Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino

Status
  • 4.6 (61)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Power Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino break down their exclusive reporting and deliver sharp, uncompromising analysis on how information moves and shapes society. From the Fourth Estate to Silicon Valley to Hollywood, they scrutinize the powerful institutions driving narratives, shaping perception, and steering the culture. New episodes drop every Friday.

  1. 4D AGO

    Vanity Fair Exposes White House, Fox Hosts Turn On Trump, and Bari’s Town Hall Trouble

    On this week’s Power Lines: A Vanity Fair bombshell revealed chief of staff Susie Wiles privately torching Donald Trump and his cabinet alongside unflattering photos of the White House staff. Oliver and Jon unpack why Wiles went on the record and what it actually shows about Trump’s team. Then, Fox News and the MAGA Media ecosystem openly break with Trump after his shocking post blaming the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife on “TDS.” Plus, why Warner Bros. is rejecting Paramount again, Ted Cruz confronts Brendan Carr, and Bari Weiss’ much-hyped town hall with Erika Kirk falls flat. 00:00 Intro 00:51 Vanity Fair's White House Profile 09:32 The Controversial Photo Spread 14:56 Trump Faces Backlash Over Rob Reiner Comments 24:21 Bari Weiss' Erika Kirk Town Hall Ratings Disaster 31:47 Warner Brothers Discovery Takeover Battle 36:15 Ted Cruz's Comments on FCC Head Brendan Carr Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [STATUS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min

  2. DEC 12

    Trump Demands CNN Be Sold, Tucker Trashes CBS Chief Bari Weiss, & Politico's Trump Softball

    Donald Trump brazenly inserts himself into the looming Warner Bros. Discovery sale, demanding that CNN be sold and calling the global news network's coverage "poison" and a "disgrace." Jon and Oliver discuss the inappropriate weaponization of government and the disturbing silence from David Ellison and Paramount, who are now reportedly tapping into Saudi and Qatari funding to bolster their bid. Then, the focus shifts to CBS News: Bari Weiss' controversial primetime interview with Erika Kirk is dissected, highlighting the "Fox News-ification" of CBS. This follows an outrageous attack from Tucker Carlson, who questioned Weiss's appointment as the network's chief, dismissing her as someone who "shouldn't be more than a secretary." Plus: Politico's "Softball" Interview: The controversy around Dasha Burns' interview with Donald Trump, where she failed to challenge his repeated claims that the election was "rigged." Tim Pool's Financial Meltdown: Far-right podcaster Tim Pool suggests his show is on the brink after his alleged Russian funding seems to have dried up. Golden Globe Snubs: Ben Shapiro's massive, expensive campaign for "Best Podcast" ends in total defeat as he is shut out of the nominations. 00:00 Intro 00:58 Trump's Involvement in Warner Bros. Discovery Sale 05:01 Business Leaders Bowing to Trump 11:58 Paramount's Bid and Middle Eastern Funds 13:01 Democrats' Concerns and Potential Investigations 14:30 Bidding War and Regulatory Hurdles 17:44 Bari Weiss Interviews Erica Kirk 26:55 Tucker Carlson Criticizes Bari Weiss 31:45 Politico's Softball Interview with Trump 37:36 Tim Poole's Podcast Struggles 41:24 Golden Globe Nominations and Snubs Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min

  3. DEC 5

    Nuzzi Breaks Silence, MAGA Rallies Behind Hegseth & Sabrina Carpenter Slams the White House

    On today’s Power Lines, Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino break down Olivia Nuzzi’s first public comments since her scandal—an emotional, but evasive interview with Tim Miller. What’s the real plan for her future at Vanity Fair? Then, a closer look at how MAGA Media is defending Pete Hegseth, whose boat bombings are being widely described as potential war crimes. First came a surreal softball interview with Katie Miller, then a grotesque, unhinged response from whatever remains of Megyn Kelly’s public persona. Plus: Sabrina Carpenter calls out the White House for using her music in a deportation video David Ellison reportedly taps Saudi money to bolster his bid for Warner Bros. Discovery Dan Bongino melts down on X (again) 00:00 Intro 04:03 Olivia Nuzzi's Controversial Memoir 21:35 A Pentagon "Press Briefing" 28:53 Snowflake Pete and War Crimes Allegations 34:19 Megyn Kelly's Disturbing Comments 43:47 Ellison Gets Help from Saudi Arabia for WBD Bid? 47:09 Sabrina Carpenter's ICE Rebuke 49:49 Dan Bonino's Social Media Meltdown 54:31 Outro Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, who powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min

  4. NOV 28

    Fox News Hosts Exposed (Again); Bari Weiss’ Both-Sides Pitch; Vanity Fair’s Olivia Nuzzi Disaster

    This week on Power Lines: Both Sides Bari: Bari Weiss outlined her groundbreaking vision to "redraw the lines" of acceptable debate by elevating voices like Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch, while sidelining “extremists" like Tucker Carlson and Hasan Piker. Oliver and Jon criticize this "both-sides-ism" approach—and point out that in the Trump-era, iit often requires platforming individuals willing to distort facts. They also address the bizarre reaction piece on the topic, from Mediaite, aimed at Oliver. Fox News Hosts Exposed: New documents from the Smartmatic lawsuit reveal explosive private communications from top Fox News figures, many of whom chose ratings over facts due to fear of losing ground to Newsmax and OAN during the 2020 election. Olivia Nuzzi's Scandal Heats Up Vanity Fair: The fallout continues for Vanity Fair's West Coast Editor, Olivia Nuzzi. The magazine's choice to publish a nude portrait of her was an odd one. Now Global Editorial Director Mark Guiducci is under pressure as Vanity Fair examines its relationship with Nuzzi moving forward. Trump Forces “Rush Hour 4”: Donald Trump personally intervened to push Paramount's David Ellison into producing a new “Rush Hour” film, likely due to ties with disgraced director Brett Ratner. Plus, the strange irony of Trump propping up the career of a star (Jackie Chan) who has publicly pledged allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party. Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. We’ll see you next week. Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, who powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [STATUS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 4m

