‘The New York Times’ Peter Baker joins Dylan to dissect the fraught relationship between the Trump White House and the press, from expelling the Associated Press to handpicking the press pool—tactics he likens to historical press suppression in Russia. They also weigh in on the changes at ‘The Washington Post’ under Jeff Bezos, and the fight to maintain journalistic integrity in an increasingly politically charged environment. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: ht...
Mar 07, 2025•45 min
Bill Cohan joins Dylan to dissect the three-year evolution of Warner Bros. Discovery since David Zaslav’s bold 2022 merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery. He breaks down W.B.D.’s rising streaming profits, declining linear TV business, and its $19 billion debt reduction—bringing the company closer to a credit upgrade. With speculation swirling about a potential merger with NBCUniversal or Comcast’s SpinCo, Bill examines what’s next for W.B.D., the strategic loss of NBA rights, and the broader rippl...
Mar 04, 2025•32 min
Former NBC News president Noah Oppenheim sits down with Dylan for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation on the media industry’s uncertain future. He dives into the chaos engulfing MSNBC, shares his unfiltered take on SpinCo, and offers his outlook on the fate of NBC News. Finally, he reveals how he helped bring Netflix’s hit-series ‘Zero Day’ to life. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Axios’s Sara Fischer joins Dylan to scrutinize the dawn of MSNBC’s Rebecca Kutler era, where a wave of personnel and talent changes at 30 Rock aims to steady the embattled legacy mediaco. Sara also offers her assessment of the state of the broadcast news industry and considers whether it has any future in the streaming age. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com...
Feb 25, 2025•50 min
Eriq Gardner joins Dylan to dissect the wave of MAGA-driven lawsuits targeting Trump’s media adversaries. Eriq highlights casino magnate Steve Wynn’s efforts to revive his 2018 defamation suit against the Associated Press, which he hopes is elevated to the Supreme Court, potentially setting the stage for a SCOTUS showdown that could challenge the landmark ‘Times v. Sullivan’ ruling. The duo debate whether a better legal framework exists and suggest how media organizations can navigate these shif...
Feb 21, 2025•39 min
Former Hearst Magazines president Troy Young rejoins Dylan for a deep dive into the seismic impact of A.I. on media. He breaks down how A.I. has accelerated the decline of certain media businesses, stresses the urgent need for stronger I.P. protections, and unpacks the high-stakes challenges—and untapped opportunities—legacy brands face in an A.I.-driven future. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad ch...
Feb 18, 2025•57 min
In this exclusive bonus episode of The Grill Room, Jon Kelly joins Dylan to tackle a handful of hot button topics shaping the media industry: the hunger screams at CBS News, the baffling corporate embrace of Trump 2.0., and Fox News’s continued march into mainstream. They also discuss how storied print publications like ‘The Atlantic’ and ‘The New Yorker’ can future proof their businesses in the age of A.I. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc....
Feb 17, 2025•36 min
Emily Sundberg, creator of Feed Me, joins Dylan for an in-depth look at her meteoric rise as an independent Substacker. Having amassed 60,000 subscribers—and counting—Emily shares how authenticity, adaptability, and audience engagement have fueled her success. She also discusses self-funding her company without outside financing, the potential risks of a fully decentralized media landscape, and her plans to expand beyond Substack while leveraging her growing platform. To learn more about listene...
Feb 14, 2025•51 min
'The New Yorker' editor David Remnick joins Dylan to reflect on his nearly three-decade tenure as the magazine marks its 100th anniversary. He delves into the evolution of the magazine industry over the years, an inside look at sustaining The New Yorker’s unparalleled loyal subscriber base, and how the publication has uniquely blended serious journalism with humor. David also touches on the challenges of navigating the advent of A.I., and how the company is planning for the future To learn more ...
Feb 11, 2025•47 min
The Atlantic’s C.E.O. Nick Thompson joins Dylan for a candid conversation about the existential challenges of leading a media company, centered around the looming threats and opportunities of A.I. Nick envisions a media ecosystem where their web presence goes away, and lays out his growth strategy to mitigate the concerns: building the strongest possible direct relationships with readers while cutting out reliance on tech platforms altogether. To learn more about listener data and our privacy pr...
Feb 07, 2025•59 min
NBC News vet and former Meet the Press anchor Chuck Todd joins Dylan for a candid conversation about his departure from the network after nearly two decades. He reflects on the decline of media trust, the urgent need to revitalize local journalism, and how the internet has reshaped news consumption. Chuck also scrutinizes the nationalization of politics before the duo switch gears to explore the potential for podcasts to evolve into dynamic, multi-hour programming, à la ESPN’s signature daytime ...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 22 min
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes joins Dylan for a thrilling and sobering deep dive into how social media and smartphones hijacked our brains; how attention became the single most powerful currency in the political economy; and why Donald Trump is singularly effective at commanding it. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 31, 2025•41 min
John Ourand joins Dylan for an insider’s look at how the NFL is preparing for the upcoming Super Bowl in New Orleans—and whether the league is feeling the effects of small-market Chiefs fatigue. The duo also delve into the crucial role of live sports rights in keeping media businesses afloat, and explore how streaming giants like Amazon and Netflix are reshaping the future of sports broadcasting. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy...
Jan 28, 2025•43 min
The New York Times’ Ben Mullin joins Dylan for a deep dive into Mark Thompson’s attempt to transform CNN from a cable television network into a digital and streaming juggernaut. After a round of mass layoffs, the duo contemplate whether CNN as a digital-first enterprise can maintain the network’s influence in a post-linear landscape, and whether Thompson actually has a plan to get there. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy L...
