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Voters in 2 Democratic strongholds could ban transgender girls from girls school sports
Colorado and Washington are reliably Democratic states where elected officials have rejected moves to ban transgender women and girls from female sports competitions. Now activists have gone around lawmakers to put proposed bans on both states’ ballots.
How to watch every ‘Rambo’ movie in order, from ‘First Blood’ to ‘Last Blood’
The ‘Rambo’ franchise spans five movies and more than 40 years, with a prequel on the way in 2027. Revisit Sylvester Stallone’s action-packed saga, from ‘First Blood’ to ‘Last Blood.’
Multiple Browns injury updates surface ahead of Week 7 matchup
The Cleveland Browns made several roster moves Saturday ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the Tennessee Titans , activating running back Dylan Sampson from injured reserve while placing offensive guard Teven Jenkins on injured reserve. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday via X, formerly known as Twitter, that Cleveland also elevated […] The post Multiple Browns injury updates surface ahead of Week 7 matchup appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Netflix’s Leadership Shake Up…Explained
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Well, I had a simple article planned for this week. Called “Whoa, I Missed It!”, I’d take a gander at a few important-but-under-the-radar stories I didn’t cover while I wrote about all things “Skydance. (Formerly known as “the saga of Netflix trying to buy Warner Bros., but not Discovery, then Paramount-Skydance bought all of Warner Bros. Discovery”.) Alas, that article will have to wait. Netflix made news. Ironically, my “Whoa, I Missed It!” article would have mostly been about “content” strategy decisions, which is also what today’s article is about. But instead of the entire industry, this article will only cover Netflix’s decision to upend their film and TV content teams. Just that! So that’s the full topic of the day. I’m going to tackle the issue in the opposite direction of the way “stuff” flows: uphill. We’ll start at film, then move onto TV, and then onto the CEOs themselves, and the strategy questions that still remain. But we start with the numbers driving this. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Netflix Upends Their Corporate Hierarchy I’ve got a lot of thoughts, but we’ll start with the most common response to yesterday’s article. Let’s Talk Stock Price More than one person, responding to what I published two days ago, pointed out that, well, actually, the thing driving Netflix’s actions is this: In short, stock price! Even if Netflix isn’t obsessed with their own share price—they probably are, but, for the record, my strategic advice to every CEO is to absolutely ignore stock prices, which will, ironically, probably help the stock price long-term—most everyone thinks they are. By the way, I prefer market capitalization to stock prices, because it’s a more apples-to-apples way to compare companies: But there’s an even better way to look at it, and it kinda casts some doubt on the entire push here: price-to-earnings. I have a long list of articles that I wish I had written, and chief among them is an article titled, “Am I Still a Netflix ‘Bear’?” meaning someone who thinks Netflix’s stock is overvalued. As of last summer, Netflix had solved their biggest problem—which for me (circa 2019) was the lack of free cash flow—but their stock was CRAZY overvalued. That’s this chart here: Why did Netflix’s stock price increase to a price-to-earnings ratio of 50 last summer? What financial metric changed so quickly? Nothing. Given that, historically, mature entertainment companies average 10 to 20, with 16 being the average, that increase made little sense. Netflix’s stock swoon these last eight or so months wasn’t irrational; the stock price rise last year was. So if you want a really hot Netflix take, here it is: Netflix’s stock price has been going down because the financial industry recovered its senses, not because of any strategic mistake. Yes, that would imply that cleaning house may have been a mistake. That’s why the charts yesterday are so important, because they show that Netflix did have a strategic problem (a lack of hits) and that’s what they moved to address. (One could also argue the industry drastically overrated Netflix’s growth prospects, but that’s a financial industry problem, not a Netflix strategy problem per se. Some growth estimates are just crazy. *cough* AI *cough*) Now, the last time Netflix’s stock price crashed—circa 2022—it gave them an opening. I’d argue Netflix insiders knew they needed to expand post-COVID-19 crisis, adding advertising, cracking down on password sharing, and dabbling in sports. But if they had done that when their stock price was high, it would give folks a reason to second guess their strategy. (Arguably, last year, when Netflix pursued the Warner Bros. merger, it gave the industry a chance to review their business.) Instead, after the 2022 fall, they had the opening to make strategic changes. We may see Netflix pivot again following this latest slide. For example, the “binge versus weekly” conversation is alive and well again. Same for expanding into theaters even more. And adding both linear channels and streaming bundles. And maybe more either social, user-generated, vertical, or creator content. But the first shift came with who is making the content calls. A Message from Our Sponsor Last winter Pulp Fiction was on Netflix. For those same 90 days, it was also free, with ads, on Pluto TV and the Roku Channel. That is not a glitch, and it is not rare. The title has run on 20 different US streaming services since 2019, across 80 separate windows, and for more than 600 of those days it sat