Breaker Pod

Vanessa Grigoriadis — one of the most distinctive magazine writers of her generation — joins Lachlan Cartwright for a sharp, funny, and revealing look at how celebrity, journalism, podcasting, and culture have transformed over the past two decades.

From Rolling Stone and New York Magazine to Campsite Media, Vanessa traces how the magazine industry became a “Titanic,” how she helped pioneer the boom in narrative podcasts, and why...

Media firebrand Piers Morgan joins Lachlan Cartwright on The Breaker Pod for an unfiltered conversation about the collapse of woke culture, the future of journalism, and why he believes common sense is finally fighting back.

From his feuds with Meghan & Harry to his friendship with Donald Trump, Morgan shares candid insights into celebrity hypocrisy, legacy media’s decline, and how YouTube is changing everything. The episode al...

Alex Heath, tech journalist and founder of Sources, joins Lachlan Cartwright at Super Burrito in Greenwich Village to talk about breaking away from legacy media, the rise of AI, and how technology and journalism are colliding in 2025.

Heath reveals what really happened inside OpenAI, why Substack is changing the rules of reporting, and how creators like him are reshaping the future of independent media. From Sam Altman to Zuckerber...

Vicki Ward — bestselling author, investigative journalist, and founder of Vicki Ward Investigates — joins Lachlan Cartwright at Delmonico’s in New York City to talk about the powerful people she’s covered and the future of journalism.

From her groundbreaking Epstein reporting to her work on Jared Kushner, Leon Black, and the world of Manhattan power, Ward reflects on decades of exposing influence, abuse, and secrecy. She also share...

Jeff Fager, legendary producer and former chairman of CBS News, joins Lachlan Cartwright at Junior’s Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan for an intimate look inside the newsroom that defined American journalism.

Fager reflects on his decades leading 60 Minutes — from navigating presidential pressure and corporate interference to mentoring the next generation of journalists. He also weighs in on Barry Weiss’s arrival at CBS, the challen...

CNBC’s Alex Sherman joins Lachlan Cartwright at Planet Hollywood for an insider’s look at the biggest stories shaking Hollywood, Wall Street, and the media world. From Disney’s CEO succession drama to David Ellison’s billion-dollar ambitions, Sherman explains how tech money, legacy brands, and political optics are colliding to reshape entertainment.

⏱ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Planet Hollywood and The Breaker Pod 01:00 – Disney’...

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough joins Lachlan Cartwright on The Breaker Pod for a wide-ranging conversation about Trump’s second term, the collapse of legacy media, and why the news business has entered a new “Wild West” era. Scarborough opens up about keeping Morning Joe relevant after nearly two decades, how MSNBC is changing under its spinoff structure, and the future of free speech as Trump’s FCC targets journalists and entertainers. H...

Explore the intense conflict between Hunter Biden and CNN's Jake Tapper, uncovering exclusive insights into Tapper's controversial phone call during Beau Biden's final days. Plus, the latest developments at Politico, The Daily Beast, and updates on the Telegraph sale.

📖 Chapters:00:00 - Intro: Hunter Biden and Jake Tapper's Conflict 01:12 - Jake Tapper's Book "Original Sin" Controversy 02:03 - Hunter Biden's Confrontation with Jak...

Dive deep into the drama at Politico as we uncover exclusive details about internal turmoil, leadership shake-ups, and the future of Washington's most influential newsletter. Plus, scandals at Rolling Stone, the rise of "Scandal PR," and media giants reshaping the industry.

📖 Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: Turmoil at Politico 01:05 - Politico's Big Shake-Up 02:40 - Jack Blanchard's Playbook Struggles 03:57 - Politico's Leadership Cri...

High stakes, high pressure, and a HR nightmare: This week, Breaker takes you inside the New York Times business desk, where tensions exploded over a controversial Harvard story involving some of America's most powerful figures, from Jared Kushner to Condoleezza Rice. Also, SpinCo’s Succession-esque rebrand. Plus, Keith McNally reveals gossip so juicy we can't even print it.

👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind...

ABC News landed a huge exclusive—the first broadcast interview with Donald Trump marking his first 100 days in office. Surprisingly, they chose Terry Moran over big names like George Stephanopoulos and David Muir. In this episode of Breaker Pod, Lachlan and Ravi uncover why top anchors were excluded, the implications of media outlets settling Trump lawsuits, and the chilling effects on journalism. Also in this episode: Vanity Fair'...

Lachlan and Ravi unpack the explosive firing of Sewell Chan, editor-in-chief at the Columbia Journalism Review. Ravi, who worked under Chan, shares a candid, firsthand account of the workplace tensions, bullying allegations, and journalistic fallout. The conversation dives deep into newsroom culture, leadership pitfalls, and the changing standards of editorial behavior. Plus, get insights into Bill Owens stepping down from 60 Minut...

How do journalists get scoops, really? From casual barista chatter to LinkedIn deep-dives, this episode of Breaker unpacks how reporters operate in a world of pressure, power, and platform politics.

We break down the viral story of the fake news that Walmart was buying TikTok, and how ABC News published it without confirmation — a major journalism ethics fail.

You’ll hear about: - The Walmart TikTok deal that never was - Press leak...

This week on Breaker, Lachlan Cartwright and Ravi Somaiya expose the strange and shifting dynamics of legacy media — from the chaotic search for a new editor at Vanity Fair, to journalists stalking sources for book deals, to the absurdity of The Financial Times being both a calming influence and a fashion statement. Plus: 💥 What it really costs to write three stories for half a million dollars 💥 Why the next great media mogul mig...

In this episode of Breaker, Lachlan Cartwright and Ravi Somaiya peel back the curtain on a dramatic shake-up inside The Wall Street Journal under editor Emma Tucker. From soaring PIP rates and internal lawsuits to newsroom paranoia and “The Grim Reaper,” it’s corporate chaos with a journalistic twist.

We also reveal the unlikely financial backer behind Mark Halperin’s comeback, explore Carlos Watson’s last-minute sentence commutati...

In Episode 6 of Breaker, we dive deep into the secretive world of "Scandal PR," uncovering how public relations operatives manage and manipulate celebrity controversies and high-stakes business dramas. Featuring special guest Emily Sundberg, creator of the popular Substack newsletter "Feed Me," this episode explores how modern scandals unfold, the blurred lines between PR and journalism, and the evolving dynamics of online personas...

This week’s podcast comes to you from Lure, in Soho, with special guest Alex Isenstadt. We talk about Alex’s new book Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power, the tortured relationship between Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch, how Fox News deals with moles, why Rupert was berating Wall Street Journal editor Emma Tucker, plus Michael Bloomberg’s comfort movie (and ours) and the turmoil at Columbia University.

Also than...

his week we come to you from Brunetti, a fabulous pizza place with a fabulous oven in the West Village, to talk about an enormous quantity of intrigue from the mayoral race, illustrious club owners with exotic pasts, why it's scary to report on libel lawyers, why you should wear a pink hat to a press conference, and finally why you should watch our podcast at half speed ideally. Get in touch with any hatred, love, criticism, praise...