The Press Box

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss the layoffs at The Washington Post this week (00:43), whether there's any reason for people to continue subscribing to the Post (12:07), and when does The Washington Post stop being The Washington Post of old (22:46). They continue by talking about what Jeff Bezos has to gain from continuing to own the newspaper (28:21), before diving into the NFL-ESPN deal (34:53). After that, Bryan and Joel analyze Don Lemon’s arrest (42:46) and contemplate whether it concerns them as journalists (44:56). The show rounds out with a look at Tina Brown’s appearance in the Epstein files (54:50), and what's happening in the James Talarico-influencer story (59:28). All that and more, here on The Press Box. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers. Bryan and David are here to discuss the news of mass layoffs at The Washington Post. They talk about losing your job in media in 2026 (1:47); how The Washington Post, specifically the sports section, got here; and how it could have been saved (9:30). They wrap up with a few other notes and thoughts from this major shake-up in the media landscape (34:18). Check out Bryan’s piece on the Washington Post layoffs here. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducers: Isaiah Blakely and Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! It’s Super Bowl media week, and Bryan is joined by Danny Heifetz and Danny Kelly of The Ringer Fantasy Football Show to discuss the biggest story lines heading into this Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl. They start by talking about the Seattle-related story lines (14:24) and follow that up with the story lines from New England’s side (32:42). They wrap up by discussing Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth’s first Super Bowl together (40:27), Bad Bunny’s halftime show (46:42), and advice for journalists in Santa Clara this week (51:40). Host: Bryan CurtisGuests: Danny Heifetz and Danny KellyProducers: Isaiah Blakely, Bruce Baldwin, and Sarah Reddy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Welcome to the January Issue. This month, Bryan and David come together to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Truman Capote’s ‘In Cold Blood’ being published by Random House. This episode is broken into four chapters, just like the non-fiction novel. Bryan and David start Chapter 1 by discussing Truman Capote himself, and how he was the podcast guest before there were podcast guests (03:20). They have a conversation about who is comparable to Capote in the modern age (09:09), why non-fiction with the style of fiction hits the reader the way it does (17:22), and why Capote wanted to combine these styles (21:04). In Chapter 2, the guys dive into the relationship between Capote and the killers of the Clutter family (26:41), Capote’s journalistic good luck (31:54), and his interviewing techniques (37:21). In Chapter 3, Bryan and David talk about what they made of ‘In Cold Blood’ after re-reading it (1:01:51), Truman Capote’s fabulism (1:05:48), and whether ‘In Cold Blood’ would have been as

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel are joined today for a bonus episode by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. The governor discusses his feelings on ICE and the shooting of Alex Pretti (02:31), whether Kristi Noem should resign as head of Homeland Security (05:43), and how Democrats can convince voters of their plan on immigration (08:49). The interview continues with a conversation about Jay-Z songs and lyrics (13:30), today’s political climate (21:19), and whether Gov. Moore is running for president in 2028 (23:49). The show ends with some talk about Gov. Moore’s college football career (30:09), and if it was time for John Harbaugh to go (34:05). All that and more, here on The Press Box. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Today on The Press Box, we have a special episode! Bryan and Joel are joined in studio by The Ringer’s own Van Lathan to create a 2028 Democratic Nominee depth chart. The guys go through a list of potential candidates for the 2028 Democratic nomination for President, discussing the outlook and viability of each person. The list spans all the way from frontrunners like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, to long shots like John Stewart. The show wraps up with Van ranking them in order of who he thinks will win the nomination as of today. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (2:26) Gavin Newsom (7:20) Pete Buttigieg (16:12) Josh Shapiro (17:42) Kamala Harris (20:48) Tim Walz (25:46) Stephen A. Smith (26:27) Mark Cuban (28:03) JB Pritzker (32:08) Rahm Emmanuel (33:53) Bernie Sanders (35:54) Joe Biden (37:00) Wes Moore (37:35) Corey Booker (39:21) Michele Obama (40:40) Ruben Gallego (44:43) Mark

Hello, media consumers! Bryan, David, and Joel come together on today’s episode for a three-man weave. The guys start by discussing the shooting of Alex Pretti (01:58), the way the Trump administration has tried to spin the story (10:04), and the way the Minnesota Star Tribune has covered these events (29:50). After that, Bryan, Joel, and David give their thoughts on the rumored shuttering of the Washington Post sports desk (33:33), alongside other rumored layoffs that could affect half of the company's newsroom. The show ends with a new edition of Our Disillusioned Listeners, where Bryan, David, and Joel answer questions from you, the listeners (51:58). Plus, David and Joel Guess the Strained-Pun Headline! Hosts: Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker, Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Social: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! On today’s episode, Bryan interviews Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona). Their conversation starts with his thoughts on Trump’s attempts to acquire Greenland (01:21), what he thinks is driving Trump’s foreign policy in his second term (03:18), and the purpose of the video he and other Congress members released about ignoring illegal military orders (07:19). Next, Bryan and Senator Kelly discuss how it feels to be 15 years removed from the horrific shooting of his wife, former House Representative Gabby Giffords (D-Arizona) (15:31), before diving into his thoughts on Trump’s actions in and against Venezuela (17:33). After that, they talk about his experiences as a fighter pilot in Iraq (27:16), whether Democrats were prepared for Trump 2.0 (33:23), and immigration (40:18). Lastly, Bryan asks Senator Kelly if he is running for President in 2028 (48:22), before ending with some classic Ringer pop culture questions (52:02). All that and more, here on The Press Box. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest:

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel come together in person to discuss Trump's Greenland crisis (02:10). The guys listen to President Trump’s comments on Greenland (04:09), Iceland (05:30), and NATO (07:47), examining why Trump is doing what he's doing and whether it is simpler than people thought (12:49). Next, Bryan and Joel discuss Bari Weiss’s attempts at damage control following the airing of the spiked '60 Minutes' CECOT piece and the New Yorker profile on her (19:06). After that, the guys dive into some football audio (29:43), including sounds from the national football championship postgame festivities (36:55). Finally, the show wraps up with a discussion about former sideline reporter Michele Tafoya’s newly announced U.S. Senate campaign (43:31). All that and more, here on The Press Box. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz, Conor Nevins, and Sarah Reddy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss everything coming out of CBS News, including The New Yorker’s profile on Bari Weiss, Trump’s remarks to Tony Dokoupil, and the spiked '60 Minutes' segment finally making it to air (00:27). Next, the guys listen to some football audio from the College Football Playoff national championship (08:48) before checking in to see how Tony Romo did in the announcer booth this weekend (22:26). After that, The Ringer’s own Lindsay Jones joins the show to discuss her experience covering the postgame happenings after the Denver Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills (24:40). Lastly, The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser joins the show to discuss year one of Trump 2.0 (48:25), whether popularity matters to Trump (57:42), and whether Trump has changed the way news is reported (1:13:20). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline! Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Guests: Susan Glasser and Lindsay Jones Producer: Bruce Baldwi

