Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino

The blame game is underway in MAGA Media after Republicans were wiped out in shocking midterm losses. Donald Trump is blaming Fox News, while Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers are pointing the finger back at Trump. And as the civil war rages, will Fox News be forced to take a side in a fracturing GOP?

Then, Democrats are preparing to target Trump’s billionaire allies who received billions in government contracts or bent the knee for regulatory approval. We discuss what that could mean for Elon Musk, David Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and more.

Finally, did the media underestimate the blue tsunami? We get into why newsrooms were so cautious in the lead up to the elections.

0:00 Intro

1:16 MAGA Infighting After Midterms Blowout

24:11 Are Billionaires in Trouble after Midterms?

38:42 Did the Press Underplay the Blue Wave?
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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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