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Commanders make key front office hire after recent departure
Scott Fitterer, left the franchise to join the sports agency, Athletes First.
The NATO summit was supposed to focus on defense spending. Trump’s strikes on Iran changed that
President Donald Trump has thrown a major twist into a NATO summit in Turkey by launching a series of strikes on Iran and revoking a license that allowed Tehran to sell its oil on the world market.
Can Sphere Entertainment's (SPHR) Wizard of Oz Bet Justify Its Rich Venue-Driven Valuation?
In recent days, Sphere Entertainment drew attention as investors reacted to renewed optimism around its flagship Sphere venue and an expanded content slate, including immersive productions such as The Wizard of Oz. The key tension now is that while some valuation models suggest the shares may be trading below intrinsic value, others imply the company already carries a premium earnings multiple, highlighting how sensitive sentiment could be to venue performance and cost control. We’ll now...
As AI becomes integral to nursing, AI involvement becomes key to nurses’ job satisfaction
The portion of nurses regularly using AI is skyrocketing. It’s at 44% now after slouching in at just 15% a year ago. Yet only 8% of nurses say their organization has spelled out what it wants them to do with the technology.
New Minecraft Update Finally Allows Players to Sit Down
Minecraft's new update is getting a lot of praise for adding the simple, but long-awaited feature that lets players sit down without using mods.
Google Pixel 11 Leak Hints at Higher Prices, New Colors and More Storage
While Google's official Pixel 11 unveiling is next month, several key features of the next Android phone may have been revealed early.
Explaining The Comcast and NBCUniversal Divorce
(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.) I hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July in America, celebrating the country’s 250th birthday. Frankly, I am bummed the 250th wasn’t a bigger celebration, but that’s a different topic for a different Substack. While it was generally a quiet week on the entertainment/streaming/media business fronts, we still had some interesting news stories. Actually, that kinda undersells one of the stories, a huge, huge, huge divestment that could upend the entertainment landscape... So let’s get right to it. In today’s column, I’ll cover Comcast spinning off the rest of NBCUniversal, an entertainment company investing in an LLM company and an LLM-owner investing in a movie studio, the latest round of threats of digital tariffs, and more. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Most: Comcast/NBCU Breakup!!!! If I had to describe my reaction to Comcast spinning out NBCUniversal, it feels like a relationship ending, either breaking up or divorcing. Comcast’s decision to spin off the rest of NBCUniversal, after spinning off some of its cable assets into Versant last year, really does feel like a family breaking up under “irreconcilable differences”. Of my stereotypes of the entertainment moguls, my go-to for Comcast CEO Brian Roberts—heir to the Comcast fortune, but a man who’s been at the helm for 24 years now, and president for twelve years before that—is that he likes building empires. He cut his teeth acquiring cable rivals in the 1990s and tried to buy Disney repeatedly, then settled for NBCUniversal after a long court battle. (Contrast this with Rupert Murdoch, a man who also loved to buy, but would also sell when the price is right. Murdoch made Fox out of nothing, but then sold 20th Century Fox to Disney, arguably at the top of the market. So I understood why he sold.) But I don’t understand Roberts’ motivation to sell now. I have some explanations but no single, super-satisfying explanation. Strategically, it would just make more sense to have kept NBCUniversal in-house, especially for a one-time empire builder like Comcast. Yet one powerful force—arguably the decider in modern capitalism—likely overwhelmed all other considerations. At first, I thought I’d arrange my thoughts as a “Five Why” analysis, digging through each layer of the puzzle. But instead, I found myself asking, “But…why?” (And I only ended up with four sections.) So let’s look at Comcast from that angle. Then, at the end, I’ll give my biggest strategic recommendation for every company in Hollywood. It’s obvious, but sometimes, the obvious strategy is the most ignored. But…Why? The Stock Market, Conglomerations, and Sum of the Parts Analysis 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 Comcast could never get a “tech company” valuation The not-so-secret motivation for Comcast What Versant has to do with all of this The key strategic advice I think every entertainment exec should follow (though it’s really obvious) Some big AI investment news… Whether we’ll see digital tariffs… And more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
WATCH: Trump arrives at NATO summit in Turkey, with ceremonial welcome from Erdogan
President Donald Trump arrived in Turkey on Tuesday to attend a NATO summit and was welcomed at a ceremony by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shortly after.
Maine Democrats jockey to replace Graham Platner as he faces pressure to drop out
As of Tuesday morning, Platner remained undecided about whether to drop out of the race and wants to see a replacement nominee who shares his vision, according to a source.
Exploring key breakthroughs in VT ablation
Today's sophisticated mapping systems allow clinicians to visualize VT circuits with unprecedented detail.
McConnell speaks with Senate colleagues as he recovers in hospital
Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized but is speaking with Senate leaders and following key political and national security issues.
Bernie Sanders calls on Graham Platner to drop Senate bid
The senator from Vermont has been a key backer of the insurgent Democratic candidate in Maine.
Key Bridge collapse: Baltimore, business owners fight Dali owners’ bid to limit liability
Baltimore, Baltimore County, and a business coalition are pushing back against the owners and operators of the Dali.
'Time was speeding up, slowing down, or even stopping': Physicist demonstrates a key theory of time by building a 'mini-universe' in his lab
By ignoring part of his own experiment, a physicist coaxed time to emerge from within a closed quantum system.
This Toilet Attachment Helps You Understand Your Gut Health, Hydration And More
Kohler Health's easy-to-install bathroom appliance provides key wellness metrics and personalized health insights.
Rogers shuts down sports radio effective immediately
WHAT?! This is insane. Vancouver is a great market. Another big loss in Canadian media.
Trump praises Turkish leader, stops short of approving fighter-jet sale
President Donald Trump heaped praise on Turkey's president but stopped short of publicly approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets, which many in Congress oppose.
Doom co-creator John Romero weighs in on Xbox's cuts to id Software, underlines the importance of digital preservation and the studio's history
One of the minds behind the original Doom games and id Software has commented on the layoffs executed by Xbox and the importance of the studio's history.
Key Democratic figures call on Graham Platner to ‘immediately’ withdraw from Senate race
Maine’s party leadership calls for Platner to withdraw after after sexual assault allegation emerges
5 takeaways from STAT’s series on the soaring cost of health insurance
Read the 5 key takeaways from STAT's series "Out of Pocket, Out of Reach," an examination of workplace health insurance.
Explosive Growth Anticipated: Generative AI in Media and Entertainment Market Set to Surpass $8 Billion by 2030
Key market opportunities in generative AI for media and entertainment include integration with VR/AR, cloud-based AI services, real-time personalization, and growth in interactive gaming. Trends involve AI-powered content creation, personalization, and storytelling. The market seeks innovation to enhance user experiences and content efficiency. Generative AI in Media and Entertainment Market Generative AI in Media and Entertainment Market Dublin, July 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Generative
The Geopolitical Significance of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Energy Alliance
The radical disruptions in Europe’s energy supply chains have elevated Turkey’s role in global energy security to an existential level.
Türkiye Urges NATO to Turn Defense Spending into Military Capabilities
Looking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Guler described the gathering as a critical opportunity to reinforce unity and address key issues.
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY)’s Traffic Is Coming Back, But Is It Enough?
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) is among the best get rich quick stocks to buy right now. On June 29, Citizens started coverage on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) with a Market Perform rating and without a price target. Despite its discounted valuation, the company appears fairly valued due to the limited visibility on […]
Ukrainian drones flew all the way to Siberia to hit key oil refinery
The strike on Omsk, about 1,700 miles away, is Ukraine's longest-range attack on Russia since the war began.
Mollie Plotkin Group Responds to Rising Demand for Strategic Keynote Speaker Agency Support at Corporate Events
A growing number of companies now treat live events as strategic business tools, increasing demand for expert talent booking services that align...
Windows 11 will soon be able to reinstall itself and your drivers without a USB drive via new 'Cloud Rebuild' recovery method
A new recovery option coming to Windows 11 will let you reinstall the OS and your drivers using the internet without a USB key, even when Windows itself is unbootable.
Rui Hachimura is joining the Clippers
The Lakers are losing yet another one of their key players in free agency.
