Podcast Summary: The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: "Attention Must Be Paid"
Date: February 6, 2026
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Notable Guests: Jeanne McManus, Jason La Canfora, James Carville, Jeff Ma

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the seismic changes at The Washington Post, specifically the elimination of its sports section—a move impacting not just the newspaper but the entire Washington, D.C. community and the world of journalism. Tony discusses the emotional and practical fallout with longtime friend and former Post colleague Jeanne McManus. Jason La Canfora joins to echo the impact from a reporter’s perspective, followed by sports talk and Super Bowl betting picks with James Carville and Jeff Ma.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Demise of the Washington Post Sports Section

Tony Kornheiser and Jeanne McManus Reflect

Emotional Impact

• The end of the sports section is felt like a personal loss by both former staff and the community.
• Jeanne notes, "I keep getting messages and texts from friends who feel a personal loss themselves and feel my loss." (02:34)

Nostalgia & Community

• Tony remembers arriving in D.C. and seeing how central sports was to the city’s identity:
  “Politics is divisive and sports is unifying...even if they're not sports fans, they go to the sports section.” (04:16)

• The sports and metro sections provided a gateway for new blood and a sense of progression, from rookie reporters to legendary journalists like Bob Woodward.

On Leadership & Decision-Making

• Jeanne questions the vision of publisher Will Lewis, calling the changes a “strategic reset” without clear meaning or direction (02:57).
• Tony laments the decisions made by out-of-town hires:
  “People come in from England, the Wall Street Journal, California, and they just throw this thing out.” (04:16)

Institutional Legacy

• "We had executive editors Ben Bradlee and Len Downie and publisher Don Graham—who were knowledgeable about sport…They valued the sports section." (06:10)
• Entry-level positions: “They are a way to get new blood...You don’t have rookies coming to national or foreign...but you have them coming in through Metro and sports.” (11:12)

Practical Fallout & The State of the Industry

Future of Local Journalism

• Tony: "The capital of the United States...does not have a newspaper. Not a full newspaper." (07:45)
• Jeanne: "There won’t be paper, but there’s certainly a void...I would hope someone would hire all of our dear friends who lost their jobs." (08:20)

Industry Trends

• Tony outlines how other major papers have suffered too: “I can’t get one at the New York Times because they got rid of their sports section and bought The Athletic. That is different.” (09:20)
• The role of wire copy—major local sports stories relegated to short, generic reports (16:49).

Ownership and Responsibility

• Tony on Bezos: “He’s got hundreds of billions of dollars...Is he the villain? Or are his henchmen the villain? Or is it good business?” (14:30)

• Jeanne: “I would call him a villain. When he bought the paper, he said, ‘I’m going to provide this runway for great reporting and great journalism.’” (14:54)

• The downfall is linked to billionaire apathy:
  "Bezos...somewhere along the line...left the business of running the paper." (14:54)

Comparison With the New York Times

• NYT praised for smart, creative business decisions: buying The Athletic, puzzles, a digital cooking section, Wirecutter (13:18).
• NYT “still have skin in the game. Bezos does not.” (14:08)

Notable Quotes

• Jeanne McManus: “Suppose somebody else decided to buy Jeff Bezos’ paper. How would you possibly begin to rebuild...the entire sports section? You just couldn’t possibly rebuild it.” (12:45)
• Tony Kornheiser: "The job of the metro section is to put the mayor in jail if he or she deserves it. The job of the sports section is to fire the coach if he deserves it. That’s the job." (05:35)

2. Jason La Canfora on The Post’s End & Sports Industry Implications

Personal Connection

• Worked at the Post for nearly 30 years; “hard to fathom in real time” even after seeing the writing on the wall (23:28).

Bigger Picture

• “This is about tearing down institutions that are there to provide...truth...hold to account those who are now...willing...to tear those very standards down.” (25:53)

On the Future of Sports Journalism

• Worries about loss of institutional memory and accountability, especially as “sports intersects with politics at such an extreme rate.”
• Deep pride in Post tenure; uncertainty for colleagues, archives, and the next generation (23:28).

