SPORTS & MEDIA
Dylan Byers
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May 18, 2026
Bari My Heart at 57th Street
As it closes in on its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount leadership has had informal discussions about changing Bari Weiss’s mandate at CBS News (and, eventually, CNN) in ways that would give her less control over TV.
Eriq Gardner
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May 18, 2026
Real Court Drama
The French Open is underway, but the real action this week may be in a New York courtroom 3,500 miles away, where an upstart players union is making noise about the sport’s alleged anti-competitive, pay-suppressing practices.
Dylan Byers
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May 15, 2026
Will There Be “Blood Libel”?
Nick Kristof’s exposé on Israeli prison abuse has brought the threat of a potential “blood libel” case from Netanyahu and another epic internal schism on Eighth Avenue, once again pitting the Opinion section against the newsroom. Here’s how it’s playing on the inside.
Here’s Gianni…
The World Cup’s descent on North America has been greeted by the typical grab bag of micro-scandals and preemptive complaints. In their private group chats, though, top industry executives don’t really care—they’ve seen this film before, and they’re convinced they are about to make stacks of cash.
Dylan Byers
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May 13, 2026
Byron’s BuzzFeed Mercy Play
Byron Allen is betting $20 million that he can resuscitate the faded quiz-and-listicle destination with a… wait for it… pivot to video. Is this the most foolhardy investment since Rupert’s bet on Vice, or does Allen know something we don’t?
John Ourand
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May 12, 2026
Private Equity, Everywhere, All at Once
SC Holdings’ Jason Stein on the private-equity money gusher flooding the sports world, the commercialization of the NCAA, and why he (and LeBron and Draymond and K.D.) are still bullish on pickleball.
Eriq Gardner
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May 11, 2026
The Private Equity End Zone
The future of the N.I.L. gold rush may hinge on a looming federal court fight over whether the College Sports Commission can police what is increasingly becoming a leveraged media-rights marketplace.
Dylan Byers
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May 8, 2026
The Ben Commandments
The sudden, precipitous decline of Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire—with its sweeping layoffs and a steep drop-off in audience—has actually been a long time coming. And while it’s easy to point to MAGA’s shift away from Israel, its co-C.E.O.’s dream of producing an Arthurian fantasy series isn’t helping either.
More Netflix-NFL Footsie & Deal Extensionitis
News and notes on the latest machinations surrounding the NFL’s highly coveted, obscenely expensive rights packages.
Dylan Byers
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May 6, 2026
James Murdoch’s School of Hard Vox
The least objectionable of Rupert’s sons is closing on a deal to buy much of Vox Media in order to complement his current holdings—Art Basel and Tribeca Enterprises—as well as his ambition to build a global TED-meets-Burning Man events brand. Is this the first step toward real cultural influence, or simply his own Penske-esque captive investment?
John Ourand
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May 5, 2026
The Lax Gospel of Paul
A candid conversation with Paul Rabil about how his buzzy 8-year-old Premier Lacrosse League is accelerating growth and preparing for LA28.
Eriq Gardner
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May 4, 2026
Is Insider Sports Betting a Federal Crime?
For the first time ever, the government has filed fraud charges over insider trading on a prediction market. Could athletes, coaches, and trainers be next?
Dylan Byers
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May 1, 2026
World War Alfonsi
After going toe to toe with Bari Weiss over her “Inside CECOT” story, veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi became the face of fourth-estate resistance at 60 Minutes. But as she prepares a heroic exit, a mass exodus is unlikely to follow. After all, where’s a well-paid TV journalist to go?
Soccer’s Next Don
With commissioner Don Garber’s quarter-century-plus tenure coming to an end next year (or sooner!), MLS has contracted executive headhunters to embark on a sprawling replacement search. A few well-known names have emerged as early targets—but with big-growth ambitions, they’d better get it right.
Dylan Byers
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April 29, 2026
Teflon D’Onofrio
Months after another round of deep cuts and Jeff Bezos’s overdue jettisoning of Will Lewis, ‘The Washington Post’ is grappling with the harsh realities of rebuilding the brand—beginning with naming Lewis’s permanent successor.
John Ourand
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April 28, 2026
The NFL’s September Surprise
A revelatory conversation with analyst Mike Morris about the myriad questions swirling around the NFL’s looming, blockbuster rights negotiations.
Eriq Gardner
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April 27, 2026
A $957 Million WWE Title Fight
The pro wrestling outfit is flying high thanks to a slew of new deals and WrestleMania’s recent ESPN debut. But an imminent trial will question whether Vince McMahon undersold the value of the company ahead of the TKO merger that made it all possible.