Key Fertitta Entertainment executives on packed Nevada regulators’ agenda
Two high-level executives from Fertitta Entertainment, which has a deal to acquire Caesars Entertainment, will appear before Nevada regulators Wednesday as part
UK scientists at risk of losing AI access ‘at a whim’
Recent US restrictions highlight how foreign powers could remove access to key technologies, argues parliamentary committee report
Neanderthals and modern humans may have shared culture 59,000 years ago in Turkey, study finds
Fossils, stone tools and seashells in Turkey show that Neanderthals and the Homo sapiens who moved in later had the same hunting strategies and symbolic traditions even without overlapping at the site, suggesting they may have shared information.
Key Health Care Panel Is Again Blocked From Meeting Under RFK Jr.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force has been stymied under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
HP OmniBook X Flip 14 review: Flexible performance with AMD Zen 5
The new OmniBook X Flip 14 is even more impressive than the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 with more CPU performance, more ports, and a revised keyboard and look. However, most SKUs are limited to just a 60 Hz touchscreen despite the ~$1500 asking price.
An Alicia Keys musical and more top Seattle theater to see this month
Alicia Keys’ musical joins Shakespeare, shadow puppets, seedy ’70s Seattleites and more on local stages this month.
Trump heads to NATO as tensions simmer with Europe
President Trump's grievances with several European governments over their refusal to join the U.S. war with Iran have cast a pall over the summit.
White House Blasts Smithsonian History Exhibits For 'Radical' Activism
A new Trump administration report singles out references to 'Hamilton,' drag queens and Mickey Mouse.
Business Insider names the most iconic sandwich destination in Oregon
Business Insider released a list of the most iconic sandwich shops in every state, with one historic restaurant in Oregon making the list.
Jack’s Daily: Ducks Big Decision; Blackhawks RFA Tidbit; Robertson News
Back to business as usual following the 250th Birthday celebration for the United States of America this weekend. The Chicago […] The post Jack’s Daily: Ducks Big Decision; Blackhawks RFA Tidbit; Robertson News appeared first on Chicago Hockey Now.
Rogers Nearing Full Ownership Of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Rogers is buying Kilmer Sports' 25 percent stake in MLSE for $4.35 billion Cdn. That means Rogers is about to become the full owner of the company that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and other sports franchises.
Fincantieri Acquires Four Companies to Expand Underwater Drone Business
Fincantieri announces the agreement for the acquisition of Next Geosolutions, WSense, Graal Tech and Defcomm. These four strategic transactions in the Underwater segment significantly enhance the Group’s positioning in a domain that is becoming increasingly central to security, energy and the development of critical infrastructure.
Five Key Moments: Hearing on the Growing Business of Sports
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Ways and Means Committee hearing focused on federal tax policy in the growing business of sports, Republican...
Five Key Moments: Hearing on the Growing Business of Sports
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Ways and Means Committee hearing focused on federal tax policy in the growing business of sports, Republican...
After America’s 250th, Trump will test how far he can push NATO allies
As NATO leaders gather in Turkey, they are preparing for another summit shaped as much by managing President Donald Trump as by the alliance's security agenda.
Analyst Names Jaguars’ ‘Most Promising Building Block’
Despite Trevor Lawrence's MVP-caliber rise, a surprising two-way star emerges as Jacksonville’s ultimate cornerstone. Discover why this versatile playmaker holds the key to the franchise's long-term dominance.
How tomorrow’s doctors can unleash population health’s power
Population health is a key tool for physicians of the future. These insights can help medical students lead the charge on its implementation.
Comcast's Sky to acquire ITV Media & Entertainment unit for up to £1.6B
Sky (Comcast) to buy ITV’s Media & Entertainment unit for up to £1.6B, targeting £200M synergies and a £2.1B content deal—get the key terms now.
Indian shares likely to open higher on strong business updates from lenders
Indian shares are set to open with a positive tone on Monday as investors react to quarterly business updates from key lenders and companies, while crude oil prices remained below $72 per barrel.
'House of the Dragon' draws a key musical parallel between Rhaenyra and Daenerys
Ding dong, we've heard this before.
