Topic: Black Widow

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) prepares for a strike that threatens to halt Hollywood production. This labor tension follows Scarlett Johansson's successful legal challenge against Disney regarding "Black Widow" residuals and the industry shift toward streaming.

A theory is proposed characterizing Communications Director Hope Hicks as a "Black Widow" figure within the White House, noting that men she is romantically or professionally linked to, such as Corey Lewandowski and Rob Porter, often face termination. Analysis of her body language, specifically placing a flat palm on a man's chest, is compared to similar gestures by Hillary Clinton. The discussion questions whether Hicks is intentionally "cleaning house" for the benefit of Ivanka Trump.

NBC is criticized for using fear-based promotion for the Sochi Winter Olympics by highlighting threats from "Black Widow" suicide bombers from Dagestan. The hosts deconstruct a local news package that links the Sochi threat to the Golden Gate Bridge to create local relevance. They argue that the network provides pre-packaged "B-roll" and scripts to affiliates to maximize anxiety and viewership for the upcoming games.