Hats off to you: Breaker welcomes the outgoing head of Digital Platforms at The Financial Times, Matthew Garrahan, as he arrived for the RedBird AGM.
Welcome to the latest edition of Breaker. If this email has been forwarded, you can subscribe here and send your questions and complaints here. If you have a tip contact the 24/7 Breaker Tip Hotline via text or Signal # 551 655 2343. Anonymity guaranteed!
Welcome to a special early edition of Breaker. We had too many scoops for you; we just couldn’t wait till tonight, so we brought forward this week’s first edition, and it’s a humdinger.
Breaker has spent the last several days in D.C., and it turns out we were not the only Australian media tycoon in town. Today, we have details of a dinner date between Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump that took place at the White House. We reveal who else was there and what they talked about.
Also, we made it back to New York City in time to be on the ground for RedBird’s Annual General Meeting. Gerry Cardinale’s investment management firm is the media story of our time, creating quite the cinematic universe. From Paramount Skydance to the Telegraph takeover and, most recently, the deal we have labeled Air Puck, Cardinale's tentacles are intertwined with them all.
So on Monday, Breaker’s snapper was there to document who was invited to the company's Annual General Meeting. Hint – a former British Prime Minister, the person now running CBS News, a former face of Fox News, two people running the biggest sporting codes in the country, and a leading figure at WME, to name just a few. Below we have a readout of the event as well as a photo special report that reveals all, including the SIX beefy bodyguards guarding one high-profile guest.
Finally, we have scene reports from a book party D.C. power player, Juleanna Glover, threw for New York Times journalist Ken Vogel at her D.C. home Saturday night. Also in party mode this week, Semafor celebrated its latest World Economy Summit (and third birthday) with a shindig at the Riggs hotel. In today’s edition, we reveal the billionaire chosen to front a new TV show under the Semafor banner.
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Mentioned tonight: Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, James Murdoch, Laurene Powell Jobs, Bob Iger, David Zaslav, David Ellison, Marc Benioff, Marcus Brauchli, Erik Wemple, Katy Balls, Gabe Kaminsky, Eric Lipton, Kate Andrews, Olivia Petersen, Liza Pluto, Adam Green, Ben Schreckinger, Vicky Ward, Alex Sherman, Dave Portnoy, Katie Robertson, Andrew Thornebrook, Maggie Haberman, Josh Dawsey, Molly Ball, Meredith McGraw, Michael Schaffer, Ben Jacobs, Josh Christenson, Alex Isenstadt, David Kihara, Julia Marsh, Liz Hoffman, Rohan Goswami, Faisal Islam, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, and more.
Cardinale Rules: Special Photo Report
(Exclusive.) On Monday, Breaker caught the B train from our Downtown bureau to the Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. “It’s quiet uptown,” sings Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton, so maybe that is why RedBird Founder Gerry Cardinale chose The New York Historical Society as the venue for the 2025 RedBird Capital Annual General Meeting.
RedBird has become a major media player in a relatively short amount of time. Cardinale’s cinematic universe now includes Skydance Paramount, the home of CBS News, The Telegraph, and the deal we have labeled Air Puck.
Cardinale acknowledged as much on Monday when he started his presentation to investors by discussing his growing media empire. Then, turning his attention to his financial services, he said they provide him with less heartburn while generating more cash flow, according to multiple people who attended the meeting and spoke with Breaker.
