CNN Cuts, Trump ’24, The Christmas Industrial Complex

Welcome back to The Daily Courant, your afternoon guide to the best work at Puck.
First up today, Bill Cohan looks at how the venture capital brain trust got FTX so wrong—the S.B.F. seduction, the spectacular failure of diligence, and, finally, the patented C.Y.A. non-apologies as their nine-figure investments are written down to zero.
Plus, below the fold: Dylan Byers contrasts the fortunes of Bob Iger and Chris Licht during a chilly holiday season for mediacos. Tina Nguyen scrutinizes the latest efforts of the G.O.P. to consciously uncouple from Trumpworld. Matt Belloni explores the Hollywood economics behind the explosion of Christmas schlock. And then Tara Palmeri joins Peter Hamby to discuss Kevin McCarthy’s attempts to win the fringe.

WILLIAM D. COHAN

A close reading of institutional investors’ remorse over the FTX implosion.

DYLAN BYERS

News and notes on a chilly holiday season for media C.E.O.s.

PETER HAMBY, TARA PALMERI, TINA NGUYEN, and BEN LANDY

Tara Palmeri joins Peter to discuss Kevin McCarthy’s tenuous position as he attempts to persuade the fringiest members of his caucus that he’s just likable enough to be Speaker. Then Ben Landy and Tina Nguyen get into whether Trump’s campaign is already toast.

TINA NGUYEN

The opening act of Trump’s campaign has been defined by characteristic missteps—Kanye, Nick Fuentes, Herschel Walker—but also uncharacteristic lethargy as a post-midterms, MAGA bunker mentality takes hold.