This week for my eavesdropping feature, I tuned in to hear veteran journalists Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker, co-hosts of The Press Box podcast, part of The Ringer network. Curtis serves as The Ringer’s editor-at-large and is known for his in-depth media analysis, particularly on how journalism intersects with politics and culture. He previously worked at Grantland, The New Republic, and Texas Monthly, establishing himself as a leading voice in sports and media criticism.
Shoemaker, also a longtime journalist, is a senior editor at The Ringer and has a deep background in both traditional and digital media. Before The Ringer, he was with Grantland, where he covered professional wrestling and pop culture.
Together, Curtis and Shoemaker bring a sharp, often humorous perspective to The Press Box, offering insightful commentary on how the media covers major events, the evolution of journalism, and the intersection of politics and entertainment.
In this particular episode from Tuesday, February 25, the conversation centered around the flood of news surrounding President Donald Trump, what Curtis called the ‘Trump Dump’ (as opposed to the ‘Trump Bump’ media outlets used to see during his first term). As they dissected the sheer volume of headlines pouring out of Washington, they painted a picture of a political landscape that is not just chaotic but also overwhelming.
“Trump is flooding us with news,” Curtis said, before rattling off a staggering list of recent actions by the administration—pardoning January 6 rioters, firing the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, floating the idea of annexing Greenland or Gaza, banning the AP from White House events, and even considering replacing the White House Rose Garden’s grass with a patio. Curtis’ point is that even the most engaged citizens are struggling to keep up, let alone make sense of it all.
Shoemaker admitted as much, noting how difficult it is to process the deluge of information, even for those who consider themselves well-read. “Even if you were trying to pay attention, which I guess is your point, it’s impossible,” he said. The concern is that if people feel overwhelmed, they may simply check out altogether.
This topic led to a discussion about how different the media’s relationship with President Trump feels this time around. In his first term, much of the news cycle revolved around his impulsive tweets. Now, as Curtis noted, “This time it seems to me much more policy or at least potential policy.”
Beyond Trump, the conversation veered into other topics, including the idea of Stephen A. Smith being a presidential candidate. Shoemaker speculated that Smith’s flirtation with the idea of running for office is part of a broader phenomenon where media figures are now seen as potential political figures. “The first time that somebody seriously says, ‘You should run for president,’ it hits different,” he noted, drawing parallels to Trump’s initial flirtations with politics. Curtis added that the space between wanting people to think you might run and actually doing it is “exactly where Trump was.”
While the idea of Stephen A. Smith running for president might sound outlandish, it speaks to a larger trend in American politics. The Trump presidency, after all, was built on the foundations of his celebrity and ability to dominate the media cycle. Figures like Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan have been floated as potential candidates, and Smith, with his brash style and ability to command an audience, fits the mold of the modern political entertainer.
The hosts also touched on the Associated Press standoff with the White House over its refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” a move that led to the AP being banned from White House events. Curtis summed it up bluntly: “It’s worth just saying how stupid this is.”
Later in the episode, another topic was that of how the media has to prioritize coverage because the newsrooms are shrinking when it comes to staffing. “The media has shrunk dramatically over the last decade,” Shoemaker said, noting that many newsrooms simply do not have the resources to cover every story in depth.
Overall, The Press Box would be what I would call essential listening, especially for media nerds like me. It does what many media outlets have become incapable of doing, which is providing clarity in the chaos.
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Dave Greene is the Chief Media Officer for Barrett Media. His background includes over 25 years in media and content creation. A former sports talk host and play-by-play broadcaster, Dave transitioned to station and sales management, co-founded and created a monthly sports publication and led an ownership group as the operating partner. He has managed stations and sales teams for Townsquare Media, Cumulus Media and Audacy. Upon leaving broadcast media he co-founded Podcast Heat, a sports and entertainment podcasting network specializing in pro wrestling nostalgia. To interact, find him on Twitter @mr_podcasting. You can also reach him by email at Dave@BarrettMedia.com.
