Biden’s Little Buddies, ESPN’s Talent Wars, E Street Blues

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

First up today, Eriq Gardner reveals the stranger-than-fiction succession and legal dramas behind Regency, the indie production company founded by Arnon Milchan, a billionaire former Israeli spy and Rupert Murdoch confidant. Can the Austin Butler-starring The Bikeriders rewrite the company’s narrative?

Plus, below the fold: Marion Maneker offers an insider’s guide to Phillips’ and Christie’s London art sales. Abby Livingston punctures the Democrats’ hysteria machine. On Impolitic, John Heilemann gets rock-and-roll legend Steven Van Zandt on the horn for a freewheeling chat covering his 60-year career. On Somebody’s Gotta Win, Tara Palmeri and Dylan Byers dissect the conservative media proxy war to influence Trump’s V.P. pick. And on The Powers That Be, John Ourand joins Peter Hamby to consider the delicate contract dance between ESPN and star broadcast talent Stephen A. Smith.

ERIQ GARDNER

Regency needs hits to elevate its narrative after a bungled succession and a series of flops. A new lawsuit suggests the indie production company may be facing real financial challenges, too.

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MARION MANEKER

A preview of the Phillips and Christie’s London sales, including a number of important works that may define—or rewrite—the narrative coalescing around the current art market.

ABBY LIVINGSTON

Bed-wetters or altruists, down-ballot Democrats are going out of their way to help the president, and seemingly without asking for anything in return, at least for now.

JOHN HEILEMANN

John is joined by the legendary guitarist, singer-songwriter, all-around rock-and-roll legend Steve Van Zandt, equally famous for his roles as Bruce Springsteen’s longtime sidekick and as Silvio Dante in The Soprano. Stevie reflects on how his remarkable, up-and-down, 60-year career as a musician, actor, and activist has placed him at or near the center of modern culture.