The Breaker Podcast

Sewell Chan's Downfall: Toxic Leadership & Newsroom Secrets

Lachlan and Ravi unpack the explosive firing of Sewell Chan, editor-in-chief at the Columbia Journalism Review. Ravi, who worked under Chan, shares a candid, firsthand account of the workplace tensions, bullying allegations, and journalistic fallout. The conversation dives deep into newsroom culture, leadership pitfalls, and the changing standards of editorial behavior. Plus, get insights into Bill Owens stepping down from 60 Minutes amid Trump lawsuits and internal turmoil at CBS, revealing the pressures faced by modern journalism's leaders. 00:00 Intro: Sewell Chan Fired from CJR
01:00 Breaker's Big Week and a Special Thank You to A24 02:00 The Breaking News: Ravi's Firsthand Experience at CJR 05:00 Inside Chan's Alleged Toxic Leadership 07:00 Pattern of Abuse Across Newsrooms 11:00 Why Newsrooms Can't Tolerate Bullies Anymore 14:00 Protecting Sources and Handling Sensitive Audio 17:00 Healthy vs. Toxic Leadership Styles 19:00 Was Chan Set Up to Fail? 23:00 CBS Shakeup: Bill Owens Leaves 60 Minutes 26:00 Trump's Lawsuits and Journalistic Independence 30:00 Hope for Journalism and Breaker's Vision 31:00 Dr. Sanjay Gupta's Mind-Blowing Speaking Fee 35:00 Wrap-Up & Subscriber Shout-Out
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe
🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.
💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Inside Puck and LinkedIn Spies

How do journalists get scoops, really? From casual barista chatter to LinkedIn deep-dives, this episode of Breaker unpacks how reporters operate in a world of pressure, power, and platform politics.
We break down the viral story of the fake news that Walmart was buying TikTok, and how ABC News published it without confirmation — a major journalism ethics fail.
You’ll hear about:- The Walmart TikTok deal that never was- Press leaks, story theft, and media gossip inside top outlets- Why journalists treat LinkedIn like a spy tool- A legendary British journalism phrase: “Why is this bastard lying to me?”- How scoop culture fuels high-stakes competition across the newsroom- And why yes — baristas might be the most underrated sources in media
If you follow Puck, The Information, Semafor, or you live on media Twitter, this episode is for you.
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes exploring:- Scoop culture and newsroom drama- Journalism, subscription churn, and the rise of paywalls- The intersection of media strategy, social media, and reporting tactics- How fake news spreads, and what separates good reporting from chaos
#Journalism #MediaPodcast #NewsroomDrama #Scoops #FakeNews #MediaTwitter #TikTokBan #LinkedInTips #ReporterLife #MediaInsiders #PuckMedia
00:00 - Opening Banter & The Barista Theory  01:00 - British Food Slander & Book Covers  03:00 - Chasing Down Reviewers (And Getting Petty)  04:30 - Journalism Hustle: Tracking Sources & Tactics  06:30 - LinkedIn Is a Weapon (for Reporters)  08:00 - The Fake Walmart Scoop: ABC’s Big Miss  12:00 - “Why Is This Bastard Lying to Me?” (Press Mindset)  15:00 - Frenzied TikTok Buyout Rumors & Speculation  18:30 - What Happens When a Scoop Gets Stolen  22:00 - Media Ethics, Pressure, and the Cost of Being First  25:00 - Wrap-Up: Why Journalism Still (Kind of) Works  
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe
🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.
💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

MEDIA MELTDOWN: Vanity Fair Chaos, Pink Paper Obsession & the $500K Article Era

This week on Breaker, Lachlan Cartwright and Ravi Somaiya expose the strange and shifting dynamics of legacy media — from the chaotic search for a new editor at Vanity Fair, to journalists stalking sources for book deals, to the absurdity of The Financial Times being both a calming influence and a fashion statement. Plus: 💥 What it really costs to write three stories for half a million dollars 💥 Why the next great media mogul might be on YouTube, not in Condé 💥 How a chef who “doesn’t give a flying f***” became a hero 💥 And the truly unlikely friendship between Tom Hardy and the Wu-Tang Clan 🔥 Topics Covered: The Vanity Fair editor search no one wants to win How Anna Wintour still runs the show Ravi’s obsession with the pink pages of the FT Mary Trump, book deals, and rogue journalists Private members clubs and the death of downtown cool Why outdoor dining in NYC is a bureaucratic nightmare 🎧 Subscribe for weekly scoops, media gossip, Lower Manhattan glamor, and very unfiltered commentary: 👉 / @breakermedianyc #BreakerPodcast #VanityFair #FinancialTimes #TomHardy #WuTangClan #AnnaWintour #MediaNews #Gossip #Journalism #Substack #BookDeals #CondéNast #PinkPaper #NewYorkCity

