Podcast
Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino
Hosted by Status · EN
Power Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino break down their reporting and deliver analysis on how information moves and shapes society. From the media and Silicon Valley to Hollywood, they examine the institutions driving narratives, shaping perception, and influencing culture. New episodes drop every Friday.
Watch the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@status
Subscribe to Status, the newsletter behind Power Lines: https://www.status.news/
Follow Power Lines:
https://www.instagram.com/get_status/?hl=en
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:5buikzg4ppbye7ib7chprio6
https://www.tiktok.com/@status.news
33episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Inside Bari’s “60 Minutes” Bloodbath, CNN Stars Sound Ellison Alarm, and Dokoupil’s Ratings Trick
5d ago00:49:55Tap to summarizePower Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino deliver sharp media industry analysis every Friday. On today’s episode: Bari Weiss and David Ellison have dismantled “60 Minutes.” On the heels of the storied franchise winning two Emmys, and CBS News being called out publicly by the winner of the Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarship, Weiss leveled the staff, dismissing Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, and Tanya Simon, among others. Simon will be replaced by technology journalist Nick Bilton who, like Weiss, has no experience running a television franchise. Oliver and Jon wade through the disheartening news and point to the obvious reason why this happened. Also, journalists, academics, and documentarians signed a letter pushing back on Paramount’s acquisition of CNN. And finally, was Tony Dokoupil actually able to eclipse the four million viewer mark?! CBS says yes, but we’ll explain why that claim isn’t quite accurate. 0:00 Intro 1:36 Inside Bari Weiss’ 60 Minutes Shakeup 28:52 The Press Mobilizes Against Ellison 34:13 Investigating CBS’ Claims on Latest Ratings Data 40:35 Open Lines: Oliver and Jon Answer Your Questions 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
Transcribe →Bari on the Brink? Colbert's CBS Cancellation, Bezos' Embarrassing Interview, The Daily Wire Meltdown
2w ago00:52:58Tap to summarizePower Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino deliver sharp media industry analysis every Friday. On today’s episode: Questions are swirling about Bari Weiss’ future atop CBS News after a report said Paramount has had conversations about narrowing her role—we break down David Ellison’s carefully worded denial and whether Weiss is in any real trouble. Plus, why the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” is about far more than budget concerns, Jeff Bezos’ embarrassing interview defending Donald Trump and The Washington Post layoffs, and the turmoil consuming Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire. Read these stories and more at Status: https://www.status.news/ 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 0:00 Intro 1:16 Is Bari Weiss Being Pushed Out at CBS News? 16:56 The End of The Late Show 22:16 Bezos Says Trump Is "Calmer," Defends WaPo Cuts 31:27 Daily Wire in Turmoil as Ben Shapiro Loses Allies 44:06 Open Lines: Oliver and Jon Answer Your Questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Dokoupil's Taiwan Trouble, Weiss Brawls With Stahl, Kristof Blowback, & POLITICO Owner’s Trump Play
3w ago00:56:13Tap to summarizePower Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino deliver sharp media industry analysis every Friday. On this week’s episode: CBS News not only failed to secure a visa for Tony Dokoupil to broadcast from Beijing during Donald Trump’s China trip, but the network was barred by its hotel from broadcasting from its grounds, Status has learned. The embarrassing fiasco adds to a slew of negative headlines the Bari Weiss-led network has faced this week. We discuss how Weiss undermined “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl by handing Major Garrett the Benjamin Netanyahu interview, as Status also first reported. Plus, The New York Times is grappling with blowback after Nicholas Kristof’s shocking opinion piece alleging Israel has systematically raped Palestinian prisoners. And we break down another Status exclusive report—this one about how POLITICO owner Mathias Döpfner has been quietly courting Trump, with secret dinner invites in Washington and a personal trip to the Middle East. 0:00 Intro 1:23 CBS News Fails to Secure Visa for Dokoupil 