Memorable Moment

• “This is a billionaire who wants even more unfettered access to a president and even more ability to lead his businesses in whatever corrupt and anti-human ways he wants to.” (26:37)

3. NFL & Super Bowl Preview

Coaching Changes

• Jason analyzes hires in Baltimore, Buffalo, Pittsburgh—too “comfortable...like more of the same” (27:35)
• Andy Reid and the Chiefs seen as big offseason winners; AFC sees a brain drain and potentially underwhelming replacements

Super Bowl 60 Preview

• Analysis: Seattle favored. “They have the better offense, defense, special teams…” (31:31)
• Both Jason and Tony agree Seattle winning big is far more likely than a New England blowout; Patriots’ offense considered too “plow horse” (33:43)

4. Super Bowl Picks and Prop Bets

James Carville’s Picks (38:46–40:22)

• Double: Seahawks -4.5
• Double: Under 46
• Single: Ramondre Stevenson over 23.5 receiving yards
• Single: George Holani over 1.5 receptions
• Kenneth Walker under 75.5 rushing yards
• Drake May to throw an interception
• “We’re going for the downs.” (38:43)

Jeff Ma’s Picks (43:43+)

• Kenneth Walker under 73.5 rushing yards: “They are very afraid of him being in pass protection...he gets a lot of the running snaps, but...I just don't see him getting enough attempts.” (44:21)
• Under 2.5 players to attempt a pass
• Patriots +4.5: “If the Patriots can get up and force Darnold into situations where he's uncomfortable…if you turn the ball over in the Super Bowl, you're not going to win.” (45:44, 46:27)

5. Audience and Community Reflections

Listener Emails

• Many express deep sorrow over the demise of the Post sports section, recognizing it as a loss to both local and journalistic communities (58:27).
• Notes of condolence to colleagues and pride in collective work.
• Stories shared about the personal significance of the paper from both readers and insiders.

Notable Email Quote:

"The first and only African American to hold the title of sports editor of the Washington Post. You brought great pride to the Murray name... The Post itself... your lifelong dream... abruptly cut short by people who clearly don't value good journalism." (58:27)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "I grew up on the Washington Post...it is an emotional loss." – Jeanne McManus (02:34)
• “All I ever wanted to do in my life is go to games and write about them…how could you get rid of a sports section?” – Tony Kornheiser (04:16)
• "Bezos does not have skin in the game...he left it to Will Lewis...the guy wielding this axe." – Jeanne McManus (14:08, 14:54)
• “This is a billionaire who wants even more unfettered access to a president...” – Jason La Canfora (26:37)
• “They are a way to get new blood...look at the success of a Metro reporter named Bob Woodward.” – Jeanne McManus (11:12)
• "The Washington Wizards last night…beat Detroit, one of the biggest upsets of the year, and there’s a six inch wire story. That’s all there is." – Tony Kornheiser (16:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–07:45: Tony & Jeanne – The end of the Post's sports section
• 14:30–16:20: Ownership, business decisions, Bezos vs NYT
• 16:49–18:18: The diminished quality of local coverage, Olympics, Spring Training
• 23:28–27:22: Jason La Canfora reflects on his Post career & the broader meaning
• 27:35–34:19: NFL coaching hires & Super Bowl preview
• 38:46–40:22: James Carville’s Super Bowl picks
• 43:43–48:16: Jeff Ma’s prop bets and game analysis
• 58:27–61:47: Listener emails, tributes, and memories about the Post

Tone and Language

• Candid, reflective, and occasionally mournful, particularly when considering the loss of a great institution.
• Generous with nostalgia but also critical of current leadership and industry trends.
• Lightness and humor return as the show transitions to Super Bowl talk and prop bets.
• Distinctive personalities—Tony’s wistfulness, Jeanne’s straight-talking skepticism, Jason’s righteous anger, Carville’s bravado, and Jeff Ma’s measured analytics—all come through.

Conclusion

This episode is a testament to the pivotal role The Washington Post played in local and national culture—and the sorrow its loss brings to those both inside and outside the institution. The conversation offers a nuanced overview of both emotional and practical repercussions, before rolling into the show’s classic blend of sports insight and gambling advice.

If you care about journalism or local sports, attention must be paid.