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The Press Box

The Ringer

The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker and Joel Anderson catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between. 

  • 1,299 episodes
  • Updated Yesterday
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Episodes1299

  • Sep 6, 2024 · 57 min

    How We Talk About Football, Coach Tim Walz and the State of the Campaign, and the Art of Curious Podcasting with Pablo Torre

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan kicks off the show with a preview of his latest piece on the ringer dot com, How Fox Threw Tom Brady a Hail Mary and Won (0:45). Then he welcomes Pablo Torre and they discuss the following: How the media talks football these days (7:05) Tom Brady being recast as an announcer (18:13) The democratic rollout of Tim Walz (31:29) Pablo’s podcast, ‘Pablo Finds Out’ (43:43) Plus David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Pablo Torre Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Sep 3, 2024 · 49 min

    Football TV Mega-Preview, Tom Brady’s Debut, and Kamala Harris Speaks

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by recapping Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s interview with Dana Bash (0:32). Then, as they get ready for the return of football, they get into the following: Football season starts with Tom Brady in a different seat (13:34) Legendary head coaches Nick Saban and Bill Belichick make their television debuts (19:23) ESPN takes over the SEC (24:16) Deion Sanders vs. Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler (30:17) Then, in the notebook, they discuss the following: Having status by knowing a journalist on a first-name basis (36:58) Things you call a story (38:25) Journalists' overuse of the phrase “existential crisis” (41:00) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Aug 29, 2024 · 40 min

    Debate Chaos, Kamala Harris’s Big Interview, and Leaving CNN With Oliver Darcy of ‘Status’

    Hello, media consumers! On the Final Edition of 'The Press Box,' Bryan welcomes Oliver Darcy to the pod. They discuss the following: The rules of the upcoming Harris-Trump debate (1:49) Kamala Harris’s upcoming interview and what to expect (10:42) Sarah Palin’s new trial against The New York Times (15:49) Mark Zuckerberg’s letter to the House Judiciary Committee (17:33) Then Oliver discusses why he left CNN to build his own platform, ‘Status’ (21:32). Plus, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Oliver Darcy Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Aug 26, 2024 · 53 min

    Changing the Way NFL Games Are Called, the Debate Over the Debate, and the DNC Notebook Dump

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing the state of sports color commentary and whether or not analysts should be ex-players (0:30). Then Bryan recaps his four nights at the upper deck of the United Center in Chicago (10:30). They also discuss the following from the Democratic National Convention: Their favorite moments that stuck out (19:26) Some media grumbling (30:17) The branded media place to hang out (36:00) Then, in the notebook, they discuss the following: Rece Davis introduces college football (42:17) ESPN brings back 'The Sports Reporters' (44:41) And then, in Only in Journalism, they discuss Deion Sanders’s reaction to an only-in-journalism word (0:00) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Aug 23, 2024 · 46 min

    From Chicago: The Best and Worst of the Democratic Convention With Semafor’s Benjy Sarlin

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan is live out of the United Center in Chicago along with Semafor’s Benjy Sarlin, and they recap the Democratic Convention. They assess Kamala Harris’s speech and then hit on 10 topics: Defining Kamala Harris (8:08) How the Democrats talk about Donald Trump (10:47) The Democrats’ embrace of celebrity (15:34) Thoughts on the rollout of Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’s running mate (17:55) The return of the Obamas and Obama-isms to the Democratic Party (21:27) The Democrats claim patriotism as their own with the USA chants (25:57) Their favorite speeches (28:30) Speeches that whiffed (32:11) The vibes in the convention (35:25) What they are looking for after this convention (37:31) Plus, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Benjy Sarlin Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Aug 21, 2024 · 51 min

    Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and Covering the Democratic Convention With CBS News’ Robert Costa and Ed O’Keefe

    Hello media consumers! Bryan has a bonus mid-week episode with two special guests from CBS News. First he speaks with White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe, who discusses working the floors of the convention, staking out Joe Biden during his final days in the White House, and the early returns on Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (1:21) Then he talks with the chief election and campaign correspondent, Robert Costa, to discuss his conversations with Donald Trump and Joe Biden, his thoughts on the convention so far, and leaving the theater after Biden announced that he is stepping down. (25:45) Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Ed O’Keefe and Robert Costa Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Aug 19, 2024 · 47 min

    A Report From the Democratic National Convention, Nic Cage as John Madden, and Remembering Phil Donahue

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show with a fun spoiler from the Democratic National Convention (0:30). Bryan is in Chicago right now and he has a few notes, including on the DNC version of radio row (8:00). Then they discuss the following: The return of The Onion (14:28) Press Box party at the DNC recap (15:44) Remembering Phil Donahue (23:18) ESPN makes a couple of cuts (31:01) Nicolas Cage to play John Madden in a biopic (36:00) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Aug 15, 2024 · 50 min

    The Return of Hannibal Lecter, the Trump Hack, and a ‘Hard Knocks’ Check-In With Alan Siegel

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan welcomes The Ringer’s own Hollywood bureau chief, Alan Siegel. They both share some of their lukewarm takes on the media and the following subjects: Donald Trump’s love affair with Hannibal Lecter (01:31). The Donald Trump hack: documents sent to Politico emails (8:42) A sports documentary check-in on 'Hard Knocks' and 'Receiver' (18:15) The essence of cable news (28:01) Australian B-girl Raygun breaks her silence (37:26) Alan closes out with a few of his “only journalism words" (43:22) Plus, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Alan Siegel Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Aug 12, 2024 · 56 min

    The Tim Walz Coach Campaign, the Return of the Trump Exposé, and Charles Barkley’s New-Old Job.

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing the New York Times story, “Inside the Worst Three Weeks of Donald Trump’s 2024 Campaign (0:43).” Then they discuss the following: Three reasons Tim Walz was selected as Kamala Harris’s running mate (09:00). The Harris-Trump debate is set (20:23) Tim Walz’s couch jokes (23:40) Then in the notebook they discuss the following: Noah Eagle’s impressive performance in the men’s and women’s basketball gold medal games (37:34) Another Charles Barkley update (39:24) A discussion about aggregators (43:50) And then in “Only in Journalism” they discuss Deion Sanders’s reaction to an only-in-journalism word (0:00) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Aug 6, 2024 · 53 min

    Kamala Harris Picks Tim Walz, Evan Gershkovich Is Free, and the RFK–Bear Cub Affair

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David stop their vacations to discuss Tim Walz being picked to be Kamala Harris's running mate and the reactions of Democrats to the selection (1:27). They also discuss the following: Claire Malone’s profile of RFK Jr. (14:53). Evan Gershkovich being released from Russian prison (21:09) A botched Summer Olympics call (28:38) Donald Trump at NABJ (37:26) Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 29, 2024 · 48 min

    The Veep TV Auditions, Olympics Takes, an (Almost) NBA Rights Deal, and Remembering Evan Wright

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which included celebrities on the sideline, AI Al Michaels, and Dwyane Wade and Noah Eagle’s commentary (0:40). Then they discuss the running auditions for Kamala Harris’s running mate (12:29). Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the final stages of the NBA media rights deal (25:16) and take time to remember journalist Evan Wright (34:30). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 25, 2024 · 50 min

    The Kamala Harris Campaign, Fraught Political Relationships, and the Last Days of the Biden 2024 Beat With Axios’s Alex Thompson

    On the Final Edition, Bryan welcomes Alex Thompson, a national political correspondent for Axios. They kick off the show by discussing coverage of the last two weeks, which included President Joe Biden dropping out of the race (1:14). Then he gets into the current relationship between Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris (16:24), the relationship between Biden and Barack Obama over the past few weeks (27:26), and what it will look like covering Harris now (32:14). Plus, David Shoemaker guesses another Strained-Pun Headline Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Alex Thompson Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 22, 2024 · 1 hr 11 min

    The Biden-Harris Switch, Three Weeks of Political Scoops, and Farewell to Skip Bayless and Pete Wells

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David react to the news that President Joe Biden will drop out of the 2024 presidential race and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. They discuss the following: How cable news moved slowly with its coverage and reactions (5:00) Reporters who could have taken a bow after the news broke (7:55) How Harris will be covered by political reporters (33:24) Hulk Hogan's and Dana White's appearances at the RNC (40:35) Then, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the following: Skip Bayless leaving Fox Sports (48:36) TNT's plan to match Amazon’s bid for NBA media rights (52:40) Pete Wells stepping down as the New York Times food critic (56:46) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 18, 2024 · 26 min

    A Report From the Republican Convention With the Washington Post’s Chris Suellentrop

    On the Final Edition, Bryan welcomes The Washington Post’s Chris Suellentrop, who joins the show from Milwaukee, where he's covering the Republican National Convention. He kicks off the show by discussing how the Republicans are ecstatic right now at the convention (1:40). Then they discuss Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s speech (4:16), whether Donald Trump will be more effective if he's elected president again (9:27), how the assassination attempt has become a part of the convention (16:07), and more. Host: Bryan Curtis Guests: Chris Suellentrop Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 15, 2024 · 32 min

    How the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump Was Covered

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David react to the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump. They discuss the following, regarding the coverage: Reactions to hearing the news (0:36) The photographers and the amazing photos they captured (4:30) Interviews that took place immediately after the shooting (10:40) Social media conspiracy theories (20:12) Host: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 11, 2024 · 52 min

    Reporting on the Biden Age Question, Interviewing Kamala Harris, and the Democrats’ MSNBC Problem With NYT’s Astead Herndon

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan welcomes back Astead Herndon of The New York Times and host of ‘The Run-up Podcast.’ He comes on to discuss the following about President Joe Biden: Astead’s reporting in 2020 and how Biden’s age was a topic of conversation (1:04) Whether or not he ran his first campaign with the intentions of being a one-term president (08:38) The Biden campaign being more online now than four years ago (19:18) His experience interviewing Vice President Kamala Harris in 2016 (40:55) Plus, David Shoemaker guesses the Strained Punned Headline and Bryan closes the show with a quick update on the NBA rights Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Astead Herndon Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 8, 2024 · 52 min

    Did Reporters Blow It With Biden? Plus, POTUS Breaks His Silence and a Report From the NFL Broadcast Boot Camp.

    Hello media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show with talk of a rare breaking of silence: President Joe Biden’s interview on ABC (0:40). Then, they discuss the "Now They Tell Us" headline from the New York Post (13:50) and talk through whether or not the press blew it when it comes to reporting on Joe Biden (17:58). Later, in the Notebook Dump, Bryan talks about visiting the NFL Broadcast Bootcamp for current and former players, and shares some sound as they discuss being a rookie at something again (29:55) Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 2, 2024 · 40 min

    Biden’s Next Move, Blaming the President’s Staff, and What It Was Like at the Debate With Tim Miller of 'The Bulwark'

    With the holiday coming up, Bryan is treating you to the Final Edition of 'The Press Box' early. He welcomes MSNBC analyst and 'Bulwark' podcast contributor Tim Miller, and they discuss the following: The atmosphere in Atlanta during the debate (2:14) Reactions to some Biden family members blaming staffers for the performance (13:15) Reactions to the media telling Biden to remove himself from the race (19:09) This podcast was recorded before the announcement that Biden will sit down for a TV interview. Plus, David Shoemaker guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Tim Miller Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jul 1, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min

    Can the Media Shove Joe Biden Off the Ticket? Plus, A.I. Al Michaels and the NFL’s Big Loss in Court.

    Hello media consumers! Bryan and David talk for the first time since the presidential debate. They discuss whether or not the media could push Joe Biden off the ticket and have an open Democratic convention to choose the candidate (1:45). Later, in the Notebook Dump, they get into Al Michaels agreeing to allow NBC to use his voice for AI for olympics coverage (40:50) Then they discuss the antitrust lawsuit and the NFL loss regarding the ‘Sunday Ticket’ (51:06). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • Jun 28, 2024 · 1 hr 47 min

    The Debate and the Democratic Panic With Semafor’s Benjy Sarlin. Plus, Jeff Greenfield Revisits Four Presidential Campaigns.

    On the Final Edition, Bryan has a jam-packed show following the presidential debate. First, he welcomes Semafor's Benjy Sarlin for a recap. They discuss: The worst part of the night for Joe Biden (1:08) The timing of the debate (10:35) The history of incumbent presidents who've lost their first debates (15:31) Ben’s opinion on whether or not Biden will be the Democratic nominee on election day (26:06) What stood out about Donald Trump (31:04) Anderson Cooper’s interview with Vice President Kamala Harris (39:19) Then, he welcomes longtime CNN and ABC News political analyst Jeff Greenfield, who takes us back down memory lane as he revisits four presidential campaigns that he's covered in his career. How Trump has changed everything he thought about campaigns (50:39). Biden's run for president in 1988 and its collapse (54:12). Television's importance to presidential campaigns in the '80s (56:43) Behind the scenes of the race between George H. W. Bush and the Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis in 1988 (61:35) Bill Clinton's decision not to do an interview with Howard Stern interview, and Biden's decision to go through with it (70:46) CNN's coverage of the 2000 election (76:17) Observations from the Al Gore and George W. Bush campaigns (79:40). Revisiting the night Florida was called for Al Gore and then recalled (84:12) Covering the 2008 election and how campaigns were thinking about television in the age of social media (88:17) What stands out about the Democratic primary campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (91:39) Host: Bryan Curtis Guests: Benjy Sarlin and Jeff Greenfield Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices