Best Semafor Podcasts (2025)

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How media drove America crazy, with Thomas Chatterton Williams 46:10

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4d ago46:10

46:10

Five years since the start of the pandemic and the racial reckoning post-George Floyd, we’re still seeing the effects that 2020 had on culture and politics. This week, Ben and Max bring on The Atlantic staff writer, Thomas Chatterton Williams, to talk about how we can trace Donald Trump’s re-election to that summer, the role that media played in fu…

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BEST OF: Bob Odenkirk on Comedy (and Drama)! 53:46

2d ago53:46

53:46

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our 2022 conversation with comedian and actor Bob Odenkirk! We got to hear from him about his memoir “Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Drama” and his early beginnings writing comedy in grade school. We reminisce about our days together at Saturday Night Live and discuss some of our favorite sketches. We also talk about hi…

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Debating Charlottesville: Trump’s response and the free speech fight | The Moynihan Report 48:17

6d ago48:17

48:17

Author Deborah Baker joins The Moynihan Report to talk about her new book, Charlottesville: An American Story. The book covers the Unite the Right rally, where thousands of neo-Nazis, members of the KKK, and white supremacists protested the removal of Confederate monuments. Subscribe to The Moynihan Report on YouTube! (00:00) Introduction (04:25) U…

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Why Henry Blodget is Building Another Media Company 57:56

6d ago57:56

57:56

Henry Blodget can’t help himself. The Business Insider founder is starting another media business, knowing full well how difficult the industry can be. You can watch him build it in real time: Regenerator on Substack, and Solutions on TikTok, YouTube and everywhere you hear your favorite podcasts. Henry — who hired me to work at Business Insider in…

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Barbara McQuade and Daniel Richman on Trump’s Politicization of the DOJ 54:53

9d ago54:53

54:53

In his second term, Donald Trump has upended many American institutions, but perhaps none more than the Department of Justice. He's filled the DOJ with lackeys, like AG Pam Bondi, who are corrupting our system of justice in ways never seen before. We're joined by two veterans of the DOJ: Barbara McQuade, professor at University of Michigan Law Scho…

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Borat director on pulling no punches in his new memoir 59:32

11d ago59:32

59:32

Michael Moynihan is joined by Larry Charles, the Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe winning writer, producer, and director behind Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Mad About You, Borat, Brüno, The Dictator, and Religulous. Charles joins us to discuss his new memoir, Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter. Subscribe to the Yo…

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Don Lemon on Elon Musk, Chris Cuomo, and why YouTube is better than CNN 39:54

11d ago39:54

39:54

After his dramatic breakup with CNN and failed partnership with Elon Musk’s X, Don Lemon now has almost 800,000 subscribers on YouTube. This week, Ben and Max bring on the broadcaster-turned-streamer to discuss what he’s learned in the transition to new media, the latest on his legal battle with Musk, and if there’s a place for centrists on YouTube…

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Why did New York City’s murder rate plummet? | The Moynihan Report 1:00:53

12d ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Michael Moynihan is joined by former police officer Peter Moskos to discuss his new book, Back from the Brink: Inside the NYPD and New York City's Extraordinary 1990s Crime Drop. Subscribe to the YouTube. (00:00) Introduction (01:26) Policing in the 90s (05:53) Crime Prevention (17:04) Policing Strategies (23:40) Corruption (26:13) Modern Policing …

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ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro on streaming, the NFL and sports betting 48:14

13d ago48:14

48:14

The media industry has been waiting for ESPN to cut the cord for a decade. Now it’s finally happening: This week the sports TV giant will let you start streaming — without a cable TV subscription — for $30 a month. Why now? ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro is quite frank about it: Along with his boss — Disney CEO Bob Iger — he wanted to make as much money fr…

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Ari Berman on the GOP’s Gerrymandering Plot 49:20

16d ago49:20

49:20

With Donald Trump and the Republican Party low in the polls, Texas is resorting to one of their favorite ways to win voters: cheating. They’ve drawn new maps to implement unprecedented gerrymandering, taking away five Democratic-held seats - all done at Trump’s insistence, of course. We're joined by Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent …

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Seth Harp on drug trafficking and murder in the Special Forces | The Moynihan Report 56:16

18d ago56:16

56:16

Seth Harp joins Michael Moynihan to talk about his new book, The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! (00:00) Introduction (05:56) The Fort Bragg Cartel (24:10) Afghanistan: A Narco State (30:30) Corruption in Iraq (33:06) JSOC (38:06) Audience Interaction (48:11) Pat Tillman (51:30…

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Mark Cuban on AI in politics, running for president (or not), and why he hates the media business 46:50

18d ago46:50

46:50

Mark Cuban is everywhere – and famously accessible. But what might be called overexposure in a previous era is now a strength in a fragmented media world, to the point that many people want him to run for president in 2028. This week, Ben and Max bring on the former Shark Tank “shark” and former majority-owner of the Dallas Mavericks to talk about …

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Inside the Karen Read case with Turtleboy | The Moynihan Report 1:14:00