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss the FBI raid of a Washington Post reporter that resulted in her laptop and phone being seized (01:08), and how journalists need to protect their information under Trump 2.0. Then, Joel gets a chance to give his take on the Lynn Jones–Jacksonville Jaguars press conference saga, including what journalists need to do coming out of this situation (14:07). Next, Bryan and Joel dive into some football notes, including a conundrum surrounding Carson Beck (26:01), Michael Irvin’s new podcast with Netflix (29:59), and Tony Romo’s partial explanation for his poor performance this weekend (32:42). Lastly, the show ends with Joel interviewing CNN’s Abby Phillip about her book on Rev. Jesse Jackson (38:04), her transition from reporter to anchor (57:15), and the future of cable news (1:09:58). All that and more, here on the Press Box. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Guest: Abby Phillip Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss the controversy coming out of Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen’s press conference following their elimination from the playoffs (10:28). They acknowledge both sides of this conversation, examine the reactions from beat writers, and break down what role humanity plays in a postgame press conference (20:32). Next, the guys dive into audio from this past weekend’s NFL wild-card playoff games, including what Tony Romo did wrong (35:06) and what Tom Brady did right (45:29). The show wraps up with a look at the new publication raiding the L.A. Times (57:31), and a quick look at Trump’s interactions with the media lately (1:02:40). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline! Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel start the show with Part 2 of their analysis of Tony Dokoupil’s first week as the CBS Evening News host (01:02). They dive into the technical difficulties, the quality of the writing, and one thing Bryan and Joel think he did well this week. Next, the guys discuss the death of a Pittsburgh newspaper, and what this means for local news (25:49). After that, Bryan and Joel have a conversation about how to be a successful sports columnist in today’s media age (33:09). The show ends with an interview with ESPN’s Joe Buck, where he talks about his black eye (46:00), his father Jack Buck (49:36), announcing with Troy Aikman (1:00:04), and so much more, here on the Press Box. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Guest: Joe Buck Producer: Bruce Baldwin Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan is joined by Joel today to discuss the regime change in Venezuela (07:57), including CNN’s coverage of this news. Next, the guys examine the start of the Tony Dokoupil era at CBS News (26:50). They dive into who he is, why he was picked, and more. Then, Bryan and Joel take a look at CBS News’ newly released values (36:27) before giving their takes on the 60 Minutes story Bari Weiss spiked (45:03). Today’s show is rounded out by some football audio from this past weekend (49:45) and a conversation about NFL announcers’ side hustles (1:00:31).  Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and Joel Anderson Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline! Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Today's episode is a special holiday mailbag episode wherein Bryan and Joel answer your questions, as well as some they have for each other. The show starts out with a discussion about what media they enjoy in their free time (02:29) before they dive into questions like “What was the most overcovered story this year?” (12:06), “What publication would you bring back from the grave?” (24:16), and “What are your favorite book finds of the last five years?” (40:45). All that and more, here on The Press Box. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Today’s episode is a special year-end edition of The Press Box where Bryan is joined not only by David but by Joel as well! Bryan, David, and Joel come together to discuss the 12 people who shaped the media in 2025, in no particular order. The show starts out with Joel and David meeting each other for the first time, followed immediately by a dive into the first person on their list (02:47). The guys execute a three-man weave, discussing and sharing their thoughts on the 12 people they think shaped the media in 2025, including Donald Trump, Pablo Torre, and Bari Weiss. The show ends with Bryan, David, and Joel giving some 2026 predictions (1:41:58). All that and more, here on The Press Box. No. 1 - (02:47) No. 2 - (11:02) No. 3 - (18:10) No. 4 - (24:58) No. 5 - (38:22) No. 6 - (52:57) No. 7 - (1:03:21) No. 8 - (1:11:49) No. 9 - (1:23:05) No. 10 - (1:27:26) No. 11 - (1:33:53) No. 12 - (1:36:00) Hosts: Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker, and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel come together today to celebrate Jolabokaflod! They open their Jolabokaflod gifts for each other before discussing President Donald Trump’s intense TV speech from last night (09:01). Next, Joel gets a chance to share his thoughts on Vanity Fair’s big new feature on Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles (16:11). Next, the guys dive into the Sherrone Moore–Michigan saga and give their thoughts on Adam Schefter's take on the situation (29:15). Following that, Bryan and Joel examine how a video made by Senator Mark Kelly ricocheted from Stephen Miller’s X account to the Pentagon (38:16). The show ends with the guys' reactions to the Oscars' move to YouTube (46:04). Plus, a few more Only-in-Podcasting clichés on our way out the door for the holidays. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David come together today to celebrate Jolabokaflod! The show opens with David opening his gifts from Bryan before they dive into their thoughts on Vanity Fair’s big new feature on Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles (13:03). Next, the guys listen to some of this past weekend's football audio, with a touch of some wrestling audio at the end (23:33). After that, Bryan and David examine the way the media reported on the homicide of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, followed by Trump’s response to Reiner's death (32:44). The show ends with today’s Notebook Dump, where they comb through mullets in journalism (47:51). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline! Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel start the show by discussing the future of CNN, including President Trump’s possible involvement in its sale, the assurances David Ellison reportedly made to Trump if he bought it, and what an Ellison-owned CNN would look like (01:10). Next, the guys talk about the Laura Rutledge—Justin Herbert post-game situation, and Bryan explains how he would fix the post-game interview (13:25). Then, Bryan and Joel dissect Part 5 of Ryan Lizza’s Telos-Novela (29:02), before giving their takes on the media outrage towards the College Football Playoff bracket (39:46). Lastly, the show ends with Bryan and Joel diving into their thoughts on the new Diddy documentary, 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning.' (50:23) Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David start the show by discussing Olivia Nuzzi and Vanity Fair parting ways as her contract ends, what this means for Ryan Lizza’s Substack, and whether Nuzzi will ever get another mainstream media job. Next, the guys dive into the Warner Brothers–Netflix–Paramount situation by breaking down the possible outcomes (15:28), before asking whether CNN would be better off on its own or under the Paramount umbrella (21:02). After that, Bryan and David analyze this year’s College Football Playoff bracket and the role that ESPN’s weekly ‘College Football Rankings Show’ now plays in the sport itself (23:53). Lastly, the show ends with talk of the White House’s newly launched webpage, which shames news outlets and reporters that publish stories it disagrees with (39:54). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, Only in Podcast Journalism, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices