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The Battle for Kherson, McConnell vs. Thiel, a Hollywood Catch-22
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The Daily Courant

The Daily Courant

The Battle for Kherson, McConnell vs. Thiel, a Hollywood Catch-22

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to The Daily Courant, your afternoon guide to the most important work at Puck.

First up today, Julia Alexander digs into a stunning Hollywood milestone: more than half of Netflix’s library is now composed of original programming, and that percentage is rising every year. So what to make of the fact that audience dissatisfaction keeps rising, too?

Plus, below the fold: Julia Ioffe reports on the towering stakes of Ukraine’s new counteroffensive. And Teddy Schleifer chats with Peter Hamby about the bizarre, looming feud between Peter Thiel and Mitch McConnell over the electoral fates of Blake Masters and J.D. Vance—two Thiel acolytes, sure, but also candidates he wants off the dole.



Netflix’s Catch-22 Milestone

JULIA ALEXANDER

At last, after an ambitious 2016 proclamation, more than half of Netflix’s library is composed of original programming. And yet, the company faces a complex challenge: as originals grow, so does consumer dissatisfaction. But how else can they entice new subscribers?

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Zero Hour in Ukraine

JULIA IOFFE

There is understandable trepidation in Washington and Kyiv as Ukraine mounts a stunning counteroffensive. Should it succeed, it would solidify Ukraine’s reputation as the military comeback kid. If it fails, it could make this winter’s triumph look like a fluke—and embolden Putin for a new wave of horrors.



Netflix’s Life Event & McConnell vs. Thiel

PETER HAMBY & TEDDY SCHLEIFER

Teddy Schleifer and Peter Hamby dissect the Thiel-McConnell financial standoff that might determine the electoral fates of Blake Masters and J.D. Vance. Then Ben Landy and Julia Alexander discuss Netflix’s complex mid-life relationship with original series in a multi-streamer universe.



The Fugees, 1MDB, and a Legal Saga of Our Times

ERIQ GARDNER

Pras Michel is in legal hot water over his connection to Jho Low, the disgraced Malaysian financier (and former Leo DiCaprio buddy). During his heyday, Pras was always the third Fugee. Now he’s about to be the star of one of the most spectacular trials of the year.

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Will NBC Nuke Its Last Hour of Primetime?

MATTHEW BELLONI

Matt hosts Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw for a rollicking discussion about whether NBC will eliminate its 10 p.m. programming slot and give it back to the affiliates.


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