We are excited to welcome @jlafayette to our suite of expert writers @TheWrap. Today he launches "The Ledger" our new finance newsletter, covering Wall Street, M&A, investment. Today he kicks off talking to Chris Marangi, co-chief investment officer of GAMCO (Gabelli Asset Mgmt.

After a controversial run at Warner Bros., David Zaslav was eyeing an $887M exit amid the $110 billion Paramount merger. Shareholders said no. TheWrap's @sharonwaxman, @RogerWCheng, and @Lmanfredi7 analyze what it means for the Paramount merger—and what comes next:

David Zaslav spoke to me for a @nytopinion piece about how things turned out with buying Warner Bros - with Hollywood for the worse, him for the better.

The pressure on "You, Me & Tuscany" to be the bellwether for Black rom-coms is unfair and unrealistic, illustrating how far Hollywood's diversity push has fallen. Jeremy Fuster takes a deep look at why studios continue to ignore a big rev opportunity. thewrap.com/creative-content…

Does Quilty, the AI tool that purports to analyze your screenplay, work? @RogerWCheng tested it, and the results were, uh, not good! Of 'Sinners,' it suggested Ryan Coogler's Oscar-winning script lands ‘like a Tarantino wannabe without his rhythm.’” thewrap.com/industry-news/te…

Quilty AI promises to read your script and give you financial and creative feedback. We fed it three blockbusters and one bomb, and the results shocked us. @TheWrap thewrap.com/industry-news/te…

RIP Sora: A platform caught between innovation and IP control, abandoned almost as quickly as it rose. The news, coming just days into Josh D’Amaro’s new tenure as CEO, marks a stunning end to what was seen as a potential model for how media and AI companies could co-exist. Read the full analysis by @RogerWCheng and @DrewTailored: bit.ly/3PnWXEp

Forgot this piece on our trip inside Fukushima aired on CBS @RogerWCheng cbsnews.com/video/inside-fuk…

I'm extremely proud to introduce a new initiative at @TheWrap : Trade Secrets. The ongoing series will tackle the biggest questions that come up when navigating Hollywood. Jose Alejandro Bastidas looks at how to get the elusive green light for a TV show. thewrap.com/creative-content…

As Hollywood debates what AI might take away, filmmakers across Africa are using it to build what they were never given. From Dakar to beyond, creators are tapping emerging tools to unlock visual effects and stories once reserved for studio budgets, reframing AI not as a threat to creativity but as a lever for access and global attention while navigating new challenges around cost, bias and authorship. Read the deep-dive from @RogerWCheng: bit.ly/4qtuee3

The AI revolution is affecting everyone in Hollywood but rather than focus on fear, I chatted with African creatives who have used to AI as a springboard to the global creative scene and build communities around the technology in my latest @TheWrap story. thewrap.com/industry-news/te…

Seismic shift at Disney: As widely expected, the media giant anoints Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro as the new CEO to succeed Bob Iger. Dana Walden takes on the newly created role of president and chief creative officer. thewrap.com/industry-news/bu…

Update on CBS/Attia: “It’s Bari versus everyone right now on Attia,” said a second individual with knowledge. The sense inside Paramount is that CEO David Ellison will have to make this call. thewrap.com/creative-content…

The California Post is launching on Monday. How will liberal LA receive the conservative-tilting paper styled after the New York Post? Corbin Bolies got an exclusive interview with EIC Nick Papps on his strategy. thewrap.com/media-platforms/…

My latest TheWrap take on the Netflix-Paramount-WBD saga: A breakdown of the pros and cons of each bid, and the kind of factors WBD shareholders need to keep in mind as they weigh sticking with Netflix's agreed deal or tendering their shares to Paramount. thewrap.com/paramount-netfli…

Thrilled that @thewrap won best website at the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards 7 other awards, including a piece on the creator economy that was the very first story I edited here! thewrap.com/thewrap-wins-bes…

Trump blasting Paramount right now because "60 Minutes" aired an interview with MTG: "THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THE OLD OWNERSHIP, who just paid me millions of Dollars for FAKE REPORTING about your favorite President, ME! Since they bought it, 60 Minutes has actually gotten WORSE!"

Paramount is mounting a hostile bid for WBD, using the same $30 offer it submitted. A lot will depend on shareholder belief in the potential value of the cable biz and how much easier #PSKY can get through the regulatory process. thewrap.com/paramount-hostil…

A late-breaking, but big story: Netflix has won the Warner Bros. Discovery bidding war, securing an exclusive window to discuss a final deal to acquire the legacy media giant. Story by me and @sharonwaxman with an assist from Lucas Manfredi. thewrap.com/netflix-wins-the…

Just to be clear, @paramountco @Skydance had been talking the the Middle East funds for months; thats not new. What $PSKY was denying was that the combined group was bidding $30 a share, or $70 billion plus for @wbd, and that the ME funds and the Ellisons had agreed to specific terms. That's wrong; in fact yesterday preliminary bid was in the $25 range. It was presented as "The Ellison Family" with no partners, because there is no agreement on a partnership deal. Adding foreign money to this transaction of any size--as was reported--would be fraught. It would invite not just the DOJ antitrust review but CIFIUS