Shell Shocked: Jeff Shell, President of Paramount Skydance Corporation, was quizzed by Breaker about a bid for WBD. “I don’t even know what you are talking about,” he told us. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? Well, on Monday, it was Breaker who asked the former Fox and CNN host about Bari Weiss’ hunt for leakers at CBS News. “Hey, if I’m talking to you, I’m leaking,” he told us. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Sidebar of Shame: Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere, Chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, and his son Vere, Director of Publishing Strategy at DMGT and heir apparent. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Who Wore It Better?: WME Group President and Managing Partner, Mark Shapiro, enters The New York Historical Society through a side entrance in the shadow of a statue of Frederick Douglass. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Cheeky Business: CEO of CBS News, George Cheeks, didn’t get the memo about the RedBird uniform of blue jacket, white shirt, and blue pants. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Cheeky Business part 2: But ever the gentleman, Cheeks did give Breaker a warm handshake while declining to answer questions about Weiss’ hunt for leakers at CBS News. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Squawk on the Street: CNBC’s David Faber didn’t seem pleased to see Breaker’s snapper as he arrived at The New York Historical Society to moderate a panel with Shell and Cheeks. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Lunch with The FT: Outgoing head of Digital Platforms at The Financial Times, Matthew Garrahan, arrives at lunchtime at RedBird’s 2025 AGM at The New York Historical Society. Garrahan was recently poached by RedBird as “Operating Partner, News and Entertainment” in a move many RedBird-watchers see as a waiting room to run The Telegraph. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Word To The Weiss: Bari Weiss arrived at RedBird’s AGM in a convoy of black Cadillacs and shielded by no less than six, yes SIX, beefy bodyguards as – more on that below. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Putter late than never: PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp appeared on a panel with Shapiro and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
A silver lining: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver smiled when Breaker asked him what he was going to do about Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, who has become engulfed in controversy. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Dialing for dollars: RedBird IMI CEO Jeff Zucker knows his ABCs (Always Be Closing) (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Mail Men: Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere, Chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, enjoys a chinwag with Breaker outside RedBird’s AGM. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Chauffeur and tell: Anna Scott, the wife of AirMail co-founder Graydon Carter, arrives at RedBird’s AGM. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Air Puck: Scott arrived with Carter. As Breaker first reported, Puck is set to acquire AirMail. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Hunting and Gathering: CEO and Founder of Hunt & Gather, Jolie Hunt, was easily the best-dressed person at RedBird’s AGM. As she entered The New York Historical Society, she motioned to Breaker to look at her tights, which read “Made You Look.” (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Another fabulous, incredible, spectacular, amazing week: Puck founder Jon Kelly may need to ask his fashion columnist, Lauren Sherman, for some top tips for dressing for financial conferences. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
The Puck Stops Here: Kelly literally ran into RedBird’s AGM and did not answer questions about “The Backstory” of the deal Breaker has labeled “Air Puck.” (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Blair Rich Project: Former British PM Tony Blair arrived at the RedBird AGM after sunset. He was the event's keynote speaker. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Bari’s Beefy Bodyguards
Bari Weiss has been spotted at CBS News with a protective detail since being named editor-in-chief, but on Monday, Breaker counted no less than six bodyguards forming a protective ring around The Free Press Founder.
Today, we present you with a photo gallery of the men we have dubbed “Bari’s Beefy Bodyguards."
Wolverine: With chiseled looks and a buff physique, this minder reminded us of Hugh Jackman. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Handsome Help: Bari’s Bodyguards stood guard at RedBird’s AGM side entrance. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
That’s The Way It Is: No word if Weiss has plans to screen test her protective detail for presenting roles on CBS News. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Hero: One of Weiss's protectors had Enrique Iglesias's looks (we didn’t get a chance to check on his singing skills). (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
I’m Every Woman: Weiss enters RedBird’s AGM through a side door surrounded by her testosterone-heavy escort, who kept Breaker at bay. (Credit: William Farrington/Copyright: Breaker Media)
Mr Murdoch Goes To Washington
(Exclusive.) Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump have a complicated and complex history that dates back decades. Trump has been a fixture in the pages of the Murdoch-owned New York Post, and he has been a regular guest on Fox News for years. But Murdoch was highly dubious of Trump’s run for President in 2016 and openly criticized him online.
“When is Donald Trump going to stop embarrassing his friends, let alone the whole country?” Murdoch posted on Twitter in 2015.
The media mogul would go on to back Trump with his Post officially endorsing him for the NY Primary in 2016 and then again for the presidential election in 2024.
Now, Trump is suing Murdoch in a $10 billion defamation lawsuit over a July article reporting on an alleged letter from Trump that was included in a 50th birthday gift for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
Now, Breaker has learned that, on Thursday night at The White House, Trump dined with Murdoch, his wife Elena Zhukova, and they were joined by…
Devil’s Deal
(Exclusive.) A murderer’s row of political journalists turned out Saturday night in D.C. to toast New York Times reporter Ken Vogel and his new book, Devils' Advocates: The Hidden Story of Rudy Giuliani, Hunter Biden, and the Washington Insiders on the Payrolls of Corrupt Foreign Interests.
Maggie Haberman, Josh Dawsey, Molly Ball, Meredith McGraw, Michael Schaffer, Ben Jacobs, Josh Christenson, Alex Isenstadt, David Kihara, Julia Marsh, and more gathered at D.C. power player Juleanna Glover’s Kalorama home for the shindig.
