Our top story of the week is Sotheby’s finances, which are under close scrutiny lately because of the well-known debt woes of its majority owner, French telecom scion Patrick Drahi.

Also in this episode, we discuss the top-line auction results from Christie’s inaugural sale at its new Hong Kong headquarters. Plus, a new fundraiser featuring works by Jeff Koons, Amy Sherald, and Hank Willis Thomas aims to raise $1 million for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign and more essential industry news brought to you by podcast host, Margaret Carrigan, executive producer, Sonia Manalili, and the editors of Artnet PRO.

For more need-to-know intel, subscribe now  to The Back Room, our lively recap funneling only the week’s must-know intel into a nimble read you’ll actually enjoy delivered straight to your inbox every Friday.