Trump’s Antifa Head Fake & Activision’s $69B Nightmare

Apr 1, 2026

Netflix Price Pains, Altman’s Comeback Plan, MLB’s A.I. Debate

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

The Best & The Brightest: U.S. officials are moving to add “antifa” to the list of top counterterrorism priorities for every intelligence agency—a stunning change that experts fear could be a pretext for cracking down on domestic dissent. Julia Ioffe has the exclusive on the classified debate ricocheting around Washington. [Read More]
What I’m Hearing+: The legal battle over Activision Blizzard’s $69 billion sale to Microsoft has evolved into something much more explosive. Eriq Gardner reveals the latest twists, including an unexpected Epstein files cameo. [Read More]
The Hidden Layer: In the past three months, Anthropic has eclipsed OpenAI as the go-to A.I. shop for businesses—fueled, in part, by a positive P.R. super-cycle after Pete Hegseth declared the company a “supply chain risk.” Ian Krietzberg measures the adoption curve and digs into Sam Altman’s comeback strategy. [Read More]
The Varsity: As Netflix continues to increase its prices, industry insiders are openly wondering how much more the world’s most dominant streamer can squeeze out of its customers before they revolt. Julia Alexander breaks down why the strategy is working—and why more price hikes are inevitable. [Inner Circle Exclusive]

Health care can feel stressful and complicated – especially when patients lack clear information about their care or what it will cost. This uncertainty can create barriers to getting the right treatment. By offering intuitive digital tools with upfront information, UnitedHealth Group is making health care easier to navigate. This empowers patients to make confident decisions, often helping them save hundreds of dollars each year.

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Line Sheet: The cult-favorite hippy running brand District Vision is opening its first flagship store in Los Angeles’s Arts District this month. Malique Morris assesses whether the brand can sustain its growth without compromising its anti-capitalist ethos. [Read More]
Wall Power: An exhibition exploring the friendship between Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot just opened at the Cleveland Museum of Art, while a rare show of Georges Seurat’s seascapes debuted at the Courtauld Gallery in London. Marion Maneker shares his insider preview of both shows. [Read More]

Meanwhile, on the pods…

The Varsity: John Ourand rings up ESPN’s Jeff Passan to discuss everything from MLB’s new robo umps and pitch clock to baseball’s streaming future—and whether we’ll soon see professional players at the Olympics. [Listen Here]

WASHINGTON

Julia Ioffe

Trump’s Antifa Terror

Even as war rages across the Middle East, raising fears that Iran could activate sleeper cells in the U.S. and Europe, the Trump administration is quietly working to designate antifa as a top counterterrorism priority—despite the protestations of experts who say this is a pretext for targeting domestic dissent.

HOLLYWOOD

Eriq Gardner

Bobby Kotick’s Call of Duty

After Microsoft’s 2023 acquisition of Activision, the game maker’s former C.E.O. came under legal fire for allegedly rushing the deal ahead of negative news about the company’s bro-ey culture. The ensuing lawsuit has now gone thermonuclear, with a featured role for superlawyer Alex Spiro… and the Epstein files.

A.I.

Ian Krietzberg

Is Anthropic Too Big to Fail?

In the past three months, Anthropic has eclipsed OpenAI in the crucial contest of enterprise adoption. But the race to win hearts and corporate workflows is only just beginning.

A MESSAGE FROM UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

For many families, navigating appointments, providers and costs can feel confusing and unpredictable. UnitedHealth Group is working to make health care both easier to navigate and more affordable. By using the company’s digital tools, parents can find nearby providers and view expected costs before ever scheduling care. Having this clear information in one place empowers them to make confident decisions and often save hundreds of dollars each year.

Learn more.

SPORTS

Julia Alexander

Netflix’s Price Is Right

The world’s most dominant streamer keeps hiking its prices, and industry insiders are openly wondering how much more the company can squeeze from its customers before they revolt. Based on the data, however, there seems to be plenty of juice left.

FASHION

Malique Morris

District Fever

The vaguely hippy running brand District Vision, helmed by two fashion lifers, has built a cult following as it’s grown at its own, modest pace. With its first store opening and a continued skepticism toward outside investment, can it stay in the race?

ART

Marion Maneker

First Impressionists

Two exceptional new exhibitions—one on the relationship between Berthe Morisot and Édouard Manet, the other on Georges Seurat’s connection to the sea—invite us to reconsider three French masters.

SPORTS

John Ourand

Reinventing America’s Favorite Pastime

ESPN’s Jeff Passan joins John to break down the sweeping changes reshaping MLB—from the new robo umps to the ripple effects of the pitch clock. They also discuss Netflix’s MLB debut and baseball’s evolving streaming future, the global momentum of the World Baseball Classic, whether Olympic participation is finally within reach, and much more.

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