The McAfee Paradox, Art Legends of the Fall, CNN’s Defamation Migraine

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

First up today, Peter Hamby, John Heilemann, and Dylan Byers huddle up to share their immediate analysis of the climactic Trump-Harris debate in Philadelphia—the points landed and egregiously missed, the inevitable polling implications, the campaigns’ recalculations, and much more.

Plus, below the fold: Eriq Gardner digs into a surge of defamation cases against CNN, Netflix, ABC News, and Media Matters. Peter illuminates a stark truth about persuadable voters. Abby Livingston offers a high-level download on the most consequential House races. Marion Maneker details the fall’s most highly anticipated art exhibitions. On Somebody’s Gotta Win, Tara Palmeri chats with Julie Mason about the debate’s key moments and relays what the candidates’ advisors are currently thinking. And on The Varsity, John Ourand is joined by WaPo’s Ben Strauss to evaluate Jimmy Pitaro’s plan to turn ESPN into a streaming juggernaut and the incredible ascendance of Pat McAfee.

PETER HAMBY, JOHN HEILEMANN & DYLAN BYERS

In a very special episode, Peter is joined by John Heilemann and Dylan Byers to share their immediate analysis of the climactic Trump-Harris debate in Philadelphia—the vibes, the polling implications, the bounce scenarios and the known unknowns of it all.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

See all the ways we’re investing in America.

ERIQ GARDNER

Republican-appointed judges are greenlighting a surge of defamation cases against the likes of CNN, Netflix, ABC News, and Media Matters, revealing everything from private communications to the most sensitive internal documents.

PETER HAMBY

Despite the historic nature of this unprecedented topsy-turvy election, a staggering percentage of persuadable voters are not tuning in—and they’re definitely no longer tuning in on linear TV, making it harder than ever for the campaigns to find them.

ABBY LIVINGSTON

A concise and incisive chat with a pair of Inside Election analysts about the House races that will determine which party wins the gavel.