on a paid subscription service and a free ad-supported one at the same time. Almost nobody can see this, because when a title leaves a service, the record that it was ever there tends to leave with it. Reelgood keeps that record, dated to the day rather than the month: 4MM+ movie, show and episode titles across 300+ services globally, with timestamped arrivals, departures and moves across SVOD, AVOD, TVOD and vMVPD. Licensing teams price against every prior window. Rights teams check what a licensee actually delivered, and when. Pick a title you think you know: data.reelgood.com/title-availability Film - Dan Lin Want to know why I don’t opine on individual film or TV executives, especially new hires? Dan Lin. As I always caution, it’s really, really, really tough to predict which executives will succeed in new roles and which won’t. The successful head of co-production/finance partner, Rideback, Lin was considered for the head of DC Studios job before taking the job as the head of Netflix. By all accounts at the time, this was a smart hire. (That’s my read of the news coverage anyways.) But now that Netflix has fired Dan Lin, we got a slew of news stories about how he was doing a terrible job. In sports media, Bryan Curtis, new Substack writer/podcaster from The Ringer, calls this the “now you tell us” story, when you only hear the bad news after a star athlete leaves a sports team. In this case, now they tell us that Dan Lin was bad with talent after he got kicked out the door. So was Dan Lin a flop? It’s actually tough to say. While film moves faster than TV, even two years isn’t really enough time to evaluate a person’s output. The new head hasn’t really taken control. As Emily Horgan noted, it takes much longer than two years to produce animated films, so yeah, it’s definitely too early to judge in that domain. As for live-action films, I just published an article by Brandon Katz called “Netflix’s Summer of Bummer”, but I’d point out Netflix had a bad summer two years ago too. Arguably, their best summer came from KPop Demon Hunters last year and Happy Gilmore 2, the latter of which I saw credited to Lin. Then, the stories came out that Dan Lin clashed with talent, both Ben Affleck and Greta Gerwig, classic “now they tell us” factoids to explain his firing. This may have been true, but also should have been expected given that he was given the mandate to bring budgets back in check, especially after Rebel Moon. So if he made folks upset, well, that’s what he was hired to do! But also, he was described as “well-liked” at his hiring! In that case, I’m a bit sympathetic to Lin, since he may have been undercut by senior leadership, as often happens. Basically, a CEO hires a subordinate to be their “bad cop” and keep budgets in check, but then when talent complains, the CEO ends up undercutting them. That’s how I think you end up with a Narnia movie as expensive as any of the other flops, along with a film executive the town no longer likes. As a result, I think that Netflix is now executing a classic “hire the opposite” move by hiring Peter Rice. This phrase comes from my experience following football and basketball coaching decisions, where teams generally hire the opposite of who they just had. If you have an offense-minded head coach, hire the defensive guy. Or in college football, if you have a strong recruiter, then you pivot to an “X’s and Os” type of guy. Or in pro basketball, if you have a very analytically minded coach, you hire the player-friendly guy. I see that here. After dropping Scott Stuber—arguably a talent-friendly executive with lax budget control—Netflix hired the business guy to keep costs in check. Now Netflix is pivoting back to Peter Rice and presumably a more talent-friendly regime. (Disney, by the way, has done this twice: hiring business guys to succeed talent-friendly Bob Iger. It didn’t work out last time.) When it comes to Peter Rice…we’ll see! Maybe he works out, but maybe he doesn’t. I’d actually say the biggest problem is that Netflix still hasn’t solved its “IP Problem”, in that they don’t own much IP, so they just have a lower hit rate. The new executive won’t solve that. (Though buying Lionsgate would help.) Share “Content” - Bela Bajaria I almost published yesterday’s article after this column, but ended up flipping the order, because it told the story so well. So if you want the data for why Netflix is looking at TV to fix their problems, it’s in that article, this graph in particular: I know I just wrote that it’s often hard to judge executives, but Bajaria ran TV for six years and film for three and a half more. That’s more than enough to judge hit rates, and Netflix needs more hits. That’s the story. Since 2023, Netflix hasn’t had as many hit shows as it used to, and many of its previous power house TV shows have ended their runs (Stranger Things most of all). Also, many shows from 2020 to 2022 probably pre-dated Bajaria’s tenure. (That said, one thing may have been outside of Bajaria’s control, which I explain below.) Let’s lump some content strategy thoughts about Netflix and TV into one place: We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Why I partially blame Squid Game for Netflix’s latest troubles… What is “the football trap”... Why it might not be the TV shows or films’ fault at all… What change I don’t think Netflix will make... How Bela Bajaria evolved Netflix’s TV strategy in smart ways… Whose departure likely submarined Bajaria’s final few years… One sneaky explanation for Netflix’s content struggles... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
Alaska Election Gambit Shows Justice Dept. Has Bowed to Trump’s Demands
With moves in Alaska and California, the department has stepped up interventions in the midterm elections as the president’s instrument of unmediated executive power.
1 player Packers must trade before 2026 NFL trade deadline
The Green Bay Packers have become an intriguing team to watch ahead of the November 10 trade deadline, with speculation linking them to Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat . This potential move has an unusual connection to the Micah Parsons trade, as Dallas is also being mentioned as a possible destination for Sweat while Green Bay awaits […] The post 1 player Packers must trade before 2026 NFL trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Food quality concerns unite Americans far beyond MAHA political support
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement emerged as part of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign following former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s endorsement of Trump.
Ukraine regains critical Starlink service after restrictions disrupt drone operations
Ukraine says Starlink connections are again stable on fast-moving military equipment after restrictions hindered operations against Russia.
Brian Thomas Jr. could be on the move
Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. is believed to be a trade candidate leading up to deadline
Chris Finch Praises Timberwolves' Ball Movement as They Route Magic.
Minnesota has been able to move the ball effectively.
Who’s coming back for ‘Shrinking’ season 4? What’s next for the Apple TV dramedy
The hit Apple TV dramedy ‘Shrinking’ is moving forward, just like its characters. We unpack everything we know so far about season 4, including who’s returning.
‘Wicker’ stars explain why women are ‘going slightly feral’ over Alexander Skarsgård’s character
‘Wicker’ stars Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Debicki explain why women are ‘going slightly feral’ over Alexander Skarsgård’s character in their new movie.
Brush up on Hunger Games series before 'Sunrise on the Reaping' movie hits theaters
It's nearly time to step back into the arena.
Julie Klausner to bring live table read of ‘Difficult People: The Movie’ to New York City
Julie Klausner, creator of “Difficult People,” is rounding up the cast for a live reading of “Difficult People: The Movie.”
These tiny snakes roll four times faster than they slither
Tiny snakes in Southeast Asia have mastered an extraordinary escape technique: rolling across the ground at speeds up to four times faster than ordinary slithering. Scientists discovered that dwarf reedsnakes accomplish this feat through precisely coordinated body movements that allow their bodies to rotate while their heads remain remarkably stable.
Oneida Health Quick Care celebrates move to new location
Oneida Health has announced the relocation of its Quick Care clinic to 357 Genesee St., just two minutes from its previous location. The new location, officials said, offers several enhancements for patients, including on-site X-ray services, additional parking, and a larger waiting room designed to improve comfort and convenience. "We are thrilled to welcome patients to our new Quick Care location," Oneida Health said in an announcement. "These improvements allow us to provide an even better experience while continuing to deliver the high-quality, walk-in care our community depends on."
Scientists propose a way to detect dangerous “mirror life” before it exists
Scientists have proposed a way to detect “mirror life,” a hypothetical form of life that could pose serious risks to humans, animals, and ecosystems if artificially created. Using special fluorescent molecules and a type of polarized light also used in 3D movie technology, researchers believe they could distinguish ordinary organisms from their mirror-image counterparts.
The 2026 campaign is getting ugly
If this year’s ugliness pays off for the GOP, it’s likely to get a lot worse moving forward.
Charles County Moves Forward With Employee Health Center
LA PLATA, Md. — Charles County commissioners took another step toward establishing a primary care center for county employees and their families Tuesday, Oct. 20, approving a contract with Marathon Health. The approval allows the county to move forward with planning and setting up the center. The proposed center would serve employees, retirees and family […]
Column: All treats, no tricks for spooky season
At least part of the magic of the movies comes from community — the communal experience of gathering in one place together with others and letting the story wash over
Politics and pedestrians: How traffic was removed from Oxford Street
More than a kilometre of the so-called "nation's high-street" will be pedestrianised from Monday.
