Actors’ Strike Math, R.F.K.’s Media War & Microsoft’s Triumph

Happy Monday, I’m Eriq Gardner. Welcome back to The Rainmaker, a private email about money, power, fame, and, most of all, the lawyers behind it all.
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Happy Monday, I’m Eriq Gardner.

Welcome back to The Rainmaker, a private email about money, power, fame, and, most of all, the lawyers behind it all.

This week, I’m honing in on the Hollywood front: labor strife, A.I., crypto, Microsoft M&A, plus Bob Iger, Fran Drescher, Lina Khan, Robert Kennedy Jr., Gary Gensler, Tucker Carlson, and more.

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First up…

Faces in the Crowd

A few days ago, I tuned in to watch the historic announcement of the first Hollywood actors’ strike in 43 years. What particularly caught my attention was a jolting remark from...

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Iger’s M&A Wiggle Room

Lina Khan, Biden’s wunderkind antitrust impresario, was long considered an M&A spoilsport. But Microsoft’s successful workaround in its attempted acquisition of Activision may pave a path for Iger to sell off ABC, ESPN, and much more.

ERIQ GARDNER

It’s somewhat ironic that Lina Khan, the brilliant 34-year-old progressive antitrust expert and presumed corporate dragon slayer, would end up presiding over one of the most aggressive, adventuresome periods of corporate consolidation. That’s not entirely her fault, of course, despite...

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FOUR STORIES WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Actors’ Strike Mailbag

Answering the most pressing strike questions.

MATTHEW BELLONI & JONATHAN HANDEL

Iger, Ego & Superego

Notes on the extension heard round the world.

WILLIAM D. COHAN

Fried Greene Tomatoes

On M.T.G.’s ouster from the Freedom Caucus.

TINA NGUYEN

Victoria’s Secret Suitors

Notes on the iconic brand’s M&A prospects.

LAUREN SHERMAN

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