing that news leaders without the spine to stand up to intimidation should get out of the business. Pace also detailed the AP's decision to keep calling Lake Ontario by its original name, and delivered an update on the organization's ongoing First Amendment litigation with the White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MS NOW host Nicolle Wallace appeared for a sit-down interview at the inaugural Status Summit, addressing several topics while speaking to Oliver Darcy. The two discussed conservative media’s radical transformation into MAGA propaganda, what it’s like for Wallace to be attacked by a movement that once called her its own, and what the Dominion case revealed about Fox News. Plus, Wallace spoke about her approach to covering Donald Trump, and why she never takes him live on her show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CNBC host and Dealbook author Andrew Ross Sorkin sat for an interview at the inaugural Status Summit, speaking to Oliver Darcy on a wide array of topics. In the interview, the two discussed news organization’s striking deals with Kalshi, what it is like to critically cover some of the world’s most powerful moguls, why the Ellisons are making a play for media assets, and whether as “Billions” co-creator he would portray the wealthy in the same light today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Williams and veteran television producer Jonathan Wald sat down with us at the Status Summit, discussing a wide array of topics, including: the declining relevance of the evening news broadcast, Bari Weiss’ overhaul of CBS News, the media’s coverage of Donald Trump, David Ellison’s desire to purchase CNN, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former CBS News & Stations Chief Wendy McMahon spoke at the Status Summit about the political pressures that Donald Trump is exerting on broadcast networks through the FCC, urging media companies not to fall in line. McMahon also addressed her resignation from CBS News and the radical overhaul of the network being implemented by her successor, Bari Weiss. She addressed concerns raised publicly by current and former 60 Minutes journalists and said she's concerned the newsmagazine’s "DNA is being rewritten" in real time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices