Boys and Their Toys
Inside California’s Freedom-Loving, Bible-Thumping Hub of Hard Tech
Many cities have aspired to be the next Silicon Valley. But here in El Segundo—home to an upstart, male-dominated defense tech enclave—the founders are defining themselves in opposition to it. “This is not ‘San Francisco lite,’” says one, “or ‘San Francisco plus a little bit of hardware.’”
Sports
Why Serena Williams Isn’t Watching Wimbledon
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the GOAT of women’s tennis talks about the struggle of becoming a spectator, hosting this week’s ESPYs, and why a comeback is always in the “back, back, back of my mind.”
Media
“I’m Not Naive”: Inside Emma Tucker’s Rocky Wall Street Journal Reboot
The British-born editor has injected America’s business paper of record with ambition and verve, while unnerving the newsroom with unapologetic cuts. The restructuring “may look callous,” she says. “But it’s so that we get it right, so I don’t have to do it over again.”
From the Magazine
How Art Mogul Louise Blouin Lost Her Fabled Hamptons Estate
Louise Blouin lost La Dune, the Hamptons estate where she once entertained Prince Andrew and Calvin Klein, but she’s not letting go quietly.
Sports
“It Was Astonishing”: How NBC Convinced Al Michaels to Embrace His AI Voice for Olympics Coverage
The network will use an artificial clone of the legendary broadcaster’s voice to narrate its daily recaps of the summer event. “It was not only close,” he says of the technology, “it was almost 2% off perfect.”
Media
The Moral Panic Around the “British Invasion” of US Newsrooms
Will Lewis’s ethical imbroglio has led to caricatures of British editors. But the Washington Post publisher should be held accountable as a powerful news executive—not a national stereotype.
MEDIA
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis and Incoming Executive Editor Robert Winnett Used Stolen Records While Reporting in Britain: NYT
The bombshell article, released on Saturday night, comes during a tumultuous time for the legacy news organization.
Big Tech
Apple’s AI Approach Is a Welcome Break From the Industry Arms Race
The tech giant took some heat this week for its “uninspired” foray into AI, but a more measured pace is just what Silicon Valley needs.
WallStreetBets, GameStop, and the “Swirl of Distrust” That’s Electrifying the Stock Market
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Nathaniel Popper traces the origins of an unprecedented financial saga—and explains how it’s given rise to a new class of retail investors that are keeping institutional investors on their toes: “They very much realize the power of this young online world.”
Media
“I Can’t Sugarcoat It Anymore”: Will Lewis Bluntly Defends Washington Post Shake-Up
Addressing a rattled newsroom in the wake of Sally Buzbee’s resignation, the Post’s CEO and publisher stressed the need for taking “decisive, urgent action to set us on a different path.”
true colors
“I’d Like to Get on a Winning Streak—That’d Be Fun”: Steve Cohen on Bringing Contemporary Art to the Mets
Amid a truly rough season on the field, the Mets owner and mega-collector is merging two of his passions and enlisting artists such as Joel Mesler, Rashid Johnson, and Sarah Sze to make gallery-worthy giveaways.
Sports Media
Charles Barkley Goes Rogue in NBA Rights Fight
The Inside the NBA cohost is unloading on Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav as the future of TNT’s basketball broadcasts is in limbo. “They’ve done a really shitty job of keeping us abreast,” Barkley said Thursday.
Legal Eagle
How Lisa Rubin Became MSNBC’s “Eyes and Ears” at the Trump Trial
The corporate lawyer turned correspondent is having a moment on the cable news channel, relaying all the daily drama from the camera-free courtroom. “We have to bring all of those vivid details to people’s living rooms,” she says.
Media
Meet “the Inspector General” of the New York Times Newsroom
Charlotte Behrendt’s “prosecutorial” style in probing internal Times matters has rankled some journalists, who question her methods and fear her requests. “If you get called into a meeting and Charlotte is there,” says one former editor, “that’s generally not a good thing for you.”
Money Talks
How Venture Capitalists Are Using Podcasts to Lure in Founders
Instead of performing the usual courtship rituals, newcomers and veterans alike are tapping into their audio fame to land the next unicorn. “The product becomes the people,” says one venture insider. “It’s a very different way of looking at the world.”
excerpt
Paul Manafort’s Life Was in Shambles. Then Donald Trump Came Along
Mired in debt and marital troubles, the lobbyist was still fresh out of rehab when he hitched himself to the former president’s 2016 campaign, as Brody and Luke Mullins write in an excerpt of their new book, The Wolves of K Street. But it wasn’t long before Manafort’s personal baggage earned him the boot.
Media
Poppy Harlow Is Leaving CNN
The anchor was offered a new role following the cancellation of CNN’s morning show, but has instead decided to leave the network.
Q & A
Inside the Brutal Business Practices of Amazon—And How It Became “Too Toxic to Touch”
In an interview with Vanity Fair, reporter Dana Mattioli reveals how the company systematically stifles criticism, squeezes out competitors, and even pits its own employees against one another. “People tend not to last,” she says, “because it’s very aggressive and it can be bruising.”
Leaving CNN Was How I Found My Voice
Former anchor Brooke Baldwin exited the network after 13 years not because of Trump coverage or pandemic chaos, but because of something far more ordinary—and insidious.
Sports
Behind the Scenes With Caitlin Clark on WNBA Draft Day: “I Definitely Know There’s Eyeballs on Me”
Vanity Fair catches Caitlin Clark in the eye of a media storm, as she gets primped before taking the stage Monday night. The women’s hoops phenom talks about going pro and driving unprecedented interest to the sport. “I feel like I’m relatable,” she says.