Dave Davies

So James gradually became a bit more public about his views. I mean particularly he put out a statement about Trump's remarks on the march in Charlottesville saying – Trump saying that there were very fine people in the Tiki Torch march there. And then there was another occasion when there were terrible forest fires in Australia.

And some media, I think the Daily Beast, asked for comment about, well, what about the fact that the Murdoch papers in Australia ignore climate change as an element of all this? What happened?

And some media, I think the Daily Beast, asked for comment about, well, what about the fact that the Murdoch papers in Australia ignore climate change as an element of all this? What happened?

And some media, I think the Daily Beast, asked for comment about, well, what about the fact that the Murdoch papers in Australia ignore climate change as an element of all this? What happened?

We are speaking with McKay Coppins. He's a staff writer for The Atlantic. His new article online is Growing Up Murdoch, James Murdoch on Mind Games, Sibling Rivalry, and the War for the Family Media Empire. We'll continue our conversation after this short break. This is Fresh Air. So let's get to the court battle that's at the heart of this story.

We are speaking with McKay Coppins. He's a staff writer for The Atlantic. His new article online is Growing Up Murdoch, James Murdoch on Mind Games, Sibling Rivalry, and the War for the Family Media Empire. We'll continue our conversation after this short break. This is Fresh Air. So let's get to the court battle that's at the heart of this story.

We are speaking with McKay Coppins. He's a staff writer for The Atlantic. His new article online is Growing Up Murdoch, James Murdoch on Mind Games, Sibling Rivalry, and the War for the Family Media Empire. We'll continue our conversation after this short break. This is Fresh Air. So let's get to the court battle that's at the heart of this story.

There was a plan in place for many, many years, a trust which said that when Rupert Murdoch passed away, that the voting rights in the company would be split among four siblings, Lachlan and James, the two boys, Liz, their sister, and then Prue, who was their sister from a previous marriage.

There was a plan in place for many, many years, a trust which said that when Rupert Murdoch passed away, that the voting rights in the company would be split among four siblings, Lachlan and James, the two boys, Liz, their sister, and then Prue, who was their sister from a previous marriage.

There was a plan in place for many, many years, a trust which said that when Rupert Murdoch passed away, that the voting rights in the company would be split among four siblings, Lachlan and James, the two boys, Liz, their sister, and then Prue, who was their sister from a previous marriage.

And to a lot of observers, that meant that it might be James who had the upper hand over Lachlan because it was assumed that the two sisters might work with him in terms of the future direction of the company. This was problematic for Rupert Murdoch, right? So he hatches a plan. What does he do?

And to a lot of observers, that meant that it might be James who had the upper hand over Lachlan because it was assumed that the two sisters might work with him in terms of the future direction of the company. This was problematic for Rupert Murdoch, right? So he hatches a plan. What does he do?

And to a lot of observers, that meant that it might be James who had the upper hand over Lachlan because it was assumed that the two sisters might work with him in terms of the future direction of the company. This was problematic for Rupert Murdoch, right? So he hatches a plan. What does he do?

Right. Now, we should note that it was an irrevocable trust, right? I mean it was not supposed to be meddled with and it spread the wealth in one way. But this involved the voting rights for control of the direction of the company would be four equal ways. And the only way in this irrevocable trust it could be amended would be if you could show – tell me if I have this right –

Right. Now, we should note that it was an irrevocable trust, right? I mean it was not supposed to be meddled with and it spread the wealth in one way. But this involved the voting rights for control of the direction of the company would be four equal ways. And the only way in this irrevocable trust it could be amended would be if you could show – tell me if I have this right –

Right. Now, we should note that it was an irrevocable trust, right? I mean it was not supposed to be meddled with and it spread the wealth in one way. But this involved the voting rights for control of the direction of the company would be four equal ways. And the only way in this irrevocable trust it could be amended would be if you could show – tell me if I have this right –

that the proposed change was in the interest of all of the beneficiaries. In other words, they had to show that putting Lachlan in charge was better for everybody, right?

that the proposed change was in the interest of all of the beneficiaries. In other words, they had to show that putting Lachlan in charge was better for everybody, right?

that the proposed change was in the interest of all of the beneficiaries. In other words, they had to show that putting Lachlan in charge was better for everybody, right?

What kind of communications were there among the parties? I mean did Rupert – I mean did he arrange a meeting with the four siblings? Did he approach them individually? I mean what do we know about how he presented it and how they reacted?