NASA and Small Business Administration partner on funding key space technologies
NASA is partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration on an effort to attract capital to invest in companies producing critical space components.
Padres Unsurprisingly Place Key Reliever In All-Star Game
The San Diego Padres will only have one player in the All-Star game, and it's closer Mason Miller.
Oil slips after OPEC+ agrees to raise output targets
Oil prices inched lower on Monday after OPEC+ agreed to further increase its output targets from August while exports from key producers via the Strait of Hormuz are recovering, potentially adding to global supplies.
International Business Machines (IBM) Joins Hands With Deloitte and Red Hat Against Automated Cyberattacks
International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is one of BlackRock’s 30 most important AI stocks right now. On June 26, International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM), together with Deloitte and Red Hat, formed a partnership to help provide businesses with greater protection against rapidly evolving, automated cyberattacks targeting the software supply chain. To increase the security of […]
Halon Entertainment completes management buyout
The company, which works across film, television, games, immersive entertainment and advertising, said the move follows a joint decision by Halon and NEP Group that independence would allow the business to focus entirely on its clients, employees and long-term growth.
Video games are a fortune. Blame Trump and AI.
Spiking console prices are a clear sign of inflation—especially for one key voting bloc.
FIFA World Cup referee also runs insurance advisory business
Serious offence allegations against match officials are rising globally, underlining why referee cover exists
Tencent Music (TME) Stock May Be 36% Undervalued On Cash Flow Strength
Tencent Music Entertainment Group stock has had a tough run over the last year, yet both the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) intrinsic value estimate and the earnings-based valuation checks currently point to the shares trading at a discount to that underlying assessment. Over the past 12 months, Tencent Music Entertainment Group is down 54.5%, which means recent shareholders are sitting on sizeable paper losses despite the stock screening as undervalued. The key support for any upside case is...
Sun Life completes $350 million acquisition of Bell Partners
The deal folds a leading US multifamily manager into Sun Life's BGO real estate platform
WATCH: Trump delivers keynote address at ‘Salute to America 250’ event on the National Mall
Speaking in Washington after storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, Trump honored veterans, including several from World War II and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat in Vietnam.
‘All kinds of weird’: novelty store to open in midtown Sacramento
Ginger & Raven will operate on 1731 L St. selling novelty and accessory items such as keychains, compacts and Italian charm bracelets.
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) Shares Up Significantly After Jim Cramer Said He Was Looking For A Good Year
We recently published Jim Cramer’s Biggest Winners to Buy: Top 20 AI & Other Stocks He Got Right in 2026. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer. Pharmaceutical retailer CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) has become one of Cramer’s top stocks in the sector. Throughout this year, the CNBC TV […]
Electronic Health Record Ehr Systems Market Forecast Points Higher Toward 2035, Driven by Interoperability Mandates and Cloud Migration
World EHR systems market forecast to 2035: 6-8% CAGR, cloud adoption, interoperability mandates, and value-based care drive growth. Key players and regional insights.
China rare earth industry has critical weakness, study finds
New study finds China lagging behind Japan and the US in key patents for advanced rare earth technologies.
Pols & Politics: Aging Ed Markey highlights endorsement from aging Jane Fonda
An aging Sen. Ed Markey is showing off a new endorsement of his reelection campaign by 88-year old celebrity and longtime political activist Jane Fonda.
Trump uses America’s 250 speech to honor military heroes and also push political agendas
President Trump concluded the semiquincentennial celebration by reflecting on the nation's history, honoring veterans and pushing his political agenda during his address at the Salute to America event. NBC News’ Ryan Nobles reports on key points from the president's speech.
Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) to Buy Ultra I&C Mission Solutions Business for $720 Million
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. (NYSE:BAH) is one of the 12 best industrial stocks with more than 50% upside. The company’s acquisitive growth strategy is making it a compelling investment case. On June 22, Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. (NYSE:BAH) signed a definitive agreement with an Advent portfolio company, Cobham Ultra Group, to purchase its […]
School Days Remastered Game Reveals English Voice Cast
Katelyn Barr, Brittany Lauda, P.M. Seymour lead cast
Final Injury Report for Fire-Storm: Will Karlie Samuelson Play?
The Portland Fire may be without one of their key players in Saturday night’s game against the Seattle Storm.
Wall Street Pessimism Has Made Universal Health Services (UHS) Stock A Top Extreme Value Stock To Buy Now
Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) is one of the Top 10 Extreme Value Stocks To Buy Now. On June 22, TD Cowen lowered the firm’s price target on Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) from $230 to $197 and kept a Buy rating on the stock. The downward price target revision still reflects a 24% upside […]
Flatbush Zombies’ Erick the Architect misses his BlackBerry keyboard
Fresh off a surprise appearance rapping about apps at WWDC.
Where is AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (AMC) Spending $200 Million It Raised
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) is one of Peconic Partners’ stock picks. The stock is up around 18% year-to-date. Some 20 hedge funds have confidence in AMC stock. On June 25, AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) said that it raised roughly $200 million from a registered direct offering of some 95.3 million shares of its […]
Knicks Success Assert Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSGS) as a Top Stock to Buy According to Ariel Investments
Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE:MSGS) is one of the top stocks to buy according to Ariel Investments. On June 23, Susquehanna reiterated a Positive rating on Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE:MSGS) and raised the price target to $430. The new price target represents significant upside as the stock is trading at about $403 […]
Solid Growth Prospects Assert Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) as a Top Stock to Buy According to Ariel Investments
Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE:SPHR) is one of the top stocks to buy according to Ariel Investments. On June 18, Benchmark reiterated a Buy rating on Sphere Entertainment (NYSE:SPHR) and raised the price target to $175 from $155. The price target hike comes amid expectations that the company is well positioned to deliver a solid second […]
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSGE) To Remain Fully Operational Amid New York Penn Station Redevelopment
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:MSGE) is one of the top stocks to buy according to Ariel Investments. On June 9, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:MSGE) entered into a non-binding agreement with Penn Transformation Partners for the development of the New York Penn Station. Under the terms of the agreement, Madison Square Garden will […]
Ohio Chamber touts state business ranking, seeks end to capital gains tax
COLUMBUS — The Buckeye State’s business ranking has improved significantly over the past several years, according to the latest version of the Ohio Chamber ...
How Flutter’s Removal from Key Russell Growth Indices Will Impact Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Investors
In late June 2026, Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE: FLUT) was removed from multiple Russell growth benchmarks, including the Russell 1000 Growth, Russell 3000 Growth, Russell Midcap Growth, Russell 3000E Growth, and Russell Small Cap Comp Growth indices. This broad index exclusion matters because it can prompt passive and index-tracking investors to sell shares, potentially amplifying trading volumes and sentiment shifts around Flutter’s stock. Next, we’ll examine how Flutter’s removal from...
Notes From A Career In Private Equity: David Mussafer On Business
David Mussafer emphasized leadership, teamwork, continuous learning, disciplined investing, and AI adoption as keys to long-term business success.
For one small business, AI was key to a quick start and expansion
Here Now Health isn't an AI-based company, but its quick path from an idea in founder Michelle Turner's mind to an operating mental health platform for foster children relied deeply on the technology now restructuring the U.S. economy.
For one small business, AI was key to a quick start and expansion
Here Now Health isn't an AI-based company, but its quick path from an idea in founder Michelle Turner's mind to an operating mental health platform for foster children relied deeply on the technology now restructuring the U.S. economy. Working from her Virginia Beach home, she used AI tools to school herself in startup culture, create a business plan and fine-tune a presentation for early-stage investors. Funding began to flow, and the company, launched in January 2025, now has 16 employees and is certified in three states to provide Medicaid-funded mental health counseling for children entering the foster system, a gap in care she identified through her own experience as a foster parent.
Rockets lose key role player to Jazz in free agency
The Houston Rockets saw Josh Okogie depart this summer, agreeing to sign with the Utah Jazz on a two-year deal.
