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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Don Lemon and Mehdi Hasan joined Oliver Darcy at the Status Summit to discuss building independent media businesses after leaving cable news. Both discussed growing audiences on YouTube and other platforms, the freedom to say "the F word,” and the legal and financial risks independent journalists take on without a corporate safety net.

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Kara Swisher joined us at the Status Summit in New York for a candid conversation on a wide array of topics. Swisher, a veteran journalist and co-host of “Pivot,” told us how CNN executives have responded to her threats to leave the network, should the Ellisons gain control of it. She also said Jeff Bezos has ruined The Washington Post and weighed in with her brutally honest thoughts on various technology executives.

0:00 Intro

2:00 Kara Swisher’s Podcast Empire & Scott Galloway-Free Summer on Pivot

6:25 Maria Bartiromo’s Firing from Fox News

8:30 Should Vox Host a Presidential Debate?

9:18 Did Jeff Bezos Destroy the Washington Post?

13:48 Why Kara Won’t Work for a David Ellison-owned CNN

18:55 The Lawsuit Blocking the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Deal

22:03 Bashing Tech Companies for Giving In to “Lake America”

24:00 “F*** You”: Kara’s Message to Journalists on X

26:28 Why Don’t More Journalists Speak Like Kara?

31:18 Lightning Round: Describing Tech Execs in One Word

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Fox News stunned the media and political industry on Thursday by firing Maria Bartiromo. What was behind the abrupt ouster? We break down her history of getting into trouble at Fox.

Plus, we reveal Bari Weiss’ role in CBS News’ controversial story on Abdul El-Sayed’s old tweets, as well as what Norah O’Donnell’s return to the network’s morning show means for the outlet.

And finally, we discuss how far-right troll Milo Yiannopoulos, who was recently deported by ICE, has entirely turned on Donald Trump.

0:00 Intro + Status Summit

3:41 Maria Bartiromo Fired from FOX

15:34 CBS News’ El-Sayed Story Backlash

27:51 Norah O’Donnell Moves to ‘CBS Mornings’

35:41 Milo Yiannopoulos Reacts to ICE Deportation on Piers Morgan

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Bari Weiss has been quietly courting NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo. The two have been exchanging texts and recently met for a meal, but is a deal even possible?

Next, The Washington Post suffered an embarrassing legal defeat after an arbiter ruled it wrongfully fired columnist Karen Attiah and ordered the Jeff Bezos-owned newspaper to rehire her and award her back pay.

And finally, The New York Times Co. is considering inking a major deal with the controversial prediction markets platform Klashi. Should the Gray Lady be doing business with such a company? Some staffers inside the newspaper are concerned it could tarnish the outlet’s reputation.

0:00 Intro and Status Summit Plug

2:30 Bari Weiss Courts Chris Cuomo

17:54 WaPo Forced to Re-Hire Karen Attiah

29:08 The Athletic Considers Kalshi Partnership

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CNN's MAGA pundit Scott Jennings is vying for the White House press secretary role, presenting a huge conflict of interest problem as he appears on CNN. So why is the network allowing him to continue appearing on its air, lending Jennings a stage to audition for the job?

Then, exclusive reporting on “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker's candid remarks at a party. We report on what Whitaker privately said, the behind-the-scenes race to get the newsmagazine ready for its fall premiere, and why executives are fixated on the 10.03M number.

Plus, Disney strikes back at the Trump administration, suing Brendan Carr’s FCC over what it calls an unconstitutional attack on its First Amendment rights. ANd finally, IMAX ticket sales have spiraled out of control, prompting the AMC Theatres chief to address the issue after the company’s website crashed amid the pre-sale crush for “Dune: Part Three.”

Read these stories and more on Status: https://www.status.news

Listen wherever you get podcasts: http://status.news/power-lines

0:00 Intro

1:23 Scott Jennings’ White House Audition and CNN Conflict

12:56 Bill Whitaker Gets Candid About ‘60 Minutes’

29:54 Disney Takes Brendan Carr’s FCC to Court

40:03 AMC’s Ticket Scalper Problem

#PowerLinesPodcast #OliverDarcy #JonPassantino #MediaNews #StatusNewsletter

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