George Russell reveals truth behind Horner's Red Bull approach
George Russell has played down Christian Horner's revelation that Red Bull approached his management over a potential move to the team in 2025, insisting that he never seriously considered leaving Mercedes and suggesting the discussions were simply part of the ongoing rivalry between Horner and Toto Wolff. In his newly released memoir Drive, the former Red Bull team principal revealed that he contacted Russell's representatives during last year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, at a time when
Phibro Animal Health (PAHC) Stock May Still Offer Value At This Price
Phibro Animal Health has seen its share price move around in recent years, and that raises a straightforward question for investors who focus on fundamentals. Is the current US$38.80 price tag adequately supported by the earnings the company is generating today? Over the past 3 years the stock has delivered a very large gain of 284.1%, which puts real pressure on the question of whether current earnings can carry that kind of re-rating. The business model is tied closely to recurring demand...
Oregon’s famous Carver Cafe, featured in 'Twilight' movie series, listed for sale
Carver Cafe, known for its appearance in “Twilight,” is for sale as its owner prepares to retire, but the business says it remains open.
Blazers Look to Build on Opening Night
Fresh off a dominant rout of Phoenix, Damian Lillard and Ja Morant lead Portland into Sacramento to test their elite ball movement against a struggling Kings backcourt.
Reno Experience District puts 12 acres up for sale as a pickleball facility moves forward
Good Sports: Clovis West champion Ryleigh Schoonover begins Fresno State journey
As another group of standout players from Clovis West girls' basketball moved on, Ryleigh Schoonover chose to stay close to home to play for Fresno State.
Rollins says USDA is 'full-bore ahead' on Forest Service reorganization
The Trump administration wants to move Forest Service headquarters from Washington to Salt Lake City, shutter 23 research stations, and close many regional offices and replace them with state offices.
‘Coming home again’: Seawell’s banquet hall moves back to South Carolina State Fairgrounds
The catering business left its Rosewood Drive location after more than 80 years.
Looters hit 3,000 French businesses. Within hours, the haul was trending on Vinted under the riot’s date
“Since this weekend, our teams have taken immediate action to identify and remove listings linked to the looting,” secondhand marketplace Vinted said.
Vikings Release Running Back Ahead of Colts Game
The Minnesota Vikings made a roster move at running back Friday afternoon, two days before hosting the Indianapolis Colts.
Endeavor nurses file petition to unionize four hospitals
Over 2,400 Endeavor Health nurses filed for unionization on Thursday. The move follows rumors of a merger with Rush University.
Indie Game Dev Takes Down Vibe-Coded Zombie Shooter After San Francisco Officials Condemn 'Dehumanizing' Game
The developer of a zombie game set in San Francisco has removed the game from online marketplaces and issued a public apology after city officials condemned the title for depicting its homeless people as ‘zombies.’
An N.J. mayoral candidate allegedly removed political signs. How hidden AirTags helped lead police to her
A New Jersey councilwoman and mayoral candidate is under investigation after being accused of removing political yard signs in West Orange.
Cook Political Report shifts Ohio governor’s race from toss-up to lean Democrat
The Cook Political Report is shifting a closely watched gubernatorial contest toward Democrats after a controversial campaign ad shook up the race. The nonpartisan election forecaster moved the gov…
Minnesota Wild Place Young Defenseman on Waivers
The Minnesota Wild made a roster move Friday afternoon, and it involves a young defenseman who has played every game this season.
Cook Political moves Ohio governor’s race after Ramaswamy attack ad
The race moved from “toss-up” to “Lean D.”
The Private Equity Playbook Most Small Business Owners Never Get Access To
What does the $650 billion wave of private equity capital moving into Main Street mean for owners who are unprepared for acquisition?
'I Play Rocky,' 'Mosquito Bowl' among movies at Round Top Film Fest
Peter Berg's 'The Mosquito Bowl,' 'Heartland' with Jessica Chastain, and a panel on the upcoming Mattress Mack movie are on tap.
How Connor Hellebuyck Trade Might Hurt/Help MN Wild
The Winnipeg Jets traded Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey, and the move could ripple all the way to Minnesota.
Why are tech entrepreneurs leaving California for Las Vegas?
Historically, about a third of people moving to Nevada from other states have come from California, primarily Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose.
Rockies Need Tovar to be Better Moving Forward
Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has declined as a player, and that needs to change soon.
Xbox Reportedly Asked Netflix for $800 Million for 7-Year Movie and TV Exclusivity Deal
Xbox reportedly asked Netflix for $800 million for a seven-year deal that would have given the streamer exclusive adaptations based on its games.