Lidstrom: Red Wings Expect Arvidsson to Play in Top Six
The post Lidstrom: Red Wings Expect Arvidsson to Play in Top Six appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now. For the first time since 2015, the Detroit Red Wings didn’t select a Swede in the NHL Entry Draft. They […] The post Lidstrom: Red Wings Expect Arvidsson to Play in Top Six appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.
East Texas business leader discusses key success factors on local, national levels
Tonight, we’re joined by an East Texas leader whose work has taken him from local business circles to guiding executives, boards, and organizations across the country.
Karpa Health Launches Turnkey Nationwide Telehealth Platform as GLP-1, Peptide, and Hormone Demand Accelerates
The all-in-one platform helps entrepreneurs, clinics, med spas, gyms, and wellness brands launch cash-pay telehealth programs nationwide. TAMPA, FL / ACCESS Newswire / July 3, 2026 / Karpa Health today announced the general availability of its turnkey ...
Penguins Sign Ex-Capitals RFA Forward To Two-Year Contract
Is Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) A Good Stock To Buy Now?
Is LYV a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. on R. Dennis’s Substack by OppCost. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on LYV. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.’s share was trading at $182.56 as of June 29th. LYV’s trailing and forward P/E were 117.49 and 500.00 […]
Penguins sign Hendrix Lapierre for two years
The Penguins reached an agreement with one of their restricted free agents on Friday getting Hendrix Lapierre to ink a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.3 million. From the team: The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Hendrix Lapierre to a two-year contract, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager […]
Fort Rickey closed on July 3rd because of the Heat
Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo closed their doors to the public on July 3rd because of the extreme heat.
One underrated key to UM’s success. And Mensah, Toney, Fitzgerald, Canes chatter
One person who is underrated key to UM’s success. And Canes news and notes
Long Reads for the Long Weekend
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) Happy Fourth of July weekend! As has been a tradition of mine going back to the beginning of the EntStrategyGuy website, I’m sharing my favorite long reads of the last year, like I did in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025. Let’s dive right in! Subscribe “Different Prices for the Same Ride: How Uber and Lyft Use AI to Get More Money Out of You“ by Derek Kravitz in Consumer Reports I don’t think surveillance pricing, like the kind described in this brilliant Consumer Reports article, is long for the world—it’s toxically unpopular—but we’ll see if either party takes on this issue. If I ran a political party focused on affordability, I would focus on a few pro-consumer and pro-market policies: Banning non-compete agreements. Ending surveillance pricing Eliminating junk fees (read more here...) Ensuring “right to repair” for consumer (and military!) products Capping excessive app store fees Stopping digital/algorithmic price-fixing tools. Preventing automatic subscription price increases. And more. If you want to fight inflation, there are a lot of great ways to do it quickly. Speaking of higher prices... “Secret Documents Show Pepsi and Walmart Colluded to Raise Food Prices Across the Economy“ by Matt Stoller in BIG Again, I think a political party should focus on lowering prices for consumers. And deals like this—Walmart making a deal/forcing Pepsi to offer the lowest prices at its stores and nowhere else—hypothetically lower prices at Walmart...but raise them everywhere else. “15 DUIs, still driving: California’s failure to take repeat drunk drivers off the road“ by Robert Lewis and Lauren Hepler in CalMatters CalMatters does terrific reporting in California, something the Golden State desperately needs more of, and this article is a great example of that. “PugLips: The next insanely popular thing you’ve never heard of…” by Simon Carless in Game Discover Co I thought that this parody article (and yes, it’s a parody, but I was definitely unsure at first) was hilarious and totally nailed how much tech/business journalism feels these days. Actually, three of my favorite articles this year were on hype in the video game industry, including Georg Zoller’s “The Video Game Industries Very Dark Night”—which I linked to recently and wrote a follow-up here—and Owen Mahoney’s “Derek Zoolander, Videogame Exec”. In particular, I like Mahoney’s focus on user experience as a guide