Instant Reactions to the Tim Walz–JD Vance Debate With Semafor’s Benjy Sarlin. Plus: Gabriel Sherman on Writing 'The Apprentice.'

Hello, media consumers! Today’s episode is a special year-end edition of The Press Box where Bryan is joined not only by David but by Joel as well! Bryan, David, and Joel come together to discuss the 12 people who shaped the media in 2025, in no particular order. The show starts out with Joel and David meeting each other for the first time, followed immediately by a dive into the first person on their list (02:47). The guys execute a three-man weave, discussing and sharing their thoughts on the 12 people they think shaped the media in 2025, including Donald Trump, Pablo Torre, and Bari Weiss. The show ends with Bryan, David, and Joel giving some 2026 predictions (1:41:58). All that and more, here on The Press Box. No. 1 - (02:47) No. 2 - (11:02) No. 3 - (18:10) No. 4 - (24:58) No. 5 - (38:22) No. 6 - (52:57) No. 7 - (1:03:21) No. 8 - (1:11:49) No. 9 - (1:23:05) No. 10 - (1:27:26) No. 11 - (1:33:53) No. 12 - (1:36:00) Hosts: Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker, and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel come together today to celebrate Jolabokaflod! They open their Jolabokaflod gifts for each other before discussing President Donald Trump’s intense TV speech from last night (09:01). Next, Joel gets a chance to share his thoughts on Vanity Fair’s big new feature on Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles (16:11). Next, the guys dive into the Sherrone Moore–Michigan saga and give their thoughts on Adam Schefter's take on the situation (29:15). Following that, Bryan and Joel examine how a video made by Senator Mark Kelly ricocheted from Stephen Miller’s X account to the Pentagon (38:16). The show ends with the guys' reactions to the Oscars' move to YouTube (46:04). Plus, a few more Only-in-Podcasting clichés on our way out the door for the holidays. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David come together today to celebrate Jolabokaflod! The show opens with David opening his gifts from Bryan before they dive into their thoughts on Vanity Fair’s big new feature on Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles (13:03). Next, the guys listen to some of this past weekend's football audio, with a touch of some wrestling audio at the end (23:33). After that, Bryan and David examine the way the media reported on the homicide of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, followed by Trump’s response to Reiner's death (32:44). The show ends with today’s Notebook Dump, where they comb through mullets in journalism (47:51). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline! Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel start the show by discussing the future of CNN, including President Trump’s possible involvement in its sale, the assurances David Ellison reportedly made to Trump if he bought it, and what an Ellison-owned CNN would look like (01:10). Next, the guys talk about the Laura Rutledge—Justin Herbert post-game situation, and Bryan explains how he would fix the post-game interview (13:25). Then, Bryan and Joel dissect Part 5 of Ryan Lizza’s Telos-Novela (29:02), before giving their takes on the media outrage towards the College Football Playoff bracket (39:46). Lastly, the show ends with Bryan and Joel diving into their thoughts on the new Diddy documentary, 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning.' (50:23) Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David start the show by discussing Olivia Nuzzi and Vanity Fair parting ways as her contract ends, what this means for Ryan Lizza’s Substack, and whether Nuzzi will ever get another mainstream media job. Next, the guys dive into the Warner Brothers–Netflix–Paramount situation by breaking down the possible outcomes (15:28), before asking whether CNN would be better off on its own or under the Paramount umbrella (21:02). After that, Bryan and David analyze this year’s College Football Playoff bracket and the role that ESPN’s weekly ‘College Football Rankings Show’ now plays in the sport itself (23:53). Lastly, the show ends with talk of the White House’s newly launched webpage, which shames news outlets and reporters that publish stories it disagrees with (39:54). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, Only in Podcast Journalism, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices