Crooked Media has acquired the “FivethirtyEight Politics” podcast and will relaunch it under a new name, “Still Counting,” beginning September 9 on major streaming platforms. The weekly show will continue to be hosted by Nate Silver, Clare Malone and Galen Druke.
The podcast will premiere on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and other distribution platforms starting September 9, 2026. The acquisition marks a significant move for Crooked Media, the Los Angeles-based independent media company founded by former White House staffers, to expand its political commentary portfolio. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The “FivethirtyEight Politics” brand has a lengthy history in political journalism and analysis. Nate Silver launched the FivethirtyEight blog in 2008, establishing it as a destination for data-driven political coverage and election forecasting. The property has changed hands multiple times, with ownership passing to ESPN and later ABC News before becoming a licensed feature of The New York Times. The podcast iteration had operated under various corporate structures as the intellectual property moved among media companies.
No direct quotes from Crooked Media executives or the podcast hosts were included in the announcement. The acquisition was first reported by Variety on August 25, 2026, with limited commentary from the parties involved regarding the strategic rationale or future direction of the show under its new ownership and branding.
The rebranding and acquisition represent a notable shift in the competitive landscape for political podcasting. Crooked Media operates several successful political commentary shows, including “Pod Save America” and “Offline,” making it a natural home for election-focused content. The move signals continued consolidation in the podcast industry, where established independent media companies acquire established franchises to strengthen their content portfolios and listener bases. For listeners, the transition means continued access to Silver’s election analysis and political commentary under different branding and company stewardship.
The podcast industry has seen increased acquisition activity as companies seek to build robust content libraries capable of attracting advertising dollars and subscription revenue. Crooked Media’s acquisition of the FivethirtyEight Politics podcast fits broader industry trends toward consolidation among independent podcast networks. Political podcasting remains a particularly competitive segment, with numerous shows competing for audience attention during election cycles and periods of heightened political interest.
No specific audience metrics or financial figures regarding the show’s performance were disclosed in the acquisition announcement. Details about advertising structure, production changes or additional content investments under Crooked Media were not provided in available reports. The timing of the acquisition, roughly 10 weeks before the September premiere date, suggests preparation work was already underway for the September 9 launch on multiple platforms.
The transition from FivethirtyEight to Still Counting represents a continuation of Silver’s influence on political media despite the brand change. For podcast industry professionals and producers, the acquisition underscores the ongoing value of established political commentary shows with recognizable hosts and track records of audience engagement. Crooked Media’s willingness to acquire and rebrand an existing property rather than launch a new show suggests confidence in the hosts’ appeal while also providing an opportunity to build the show under the company’s own production and distribution infrastructure. The September 9 launch will test how successfully the show’s audience follows the hosts to the new platform and branding.
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