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The Press Box

The Ringerwww.theringer.com
The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between.
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Episodes

Tom Brady’s Week 1 Report Card, the Harris-Trump Debate Is Here, and NFL TV Notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by previewing this Tuesday’s long-awaited debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump (00:36). Then they discuss Tom Brady’s first day on his new job (17:35). Later, in the notebook, they react to the following: Tenet Media got covert funding from Russian state media employees (35:33), Joe Tessitore debuted on 'Raw' (38:54), and Shannon Sharpe called out his producers (49:47) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoem...

Sep 09, 202459 min

How We Talk About Football, Coach Tim Walz and the State of the Campaign, and the Art of Curious Podcasting with Pablo Torre

Hello, media consumers! Bryan kicks off the show with a preview of his latest piece on the ringer dot com, How Fox Threw Tom Brady a Hail Mary and Won (0:45). Then he welcomes Pablo Torre and they discuss the following: How the media talks football these days (7:05) Tom Brady being recast as an announcer (18:13) The democratic rollout of Tim Walz (31:29) Pablo’s podcast, ‘Pablo Finds Out’ (43:43) Plus David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Pablo Torre Produc...

Sep 06, 20241 hr

Football TV Mega-Preview, Tom Brady’s Debut, and Kamala Harris Speaks

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by recapping Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s interview with Dana Bash (0:32). Then, as they get ready for the return of football, they get into the following: Football season starts with Tom Brady in a different seat (13:34) Legendary head coaches Nick Saban and Bill Belichick make their television debuts (19:23) ESPN takes over the SEC (24:16) Deion Sanders vs. Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler (30:17) Then, in the notebook, they discuss th...

Sep 03, 202452 min

Debate Chaos, Kamala Harris’s Big Interview, and Leaving CNN With Oliver Darcy of ‘Status’

Hello, media consumers! On the Final Edition of 'The Press Box,' Bryan welcomes Oliver Darcy to the pod. They discuss the following: The rules of the upcoming Harris-Trump debate (1:49) Kamala Harris’s upcoming interview and what to expect (10:42) Sarah Palin’s new trial against The New York Times (15:49) Mark Zuckerberg’s letter to the House Judiciary Committee (17:33) Then Oliver discusses why he left CNN to build his own platform, ‘Status’ (21:32). Plus, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-P...

Aug 29, 202442 min

Changing the Way NFL Games Are Called, the Debate Over the Debate, and the DNC Notebook Dump

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing the state of sports color commentary and whether or not analysts should be ex-players (0:30). Then Bryan recaps his four nights at the upper deck of the United Center in Chicago (10:30). They also discuss the following from the Democratic National Convention: Their favorite moments that stuck out (19:26) Some media grumbling (30:17) The branded media place to hang out (36:00) Then, in the notebook, they discuss the following...

Aug 26, 202456 min

From Chicago: The Best and Worst of the Democratic Convention With Semafor’s Benjy Sarlin

Hello, media consumers! Bryan is live out of the United Center in Chicago along with Semafor’s Benjy Sarlin, and they recap the Democratic Convention. They assess Kamala Harris’s speech and then hit on 10 topics: Defining Kamala Harris (8:08) How the Democrats talk about Donald Trump (10:47) The Democrats’ embrace of celebrity (15:34) Thoughts on the rollout of Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’s running mate (17:55) The return of the Obamas and Obama-isms to the Democratic Party (21:27) The Democrats c...

Aug 23, 202449 min

Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and Covering the Democratic Convention With CBS News’ Robert Costa and Ed O’Keefe

Hello media consumers! Bryan has a bonus mid-week episode with two special guests from CBS News. First he speaks with White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe, who discusses working the floors of the convention, staking out Joe Biden during his final days in the White House, and the early returns on Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (1:21) Then he talks with the chief election and campaign correspondent, Robert Costa, to discuss his conversations with Donald Trump and Joe Biden, his thoughts on the convent...

Aug 21, 202453 min

A Report From the Democratic National Convention, Nic Cage as John Madden, and Remembering Phil Donahue

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show with a fun spoiler from the Democratic National Convention (0:30). Bryan is in Chicago right now and he has a few notes, including on the DNC version of radio row (8:00). Then they discuss the following: The return of The Onion (14:28) Press Box party at the DNC recap (15:44) Remembering Phil Donahue (23:18) ESPN makes a couple of cuts (31:01) Nicolas Cage to play John Madden in a biopic (36:00) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the We...