to what trends will actually grab hold of customers. “The Matrix Lies“ by Evan Shapiro in Media War & Peace Evan Shapiro’s first person account of his experience with AI was hilarious. I think LLMs capabilities have significantly grown from last summer, and yet...my editor/researcher just had an abysmal experience using an LLM to do a quite basic task (which our LLM normally does each week) and the LLM made a mistake on every single data entry...along with seven different mistakes affecting twelve of the twenty or so entries, including mistakes that are explicitly spelled out in the prompt. That’s a brutal failure rate. Again, if you use AI/LLM for data collection, you need to take a lot of extra steps to verify and check the data. “Ghosts in the Balcony: A Cross-Country Trip to 58 Theaters Fighting to Survive“ by Matthew Frank in The Ankler I thought Matthew Frank’s pitch to head across America to visit theaters sounded insane aggressive at the time—at least it felt that way to someone a decade older than him; man, to be in your twenties again, am I right?—but I knew the result would be great. And it was, a terrific feature by a great young writer. Also, I loved Matthew’s recent article on who’s getting the precious few entry level jobs in Hollywood. (Hint: nepotism.) “Disney erased FiveThirtyEight“ and “Did Las Vegas get too greedy?” by Nate Silver in Silver Bulletin I love media history and analysis, and there’s no one better to get the history of FiveThirtyEight than from Nate Silver, who wrote about his personal experience in one of my favorite pieces from this year. I also loved Nate’s breakdown of what’s causing Vegas’ woes, but I’ll offer one criticism, summarized as “Might I suggest antitrust?” Many centrists/center-right/libertarian thinkers (Nate is self-described as the latter) often don’t consider consolidation or antitrust as factors in policy issues like housing, America’s military readiness, or, in this case, Las Vegas. Even if libertarians want to debunk antitrust/consolidation concerns, I’d love to read that debunking. In this case, Vegas is incredibly consolidated (though it also has been for a long time) and I’d have loved to read Nate at least contending with this factor, since he addresses almost every other potential factor for Vegas’ decline. “Why Microsoft’s Carbon Removal Pullback Is Such a Big Deal“ by Robinson Meyer in Heatmap News I’m a big supporter of carbon removal efforts, but this nascent industry faces a lot of headwinds, including this big move most recently. I think it’s clear that solar panels and batteries should be able to get the world to its carbon footprint goals, but effective carbon renewal remains necessary to prevent the worst impacts of global warming. “AI is killing the cheap smartphone“ by David Oks LLMs and AI will impact the world in ways we’re not ready for, and already, third world countries are seeing the prices of cheap cellphones skyrocket due to the cost of chips skyrocketing. This article by David Oks is a terrific breakdown. “100 Days of Madness: Netflix, Paramount, Warner and the Future of Hollywood“ by Wade Major at Hollywood Heretic Wade Major dove deep into Hollywood/streaming’s financials in this must read piece. Not that I agree with everything in this article (read my take on Warner Bros./Paramount here) but the analysis is top notch. I think many people discount how quality thinking, regardless of the argument/conclusion, will make you a better thinker. “Erased by the UFC: Frank Shamrock, The MMA GOAT of the 20th Century“ by Nate Wilcox in The MMA Draw Newsletter Growing up playing the UFC fighting game on the Dreamcast, Frank Shamrock was my favorite MMA fighter, and this history/tribute to him was great. Other Fun Reads “The Hardest Part Of History To Tell Is How It Felt“ by Craig Fehrman at Defector “Unmasking the Sea Star Killer“ by Craig Welch at bioGraphic “What Could Save the Industry? Fin-Syn“ by Richard Rushfield in The Ankler Alex Rollins Berg in Underexposed on movie bumpers, pillow shots, Disney trash cinema, cult films, and Casablanca. David H. Montgomery in YouGov’s The Surveyor on punctuation marks, condiments, dinosaurs, and comic strips and kids media. “How Medium finally pivoted its way to profitability“ and “Why the best journalists on YouTube are all former Vox employees“ by Simon Owens in Simon Owens’s Media Newsletter “It’s Not Just You, Netflix Shows Have Gotten Slightly Shorter: Here’s What the Data Says“ by Kasey Moore at What’s on Netflix “Numlock Awards: How Diane Warren became the biggest loser in Oscar history“ by Nathaniel Rakich and “Numlock Awards: The Oscar Bait era is over. The Oscar Chum era is here.” by Walt Hickey & Michael Domanico at Numlock Awards