Vogel gave a speech and answered questions from curious hacks and flacks. He revealed he had wanted to title the book “Shitbag Business,” but his publisher, Simon and Schuster, pushed back, saying it would be bad for the book’s publicity tour as networks would not want that repeated on TV.
Also there: Eric Lipton, Marcus Brauchli, Erik Wemple, Katy Balls, Gabe Kaminsky, Kate Andrews, Olivia Petersen, Liza Pluto, Adam Green, Ben Schreckinger, and Vicky Ward.
The Breaker Pod: Alex Sherman on Disney Succession, Zas’s Next Moves, Ellison Plotting & Lazarus’s Spin Cycle
The Breaker Pod has come roaring back for season 2. This week, we were at Planet Hollywood in Midtown Manhattan (cheers to CEO Robert Earl for inviting us down) and joined by CNBC's Media and Sports Reporter Alex Sherman.
Sherman had the skinny on the successor to Disney CEO Bob Iger, revealing what a Co-CEO model could look like. Tune in to hear Sherman name who he thinks could step into the top job.
We also get Sherman’s take on Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav’s knockback of David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance takeover bid. And Sherman shares his thoughts on Zaslav’s endgame and his preferred option of a buyer from outside of Hollywood.
We have a stellar line-up of guests to come, so make sure you check us out and subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your pods.
Reading list
Warner Bros. Discovery has kicked off a broad strategic review after receiving unsolicited interest from several potential buyers — meaning it’s now openly considering selling all or parts of its business. WSJ reports that this comes in the wake of a second rejected buyout offer from Paramount Skydance (even though Jeff Shell told Breaker Monday “I don’t even know what you are talking about” when asked about a takeover bid.)
Breaker revealed back in July that Tom Freston, the visionary who co-founded MTV and went on to become CEO of Viacom, would release a book in November. And sure enough, Vanity Fair has the first excerpt.
Formed as a direct response to the incoming Trump administration, Unnamed and Unbound: Black Voters Matter is a new podcast aiming to dispel misinformation and government propaganda by providing their community with “persuasion in terms of how to interpret what’s going on around us.”
Andrew Thornebrook, a national security reporter at conservative newspaper The Epoch Times, has resigned after the outlet agreed to new rules limiting how journalists can gather news inside the Pentagon.
An interesting retrospective from WaPo this week on the decline of print media, citing a number of reasons for its downfall: fewer people are reading long-form text for pleasure, attention spans are smaller, and newspapers have lost their role as agenda-setters.
Indiana University has canceled the print edition of its student-run newspaper and fired the paper’s faculty adviser, reports Katie Robertson. The university says it’s shifting to an all-digital model to address financial losses. But the student editors say the move is really about silencing coverage they don’t like — calling it a crackdown on their editorial independence.
Don’t you hate it when your waterfront mansion has mold issues? The answer, according to Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy, is simply to snap up another one. Portnoy has added to his $95million property portfolio, recently adding a Florida Keys compound for a cool $27.75million.
Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, sparked major backlash after publicly suggesting the National Guard be deployed to San Francisco to assist with policing. He’s since backpeddled, offering an apology after speaking with local officials and residents.
Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective, says that too many big donors today treat philanthropy like a power grab, giving money on the condition that they get to dictate policy, set priorities, and control the agenda.
YouTube killed the video star: MTV will shutter five of its six channels in the UK as YouTube becomes the primary source for music videos. The Guardian asks if this could spell the beginning of the end of the music video format.
The State of Local News 2025 Report crunches 20 years of data to chronicle the changing face of local news across the states. Tracking the decline of print and the rise of digital-only news, the results they say are “simultaneously sobering and inspiring.”
And finally it was a genius tabloid idea ginned up by editors at The Daily Star – Lettuce Liz the…..well, Lettuce, live streamed to the world with the simple task of outlasting Liz Truss’ reign as UK Prime Minister (spoiler alert: the lettuce won!) has now been acquired by the British Film Instute’s National Archive after being declared a significant piece of British online video content.
Kicker
“Hey, if I’m talking to you I’m leaking,”
Not Sighted In D.C. With Dad: Then President of Fox Digital Publishing, James Murdoch, poses for a portrait on October 21, 1998, in New York City. (Photo by Karjean Levine/Getty Images)