Mets can achieve A+ offseason with this 1 'obvious' move
This should be the Mets' No. 1 priority.
Scientists Just Found a Way to Destroy Over 90% of “Forever Chemicals” in Water
PFAS-destroying membrane from ASU uses palladium to chemically break down contaminants, not just filter them, achieving over 90% removal in 58-day tests.
Justice Dept. Moves to Block Certification of Alaska Senate Race Results if Republican Loses
The Justice Department, in a highly unusual court filing, argued that confusion over candidates with similar names could taint the election result.
Olivia Wilde's new movie The Invite hits streaming, here's where to watch
Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen serve up marriage drama and dark comedy in The Invite. Here’s how to stream it now with Sling.
Olivia Wilde's new movie The Invite hits streaming, here's where to watch
Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen serve up marriage drama and dark comedy in The Invite. Here’s how to stream it now with Sling.
Trump administration files lawsuit to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race
This move has sparked concerns about a lengthy battle between the U.S. government and states over election certification.
Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now
In this month’s picks, alien encounters, sinister deepfakes, fantastical time loops and postapocalyptic woe.
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Remains Atop Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through Oct. 23
Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day remained No. 1 for a second week on the Official Film Chart, the weekly U.K. home entertainment sales chart, through Oct. 23. The movie currently tops the 2026 global box office with $2.51 billion in ticket sales. At No. 2 was Warner’s Practical Magic 2, which made its retail debut. … Continue reading "‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Remains Atop Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through Oct. 23"
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Remains Atop Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through Oct. 23
Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day remained No. 1 for a second week on the Official Film Chart, the weekly U.K. home entertainment sales chart, through Oct. 23. The movie currently tops the 2026 global box office with $2.51 billion in ticket sales. At No. 2 was the retail debut of Warner’s Practical Magic 2, the … Continue reading "‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Remains Atop Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through Oct. 23"
I built 'stable' life and career, then quit; moved to Hungary
I spent years building a stable life in Scotland, then decided to quit my job and move to a new country. I'm struggling to find work, but I'm happier.
PSG v Lyon moved as Paris prepares for more protests
Paris St-Germain's Ligue 1 match against Lyon at the Parc des Princes is pushed back 24 hours as the French capital prepares for another weekend of protests.
Poll: Low-information voters have turned hardest against Trump and the GOP
In 2024, the voters who knew the least about politics were some of Donald Trump’s strongest supporters. A Data for Progress poll released just before the election found Americans who didn’t consume any news at all said they’d vote for Trump over Kamala Harris by a 20-point margin, 60%1 to 40%. In February, we reported that many of these voters had soured on Trump. Voters who couldn’t name the party in control of Congress moved away from Trump at about twice the rate as high-information voters. But approval isn’t vote choice. With the midterms less than two weeks away, it is worth asking if these voters are turning against the president’s party in federal elections, too. In our October Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll, conducted Oct. 13–19 among 2,028 U.S. adults, we asked respondents two factual questions about politics: which party has the most members in the House, and which has the most members in the Senate. I classified anyone who got at least one of these questions wrong as “low-knowledge.” About 30% of adults miss at least one question, including 25% of 2024 Trump voters, 22% of Harris voters, and more than half of people who didn’t vote in 2024. In this article, I do two things with this data. First, I repeat my February analysis and compare how these two groups feel about Trump’s job as president; then I look at each group’s voting behavior in the upcoming House midterms. Register for free to read the rest of this piece.
UK Board of Trustees approves joint venture with Signature HealthCARE
The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees today approved a joint venture between UK and Louisville-based Signature HealthCARE to develop and operate a 105-bed skilled nursing facility on UK’s Hamburg East campus in Lexington. The facility will expand access to skilled nursing care and help patients move from the hospital to the next stage of their recovery sooner.
Elizabeth Holmes confounds Hollywood with 'You Can See Everything'
Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids.
Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
There’s a Reason That Netflix’s Ad Business Has Underwhelmed
Somewhat lost in the company’s slew of firings and engagement warnings over the past few weeks was the fact that Netflix is scaling back its ad forecast for 2026 from $3 billion to $2.7 billion. That’s despite the fact that: CTV is growing by 14-15% this year This year saw a monster upfront Netflix is the biggest streamer out there this side of YouTube, and was the platform that for years brands were supposedly dying to be a part of In other words, that’s an alarming pull-back from Netflix. A Wall Street analyst I spoke with last week was blunt, calling Netflix’s ad business “disappointing.” To me, a red flag on the ad front is that Netflix has never revealed how many ad-supported subscribers it has. Because if I know anything about how big companies work, if they have a positive number that makes them look really good - they tend to share it. (How many subs does go90 have right now? We’re not saying just yet. How are ads going on ChatGPT? Oh, a billion run rate - I see). Yes, to date Netflix has shared some fuzzy ad numbers, such as the idea that the company’s ad tier ‘reaches’ 250 million users globally.’ Here’s why that figure gives me pause: a)they lead with global, and b) they don’t explain how they are calculated. (Are they based on average people in each room? Surveys of some kind?). Regardless, some insiders say that Netflix’s ad tier is scaling nicely - others not so much. Either way, one of Netflix’s biggest challenge on the ad front appears to have been its starting point. Remember, when Netflix launched ads in 2022, it had 73 million subs in the US and Canada. That’s 73 million people who were used to Netflix with zero ads. And when the ad product rolled out, the company clearly was going after new users - a limited pool of potential subscribers by default. That focus seems to have changed over time, as Netflix has tried to convert longtime subscribers to the ad tier. Historically Netflix subscribers are very sticky. But is the company’s low churn a problem? Not necessarily, according to Antenna data. Rather, Netflix’s consumer loyalty is a bit of a double-edged sword. “Netflix is the one streamer which actually has seen substantial “trade downs” but has much lower ‘win backs,’ said Antenna founder Jonathan Carson (win-backs being people who were on the ad-free plan, cancelled, then rejoined on the ad plan). “Netflix has lower churn and so has less opportunity to win back old subs with a lower cost plan option.” This all might explain why Netflix has been so slow to roll out all of these table stakes targeting options until just this week. It likely didn’t have enough users to carve up into various targets. etc. However, what really hit Netflix’s ad business was Amazon’s move a few years ago to turn on advertising for Prime Video by default. Suddenly the market was awash in premium inventory, and Netflix was playing catch-up on multiple fronts. Thus, the streaming giant appears to still be figuring out if if wants lead in ‘programmatic TV,’ or premium ‘upfront’ TV sales. “The CTV market now sorts into three businesses, and Netflix is not the leader of any of them,” wrote analyst Jack Myers. Ouch. So how does Netflix ratchet up its ads business? Get the next NFL package You’re gonna have to wait until 2030 unless one of the bigger media companies like Skydance opts out, but the easiest (not cheapest) way for Netflix to become a huge TV ads contender is to get one of the regular NFL packages, ideally Sunday afternoons. That way it can sell ads to its whole U.S. subs base overnight. Go FAST This one is risky, because to program a compelling FAST channel, you’d likely have to take some older Netflix exclusive shows and make them available for free to non-subscribers. But FASTs, for better or worse, are ad-inventory machines. Go full UGC I’m not sure I see this happening. There is something already off about Netflix carrying podcasts and shows for creators. The experience sticks out in what is such a produced, and generally non-communal environment. But Netflix could open up its platform by allowing creators to upload videos without having to be approved by the service. But that opens a whole other can of worms (policing brand safety, copyright infringement, overall quality). Make a huge RMN Deal I was going to suggest something crazy, such as ‘instead of buying Warner Brothers, Netflix should buy Target. But the company doesn’t want to be in the brick and mortar business. Yet for Netflix’s ad business to compete in an Amazon world, it needs to be able to connect ad exposures to shopping. What if, instead of letting Amazon target Netflix viewers with its DSP, Netflix inked a deal with Target, or even took control of Roundel, and created its version of the Amazon full-funnel for brands? Price us out. I hope they don’t do this, but Netflix’s price increases - while significant - haven’t been enough to push long-term customers out of the ad-free tier. But if they made those prices so prohibitive, it could push large swaths of consumers to trade down. Then again, that could also dent engagement - as binging becomes much less appealing once you bring ads into the equation. Or, they could just launch a bunch of hit shows and maybe everyone will quickly forget all this angst. More from Amazon unBoxed A few weeks ago, I recorded two podcasts live at Amazon’s unBoxed event in San Francisco. I was able to go really deep with several brand partners about how Amazon’s various data and ad products work - particularly the under appreciated Amazon Marketing Cloud. First, I talked with Laura Abadias Velilla, of the Amazon specialty agency Amerge, along with Amazon’s own Charlotte Maines, Vice President, Devices Content & Advertising, about how the two partners helped a very specific printer company Epson launch into a brand new category - high end projectors. It’s a great example of how brands connect audience data across platforms to make budget deployment decisions. Next, I chatted with Monks VP Head of Digital Investment for North America Tom Burchill about how the agency actually brought in data from Linkedin to help target B2B customers across various Amazon properties for the brand Quicken. Check it out: Check these out, or just listen:
The 'real' Spider-Man: Why Hollywood should look to the jumping spider
Imagine a new Spider-Man movie opening not with a laboratory accident involving a black widow, but with a tiny, fuzzy spider sitting quietly beneath a leaf. It has enormous eyes, extraordinary jumping ability, and a silk-producing system so sophisticated that scientists are only beginning to understand it.Meet the regal jumping spider, Phidippus regius — perhaps the most biologically convincing inspiration for Spider-Man that Hollywood has overlooked.
3 Quick Exercises to Do Daily to Build Bone and Muscle Health Mid-Life, According to a Longevity Expert
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, Dr. Vonda Wright, orthopedic surgeon and longevity expert, shares three movements to integrate into your daily routine to help you age better.
Vikings Get Strong Trade Deadline Take on Colts’ Jonathan Taylor
The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 coming off their bye week as they prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7. If the Vikings move to 6-0, could that entice general manager Nolan Teasley to make an aggressive trade to put this team over the top?Right now, despite being undefeated, the Vikings are likely behind […] The post Vikings Get Strong Trade Deadline Take on Colts’ Jonathan Taylor appeared first on HEAVY.
SpaceX bear flips to big bull because of AI business. Analyst now sees 70% gain
PhillipCapital moved its rating on the Elon Musk giant to buy from sell, with the bullishness stemming from the company's AI business.
Giants' Cutthroat Najee Harris Move is Surprisingly Refreshing
The New York Giants' decision to cut Najee Harris this week was surprisingly refreshing.
Florida's manufacturing ambitions take flight as aerospace, medtech giants fuel Sunshine State's economic push
Florida is moving beyond tourism as aerospace and medtech giants drive an manufacturing boom aimed at securing a top-10 global economic ranking by 2030.
You Are What You Eat: An Alternative to MAHA for Healthy Food and Fewer Chemicals
CAP’s science-based plan would remove corporate and political influence from regulatory agencies, guarantee food safety, protect Americans from harmful chemicals in everyday products, and empower families to make healthy choices.
Best scary movies on Paramount+ as of October 2026
From '90s classics like "The Faculty" to recent hits like "Smile 2," this list has something for everyone.
31 best horror movies on Prime Video as of October 2026
“Nope,” "Train to Busan," "Saint Maud," and more…
Best horror movies on HBO Max that'll give you nightmares
Seeking something scary? We've got you.
Opportunity profile: Moving regulatory science forward
Future thinking and collaboration are key in a £20 million call for centres of excellence
How the Decline of Western NY Defined Kathy Hochul’s Politics
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s vision for New York has been largely shaped by her upbringing in a failing western New York town and her family’s move up from a trailer park to affluence.
LeBron James: Donald Trump accuses Philadelphia 76ers star of moving during national anthem before NBA season opener
President Donald Trump has accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after the star continued warming up during the national anthem; watch the 2026/27 NBA season, including the Christmas Day games and the NBA finals, only on Sky Sports.
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas for England
England face Australia at the Women's Rugby League World Cup on Saturday determined to show they have moved on from the nightmare of their last meeting in Las Vegas 19 months ago.
Understanding Illicit Political Finance to Counter State Threats
In 2024, Western governments warned that Russia was actively interfering in Moldova’s elections, seeking to prevent the re-election of pro-European Union politicians. This interference targeted Moldova’s political system from multiple angles, including covertly funding political actors and protest movements. There were widespread reports of vote-buying, including cash payments of up to €100 to voters. Reports […]
Giorgia Meloni is Italy’s great political survivor. Could one man be about to bring her down?
With elections looming in 2027, Roberto Vannacci’s new far-right movement could fatally outflank the prime minister, says Riccardo Alcaro, head of research at Istituto Affari Internazionali
Hegseth staff damaged historic WWII-era Eisenhower globe trying to move it to his office
The globe was especially notable because it had green pen or marker notations where Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower marked areas in Europe, three U.S. officials said.
RFK Jr. adviser Calley Means resigns amid growing MAHA discontent over lack of progress
Calley Means, a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a chief advocate for the Make America Healthy Again movement, resigned from his position with the Trump administration Thursday.
