What does it really take to push a blockbuster media deal through today’s hostile antitrust environment? In this episode of Reputation Nation, Anne Marie and Stacy sit down with former FTC Chief Trial Counsel and WilmerHale partner Susan Musser to unpack the high‑stakes fight over the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount merger. They get into how regulators, state AGs, unions, and the White House all tug on the same deal and what smart companies do on the legal, communications, and stakeholder fronts to survive the regulatory maze with their reputations and transactions still intact.

This week on Reputation Nation, Anne Marie and Stacy unpack yet another 30 Under 30 fraud case and why investors seem to never learn their lesson. They dig into a first-of-its-kind trial over whether social platforms are deliberately built to hook kids, and how AI is quietly supercharging the “WebMD effect” in lawyers’ offices. Then they wrap with a sharp look at the new trademark arms race, from pop icons to Real Housewives, as everyone scrambles to lock down catchphrases, signatures, and everything else in between.

Anne Marie and Stacy are back with Fast Four—four stories, four takes, and four lessons in what not to do when the spotlight hits.

This week, Costco’s $5 rotisserie chicken lands in a “no preservatives” class action, Apple gets sued in a fight over platform power and camera tech, the early-2026 layoff wave proves “efficiency” can become a credibility crisis overnight, and the Lively–Baldoni saga gets even messier as “private” texts and voice notes become public fodder.

They’ll break down what happened, what it means, and what you should do differently before the headlines do it for you.

Episode 13. Fast Four.

On the final Fast Four of 2025, Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher break down a turning point for AI’s public image. Politicians, publishers, and the public are taking a harder line on accountability and governance when it comes to AI. The New York Times files another copyright lawsuit, The Washington Post’s new AI podcast is bending its own facts, state attorneys general are eyeing deceptive chatbots, and CNN is reporting that people are sick of the AI “slop” flooding their feeds. Anne Marie and Stacy close out the year with hard-earned lessons for anyone navigating AI risk and reputation in 2026.

Episode 12. AI Series.

Co-hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher examine how AI lawsuits can quickly evolve from legal problems into full‑scale reputation crises for companies in every industry. Using The New York Times v. OpenAI and Mobley v. Workday as case studies, they cover how long‑running battles over copyright, bias, and data demands test stakeholder patience, drive media coverage, and force leaders to manage fear, anger, and uncertainty around AI. Sharing practical insight into choosing the right spokesperson, handling government involvement, and keeping investors, employees, and customers informed, this episode of Reputation Nation will help leaders stay ahead of the next wave of AI-driven crises.

Episode 11. AI Series.

On this episode of Reputation Nation, Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher dig into how AI is rapidly becoming a high‑stakes legal, regulatory, and reputational risk for companies in every industry. They unpack Mobley v. Workday as a potential blockbuster AI hiring class action and The New York Times v. OpenAI as a case study in the new wave of AI copyright and training data lawsuits. Throughout the episode, they zero in on practical AI risk management, what in-house counsel, compliance teams, and communications leaders should be asking their vendors, hard‑wiring into contracts and governance, and doing now to protect corporate reputation before the next surge of AI litigation and regulation hits.

On this week's Fast Four episode, Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie and Stacy break down the Cracker Barrel rebrand backlash and why monitoring and mitigating online bot-driven narratives matters more than ever. They move through the Louvre jewel heist’s operational fallout, what Twitch’s federal defamation suit could mean for creators, and how Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau’s headline-grabbing romance could be a reputation reset for both public figures. Expect the unexpected, get crisis-ready, and learn why having the right advisors in place before a crisis hits can make all the difference.

Episode 9. Fast Four.

In the series finale of the Lively v. Baldoni saga, Reputation Nation hosts Anne Marie Malecha and Stacy Bratcher dissect the headlines, crisis moments, and reputational fallout from one of Hollywood’s most watched legal battles. From Blake Lively’s lengthy post-trial statement and Taylor Swift’s rumored deposition to the strategic choices facing Justin Baldoni, this episode reveals what goes into communications and legal decision-making when stakes are the highest and everyone is watching. Packed with actionable takeaways for leaders and communicators, don’t miss these expert insights on managing your message and reputation under pressure.

Episode 8. Lively v. Baldoni.