  5. NOV 21

    Olivia Nuzzi Scandal Rocks Vanity Fair, Trump’s Disturbing MBS Defense, and Fox News’ Epstein Spin

    Former star political reporter Olivia Nuzzi is back in the spotlight after her ex-fiancé, Ryan Lizza, alleged that she had a second romantic relationship with a subject she was reporting on. Oliver and Jon are joined by Status’ own Natalie Korach to break down the ethical fallout and how her new employer Condé Nast is responding. Then: Donald Trump attacks an ABC News reporter while defending his “friend,” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during an Oval Office appearance. Saudi money and influence seem to be everywhere right now, evidenced by the long list of attendees at the MBS state dinner. Among them was David Ellison, who has spoken to Middle Eastern funds as he makes a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Oliver and Jon dig into the speculation and outline the grim reality facing CNN, no matter who ultimately ends up in charge of WBD. Plus: Ben Shapiro’s Golden Globes hypocrisy, and Fox News’ embarrassing attempt to spin the Epstein files into a non-story—or at least a story that somehow has nothing to do with Donald Trump. We’ll see you next week. Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, who powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [STATUS] at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 7m

  6. NOV 14

    Epstein Emails Expose Fox News Bias; Trump Threatens BBC; ‘South Park’ Airs White House Sex Scene

    This week on Power Lines: Newly uncovered Epstein emails reveal troubling ties between Jeffrey Epstein, Michael Wolff, and Donald Trump. Why was Wolff giving Epstein so much advice? Trump threatens to sue the BBC over an edit in a months-old documentary. Why now? Was it misleading—or just convenient timing? Plus: South Park’s unhinged Trump-Vance sex scene, Sydney Sweeney’s lackluster response to her “Jeans/Genes” ad, and Tucker Carlson goes full-Alex Jones with chemtrail conspiracy theories. We’ll see you next week. 00:00 Intro 01:05 Epstein Emails and Fox News' Reaction 09:55 Michael Wolff's Messages with Epstein 18:17 BBC's Leadership Crisis 31:23 South Park Went There 36:51 Tucker Carlson's Chemtrails Conspiracy 44:16 Sydney Sweeney's Box Office Bomb 46:03 Sweeney's Lackluster Jeans Ad Response Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min

  7. NOV 7

    Zohran’s Big Win, the Tucker–Shapiro Feud, and Jon Stewart’s Return

    On this week’s Power Lines Podcast: Zohran Mamdani wins New York’s mayoral race: Oliver and Jon break down the reactions, from the predictable outrage on Fox News to the surprising pushback from CNN, and what his rise means for the Democratic establishment as right-wing media gears up to weaponize his every move. The MAGA civil war heats up: Ben Shapiro publicly torches Tucker Carlson for platforming white nationalist Nick Fuentes and Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts got caught in the crossfire, after his awkward defense of Tucker and the claim he “didn’t know” who Fuentes was. Plus: Jon Stewart returns to Comedy Central, Marjorie Taylor Greene might be (sort of) maturing, and Netflix doubles down on podcasting. We’ll see you next week. Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr

  8. OCT 31

    Tucker Embraces White Supremacist, MSNBC Hosts Rip Comcast, and Mamdani’s Media Strategy

    On this week’s Power Lines Podcast: Tucker Carlson has suddenly ended his feud and embraced Holocaust-denying white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Why is he leaning further into extremist voices? Oliver and Jon break down the fallout from Comcast helping to fund the White House ballroom — and what that says about media power and influence. Plus: what the Paramount layoffs reveal about Ellison’s plans for news personalities, CNN head Mark Thompson dodging Bari Weiss questions, Zohran winning over Andrew Schulz, and Elon Musk’s “Grokipedia” — a fact-twisting clone of Wikipedia built in bad faith and fueled by an alternate reality. Have a Happy Halloween! We’ll see you next week. 00:00 Intro 03:15 Tucker Carlson Hosts Nick Fuentes 08:38 Mainstream Media's Challenge with Extremism 19:57 Comcast's Controversial Donation to Trump 29:46 Paramount Layoffs and CBS News Cuts 32:54 Oracle's AI Investments and Media Cuts 34:41 CBS News Restructuring and Political Shifts 37:44 CNN's New Streaming Service and Bari Weiss 46:29 New York Mayor's Race Media Strategy 56:10 Elon Musk's Wikipedia Alternative, Grokipedia Thanks to our sponsor, beehiiv, who powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [STATUS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 5m
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4.6
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61 Ratings

About

Power Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino break down their exclusive reporting and deliver sharp, uncompromising analysis on how information moves and shapes society. From the Fourth Estate to Silicon Valley to Hollywood, they scrutinize the powerful institutions driving narratives, shaping perception, and steering the culture. New episodes drop every Friday.

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