Rep. Ilhan Omar says she will move out of her Washington, DC, home after federal search
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will move out of her Washington, D.C., home that federal agents searched last week, she said Wednesday, noting that attention brought on by the raid has made her feel unsafe there.
Stifel CEO Kruszewski talks sports and makes pitch for St. Louis’ future
The Stifel Charity Classic returned to Norwood Hills Country Club, with Stifel in its second year as title sponsor. The tournament is the opening playoff event on the PGA Tour Champions.
Some young men are moving away from Trump & Republicans
Polls show a stunning shift happening with young men, who were a key part of President Trump’s coalition in 2024, ahead of the November midterm elections. CNN’s Steve Contorno speaks with young men about the issues driving the shift in Michigan, where a critical Senate race is playing out.
YouTube removing ‘Subscriptions’ bottom bar tab on Android, iOS after nearly a decade
YouTube is making a number of changes to its Android and iOS apps, including moving Subscriptions out of the bottom bar.
Contractors removing old siding from Wausau business uncover decades old mural
Contractors removing old siding from Wausau business uncover decades old mural
Nurses at Endeavor Health’s hospitals in Evanston, Glenview, Skokie, Highland Park move to unionize
If the election is successful, nurses at Endeavor’s hospitals in Evanston, Highland Park, Skokie and Glenview would be represented by Teamsters Local 743.
Hamilton County removes $6.5M minimum bid for Business Development Center
Hamilton County is eliminating a $6.5 million minimum bid requirement for the county-owned building at 100 Cherokee Blvd. known as the Business Development Center, which the County Commission voted to declare as surplus in May.
MAHA's Calley Means resigns as a top RFK Jr. health adviser
Calley Means, a top advocate for the Make America Healthy Again movement, has resigned from his role a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Dodgers Provide Positive Update on Klein
Will Klein underwent a procedure to remove bone chips from his elbow, but the Los Angeles Dodgers expect the right-handed reliever to be ready for Spring Training.
MAHA Leader Calley Means Steps Down from Trump Administration Health Advisory Role
Calley Means, one of the key figures in the Make America Healthy Again movement, championed food policies in his role in the Administration.
MAHA Leader Calley Means Steps Down from Trump Administration Health Advisory Role
Calley Means, one of the key figures in the Make America Healthy Again movement, championed food policies in his role in the Administration.
Omnicom lands Coca-Cola’s North American media business, as WPP retains its global remit
The beverage giant's US and Canada media move to Omnicom as the holdco's CEO John Wren made the case it would build a bespoke team, not a Pepsico holdover.
Sony Continues Its March Towards An All Digital Future As It Reportedly Kills Off Its Last 4K UHD Player
It's part of a larger push by the PlayStation maker to move away from making home electronics, like TVs
Eagles sign ex-Giants first-round offensive lineman bust
This roster move from the Eagles is an interesting one.
Josh Simmons set to miss at least four weeks
Chiefs OT Josh Simmons moved to the Reserve/Injured list but will not need back surgery
Top adviser to Kennedy resigns from Trump administration
Calley Means, a key advocate for the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, had grown frustrated with a lack of progress on his policy goals, a source familiar with his departure said.
RFK Jr. ally Calley Means quits Trump administration amid food agenda delays
Means has been a key player in Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again movement.
County BZA approvals permit poultry, business expansions
Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals approved five petitions — two requesting additions for ag businesses, another seeking acreage reduction for poultry, a mining business expanding its property and a chiropractor moving his operations locally — at its Oct. 8 meeting. Hally Jordan and James Spears’ petition to reduce minimum lot acreage to accommodate 14 […]
Rangers Defender Olwethu Makhanya Backed to Reach the Highest Level
Former Philadelphia Union coach Bradley Carnell has backed Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya to continue progressing after his Ibrox move.
Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store
Apple has temporarily removed Keynote, Pages, and Numbers from the App Store, just after releasing an update that added iPhone Duo support and a new Intelligent Assistant. It is not clear if the apps were removed intentionally, or if it is a bug. It is not clear if the apps were removed intentionally, or if it is a bug.
Vikings Receive Wild Speculation on Trade Deadline Moves
With Minnesota sitting undefeated, analysts suggest a blockbuster trade for a Pro Bowl quarterback could turn their championship-caliber defense into a definitive Super Bowl favorite.
Inflation at the movies: Runtimes are longer, from ‘The Odyssey’ to ‘You Can See Everything’
Your bladder isn’t lying.
Inflation at the movies: Runtimes are longer, from 'The Odyssey' to 'You Can See Everything'
Your bladder isn’t lying | Talk 1370