Welcome back to The Daily Courant, your afternoon medley of Puck’s best new reporting.

First up today, Dylan Byers previews the next chapter for the Murdoch clan following the abrupt $3.3 billion denouement of the family’s succession saga. Now that Lachlan has secured the Fox Corporation and News Corp empire, and his siblings have pocketed 10-figure payouts, everyone can spin this as a win—but, as Dylan notes, that doesn’t mean the “objecting children” will vanish altogether.

Plus, below the fold: Bill Cohan and Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall consider the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery once it’s finished prying itself apart. Leigh Ann Caldwell reveals how Ezra Klein’s shutdown op-ed bombshell divided the Democratic caucus. Rachel Strugatz profiles the Michael Jordan of the facelift industry. Exclusively for Inner Circle members, Marion Maneker uncovers a surprising trend in the latest art market data. And on The Powers That Be, Peter Hamby and Eriq Gardner break down the flurry of high-stakes copyright lawsuits against the A.I. company Midjourney.

MEDIA

The Murdoch family’s long-running power struggle ended with Lachlan establishing control of Fox and News Corp, underscoring Rupert’s enduring leverage—and leaving James estranged, still defined by opposition to his father’s empire.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

Starbucks Serves More than Coffee at NYFW with Siren-Inspired Custom Couture Dress

Starbucks partnered with American designer Zac Posen and celebrity stylist Erin Walsh to create a custom couture gown inspired by the iconic green Starbucks Siren in its logo. Capturing the Siren's magnetic energy, the gown blends mythical charm with modern elegance — crafted in the rich, iconic Starbucks green, the gown is sure to turn heads and spark conversation.

The Starbucks Siren, the iconic, twin-tailed mermaid featured on the company's logo since it was founded in 1971, is inspired by a 16th-century Norse woodcut and the maritime history of coffee trading.

Learn more news about Starbucks here.

WALL STREET

Wall Street is running the odds on what’s to become of Warner Bros. Discovery once it finishes prying itself apart. Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall provides an intriguing menu of options.

WASHINGTON

Ezra Klein has become something of a spiritual advisor for Capitol Hill Democrats, many of whom have him on speed dial. So when he calls for a shutdown in the pages of the Times, and attendant multimedia channels, lawmakers actually listen—and agonize.

FASHION

The rise of Dr. Steve Levine, the Park Avenue architect of the $300,000 facelift, and the dawn of “the undetectable era.”

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

Starbucks Serves More than Coffee at NYFW with Siren-Inspired Custom Couture Dress

Starbucks partnered with American designer Zac Posen and celebrity stylist Erin Walsh to create a custom couture gown inspired by the iconic green Starbucks Siren in its logo. Capturing the Siren's magnetic energy, the gown blends mythical charm with modern elegance — crafted in the rich, iconic Starbucks green, the gown is sure to turn heads and spark conversation.

The Starbucks Siren, the iconic, twin-tailed mermaid featured on the company's logo since it was founded in 1971, is inspired by a 16th-century Norse woodcut and the maritime history of coffee trading.

Learn more news about Starbucks here.

ART

Auction results so far this year paint a mixed picture, offering reasons for sobriety as well as optimism. Are we looking at a “bloated infrastructure struggling to support itself” or a “buyer’s market”?

HOLLYWOOD

Eriq Gardner joins Peter to break down a handful of blockbuster A.I. lawsuits: WBD, Disney, and NBCUniversal are unloading their legal artillery on Midjourney over claims of copyright infringement, while a group of authors eye a windfall from Anthropic, which was accused of ripping off millions of books to feed its chatbot. Eriq explains how the outcomes of these cases could rewrite the rulebook for A.I. regulation moving forward.

Need help? Review our FAQ page or contact us for assistance. For brand partnerships, email ads@puck.news.

You received this email because you signed up to receive emails from Puck, or as part of your Puck account associated with {{customer.email}}. To stop receiving this newsletter and/or manage all your email preferences, click here.

Puck is published by Heat Media LLC. 107 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10006