Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino – Details, episodes & analysis

Power Lines is the official podcast of Status, where veteran journalists Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino break down their exclusive reporting and deliver sharp, uncompromising analysis on how information moves and shapes society. From the Fourth Estate to Silicon Valley to Hollywood, they scrutinize the powerful institutions driving narratives, shaping perception, and steering the culture. New episodes drop every Friday.

 In the inaugural episode of "Power Lines," Oliver and Jon break down: Elon's X Factor: Get the inside story on the sudden departure of CEO Linda Yaccarino from X. What led to this "blow-up" with Elon Musk, and what are the long-term implications for the social media giant and its advertisers? We analyze the true power dynamics at play. Trump's Late Night Target? With David Ellison's acquisition of Paramount, speculation is rampant. Is Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart's future at CBS in jeopardy? We investigate whether Donald Trump's influence could lead to a seismic shift in late-night television. F1 Movie: Box Office Hit or Flop? The highly anticipated F1 film starring Brad Pitt hit theaters. Was it a roaring success, or did it stall at the box office? Oliver has strong thoughts, and he’s ready to defend them. Superman's Box Office Fate: The Man of Steel returns! We make our bold predictions for the box office success of "Superman" Power Lines is presented by Status, and hosted by Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino. The show is produced by Matt Hevia and Antonio Enriquez, in association with The Arena Studios. Please like, share, and subscribe to Power Lines on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen — and watch full episodes and clips on our YouTube page at Status.

In this week’s loaded episode of "Power Lines," Oliver and Jon cover: A Wall Street Journal Bombshell & Trump's Fury: Status reports that Donald Trump attempted to suppress a Wall Street Journal story about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, even going so far as to personally call the editor-in-chief. Despite his efforts, the story came out, and now, unsurprisingly, Trump is threatening to sue.  Colbert Out at CBS: It was announced this Thursday that "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" will be ending for good in May of 2026, with CBS citing "financial reasons." Oliver and Jon question this official narrative, arguing it's far more likely that Stephen Colbert is the most recent domino to fall as David Ellison prepares to take over and fundamentally remake CBS. Axel Springer’s AI Mandate: The parent company of Politico and Business Insider delivered a stark message in a recent town hall: the use of AI in journalism is no longer optional – it’s a mandate. This bold move raises serious questions about accuracy, ethics, and retaining reader trust in a rapidly evolving news landscape. Zuckerberg's Undisclosed Friendship: We also dive into the ethical concerns surrounding Jessica Lessin of The Information, who conducted a recent interview with Mark Zuckerberg without disclosing their long-standing friendship. Superman's Political Message: And finally, we unpack the not-so-subtle commentary on immigration embedded within the new Superman movie. "Power Lines" is presented by Status, and hosted by Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino. The show is produced by Matt Hevia and Antonio Enriquez, in association with In The Arena Studios. Please like, share, and subscribe to Power Lines on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen — and watch full episodes and clips on our YouTube page at Status.