Jan 24, 2025•50 min
NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff joins Dylan to share his unique experience covering the devastating Los Angeles fires, which destroyed his childhood home in Pacific Palisades. Then, as Trump’s inauguration looms with ambitious deportation plans, Jacob provides an inside look at his extensive reporting on immigration at the border. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podca...
Jan 17, 2025•42 min
Ashlee Vance, the former Bloomberg tech reporter and Musk confidant, joins Dylan to discuss his high-risk, high-reward leap into launching his new company, Core Memory, a sci-tech media startup. After a decade-plus entrenched in the world of legacy media, Ashlee offers a glimpse into how he’s approaching his new business venture and leveraging his unique access to cutting-edge technology. Then he and Dylan delve into the transformative potential of A.I. and the interplay between Silicon Valley a...
Jan 14, 2025•47 min
Jon Kelly joins Dylan to ruminate on a handful of developments across the media landscape: Will Lewis’s fantasy subscriber number for The Washington Post; Emma Tucker’s stalwart leadership at The Wall Street Journal; the latest on Mark Thompson’s CNN digital transformation strategy; and the impending A.I. newsroom revolution. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.c...
Jan 10, 2025•51 min
Ian Orefice, founder of EverWonder Studio and former TIME Studios president, joins Dylan to dig into how live sports has become the next front in the streaming wars. Then they kibitz about EverWonder’s role in producing the record-breaking Netflix Christmas NFL games and whether the Tyson vs. Paul fight represents the future of sports media rights battles to come. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad ...
Jan 07, 2025•42 min
Semafor co-founder and former BuzzFeed E.I.C. Ben Smith joins Dylan to survey the media landscape heading into 2025. They discuss how news organizations are bracing for the impact of Trump’s return to the Oval, delve into the recent wave of departures at The Washington Post, unpack a few of Semafor’s strategic initiatives, and explore the rising influence of newsletters in shaping media distribution. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/pri...
Jan 03, 2025•43 min
Former Hearst Magazine president Troy Young reunites with Dylan to discuss what lies ahead for the media industry as we turn our calendars to 2025. In particular, they home in on the significant role that A.I. will play in transforming how news is consumed and distributed—and the need for media companies to adapt to new consumer behaviors in order to stay relevant. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad...
Dec 31, 2024•52 min
Green room machine John Heilemann joins Dylan to look back on this year in media: the procession of entertainment and tech C.E.O.s kissing Trump’s ring; the headwinds facing Jeff Bezos at The Washington Post; the rise of Elon and twisted power of X; the most significant media macro trends; the industry’s biggest winners and three sorriest losers; and why 2024 was the year of the podcast in politics. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/priv...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Famed Democratic strategist and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod joins Dylan for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about podcasting. He reflects on being an early mover in the podcasting space, the art of podcasting, the influence that podcasting has had on our politics and culture, the future of the political-media landscape in the age of Elon, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more ab...
Dec 24, 2024•44 min
Jon Kelly joins Dylan to discuss Matt Murray’s surprising ascent to the WaPo executive editor job. And then Eriq Gardner swings by to weigh in on Bob Iger’s Trump settlement calculus. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 20, 2024•52 min
Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin joins Dylan to scrutinize ABC News’ $15M settlement with Trump, which has everyone in the political-media industry abuzz about the signal this sends to MAGA and its adversaries. While many perceived this to be a very winnable case for ABC News, their striking decision to settle for such a high price tag has led to a myriad of questions surrounding the media climate as we head into Trump 2.0. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://w...
Dec 17, 2024•48 min
Bill Cohan joins Dylan to dissect the stark financial calculus behind David Zaslav’s decision to separate Warner Bros. Discovery’s growth assets from its declining linear TV networks—a move that’s made Wall Street practically euphoric. Then they dive into Zaz’s ultimate endgame: to build, to sell, or to spin? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 13, 2024•43 min
Legendary media mogul and IAC chairman Barry Diller joins Dylan for a lively discussion on the shifting landscape of the media industry: Will Comcast’s spun-off cable assets thrive as a reimagined bundle or end up being sold to private equity? Do Hollywood heavyweights need greater scale to remain competitive? Can The Daily Beast transform into a powerhouse business? Then they dig into the future of the Democratic Party and Barry’s reasons for optimism in the new era of Trump and Elon. To learn ...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Former Hearst Magazines president Troy Young connects with Dylan to probe what went wrong at The Washington Post and CNN, and whether Will Lewis and Mark Thompson can fix their respective companies before the media business changes again. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Former top CNN executive Andrew Morse joins Dylan to discuss his new career as C.E.O. of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he’s applying the old NYT digital innovation playbook at the local level. Then they dig into his clashes with David Zaslav and Chris Licht, the unceremonious cancellation of CNN+, and the troubles afflicting the media landscape writ large. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your a...
Dec 03, 2024•54 min
Jeremy Boreing, co-founder of the conservative media network The Daily Wire, joins Dylan to explore the surging impact of alternative media on modern politics and deliver his candid critique of legacy media's failures. Then he shares insights into the strategies driving his company’s accelerated growth and discusses what lies ahead as The Daily Wire closes in on surpassing $200 million in revenue. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privac...
Nov 29, 2024•58 min
Punchbowl co-founders Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer join Dylan to discuss their vertiginous ascent from Politico all-stars to building a veritable Playbook rival. They dive into Punchbowl’s origin story, their tunnel-vision focus on Capitol Hill, the untapped potential of niche subscription markets, experimenting with A.I., and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podc...
Nov 26, 2024•55 min
