Zucker’s Sir Charles Play, Spike vs. ESPN, Fresh Mar-a-Lago Agita

Happy Friday and welcome back to an especially packed issue of The Daily Courant, your afternoon roundup of Puck’s best new reporting.

First up today, Matthew Belloni digs into the standoff between Netflix and talent agents over the streamer’s new contingency compensation model. To many, it’s just a money grab by a company now worth more than $300 billion. Can the streamer articulate a rationale for why the talent community should take less money up front? Or is this a pure flex from the monster Hollywood created?

Plus, below the fold: Tara Palmeri gets inside Trump’s brain as his campaign struggles to regain its footing. John Ourand explores Jeff Zucker’s imminent partnership with Charles Barkley’s production company. Matt examines whether ESPN will ever release Spike Lee’s pricey, definitely-not-apolitical Colin Kaepernick doc. And Lauren Sherman illuminates the pressure on Delphine Arnault to prove herself at Dior.

But wait, there’s more! On The Powers That Be, Tara joins Peter Hamby to discuss Trump’s fascination with the Nuzzi-R.F.K. Jr. scandal. On Fashion People, Lauren catches up with America’s favorite makeup artist, Bobbi Brown. And on Impolitic, John Heilemann is joined by polling guru Nate Silver, who offers an unnervingly precise take on how close the presidential race really is.

MATTHEW BELLONI

As the streamer prepares to introduce its new contingency compensation model, Netflix executives are giving the same old spiel about the company’s marketing and hit-making potential. But everyone, especially the people who represent talent, would benefit from an honest conversation about aligning interests.

A MESSAGE FROM INSTAGRAM

Starting in September, Instagram is launching Teen Accounts with built-in protections limiting who can contact teens and the content they can see. Plus, only parents can approve safety setting changes for teens under 16.

So parents can have more peace of mind when it comes to protecting their teens.

 
Learn More.

TARA PALMERI

In which Trump phones R.F.K. Jr. to ask about Nuzzigate, Lewandowski gets (temporarily) deplaned, another debate is debated, and campaign pollster John McLaughlin predicts a split-ticket victory in North Carolina.

JOHN OURAND

Sources tell me that Jeff Zucker is close to financing a new venture involving Charles Barkley’s production company—a move that would unite two third-act stars from different fields and add the latest piece to RedBird IMI’s evolving thesis.

MATTHEW BELLONI

A pricey seven-episode docuseries about Colin Kaepernick, produced by Spike Lee and Jemele Hill, won’t be released for at least another year—and ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro is open to the them shopping it elsewhere.