Kingdom Koum, Ukraine Tea Leaves, Pre-Iowa Machinations

Welcome back to The Daily Courant, your afternoon download of Puck’s best new reporting.

First up today, data guru Julia Alexander picks apart the Paramount Global assets, searching for hidden value and unexpected content synergies between CBS, Nickelodeon, and the Taylor Sheridan content universe.

Plus, below the fold: Teddy Schleifer documents how reclusive WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum transformed into the next Sheldon Adelson. Julia Ioffe considers Ukraine’s next chapter after Congress stiff-armed Zelensky. And on The Powers That Be, Teddy joins Peter Hamby to chew over the final twists and turns in the presidential race ahead of Iowa: the fundraising, polling, and Nikki Haley’s path to the nomination.

JULIA ALEXANDER

Exploring the value, and content synergies, among CBS, Nickelodeon, and the Taylor Sheridan Cinematic Universe, among other assets within Paramount Global.

A MESSAGE FROM Instagram

New federal legislation will give parents a say in teen app downloads.

According to a new poll by Morning Consult conducted in November 2023, more than 75% of parents believe teens under 16 shouldn’t be able to download apps without parental permission.¹

Instagram wants to work with Congress to pass federal legislation that gets it done.

 
Learn More.

TEDDY SCHLEIFER

Jan Koum sold his business to Facebook for $19 billion with plans to retire at 45, play ultimate frisbee, and collect rare Porsches. Somehow, he became the next Sheldon Adelson instead.

JULIA IOFFE

With Congress stiff-arming Zelensky, and military funds running out, experts and members of the administration worry that, long-term, without additional aid, “the Ukrainians are doomed.”

PETER HAMBY & TEDDY SCHLEIFER

Teddy Schleifer joins Peter to dig into all the final fundraising, polling, and constituency machinations in Iowa as ’24 finally—finally—begins in earnest.