Third Point Loebotomy, Cruise vs. Nolan, a Cable News Endgame

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

Today, we lead with Julia Alexander’s shrewd prognostications for the post-linear, streaming future for cable news. Can Chris Licht’s successor pivot CNN from a declining cable model without sacrificing the brand?

Then, below the fold: Teddy Schleifer distills the latest ’24 donor dish, from Jack Dorsey’s R.F.K. endorsement blowback to the sudden departure of a Dan Loeb consigliere. And on The Powers That Be, Matthew Belloni and Peter Hamby wonder if this summer’s slate of wannabe blockbusters will revive the box office, before turning to Tom Cruise’s furious campaign to muscle out Christopher Nolan in the battle for the big screen.

JULIA ALEXANDER

Notes on the future of television news in an era of linear decline, streaming mega-platforms, and inevitable reinvention.

a message from our sponsor

For Your Consideration in All Categories

Including BEST DRAMA SERIES and BEST ACTOR for Kevin Costner, BEST ACTRESS for Kelly Reilly
Kevin Costner GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

TEDDY SCHLEIFER

News on the blowback facing Dorsey, a billionaire G.O.P. hopeful with Silicon Valley ties, and a high-profile departure in Dan Loeb’s inner circle.

PETER HAMBY & MATTHEW BELLONI

Matt Belloni joins Peter to discuss whether a string of wannabe blockbusters can revive the summer box office. Then they get into Tom Cruise’s furious campaign to muscle out Christopher Nolan in the battle for the big screen.

ERIQ GARDNER

The so-called merger is already facing trouble with the board, pushback from players, and scrutiny in Washington. Next come the regulators—and the inevitable lawsuits.