Sam Altman’s State Media & Goodell’s Hollywood Haters

Apr 6, 2026

The Hasan Piker Paradox, Crypto’s G.O.P. Retreat, Banana Republic’s Blue Period

Welcome back to The Daily Courant, your afternoon guide to Puck’s best new reporting. Here’s what you need to know…

In the Room: Last week’s intra-Democratic debate over Hasan Piker, the controversial far-left streamer, largely missed the point, Julia Alexander argues. Yes, MS NOW’s primetime audience is roughly 25x bigger than Piker’s viewership on Twitch. But, as Julia explains, there’s a reason TV executives are tripping over themselves trying to cut deals with podcasters. [Read More]
The Best & The Brightest: Washington has been quietly undergoing a tectonic shift since 2024, when pro-crypto super PACs pummeled Democrats. Leigh Ann Caldwell exclusively reports on how the crypto industry is starting to hedge its bets as they contemplate a G.O.P. midterm wipeout. [Read More]
Line Sheet: Nearly a decade after its $2.9 billion sales peak, Banana Republic has lost ground to cooler brands, resale mania, the D.T.C. boom, and shifting consumer habits. Sarah Shapiro explains how the legacy mall brand can reclaim its mojo. [Read More]
Wall Power: As New York City galleries emerge from a somnolent late-winter period and prepare for the May sales, a wave of exciting new shows has popped up around town. Marion Maneker tours the exhibitions getting collectors worked up. [Read More]

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

JPMorganChase launched a $1.5 trillion, 10-year plan to facilitate, finance and invest in industries vital to national economic security.

Meanwhile, on the pods…

The Varsity: John Ourand connects with Kentucky Wildcat legend and NBA veteran Jamal Mashburn to assess the increasingly tenuous state of college basketball. [Listen Here]
Impolitic: John Heilemann sits down with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to discuss his city’s harrowing battles with ICE, C.B.P., and Donald Trump. [Listen Here]
The Powers That Be: Peter Hamby and Jon Kelly trade theories about OpenAI’s acquisition of the tech-bro streaming show TBPN before turning to how the NFL’s veritable shakedown of its media partners will impact Hollywood studios. [Listen Here]

MEDIA

Julia Alexander

The Hasan Piker Paradox

In a media economy increasingly oriented around fandoms rather than scale, the controversial leftist Twitch commentator may offer a model for slumping TV news brands in desperate need of adrenaline.

WASHINGTON

Leigh Ann Caldwell

Crypto’s Midterm Open Marriage

Democrats have been quietly making amends with the industry after getting pummeled by pro-crypto super PACs in 2024. Meanwhile, crypto lobbyists are starting to hedge their bets as they contemplate a post-midterms landscape in which their G.O.P. allies are no longer in charge.

FASHION

Sarah Shapiro

There’s Always Money in the Banana Stand

Once a respected, middle-market power player and sentimental benchmark of suburban childhoods, Banana Republic is now a well-marketed, slightly adrift mall brand still searching for a signature—and a reason to matter.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

JPMorganChase launched a $1.5 trillion, 10-year plan to facilitate, finance and invest in industries vital to national economic security.

ART

Marion Maneker

Last Lichtensteins

While the New York galleries prepare for an influx of traffic around the May sales, a number of surprising shows have popped up around town.

SPORTS

John Ourand

Mashburn’s N.I.L. Market Theory

Kentucky Wildcat legend and NBA veteran Jamal Mashburn joins John to break down the strange duality of college basketball, where the business is increasingly chaotic but the on-court product has arguably never looked better. He explains how mid-majors can navigate the N.I.L. maze, emphasizes the growing premium on education and career development for student athletes, and reflects on how his own playing career laid the groundwork for his second act as an entrepreneur.

WASHINGTON

John Heilemann

Jacob Frey: “If You Come for One of Us, You’re Coming for All of Us”

John welcomes Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to discuss his city’s harrowing battle this winter with ICE, C.B.P., and Donald Trump. Frey explains what it was like living under violent federal occupation; the combination of fierce resistance and neighborly love that enabled Minneapolis to not just emerge triumphant, but set an example for other cities around the country; and why the embrace of Bruce Springsteen—who kicked off his spring No Kings tour in the Twin Cities this week—was so vital and important.

MEDIA

Peter Hamby

Jon Kelly

The Powers that Be Daily, Starring Peter Hamby

Media Monday: TBPN’s Sugar Mama & Goodell’s Hollywood War

Besties Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby reunite during the Final Four to trade hypotheses on why OpenAI acquired TBPN, the vodcast/maximalist media company, and what the trade could ordain for the media M&A market. The duo also discuss how Roger Goodell’s media partner shakedown will impact Hollywood studios.

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