Happy Monday, I’m Eriq Gardner.

Welcome back to The Rainmaker, a private email about how those in power are staying on the right side of the law—or calling crafty attorneys when they don’t. (Was this email forwarded to you? Click this link to subscribe.)

In this week’s edition, it’s Hollywood on strike! Again, because there’s nothing showbiz likes more than a sequel. Plus, a Supreme Court justice’s Pirates of the Caribbean prophecy, Barstool Sports’ right to smear, a rapper’s non-delight, and finally, the new wrinkle in Bob Iger’s war with Ron DeSantis.

But first…

• The grudge match between actor Michael Rapaport and Barstool Sports is exploring the line between trash talk and defamation. Back in 2017, Rapaport taped podcasts for Dave Portnoy’s bro media platform, but the relationship quickly deteriorated, with Barstool Nation soon...

What’s on the table? Basic wage increases, of course, “mini room” working conditions and downstream residuals. But that’s just for starters, with A.I. coming into view, and the directors’ and actors’ guilds soon airing their own grievances. While their contracts are up June 30, the writers’ agreement expires tonight...