The Powers That Be: Daily

Bill Cohan joins Peter to discuss the scandal engulfing Nvidia C.E.O. Jensen Huang, whose affair with a Singapore-based executive has taken a darker turn amid reports she may have been a Chinese spy. They weigh whether the fallout could cost Huang his job, and the thorny national security and governance questions it raises for a company at the center of the A.I. boom.

Jon Kelly joins Peter to discuss whether newly empowered House Democrats will subpoena Andy Jassy and other Trump-friendly media execs. Then they size up the New York Times’ potential windfall from its OpenAI lawsuit, and what it might buy with the money.

Julia and Dylan reunite to discuss which networks rose to the occasion on election night, which stumbled, and who ultimately won the night. They also discuss The New York Times’s potentially blockbuster settlement in its suit against OpenAI and Microsoft, which is expected to reach at least $1 billion, and how the paper could deploy it.

Leigh Ann Caldwell and Marianna Sotomayor join Peter to reflect on a whirlwind election week: They dig into what the blue tsunami really means, what Democrats can actually do to deliver on lower costs, and whether the party’s progressives and new crop of heartland moderates are on a collision course. 

John Ourand joins Peter for a midseason check-in on the NFL: the highs, the lows, and why a crop of winning Midwest teams is fueling a ratings boom. They also dig into the WNBA’s hunt for Cathy Engelbert’s replacement, the MLB lockout bearing down on the sport, and more.

Puck’s campaign dream team reconvenes to digest the midterm results and dish out instant reactions, with Peter Hamby analyzing the final polls from California and Leigh Ann and Marianna tabulating the House margin in Washington. Plus: who takes the Senate, Hispanic turnout questions, Trump’s election challenges, and more exit poll madness

Peter convenes Leigh Ann Caldwell and Marianna Sotomayor for an Election Night bonanza and a viewer’s guide to the evening ahead. They flag the early East Coast House races that will tell us whether a blue wave is real, the Senate races that could deliver a shock, and the third-party candidates who could cost Republicans in close contests. They also survey the 2028 field: which Democrats boosted their stock this cycle, and which Republicans might be gearing up to challenge JD Vance.

Polling guru Nate Silver joins Peter to offer his final set of midterm election predictions, from the Deep South to the Midwest and explain why his model shows Democrats with a growing chance of retaking the Senate. They also discuss potential polling errors, the problem of ticket splitters, and why Jon Ossoff is Nate’s top pick for Dems in 2028.

Jon Kelly and Peter reunite on the eve of the midterms to dig into a high-stakes test for pollsters, and why nearly $12 billion in political ad spending has become a windfall for ESPN. Then they turn to CNN, where Mark Thompson’s postponed contract talks are beginning to look like an audition for David Ellison and Skydance.

Tim Miller, co-founder of The Bulwark, a leader of the anti-Trump resistance, and a veteran of countless Republican campaigns from the pre-Trump era, joins Peter for a wide-ranging conversation. He gives his read on the midterms, Trump’s polling collapse, and whether he fears Democrats could come up short in the Senate, plus some candid talk about J.D. Vance. Tim also considers whether A.O.C. should run for president, which Democrats have a real shot in 2028, and shares some of the best and worst stories from his years on the trail.Progress doesn’t just arrive. It’s built - one question, one discovery, and one solution at a time. Explore more at ScienceDelivers.com.