Aug 19, 202450 min

The Return of Hannibal Lecter, the Trump Hack, and a ‘Hard Knocks’ Check-In With Alan Siegel

Hello, media consumers! Bryan welcomes The Ringer’s own Hollywood bureau chief, Alan Siegel. They both share some of their lukewarm takes on the media and the following subjects: Donald Trump’s love affair with Hannibal Lecter (01:31). The Donald Trump hack: documents sent to Politico emails (8:42) A sports documentary check-in on 'Hard Knocks' and 'Receiver' (18:15) The essence of cable news (28:01) Australian B-girl Raygun breaks her silence (37:26) Alan closes out with a few of his “only jour...

Aug 15, 202452 min

The Tim Walz Coach Campaign, the Return of the Trump Exposé, and Charles Barkley’s New-Old Job.

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing the New York Times story, “Inside the Worst Three Weeks of Donald Trump’s 2024 Campaign (0:43).” Then they discuss the following: Three reasons Tim Walz was selected as Kamala Harris’s running mate (09:00). The Harris-Trump debate is set (20:23) Tim Walz’s couch jokes (23:40) Then in the notebook they discuss the following: Noah Eagle’s impressive performance in the men’s and women’s basketball gold medal games (37:34) Anoth...

Aug 12, 202458 min

Kamala Harris Picks Tim Walz, Evan Gershkovich Is Free, and the RFK–Bear Cub Affair

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David stop their vacations to discuss Tim Walz being picked to be Kamala Harris's running mate and the reactions of Democrats to the selection (1:27). They also discuss the following: Claire Malone’s profile of RFK Jr. (14:53). Evan Gershkovich being released from Russian prison (21:09) A botched Summer Olympics call (28:38) Donald Trump at NABJ (37:26) Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...

Aug 06, 202455 min

The Veep TV Auditions, Olympics Takes, an (Almost) NBA Rights Deal, and Remembering Evan Wright

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which included celebrities on the sideline, AI Al Michaels, and Dwyane Wade and Noah Eagle’s commentary (0:40). Then they discuss the running auditions for Kamala Harris’s running mate (12:29). Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the final stages of the NBA media rights deal (25:16) and take time to remember journalist Evan Wright (34:30). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the W...

Jul 29, 202448 min

The Kamala Harris Campaign, Fraught Political Relationships, and the Last Days of the Biden 2024 Beat With Axios’s Alex Thompson

On the Final Edition, Bryan welcomes Alex Thompson, a national political correspondent for Axios. They kick off the show by discussing coverage of the last two weeks, which included President Joe Biden dropping out of the race (1:14). Then he gets into the current relationship between Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris (16:24), the relationship between Biden and Barack Obama over the past few weeks (27:26), and what it will look like covering Harris now (32:14). Plus, David Shoemaker guesses...

Jul 25, 202451 min

The Biden-Harris Switch, Three Weeks of Political Scoops, and Farewell to Skip Bayless and Pete Wells

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David react to the news that President Joe Biden will drop out of the 2024 presidential race and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. They discuss the following: How cable news moved slowly with its coverage and reactions (5:00) Reporters who could have taken a bow after the news broke (7:55) How Harris will be covered by political reporters (33:24) Hulk Hogan's and Dana White's appearances at the RNC (40:35) Then, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the fo...

Jul 22, 20241 hr 11 min

A Report From the Republican Convention With the Washington Post’s Chris Suellentrop

On the Final Edition, Bryan welcomes The Washington Post’s Chris Suellentrop, who joins the show from Milwaukee, where he's covering the Republican National Convention. He kicks off the show by discussing how the Republicans are ecstatic right now at the convention (1:40). Then they discuss Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s speech (4:16), whether Donald Trump will be more effective if he's elected president again (9:27), how the assassination attempt has become a part of the co...

Jul 18, 202427 min

How the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump Was Covered

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David react to the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump. They discuss the following, regarding the coverage: Reactions to hearing the news (0:36) The photographers and the amazing photos they captured (4:30) Interviews that took place immediately after the shooting (10:40) Social media conspiracy theories (20:12) Host: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...

