Breaker Pod

CNBC’s Alex Sherman joins Lachlan Cartwright at Planet Hollywood for an insider’s look at the biggest stories shaking Hollywood, Wall Street, and the media world.From Disney’s CEO succession drama to David Ellison’s billion-dollar ambitions, Sherman explains how tech money, legacy brands, and political optics are colliding to reshape entertainment.
⏱ Chapters00:00 – Welcome to Planet Hollywood and The Breaker Pod01:00 – Disney’s Succession Crisis & the Search for Bob Iger’s Successor04:30 – Could Disney Move to a Co-CEO Model Like Netflix?06:45 – Has Iger Built a Company That Can’t Function Without Him?09:15 – The Problem with Disney Culture & Finding an Heir to the Throne11:00 – Bob Iger’s Legacy and Disney’s Underperformance vs Netflix12:00 – David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the Paramount Play14:30 – Could Big Tech Buy Hollywood? Apple, Amazon, and the Myth of the Billion-Dollar Bid17:10 – CNN’s Digital Struggle & Why News Is Hard to Monetize20:30 – Ellison’s Moves: UFC, Barry Weiss, and a Political Pivot at CBS News24:00 – Tech Money Rescuing Legacy Media: The New Normal?26:30 – The CNBC Spin-Off and What Versa(nt) Means for the Future of TV28:30 – Mark Lazarus Goes Shopping — What He’ll Buy Next30:00 – Predictions for Media M&A in 202631:00 – Final Thoughts and CNBC Sports Plug

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough joins Lachlan Cartwright on The Breaker Pod for a wide-ranging conversation about Trump’s second term, the collapse of legacy media, and why the news business has entered a new “Wild West” era. Scarborough opens up about keeping Morning Joe relevant after nearly two decades, how MSNBC is changing under its spinoff structure, and the future of free speech as Trump’s FCC targets journalists and entertainers. He also touches on the state of media, the survival of Morning Joe, and the political chaos of Trump’s second term. From the FCC’s threats to MSNBC to the rise of independent media startups, Scarborough breaks down what’s changing — and what’s next.
00:00 – Introduction: The Breaker Pod Returns for Season Two 00:36 – Joe Scarborough on Morning Joe’s Longevity 02:25 – MSNBC’s Evolution and Independence 04:42 – The “Wild West” of Modern Media 06:51 – The New Rules of Relevance 09:43 – MSNBC Live 25 and the Future of the Network 12:14 – The National Guard, Shutdown, and Trump’s Distraction Tactics 15:09 – The Healthcare Debate: Who’s Really Getting Hurt 17:55 – Why Democrats Keep Losing the Crime Argument 20:05 – Trans Athletes, Compassion, and Common Sense Politics 22:37 – Leaving the GOP but Remaining Conservative 25:11 – The Future of a Post-Trump Republican Party 27:34 – Trump, Epstein, and What We Still Don’t Know 30:45 – Attacks on Free Speech: Jimmy Kimmel, Colbert, and the FCC 33:12 – “The Man With Nothing to Lose”: Why Censorship Backfires 36:30 – How Morning Joe Chooses Guests (and Avoids Viral Moments) 39:55 – Conversations with Trump: What He Reveals Off Camera 42:28 – The Smartest People in Politics: Who Really Holds Power 46:12 – Barry Weiss, CBS, and the Next Phase of Media Disruption 49:10 – Congress vs. Media: Where Real Power Lives 51:38 – The Identity Crisis of the Democratic Party 54:00 – Closing Thoughts and Farewell👉 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.

We're back! Well, almost. After a hiatus spent summering with the tycoons at Sun Valley, and the Sulzbergers in upstate New York, Breaker is plotting a new-and-improved show coming to your feed this fall. We're lining up some incredible guests, and we'll be chin wagging at some of the best spots in Manhattan. Be sure to subscribe to this channel so you don't miss a single saucy scooplet!

Explore the intense conflict between Hunter Biden and CNN's Jake Tapper, uncovering exclusive insights into Tapper's controversial phone call during Beau Biden's final days. Plus, the latest developments at Politico, The Daily Beast, and updates on the Telegraph sale.
📖 Chapters:00:00 - Intro: Hunter Biden and Jake Tapper's Conflict01:12 - Jake Tapper's Book "Original Sin" Controversy02:03 - Hunter Biden's Confrontation with Jake Tapper05:04 - Death Knocks and Journalism Ethics09:07 - Jake Tapper's Relationship with the Bidens13:16 - Are Political Book Claims Reliable?16:05 - Media Conspiracy vs. Reality21:02 - Vanity Fair Editor Search Update24:14 - Politico's Carrie Budoff Brown Returns25:22 - The Telegraph's Complicated Sale28:05 - Daily Beast Podcast Shakeup30:00 - Outro: Subscribe to Breaker Media
#HunterBiden #JakeTapper #BreakerPodcast
👉 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.

Dive deep into the drama at Politico as we uncover exclusive details about internal turmoil, leadership shake-ups, and the future of Washington's most influential newsletter. Plus, scandals at Rolling Stone, the rise of "Scandal PR," and media giants reshaping the industry.
📖 Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: Turmoil at Politico 01:05 - Politico's Big Shake-Up 02:40 - Jack Blanchard's Playbook Struggles 03:57 - Politico's Leadership Crisis 05:58 - Politico's Talent Exodus Explained 07:34 - Axel Springer Questions Billion-Dollar Purchase 09:16 - Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway's "Pivot" Podcast Drama 11:10 - Comcast Cable Spinoff "Versant" Revealed 12:02 - Rolling Stone’s Controversial New CEO 16:08 - Jay Penske's Media Monopoly 17:08 - What Is "Scandal PR"? 18:50 - Celebrity Crisis PR Stories 22:31 - When Legal Threats Backfire 25:12 - Outro: Subscribe to Breaker Media 👉 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.
#Politico #MediaNews #Podcast

High stakes, high pressure, and a HR nightmare: This week, Breaker takes you inside the New York Times business desk, where tensions exploded over a controversial Harvard story involving some of America's most powerful figures, from Jared Kushner to Condoleezza Rice. Also, SpinCo’s Succession-esque rebrand. Plus, Keith McNally reveals gossip so juicy we can't even print it.
👉 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.

ABC News landed a huge exclusive—the first broadcast interview with Donald Trump marking his first 100 days in office. Surprisingly, they chose Terry Moran over big names like George Stephanopoulos and David Muir. In this episode of Breaker Pod, Lachlan and Ravi uncover why top anchors were excluded, the implications of media outlets settling Trump lawsuits, and the chilling effects on journalism. Also in this episode: Vanity Fair's eccentric global editors, MSNBC's messy spin-off future, and why living in Carrie Bradshaw's house is a New Yorker's nightmare.
00:00 - Intro: ABC's Surprise Trump Interview Choice01:50 - Why ABC Snubbed Stephanopoulos and Muir03:45 - CBS and ABC Cave to White House Pressure06:10 - The Dangerous Precedent for Journalism08:20 - Vanity Fair's Hunt for Global Editorial Director12:00 - Colorful Vanity Fair Editors & Eccentricity16:45 - Sewell Chan's Controversial USC Job After Columbia Firing21:00 - MSNBC's Uncertain Future after Comcast Spin-Off25:00 - Chaos on Perry Street: Sex and the City Fans Gone Wild29:30 - Carrie Bradshaw Tourism and Sarah Jessica Parker
👉 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.

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.

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.