20d ago1:14:00

1:14:00

TB News Daily's very own Turtleboy joins Michael Moynihan to unpack the Karen Read case and butt heads over journalistic ethics. Featuring a special intro segment with former Vice correspondent Trace Crutchfield and some questions from the 2WAY community. Subscribe the The Moynihan Report on YouTube. (00:00) Introduction (04:20) Karen Read Case Ove…

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A Busy - and Expensive - Summer for AI, with NYT's Mike Isaac 51:42

20d ago51:42

51:42

What makes a particular engineer worth $250 million to Mark Zuckerberg? What does Trump 2.0 mean — and not mean — to people building large language models? I didn’t know the answers to these questions either. So I got the New York Times’ Mike Isaac, who covers this stuff for a living, to walk me through some of the biggest questions in AI right now…

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Franklin Foer on the Famine in Gaza 50:15

23d ago50:15

50:15

Gaza faces mass starvation as Israel blocks critical food and aid to the region. We're joined by The Atlantic's Franklin Foer to discuss his recent piece, “Israel's Last Chance,” and how the only answer to this atrocity is for Israel to flood Gaza with food. Foer also discusses the legitimate criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu, while acknowledging tha…

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Debunking Epstein conspiracies with Michael Tracey | The Moynihan Report 1:01:07

25d ago1:01:07

1:01:07

Michael Tracey and Michael Moynihan roll up their sleeves and discuss the truth behind Epstein's death, the source of his finances, and more in this episode of The Moynihan Report. Subscribe to The Moynihan Report on YouTube. (00:00) Introduction (01:20) Michael Tracy's Perspective (03:40) Epstein's Legal Battles (12:46) Trafficking Allegations (16…

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Pablo Torre on ESPN, investigating LeBron, and becoming the New York Times' first 'creator' 1:03:36

25d ago1:03:36

1:03:36

Pablo Torre was one of ESPN’s rising stars — a fixture on shows like PTI and Around the Horn. But now he’s building something outside the machine. This week, Ben and Max bring on the host of Pablo Torre Finds Out to talk about leaving ESPN, launching his own show with Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media, and how it recently became part of The Athletic…

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Fentanyl, Galaxy Gas, and everything in-between with Hamilton Morris | The Moynihan Report 1:07:22

27d ago1:07:22

1:07:22

Hamilton Morris joins Michael Moynihan to explore the history, chemistry, and social impact of psychoactive substances. Subscribe to The Moynihan Report on YouTube. (00:00) Introduction (01:02) Discussing Fentanyl (07:38) FDA Rejection (15:19) Psychedelic Community (28:46) Vaping (36:27) Drugs and Journalism (39:13) Documentary Filmmaking (41:05) M…

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Why the Algorithm is Making Comedy Boom, Again 58:53

27d ago58:53

58:53

The last time I talked to Jesse David Fox about the comedy boom it was… March 5, 2020. Since then, some things have changed. But in other ways it’s just the same: comedy - or at least, some kinds of comedy - seems almost custom-built for our current technological and cultural moment, and it’s easier than ever to get this stuff on your devices whene…

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Jonathan Alter on Trump’s Authoritarian Police State 47:49

1M ago47:49

47:49

We're joined by journalist and best-selling author, Jonathan Alter, to dig deeper into the latest in Trump’s America. Jonathan’s most recent piece in Washington Monthly explains how the BBB’s enormous funding for ICE will turn America into a police state. With over 75 billion dollars, ICE will now be bigger than all American law enforcement agencie…

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Emily Maitlis on Epstein, Prince Andrew, and why American journalists can’t do interviews 52:25

1M ago52:25

52:25

Emily Maitlis got one of the biggest scoops in the Epstein story when she interviewed Prince Andrew about his involvement in 2019. She was then a longtime presenter for the BBC, but has since moved onto hosting one of the UK’s top podcasts, The News Agents. This week, Ben and Max bring on the British broadcaster turned podcaster about how she think…

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What is TV’s endgame? 47:28

1M ago47:28

47:28

A decade ago, Disney CEO Bob Iger freaked out the media industry by acknowledging something many of us saw coming — his previously unassailable TV business was starting to erode. But even with a 10-year warning, today’s moguls seem unable to cope with 2025’s reality: The pay TV business is permanently eroding, and there’s nothing in its place that’…

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"Buckley" author Sam Tanenhaus on the genesis of modern conservatism and the enduring impact of a media pioneer | The Moynihan Report 1:12:42

1M ago1:12:42

1:12:42

Michael is joined by historian and biographer Sam Tanenhaus, author of "Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America." Subscribe to The Moynihan Report on YouTube. (00:00) Introduction (01:09) Meeting Buckley (04:04) Early Career (06:24) Cultural and Political Battles (11:41) Contradictions and Friendships (18:25) Race and Society (24:…

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Kevin Nealon on His Career in Comedy! 1:03:02

1M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

We're thrilled to welcome an old friend from Al’s SNL days, comedian Kevin Nealon! Kevin and Al trade stories from working together on Saturday Night Live and discuss how the show has changed over the years. Kevin shares how he created several trademark bits, including Mr. Subliminal and Hans and Franz. Plus, we get backstories on some sketches tha…

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Scott Galloway on money, marketing, and masculinity 44:01