Jul 15, 202433 min

Reporting on the Biden Age Question, Interviewing Kamala Harris, and the Democrats’ MSNBC Problem With NYT’s Astead Herndon

Hello, media consumers! Bryan welcomes back Astead Herndon of The New York Times and host of ‘The Run-up Podcast.’ He comes on to discuss the following about President Joe Biden: Astead’s reporting in 2020 and how Biden’s age was a topic of conversation (1:04) Whether or not he ran his first campaign with the intentions of being a one-term president (08:38) The Biden campaign being more online now than four years ago (19:18) His experience interviewing Vice President Kamala Harris in 2016 (40:55...

Jul 11, 202452 min

Did Reporters Blow It With Biden? Plus, POTUS Breaks His Silence and a Report From the NFL Broadcast Boot Camp.

Hello media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show with talk of a rare breaking of silence: President Joe Biden’s interview on ABC (0:40). Then, they discuss the "Now They Tell Us" headline from the New York Post (13:50) and talk through whether or not the press blew it when it comes to reporting on Joe Biden (17:58). Later, in the Notebook Dump, Bryan talks about visiting the NFL Broadcast Bootcamp for current and former players, and shares some sound as they discuss being a rookie at som...

Jul 08, 202453 min

Biden’s Next Move, Blaming the President’s Staff, and What It Was Like at the Debate With Tim Miller of 'The Bulwark'

With the holiday coming up, Bryan is treating you to the Final Edition of 'The Press Box' early. He welcomes MSNBC analyst and 'Bulwark' podcast contributor Tim Miller, and they discuss the following: The atmosphere in Atlanta during the debate (2:14) Reactions to some Biden family members blaming staffers for the performance (13:15) Reactions to the media telling Biden to remove himself from the race (19:09) This podcast was recorded before the announcement that Biden will sit down for a TV int...

Jul 02, 202441 min

Can the Media Shove Joe Biden Off the Ticket? Plus, A.I. Al Michaels and the NFL’s Big Loss in Court.

Hello media consumers! Bryan and David talk for the first time since the presidential debate. They discuss whether or not the media could push Joe Biden off the ticket and have an open Democratic convention to choose the candidate (1:45). Later, in the Notebook Dump, they get into Al Michaels agreeing to allow NBC to use his voice for AI for olympics coverage (40:50) Then they discuss the antitrust lawsuit and the NFL loss regarding the ‘Sunday Ticket’ (51:06). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke ...

Jul 01, 20241 hr 2 min

The Debate and the Democratic Panic With Semafor’s Benjy Sarlin. Plus, Jeff Greenfield Revisits Four Presidential Campaigns.

On the Final Edition, Bryan has a jam-packed show following the presidential debate. First, he welcomes Semafor's Benjy Sarlin for a recap. They discuss: The worst part of the night for Joe Biden (1:08) The timing of the debate (10:35) The history of incumbent presidents who've lost their first debates (15:31) Ben’s opinion on whether or not Biden will be the Democratic nominee on election day (26:06) What stood out about Donald Trump (31:04) Anderson Cooper’s interview with Vice President Kamal...

Jun 28, 20241 hr 47 min

Your Biden-Trump Debate Cheat Sheet, ESPN’s Opening Bid for Stephen A., and the Return of the New York Tabloids With Jason Gay

Hello, media consumers! Bryan welcomes Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay. He kicks off the show with five thoughts on the upcoming presidential debate (2:23). Then they discuss ESPN’s first bid to Stephen A. Smith and how it compares to Pat McAfee’s deal (20:21). Later, they talk about JJ Redick becoming the new Lakers head coach and leaving the podcast game (33:42). They close the show with the 48 New York tabloid headlines about Justin Timberlake’s arrest (54:07). Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Jason...

Jun 24, 20241 hr 7 min

Zaz and the NBA Rights, CNN’s Rocky Road to the Biden-Trump Debate, and the Washington Post's Embattled Publisher With Puck’s Dylan Byers

On the Final Edition, Bryan welcomes Dylan Byers and starts the show with a discussion about the word “defenestration" (1:20).Then they discuss the following: Dylan’s reaction to Charles Barkley’s "retirement” (2:42) What did David Zaslav and Warner Bros. Discovery do wrong during the NBA negotiations (9:18)? CNN producing the presidential debate (15:02) William Lewis, ’Washington Post’ publisher, gets embattled (30:16). Then, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Host: Bryan Curtis ...

Jun 20, 202458 min

Charles Barkley “Retires,” the Journalist and the Brat Pack, Agony at the U.S. Open, and CNN’s Big Debate

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing yet another Charles Barkley “retirement announcement” (0:42). Then, they close out this NBA season with talk of ESPN adding an active player to their pregame show (13:14) and JJ Redick potentially being the first podcaster turned NBA coach (15:50). They then discuss the upcoming presidential debate and why it will be a huge night for CNN (19:40). Later in the Notebook Dump, they get into the Brat Pack documentary and why it ...

Jun 18, 202454 min

Final (?) NBA Finals Takes, the Caitlin Clark Discourse, and Hollywood’s Junket Crisis With Katie Baker

On the Final Edition, Bryan welcomes Katie Baker, and they have a loaded show for you, with the following discussion topics: Brian Windhorst's Scarface-like message to Luka Doncic (1:45) Jayson Tatum’s reaction to Joe Mazzulla's quotes (5:57) Remembering Jerry West, a friend to sportswriters everywhere (14:03) The Olympics and Caitlin Clark discourse (24:03) The Hollywood junket crisis (37:14) Remembering Howard Fineman (52:14) Then, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Host: Bryan...

Jun 13, 20241 hr 5 min

How Is ESPN Covering the Finals? Plus, a Chaotic Week at The Washington Post and the Art of the Awkward Interview.

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show with sounds from a couple of awkward interviews (1:05). Then, they get into the following topics: Reactions to ESPN’s halftime show criticism (9:31) Doris Burke makes television history (18:07) JJ Redick’s upside as an announcer (20:42) Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss a chaotic week at The Washington Post (33:01) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Cur...

Jun 10, 202449 min

Bob Costas on Michael Jordan, "Roundball Rock," Bill Walton, and 12 Years of the NBA on NBC

Hello, media consumers! The NBA Finals begin this week, so Bryan brings you the podcast a day early, and he welcomes one of the most prolific voices in basketball history, Bob Costas. They take a look back at Bob’s time with NBC, discussing the following: The first year of the NBA on NBC and how Bob was wanted as a play-by-play announcer (2:02) The art of putting together the story of the game (6:52) Michael Jordan’s run during the beginning of the NBC era (16:22) The O.J. Simpson chase during t...

Jun 05, 20241 hr 2 min

NBA Finals Story Lines, More on the Trump Verdict, Charles Barkley’s Free Agency, and Colin Cowherd: Resistance Hero

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show with some notes on the coverage of the Trump verdict (1:09). Then, they get into the following topics: What kind of story are the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks (9:02) Charles Barkley’s free agency and what could happen with the talent from ‘Inside the NBA’ (18:19) Later in the Notebook Dump they discuss: Reactions to Colin Cowherd’s monologue about Trump’s conviction (32:43) The upcoming presidential debate and the advertisements that will be ...

Jun 03, 202451 min

The Strange End of the Trump Trial, Baseball’s Spot in the Sports-World Lineup, and Nerd Culture Deep Dives With Mallory Rubin

Hello, media consumers! Bryan welcomes the Ringer’s ultimate team player, Mallory Rubin. They kick off the show by discussing the live coverage of the Trump trial deliberations (4:47). Then they discuss baseball’s place in the media lineup as networks are willing to pay $2 billion for the NBA while ESPN is trying to get out of a $540 million deal with MLB (16:12). They close with a fun discussion about Mallory’s career, which includes a chat about the things she has done a nerd culture deep dive...

May 30, 20241 hr 10 min

Remembering Bill Walton, Saving the Washington Post, and the Latest on the NBA Rights Scramble

Hello, media consumers! We lost a basketball and media legend this week, the one and only Bill Walton. Bryan and David kick off the show by reading some of his quotes and discussing how he was ahead of his time (0:20). Then, they get into the current reported plan to save The Washington Post, which includes subscription tiers and additional content for superfans (10:43). Later, in the Notebook Dump, they talk about how the NBA playoff pregame shows have added a member to the panel (32:10), the M...

May 28, 20241 hr
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