PIPs, Power Plays & The Grim Reaper: Inside the WSJ's Turmoil

In this episode of Breaker, Lachlan Cartwright and Ravi Somaiya peel back the curtain on a dramatic shake-up inside The Wall Street Journal under editor Emma Tucker. From soaring PIP rates and internal lawsuits to newsroom paranoia and “The Grim Reaper,” it’s corporate chaos with a journalistic twist.
We also reveal the unlikely financial backer behind Mark Halperin’s comeback, explore Carlos Watson’s last-minute sentence commutation, and dive into the curious case of PR fixer Juda Engelmayer—now repping Harvey Weinstein.
Plus:– Why Mar-a-Lago is blasting “YMCA” on repeat– The Daily Mail’s mysterious “Irish Spy”– New York’s outdoor dining crackdown– A juicy scoop involving the Royal Family and a self-nominated award

Inside Scandal PR and NYC Members Only Clubs with Guest Emily Sundberg

In Episode 6 of Breaker, we dive deep into the secretive world of "Scandal PR," uncovering how public relations operatives manage and manipulate celebrity controversies and high-stakes business dramas. Featuring special guest Emily Sundberg, creator of the popular Substack newsletter "Feed Me," this episode explores how modern scandals unfold, the blurred lines between PR and journalism, and the evolving dynamics of online personas. Discover surprising insights into the ongoing Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuit, how a former CIA operative allegedly controls narratives online, and why private members clubs are becoming New York City's latest hotspots for powerful figures. Stay tuned as Emily reveals her secrets to Substack success, why controlling the narrative is increasingly challenging in today's media landscape, and what happens behind closed doors at exclusive clubs like Casa Cipriani. Hit subscribe and join Breaker as we uncover the hidden sides of media, celebrity, and culture, and more! Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.

Murdoch and Trump, Fox News mole, Emma Tucker, with Alex Isenstadt

This week’s podcast comes to you from Lure, in Soho, with special guest Alex Isenstadt. We talk about Alex’s new book Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power, the tortured relationship between Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch, how Fox News deals with moles, why Rupert was berating Wall Street Journal editor Emma Tucker, plus Michael Bloomberg’s comfort movie (and ours) and the turmoil at Columbia University.
 
Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us.
 
And if you have found this via the alleyways of the web, you can subscribe at Breakermedia.com/subscribe. Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.

NYC Mayoral intrigue, tigers, Murdoch, lawyers, NY Post, 0.5x

his week we come to you from Brunetti, a fabulous pizza place with a fabulous oven in the West Village, to talk about an enormous quantity of intrigue from the mayoral race, illustrious club owners with exotic pasts, why it's scary to report on libel lawyers, why you should wear a pink hat to a press conference, and finally why you should watch our podcast at half speed ideally. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions. We’re just our first names at breakermedia.com. Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us. And if you have found this via the alleyways of the web, you can subscribe at Breakermedia.com/subscribe.Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week. that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.

Lively and Baldoni, DC v NY, Zero Bond and more

This week we come to you from Local, on Sullivan Street, to talk about the weird world of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, why New Yorkers find DC strange, what unlikely friendships reveal about the world in 2025 and the unfortunate fact that people who take themselves seriously are twice as fun to make jokes about. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions. We’re just our first names at breakermedia.com. Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us.
Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week.
The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.

Telegraph sale, Zero Blondes, Newsroom Biters

This week we come to you from Cowgirl, in the West Village, to talk about the man trying to buy Britain's Telegraph newspapers, the man allegedly stopping the sale of New York's Zero Bond, the wonder of the city's ambient music, and newsroom biters.
Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird, in your inbox every week. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.
Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions. We’re just our first names at breakermedia.com. Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us.
And if you have found this via the alleyways of the web, you can subscribe here. 

Private clubs, the joy of pettiness, politics and family.

This week we come to you from outside Fanelli Cafe in Soho (iPhone feels-like temperature: minus eight) to talk about private members’ clubs, the absolute joy of human pettiness, the ways politics have riven families, great names for Australian spear fishermen, AI fears as a form of religion and much more. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise or (best of all) tips and questions. We’re just our first names at breakermedia.com. Also thank you! We know you have busy lives and we’re grateful for any time you choose to spend with us.
Breaker covers everything that comes through Manhattan - money, scandal, media, entertainment, technology, art, fashion, the deeply weird. The podcast is our weekly venue for discussing and expanding on the stories we’ve broken in the last week. Expect exclusive insights, little scoops, meanderings, amazing guests, and a different iconic lower Manhattan venue every week.