1M ago44:01

44:01

Scott Galloway has become ubiquitous in the new media world – he hosts 6 podcasts and counting – and he’s emerged as a voice for an underserved audience of young men on the left. This week, Ben and Max talk to the Pivot co-host about how he turned a career in marketing into a new kind of media stardom, how much money his podcasts make him, and why …

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"Drop Dead" author Richard E. Farley on power and graft in NYC | The Moynihan Report 1:03:36

1M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

Michael is joined by New York attorney Richard E. Farley, author of "Drop Dead: How a Coterie of Corrupt Politicians, Bankers, Lawyers, Spinmeisters, and Mobsters Bankrupted New York, Got Bailed Out, Blamed the President, and Went Back to Business as Usual (And It Might Be Happening Again)" Subscribe to The Moynihan Report on YouTube. (00:00) Intro…

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Why Trump is defunding NPR and PBS - and suing Rupert Murdoch 35:59

1M ago35:59

35:59

Reporting on the place you work is not fun. But it is an occupational hazard for media reporters — particularly for NPR’s David Folkenflik. That’s because National Public Radio — along with Public Broadcasting Service, its TV counterpart — is quite frequently the target of attacks from critics on the right, who would like the federal government to …

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EDDINGTON director Ari Aster on political polarization & dark comedy | The Moynihan Report 56:16

1M ago56:16

56:16

Michael sits down with Ari Aster, director of the "deliberately provocative" COVID-era Western, "Eddington," for an in-depth conversation about why he chose to make this film now, why he thinks it's "hopeful," and their shared disdain for Rotten Tomatoes. Clips from "Eddington" courtesy of A24. Subscribe to The Moynihan Report on YouTube. (00:00) I…

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Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Economic Policies 39:49

1M ago39:49

39:49

We’re joined by Washington Post columnist and co-host of MSNBC's The Weekend, Catherine Rampell! Catherine breaks down what the Big, Beautiful Bill means for Americans and why it's been so important for Trump and the Republicans to get it done. It will balloon our deficit and gut the social safety net. And for what? Tax breaks for the richest Ameri…

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Director Ari Aster on ‘the movie that Twitter wrote’ 45:43

2M ago45:43

45:43

Ari Aster, the filmmaker behind Hereditary and Midsommar, is out with a new movie today called Eddington. The new film is a modern Western placed in the height of lockdown during the 2020 pandemic, where the real villain is digital media. This week, Ben and Max bring on the writer and director to talk about why he decided to make a film set during …

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Semafor EIC Ben Smith on populist conspiracy and new media elites | The Moynihan Report 58:38

2M ago58:38

58:38

Semafor co-founder & editor-in-chief (and host of the Mixed Signals podcast) sits down with Michael to talk about the blurred lines between media & politics, the "disgraceful" coverage of the so-called Epstein files, the rise of the individual content creator, the NYC mayoral race and much, much more! Check out the Mixed Signals podcast. Subscribe …

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Inside the Rise and Fall of Condé Nast with Michael Grynbaum 47:38

2M ago47:38

47:38

Here's one way New York Times reporter Michael Grynbaum described Condé Nast to me in this week’s chat: “A real exporter of American cultural influence in the late 20th century.” And here’s another one: "A kind of enchanted land” but also a “lost world." And here’s one way I’d describe it: it’s hard to imagine in 2025, but just a few decades ago, m…

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Did Jeffrey Epstein have more than 1000 victims? Ken Klippenstein joins The Moynihan Report 49:52

2M ago49:52

49:52

Michael is joined by independent investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein, who last week highlighted a discrepancy in documents making reference to “over one thousand” victims of Epstein’s abuses. Subscribe to The Moynihan Report on YouTube. (00:00) Intro (01:21) Epstein Reactions (04:02) Ken Klippenstein's Investigation (08:29) Conspiracy Politic…

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Dahlia Lithwick on The Godawful SCOTUS Term 48:54

2M ago48:54

48:54

Another devastating term of Trump's Supreme Court has come to a close. There's a lot to be angry about, so we're joined by Dahlia Lithwick, our authority on all things SCOTUS and host of Slate’s podcast, Amicus. Dahlia explains how this Supreme Court is using the "shadow docket" to advance bad policy without full briefings or arguments and how the …

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Why YouTube’s favorite doctor won’t stop talking about politics 44:55

2M ago44:55

44:55

Doctor Mike is a leading medical voice in digital media, with over 14 million subscribers on YouTube. This week, Ben and Max talk to YouTube’s favorite doctor about the role of medical experts online, why he thinks legacy media has failed to communicate medical information, and why he’s not afraid to be overtly political by calling out RFK Jr. and …

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Talking Heads and the New York scene that transformed rock w Jonathan Gould | The Moynihan Report 1:00:45

2M ago1:00:45

1:00:45

Michael is joined by music historian and author of the new Talking Heads biography, “Burning Down The House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock.” Subscribe to The Moynihan Report on YouTube. (00:00) Intro (01:10) Evolution of Talking Heads (05:24) The Ramones (07:13) Backgrounds (12:50) 70s Culture (15:51) New York Scene (17…