R.F.K. Oppo Wars, Hollywood M&A Power Rankings, Bibi Under Fire

Welcome back to The Daily Courant, your afternoon memo featuring Puck’s latest reporting.

First up today, art correspondent Marion Maneker demystifies the pricing gambit from Sotheby’s owner Patrick Drahi—who is facing a mountain of debt at both his auction house and his public company, Altice—to maximize Sotheby’s revenue without increasing sales. Will Christie’s and Phillips follow suit?

Plus, below the fold: Julia Alexander foreshadows Peacock’s M&A endgame. Teddy Schleifer reveals the Dems’ oppo campaign against R.F.K.’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan. Peter Hamby dissects an exclusive poll revealing how voters actually feel about Trump’s use of campaign funds. On The Town, Matt Belloni and Lucas Shaw hash out the best and worst media mergers of the 21st century. And on The Powers That Be, Julia Ioffe joins Peter to dig into Iran’s attack on Israel: how it illustrates the region’s intractable tensions, Biden’s complicated relationship with Bibi, and much more.

MARION MANEKER

Facing a mountain of debt both on his private auction house and public company, Altice, Sotheby’s owner Patrick Drahi is implementing a neat little trick to maximize revenue without increasing sales. Will it work? His competition isn’t sure yet…

JULIA ALEXANDER

How many streamers is too many? This quarter’s earnings season may finally hold the magical clue.

TEDDY SCHLEIFER

Three weeks ago, R.F.K. Jr. chose the well-connected (and very wealthy) but largely unknown Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. Now, top Democratic donors and operatives are debating whether to use their friends in Silicon Valley to get oppo on her—or ask them to pitch her on an “off-ramp.”

PETER HAMBY

The latest Puck/Echelon poll finds voters are finally engaged but just as unenthusiastic as ever… and, as the Stormy Daniels case goes to trial, giving a bipartisan thumbs-down to Trump using campaign funds for his legal fees.