Overview of The Powers That Be — Media Monday (Jan 26)
This episode of Puck’s The Powers That Be (host Peter Hamby, with John Kelly) centers on two media flashpoints: the internal fallout at CBS News after Bari Weiss’s arrival as newsroom chief, and Amazon’s high-cost release of the Melania Trump documentary — a film forecast to perform poorly at the box office but potentially valuable politically. The hosts break down leaks, personality and generational clashes, management failures, and the strategic motives behind expensive platform-backed content.
Episode details
- Podcast: The Powers That Be (Puck)
- Hosts: Peter Hamby (guest/regular John Kelly)
- Date: Monday, January 26
- Primary topics: Bari Weiss’s early tenure at CBS News; the Melania Trump documentary (Amazon)
1) Bari Weiss and the CBS News fallout
What sparked the coverage
- Reports and leaks (reported in outlets like the New York Post and by Dylan Byers) suggest newsroom unrest since Bari Weiss became chief of CBS News.
- Leaked items include: rumors that Sharon Alfonsi and Scott Pelley have jobs at risk; criticism over shelving and then partially running a reporting segment (described in the episode as a story about a prison in El Salvador); and conversations between Weiss and star Gayle King about changing King’s role.
Key dynamics and criticisms
- Management style: Hosts argue Weiss entered as a disruptive change agent but has misread the way a legacy newsroom operates — missed screenings, late decisions, and an inability to clearly explain editorial choices have fueled distrust.
- Generational and cultural clash: Weiss (presented as younger and coming from startup-style culture) vs. established CBS talent (60 Minutes stalwarts and long-tenured reporters), creating friction over authority and approach.
- The leaks: Some of the negative coverage seems to have originated from within Weiss’s orbit, which undermines her authority and worsens newsroom morale.
- The stakes: The guests say the situation has likely cost “a sufficient amount of goodwill” and may be difficult to recover from, even with support from powerful backers (e.g., David Ellison / Paramount).
Possible outcomes and context
- Off-ramp scenarios: Hosts float the idea Weiss could be repositioned (e.g., advisor/on-air contributor) while a different manager handles day-to-day newsroom operations.
- Broader accountability: They note that executives above Weiss at Paramount also share responsibility for how the hire and transition were handled.
- Industry constraints: Talent often stays put because there are fewer attractive alternatives in today’s media economy — so public resignations or mass exits are less likely than in past eras.
2) Melania (Amazon) — cost, box-office outlook, and motives
Film details and finances
- Amazon reportedly paid $40 million for rights/production; the hosts cite another ~$35 million planned for marketing — bringing the total outlay to roughly $75 million.
- The documentary (directed/produced by Brett Ratner, a controversial name) opens theatrically in late January before streaming on Amazon Prime.
Box-office prospects and motives
- Forecasts (National Research Group cited) estimate an opening near $5 million across ~1,400–1,500 theaters — a weak theatrical return versus Amazon’s spend.
- Hosts argue the likely rationale: the film is targeted more at one audience — Donald Trump and his base — and may serve as a political/PR bet (i.e., pleasing the former president) rather than a commercially driven film.
- Strategic observation: Executives and creative talent have limited leverage in today’s platform-heavy market, so large platforms can make such high-profile content bets without obvious internal revolt.
Notable quotes and takeaways
- “It’s the cover up, not the crime” — the hosts say the mishandling (late edits, missed screenings, and lack of clear explanation) has been worse than the underlying editorial decision.
- “A sufficient amount of goodwill lost here that’s probably unrecoverable.” — summarizes the episode’s view of Bari Weiss’s early tenure.
- The Melania film is framed as “for an audience of one” — implying political, not commercial, motivations behind Amazon’s big spend.
What to watch next (actionable items)
- For CBS News: track public moves by key talent (Sharon Alfonsi, Scott Pelley, Gayle King), any formal personnel changes, and statements/decisions from Paramount’s senior leadership (Ellison, Jeff Shell or others).
- For Amazon/Melania: opening weekend box-office and PR response from Donald Trump; subsequent streaming rollout and any corporate fallout over association with the project.
- Broader industry: watch whether platform power continues to insulate controversial talent/executive decisions from internal pushback or market consequences.
Final note
The episode frames both stories as symptoms of a changed media economy: leaders with startup mindsets clashing with legacy institutions, and enormous platform budgets enabling expensive content that may be politically motivated rather than commercially justified.