Peter Kafka
@pkafka.bsky.social
Bleep blop bloop. Talking https://link.chtbl.com/kafka typing https://www.businessinsider.com/author/peter-kafka
Reposted by Peter Kafka
truly what could a satirist make up that would be dumber and funnier than the White House East Wing sponsored by Roblox and defense contractors
SCOOP-1: The @nytimes.com has confirmed the following previously unreported donations/pledges to the WH ballroom:
▶️Miriam Adelson’s foundation: $25m
▶️Lockheed Martin: $10m
▶️Palantir: $10m
▶️Ripple: $5m
▶️Parsons: $2.5m
▶️Roblox CEO: $2.5
Here's a gift link.
There's more in the story 🧵…
▶️Miriam Adelson’s foundation: $25m
▶️Lockheed Martin: $10m
▶️Palantir: $10m
▶️Ripple: $5m
▶️Parsons: $2.5m
▶️Roblox CEO: $2.5
Here's a gift link.
There's more in the story 🧵…
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office (Gift Article)
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:41 PM
truly what could a satirist make up that would be dumber and funnier than the White House East Wing sponsored by Roblox and defense contractors
Sometimes Donald Trump actively meddles with media companies - a reality we've already gotten numb to in the last year.
Sometimes the *idea* of Trump is enough to mess with media companies. Which bring us to Bari Weiss and the Ellisons.
From me:
www.businessinsider.com/bari-weiss-6...
Sometimes the *idea* of Trump is enough to mess with media companies. Which bring us to Bari Weiss and the Ellisons.
From me:
www.businessinsider.com/bari-weiss-6...
Donald Trump's shadow hangs over the call to kill a '60 Minutes' story
The new head of CBS News has been immersed in politics since she started. So of course her call to hold a story will be viewed from a political lens.
www.businessinsider.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Sometimes Donald Trump actively meddles with media companies - a reality we've already gotten numb to in the last year.
Sometimes the *idea* of Trump is enough to mess with media companies. Which bring us to Bari Weiss and the Ellisons.
From me:
www.businessinsider.com/bari-weiss-6...
Sometimes the *idea* of Trump is enough to mess with media companies. Which bring us to Bari Weiss and the Ellisons.
From me:
www.businessinsider.com/bari-weiss-6...
In a single day, three of old media's most treasured assets have been acquired by digital usurpers — internet services that used to be dismissed by media giants, and are now giants themselves.
New from me: www.businessinsider.com/oscars-youtu...
New from me: www.businessinsider.com/oscars-youtu...
Why the Oscars are leaving ABC for YouTube — and what it means for Hollywood
Moving the Oscars from ABC to the internet is hugely symbolic. That doesn't mean that a huge audience will follow.
www.businessinsider.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:26 PM
In a single day, three of old media's most treasured assets have been acquired by digital usurpers — internet services that used to be dismissed by media giants, and are now giants themselves.
New from me: www.businessinsider.com/oscars-youtu...
New from me: www.businessinsider.com/oscars-youtu...
The Ellisons were using $24 billion from Saudi, Qatar and Abu Dhabi in their WBD bid. That was an issue - but not the main one.
New from me: www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wb...
New from me: www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wb...
Paramount wanted to use $24 billion in Middle Eastern money to help buy WBD. That's not why Netflix won.
You might think the notion of Saudi money owning part of an American media giant would kill a deal. That's not why it's failed so far.
www.businessinsider.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:55 PM
The Ellisons were using $24 billion from Saudi, Qatar and Abu Dhabi in their WBD bid. That was an issue - but not the main one.
New from me: www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wb...
New from me: www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wb...
Lachlan Cartwright worked for the National Enquirer when it was functionally an arm of the Trump campaign in 2015/2016 - he was part of the catch-and-kill activities. Now he dishes super insidery NYC media gossip. Our chat here:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Lachlan Cartwright Started in Tabloids. Now He’s a Must-Read Media Gossip.
Podcast Episode · Channels with Peter Kafka · 12/10/2025 · 47m
podcasts.apple.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Lachlan Cartwright worked for the National Enquirer when it was functionally an arm of the Trump campaign in 2015/2016 - he was part of the catch-and-kill activities. Now he dishes super insidery NYC media gossip. Our chat here:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Last week Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi were going to put (at least) $24 billion into WBD - the company that owns HBO, CNN and a big movie studio.
The petrostates are part of the new hostile bid Larry Ellison and his son are making, too.
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wb...
The petrostates are part of the new hostile bid Larry Ellison and his son are making, too.
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wb...
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi are backing the Ellisons' hostile bid for Warner Bros. Why?
Paramount's Larry and David Ellison are making a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Three of their partners are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
www.businessinsider.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Last week Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi were going to put (at least) $24 billion into WBD - the company that owns HBO, CNN and a big movie studio.
The petrostates are part of the new hostile bid Larry Ellison and his son are making, too.
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wb...
The petrostates are part of the new hostile bid Larry Ellison and his son are making, too.
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wb...
What is the point of being the world's second richest man if you can't get the President of the United States to kill a deal?https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-wbd-warner-paramount-larry-david-ellison-trump-doj-antitrust-2025-12
Donald Trump likes Paramount's Larry and David Ellison. Will he try to stop the Netflix-WBD deal for them?
Larry and David Ellison have a good relationship with Donald Trump. Is that enough to get him to kill Netflix's deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery?
www.businessinsider.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
What is the point of being the world's second richest man if you can't get the President of the United States to kill a deal?https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-wbd-warner-paramount-larry-david-ellison-trump-doj-antitrust-2025-12
A scenario we couldn't imagine a few years ago, now quite plausible: Larry Ellison, backed by $ from Saudi and other petrostates, controlling a huge American media conglomerate.
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wa...
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wa...
Will Middle Eastern oil nations end up owning part of CBS, HBO, CNN — and Hollywood?
Paramount might rely on financing from Middle Eastern petrostates for its offer to buy Warner Bros Discovery. That raises some tricky issues.
www.businessinsider.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
A scenario we couldn't imagine a few years ago, now quite plausible: Larry Ellison, backed by $ from Saudi and other petrostates, controlling a huge American media conglomerate.
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wa...
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-wa...
Wrote about the very plausible scenario where Saudis (or another petrostate) end up owning a chunk of major American film studios, streaming services and news outlets.
www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia...
www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia...
Why oil money could end up owning part of a giant American media company
A few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine Saudi Arabia — or any Gulf state — owning a piece of a US media giant. Now, it might happen.
www.businessinsider.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Wrote about the very plausible scenario where Saudis (or another petrostate) end up owning a chunk of major American film studios, streaming services and news outlets.
www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia...
www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia...
Bubble popped! SoftBank just sold all of its Nvidia shares.
Bubble still bubbling! SoftBank is putting another $22 billion into OpenAI.
A real @edzitron.com special. Let's discuss.
www.businessinsider.com/softbank-nvi...
Bubble still bubbling! SoftBank is putting another $22 billion into OpenAI.
A real @edzitron.com special. Let's discuss.
www.businessinsider.com/softbank-nvi...
SoftBank just sold the world's hottest AI stock — so it can buy more of the world's hottest AI company
Nvidia is out. OpenAI is in. Does that make sense?
www.businessinsider.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Bubble popped! SoftBank just sold all of its Nvidia shares.
Bubble still bubbling! SoftBank is putting another $22 billion into OpenAI.
A real @edzitron.com special. Let's discuss.
www.businessinsider.com/softbank-nvi...
Bubble still bubbling! SoftBank is putting another $22 billion into OpenAI.
A real @edzitron.com special. Let's discuss.
www.businessinsider.com/softbank-nvi...
Reposted by Peter Kafka
"I don't want to be reliant on any of the platforms. I don't want people to say, oh, you're a Substack company or oh, you're a YouTube company. Nope. We're The Bulwark."
@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social talks media strategy with @pkafka.bsky.social on Channels:
@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social talks media strategy with @pkafka.bsky.social on Channels:
November 7, 2025 at 6:01 PM
"I don't want to be reliant on any of the platforms. I don't want people to say, oh, you're a Substack company or oh, you're a YouTube company. Nope. We're The Bulwark."
@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social talks media strategy with @pkafka.bsky.social on Channels:
@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social talks media strategy with @pkafka.bsky.social on Channels:
Reposted by Peter Kafka
Catch @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social talking the Bulwark's big success on Channels with @pkafka.bsky.social: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
The Bulwark's Sarah Longwell on Why Republicans Won the Attention War
Podcast Episode · Channels with Peter Kafka · 11/05/2025 · 45m
podcasts.apple.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Catch @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social talking the Bulwark's big success on Channels with @pkafka.bsky.social: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Talked to former Republican strategist Sarah Longwell about supercharging The Bulwark by turning on the laptop cameras.
+ why Gavin Newsom's fake Trump is less effective than JD Vance's fake Trump.
Exceprts; www.businessinsider.com/bulwark-sara...
Full chat: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
+ why Gavin Newsom's fake Trump is less effective than JD Vance's fake Trump.
Exceprts; www.businessinsider.com/bulwark-sara...
Full chat: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
November 5, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Talked to former Republican strategist Sarah Longwell about supercharging The Bulwark by turning on the laptop cameras.
+ why Gavin Newsom's fake Trump is less effective than JD Vance's fake Trump.
Exceprts; www.businessinsider.com/bulwark-sara...
Full chat: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
+ why Gavin Newsom's fake Trump is less effective than JD Vance's fake Trump.
Exceprts; www.businessinsider.com/bulwark-sara...
Full chat: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
100 percent agree with Will. I use AI more and more each day. Never going back.
just say something like “i think ai might actually have some valid use cases” and you’ll be right up there in no time
November 4, 2025 at 6:38 PM
100 percent agree with Will. I use AI more and more each day. Never going back.
The thing about the "Larry and David Ellison are tilting Paramount to please Trump" theory is that it's true. But it's not always true.
www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-...
www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-...
Paramount's Trump alliance is real — and so is Jon Stewart's new deal
The men who own Paramount want to please Donald Trump. They also want to please audiences. Discuss.
www.businessinsider.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The thing about the "Larry and David Ellison are tilting Paramount to please Trump" theory is that it's true. But it's not always true.
www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-...
www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-...
Reposted by Peter Kafka
Well, this is one hell of a pop-up:
October 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Well, this is one hell of a pop-up:
Mark Thompson used to be Bari Weiss' boss's boss at the NYT. Now he runs CNN.
www.businessinsider.com/cnn-ceo-mark...
www.businessinsider.com/cnn-ceo-mark...
October 28, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Mark Thompson used to be Bari Weiss' boss's boss at the NYT. Now he runs CNN.
www.businessinsider.com/cnn-ceo-mark...
www.businessinsider.com/cnn-ceo-mark...
Up until the last year I was really skeptical that left-leaning folks would vote with their credit cards. But first Wapo, now Disney are changing my mind.
www.businessinsider.com/disney-hulu-...
www.businessinsider.com/disney-hulu-...
October 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Up until the last year I was really skeptical that left-leaning folks would vote with their credit cards. But first Wapo, now Disney are changing my mind.
www.businessinsider.com/disney-hulu-...
www.businessinsider.com/disney-hulu-...
Enjoyed talking to @edzitron.com, who has been spending a lot of time banging the drum about the AI bubble (and about the problems with tech in general.
Also discussed here: How Ed runs a PR company while he also savages some of the biggest companies in tech.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Also discussed here: How Ed runs a PR company while he also savages some of the biggest companies in tech.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
The PR Guy Who Says the AI Boom Is a Bust
Podcast Episode · Channels with Peter Kafka · 10/15/2025 · 55m
podcasts.apple.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Enjoyed talking to @edzitron.com, who has been spending a lot of time banging the drum about the AI bubble (and about the problems with tech in general.
Also discussed here: How Ed runs a PR company while he also savages some of the biggest companies in tech.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Also discussed here: How Ed runs a PR company while he also savages some of the biggest companies in tech.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
What happens when you're in a bubble but it doesn't feel like a bubble. Or at least like other bubbles. www.businessinsider.com/ai-bubble-cu...
October 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
What happens when you're in a bubble but it doesn't feel like a bubble. Or at least like other bubbles. www.businessinsider.com/ai-bubble-cu...
David Ellison says he wants Paramount to stay out of politics. David Ellison just put Bari Weiss in (nominal?) charge of his news operation.
Discuss!
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-da...
Discuss!
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-da...
What the Bari Weiss deal tells us about Paramount's politics — and what it doesn't
Paramount's new owner David Ellison says he's not interested in politics. A lot of his moves, like buying Bari Weiss' The Free Press, lean rightward.
www.businessinsider.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:11 PM
David Ellison says he wants Paramount to stay out of politics. David Ellison just put Bari Weiss in (nominal?) charge of his news operation.
Discuss!
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-da...
Discuss!
www.businessinsider.com/paramount-da...
We are used to Apple and other big tech companies taking down apps when Moscow, Beijing or Riyadh commands.
Now we see it happening in the US: The Trump White House wanted an anti-ICE app gone, and Apple complied.
Pretty sure this is a start, not a one-off.
www.businessinsider.com/apple-iceblo...
Now we see it happening in the US: The Trump White House wanted an anti-ICE app gone, and Apple complied.
Pretty sure this is a start, not a one-off.
www.businessinsider.com/apple-iceblo...
Apple's ICEBlock take-down shows how Big Tech's power can be used by American officials
Tech companies are used to foreign governments telling them to take down apps. Now it's happening in the US, as Apple takes down an anti-ICE app.
www.businessinsider.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:29 PM
We are used to Apple and other big tech companies taking down apps when Moscow, Beijing or Riyadh commands.
Now we see it happening in the US: The Trump White House wanted an anti-ICE app gone, and Apple complied.
Pretty sure this is a start, not a one-off.
www.businessinsider.com/apple-iceblo...
Now we see it happening in the US: The Trump White House wanted an anti-ICE app gone, and Apple complied.
Pretty sure this is a start, not a one-off.
www.businessinsider.com/apple-iceblo...
Reposted by Peter Kafka
Just to be clear, we wrote that paragraph long before the App Store removed ICEBlock. www.theverge.com/policy/79051...
October 3, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Just to be clear, we wrote that paragraph long before the App Store removed ICEBlock. www.theverge.com/policy/79051...