6:47 Latest ‘CBS Evening News’ Ratings Data 8:53 Inside ‘60 Minutes’ Staff Fallout after Netanyahu Interview 19:16 Israel Threatens The New York Times Over Kristof Piece 35:14 POLITICO Owner Quietly Courts Trump 44:19 Open Lines: Oliver and Jon Answer Your Questions Thank you 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 Interested in what we’re discussing? Read more from Status: https://www.status.news/p/tony-dokoupil-cbs-evening-news-taiwan-bari-weiss https://www.status.news/p/60-minutes-netanyahu-bari-weiss-major-garrett https://www.status.news/p/nicholas-kristof-israel-new-york-times https://www.status.news/p/mathias-dopfner-donald-trump-meeting-axel-springer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →CNN Star’s Ellison Alarm, Bari Weiss' Never-Ending Ratings Spiral, The Next Murdoch Media Empire
4w ago00:55:51Tap to summarizePower Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino deliver sharp media industry analysis every Friday. On today’s episode: Christiane Amanpour has become the first CNN star to say the quiet part out loud about David Ellison's upcoming takeover. Bari Weiss is in ratings hell—and under fire from a “60 Minutes” correspondent. Meanwhile, some of Substack’s biggest publishers are eyeing the exits, while James Murdoch moves closer to building a media empire of his own with a deal for Vox’s podcast network and New York Magazine. Read all of these stories and more at Status: https://www.status.news 0:00 Intro 1:43 Christiane Amanpour Speaks Out on CNN's Ellison Takeover 5:55 Bari Weiss' Ratings Spiral, 60 Minutes Correspondent Pushes Back 18:12 James Murdoch Moves on Vox Podcasts and New York Magazine 31:15 Substack's Biggest Publishers Eye the Exits 49:45 Open Lines: Oliver and Jon Answer Your Questions Thank you 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
Transcribe →Bari Weiss’ CBS News ‘Train Wreck;’ Disney Boss Faces Trump Test; Don Jr. the Next ‘Apprentice’?
May 100:51:45Tap to summarizePower Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino deliver sharp media industry analysis every Friday. On today’s episode: CBS News is facing mounting turmoil as new ratings data shows “CBS Evening News” and “CBS Mornings” hitting historic lows under Bari Weiss’ leadership, Meanwhile, Weiss has ousted the network’s foreign editor after comparing the network's coverage to a terrorist group. Then, Donald Trump is demanding ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel, but Disney is finding unlikely support from MAGA. Plus, Amazon is discussing a reboot of “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump Jr. as host—what Jeff Bezos is really trying to accomplish. 0:00 Intro 1:47 CBS News Hits Historic Low Ratings Under Bari Weiss 12:17 Weiss Ousts Foreign Editor Over Terror Group Comparison 21:20 Trump Demands ABC Fire Jimmy Kimmel, MAGA Sides With Disney 33:19 Amazon Talks "The Apprentice" Reboot With Don Jr. 42:09 Open Lines: Oliver and Jon Answer Your Questions 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
Transcribe →Scott MacFarlane Gets Candid, Tucker Carlson Apologizes, and Kash Patel Lashes Out
Apr 2400:48:44Tap to summarizeOn this week’s Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino: Former CBS News correspondent, and current chief Washington correspondent for MeidasTouch, Scott MacFarlane joined the show! We talked about the tension surrounding this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Scott’s departure from CBS News, the state of legacy media, and his transition into independent journalism. Also, Oliver and Jon discuss Tucker Carlson saying he is “tormented” over his 2024 support of Donald Trump, and Kash Patel targeting reporters. No Open Lines this week but, please, call us on our new voicemail line! (646) 926-0325 We want to hear from you and feature your questions on the show. 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 0:00 Intro 1:51 Scott MacFarlane on the White House Correspondent's Dinner and Leaving CBS News 31:09 Tucker Carlson ‘Tormented’ By Past Support for Trump 38:35 Kash Patel Uses FBI to Target Reporters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →David Ellison's ‘Intimate’ Trump Dinner, Murdoch Wins in Court, and Our Battle With Actual Fake News
Apr 1700:48:12Tap to summarizeOn this week’s Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino: David Ellison is set to host an "intimate" dinner “honoring the Trump White House,” according to an invite that we got our hands on. The event is ostensibly a “celebration of the First Amendment” and will include CBS White House correspondents. Of course, inviting the very people who assail the First Amendment to an event celebrating it makes little sense. Oliver and Jon break down the details and explain what is really going on. Next, Oliver and Jon explain how they were victims of actual “fake news” this week, when Mediaite published a false story about Status, complete with a fabricated quote attributed to Jon. We’ll take you through what happened. And finally, Trump suffers a huge loss in court at the hands of Rupert Murdoch. Plus, we announce our new voicemail line during another edition of Open Lines. Give us a call at (646) 926-0325. Leave a message, ask a question, or just scream into the phone for a couple of minutes. We’d love to feature you on the show! Thank you 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 0:00 Intro 1:18 Inside David Ellison’s Private Dinner Honoring the Trump White House 15:29 We Were Victims of Actual Fake News 34:05 Murdoch Beats Trump in Court 39:39 Open Lines: Oliver and Jon Answer your Questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Press Embraces Its Enemies; Bari’s ‘60 Minutes’ Idea; MAGA Turns on Trump
Apr 1000:45:50Tap to summarizeWith the White House Correspondents’ Dinner approaching, news organizations are confronting an uncomfortable question: Do they welcome members of an administration that demonizes the press at every turn into their weekend events—or do they draw a line? Over at CBS News, Bari Weiss has staffers at “60 Minutes” nervous about how she will overhaul the show. We've learned exclusive new details about what Weiss is privately floating during meetings about the newsmagazine’s future. Plus, MAGA Media has had it with Donald Trump. Top figures like Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones, and Megyn Kelly are unloading on the president over the Iran War—with some even calling for him to be removed from office via the 25th Amendment. Oliver and Jon break it all down—and answer viewer questions during Open Lines at the end of the episode. 0:00 Intro 1:32 Trump Attending the White House Correspondent’s Dinner 15:40 60 Minutes Staffers Brace for Bari Weiss Shake-Up 25:29 MAGA Media Eviscerates Trump 36:01 Open Lines: Oliver and Jon Answer Listener Questions 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
Transcribe →White House Melts Down Over Photo, Bari Weiss Eyes ‘60 Minutes’ Overhaul, MS NOW-NBC Tensions Spike
Apr 300:42:57Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of Power Lines… New reporting from Status reveals the White House quietly pressured AFP to remove an unflattering image of press secretary Karoline Leavitt from its wire and AFP complied. Oliver and Jon break down how it happened, the questionable explanation behind it, and why the attempt to control the image may have backfired. Then, a brewing power struggle inside CBS News. Bari Weiss is eyeing sweeping changes to 60 Minutes. Oliver reports the network’s top editor pushed for a mid-season shakeup, was stopped, and is now preparing for a much larger overhaul after May, with executive producer Tanya Simon potentially on the chopping block. Plus, a surprise move at NBC News. Peter Alexander is out, heading to a new role at MS NOW. But behind the scenes, it’s part of a much messier split between NBC and Versant and talent is increasingly caught in the middle. And to close it out, Oliver and Jon answer listener questions in the latest edition of Open Lines. 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 0:00 Intro 1:45 White House Had AFP Pull Karoline Leavitt Photo 14:24 Bari Weiss Plans Major 60 Minutes Shakeup 27:20 Peter Alexander Out at NBC, Talent Caught in Power Struggle 35:25 Open Lines: Your Questions Answered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →SPECIAL EPISODE: Jim Acosta on Trump’s Growing Influence Over the Media
Apr 100:29:22Tap to summarizeThis week, Jim Acosta joins Oliver and Jon for a special bonus edition of Power Lines! Fresh off congressional testimony, Acosta breaks down Trump’s growing influence over the press, media consolidation, CNN and CBS, and the rise of independent media. They also explore how news organizations are responding to political pressure, why audiences are shifting away from traditional outlets, and what this moment means for the future of the media industry. Big thanks to Jim. Follow his work on YouTube, and if you’re new here, subscribe to this channel for more Power Lines. Also sign up for our daily newsletter at status.news for essential coverage of the media industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →