The Press Box

The Ringer
The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between.
'The Press Box' (Trailer)
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All Episodes

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 CurtisGuests: Chris SuellentropProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 18

24 min 7 sec

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 ShoemakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 15

30 min 25 sec

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 rightsHost: Bryan CurtisGuest: Astead HerndonProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 11

49 min 55 sec

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 ShoemakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 8

50 min 24 sec

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 CurtisGuest: Tim MillerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 2

38 min 9 sec

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 ShoemakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 1

59 min 1 sec

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 CurtisGuests: Benjy Sarlin and Jeff GreenfieldProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 28

1 hr 43 min

Hello, media consumers! Bryan welcomes Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay. He kicks off the show with five thoughts on the upcoming presidential debate (2:23). Then they discuss ESPN’s first bid to Stephen A. Smith and how it compares to Pat McAfee’s deal (20:21). Later, they talk about JJ Redick becoming the new Lakers head coach and leaving the podcast game (33:42). They close the show with the 48 New York tabloid headlines about Justin Timberlake’s arrest (54:07).Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Jason GayProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 24

1 hr 4 min

On the Final Edition, Bryan welcomes Dylan Byers and starts the show with a discussion about the word “defenestration" (1:20).Then they discuss the following: Dylan’s reaction to Charles Barkley’s "retirement” (2:42) What did David Zaslav and Warner Bros. Discovery do wrong during the NBA negotiations (9:18)? CNN producing the presidential debate (15:02) William Lewis, ’Washington Post’ publisher, gets embattled (30:16). Then, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Dylan ByersProducer: Brian H. Waters  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 20

55 min 39 sec

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing yet another Charles Barkley “retirement announcement” (0:42). Then, they close out this NBA season with talk of ESPN adding an active player to their pregame show (13:14) and JJ Redick potentially being the first podcaster turned NBA coach (15:50). They then discuss the upcoming presidential debate and why it will be a huge night for CNN (19:40).Later in the Notebook Dump, they get into the Brat Pack documentary and why it is an interesting, secret media movie (32:01). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 18

51 min 2 sec

On the Final Edition, Bryan welcomes Katie Baker, and they have a loaded show for you, with the following discussion topics: Brian Windhorst's Scarface-like message to Luka Doncic (1:45) Jayson Tatum’s reaction to Joe Mazzulla's quotes (5:57) Remembering Jerry West, a friend to sportswriters everywhere (14:03) The Olympics and Caitlin Clark discourse (24:03) The Hollywood junket crisis (37:14) Remembering Howard Fineman (52:14) Then, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Katie BakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 13

1 hr 1 min

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the show with sounds from a couple of awkward interviews (1:05). Then, they get into the following topics: Reactions to ESPN’s halftime show criticism (9:31) Doris Burke makes television history (18:07) JJ Redick’s upside as an announcer (20:42) Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss a chaotic week at The Washington Post (33:01)Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 10

46 min 12 sec