SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " open " 11,561 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
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.
Celebrate Halloween with Jervis Library in Rome
Jervis Public Library in Rome has announced its upcoming events for the final week in October, including being open for trick-or-treating for a book on Halloween.
A Look at the Cleveland Guardians' Pending Free Agents
The Cleveland Guardians have a handful of players who will hit the open market.
Sandisk's New Business Model Is Transforming the Business. Now Is the Time to Buy the Stock.
Sandisk is entering into contractual agreements rather than just selling on the open market.
Timberwolves proves size isn’t everything with historic rebounding surge
The Minnesota Timberwolves may have sacrificed size this offseason, but their first two games suggest they gained something even more valuable: relentless physicality. After reshaping their roster around speed and defensive versatility . Minnesota has opened the season with a franchise-record rebounding margin. The Timberwolves dominated the […] The post Timberwolves proves size isn’t everything with historic rebounding surge appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Anthropic's AI Hid a Secret Message in the Stars. OpenAI's Bot Found It.
Morse code is back, baby.
What Nuggets Can Learn From Season Opener Loss to Thunder
The Nuggets need to clean it up on the court.
Rockets-Spurs: Thompson Block & Sengun Buckets Put Houston Back In Business
The Houston Rockets sent a message with their Friday night 114-110 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets had already won their season opener on Wednesday. But in a sign of how far expectations had fallen for Houston this season, that matchup was against the lowly Dallas Mavericks. Just two games in, expectations are …
Tampa General Hospital and Health Care District of Palm Beach County to Open Lakeside Cancer Center in September 2027, Expanding Access to Academic-Based Cancer Care in Florida’s Rural Communities - Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report
Lakeside Cancer Center will connect cancer patients in the Glades with world-class treatment, complex care coordination and access to oncology specialists. October Tampa General Hospital and Health Care District of […]
What One Extra Hour of Sleep Could Do for Your Mental Health | Hartford HealthCare
Learn more about News Detail at hartfordhealthcare.org
Saturday football open thread
Good morning! Tottenham Hotspur Women are playing in the North London Derby today at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but if you’re not into Spurs Women (weird!) or like watching other Premier League clubs other than Tottenham (super weird!) then this is the thread for you. There’s a trio of Premier League matches today, not including […]
Brewers' Biggest Winners and Losers from World Series Game 1
Jackson Chourio’s clutch hitting and William Contreras’s defensive masterclass propelled the Milwaukee Brewers to a gritty series-opening win.
Katie Boulter’s Japan Open run halted after reclaiming British No 1
Katerina Siniakova, the 12-time grand slam doubles winner, will play in the 11th singles final of her career on Sunday
New Cafe 24 serves soul food with love from Erie's east side
Mom of 5 opens Cafe 24, serving up soul food takeout, delivery and catering from East Fifth Street kitchen.
Honeydew is betting big on the 'Hollywood dose' of Accutane
Accutane has a reputation as a drug of last resort for persistent acne. One founder is changing how it's prescribed, opening up access to mini doses.
Fastest pitch in World Series history as Brewers win opener
The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in the opening game of the best-of-seven World Series as both sides aim for their first title.
Yountville launches entertainment zone
Yountville in Napa County launched its first open container district.
Three Boston Celtics Takeaways From Win vs. Knicks
The C's toppled the Knicks in the home opener at TD Garden.
Bexar County opens facility combining public health, community resources
WOAI NBC News Channel 4 San Antonio provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, investigations, and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for San Antonio and nearby towns and communities in South Central Texas, including Windcrest, Uvalde, Universal City, Somerset, Seguin, Schertz, San Marcos, Sabinal, Poth, Poteet, Pleasanton, Pearsall, New Braunfels, Live Oak, Kerrville, Hondo, Helotes, Goliad, Fredericksburg, Floresville, Eagle Pass, Devine, Del Rio, Cuero, Crystal City, Converse, Cibolo, Castroville, Carrizo Springs, Boerne, Bandera.
Hornets drop home opener to Hawks in blowout fashion
The Charlotte Hornets struggled Friday night, as turnovers led to an Atlanta Hawks blowout victory at the Spectrum Center.
Fans surpass American Family Field capacity for World Series opener
There were more fans in attendance at American Family Field than the stadium has seats for Game 1 of the World Series.
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.
Omaha Tribe opens $8.5M water treatment plant, quadrupling capacity
The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska has opened the Umóⁿhoⁿ Ní Waxúbe — Omaha Sacred Water Treatment Facility, Ní Ti, an $8.5 million plant that quadruples water storage capacity, according to utility director Jerry Henscheid. The facility came online Oct. 6 on the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Nebraska, replacing a plant built in 1980 that had […]
New Lisbon business offering pet food and supplies
LISBON—A new business promises to provide the community with the highest quality food and supplies for their pets. The newest member of Lisbon’s business community, Pet Folk has officially opened their doors, celebrating its soft opening with a ribbon cutting and champagne Thursday. Located at 7556 state Route 45, Unit A, Pet Folk is entirely […]
Open Thread World Series Game One
We get game one of the World Series tonight. I guess I’m sort of cheering for the Brewers but really it doesn’t matter. But in games three and four, Ernie Clement will be ‘providing player-first coverage’, which should be fun. Lineups: Today’s Lineups RAYS BREWERS Yandy Diaz – DH Jackson Chourio – LF Jonathan Aranda […]
Report: Northwest Arkansas commercial real estate market remains tight
The Northwest Arkansas commercial real estate market remained tight in the office, industrial and retail sectors in the third quarter as major projects opened and new development broke ground across...
New Business: Caribbean Market reopens in Manchester; Cuban ...
Caribbean Market has reopened in Manchester after a two-year rebuild, while Plymouth’s Cuba Libre has become Viva Cuba Restaurant following a trademark issue.
Knicks’ fatal flaw that will doom 2027 NBA championship chances
Winning back-to-back titles is one of the hardest things to do in any sport, and the New York Knicks face an intense challenge as they look to repeat. It has been almost a decade since the last time an NBA franchise won two championships in a row. While New York’s 106-100 opening night loss to the Philadelphia 76ers featured some moments that […] The post Knicks’ fatal flaw that will doom 2027 NBA championship chances appeared first on ClutchPoints.
HSA users can pay for prescriptions, copays and more while building long-term savings
As open enrollment season approaches, consumers reviewing their health insurance options may want to consider a health savings account, or HSA, as a way to save money on health care expenses.
Corey Lewandowski Always Found His Way Back to Trump. Until Now.
The Justice Department has opened an inquiry into Mr. Lewandowski. President Trump has not jumped to his defense.
Auburn University opens $224 million STEM+Ag science complex
Largest research construction project in school's history completed after six years of planning
LIVE: Palmetto Sports Team previews the Charlotte Hornets home-opener from The Hive
WATCH: Palmetto Sports’ Carmine Gemei and Caroline Soro LIVE previewing the Charlotte Hornets home-opener against the Hawks from The Hive.
Intermountain Health gets $150M for Las Vegas children’s hospital
The new hospital, slated to open in 2030, will be named in honor of Felicia and Ben Horowitz in honor of the contribution.
Drake University students say civility comes from open-minded conversations
Drake University students involved with political student organizations discussed political civility on a panel Friday.
Watch “The Simpsons”’ spooky stop-motion “Nightmare Before Christmas” parody from ‘Treehouse of Horror’ (exclusive)
The new opening comes from Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the stop-motion team behind “Robot Chicken.”
Why experts are pushing RFK Jr. to release a federal definition of ultraprocessed foods
More than 100 science, medical and nutrition experts signed and sent an open letter Friday to the Office of Management and Budget, urging the administration to release the first-ever government definition of ultraprocessed foods.
Essentia Health hosting joint-replacement seminar in Baxter
Essentia Health hosting joint-replacement seminar in Baxter
Jamal Murray Addresses Nuggets’ Turnover Issue in Loss to Thunder
Jamal Murray speaks after the Denver Nuggets drop their season opener.
New owners of Mount Kato plan upgrades, reassure skiers hill will stay open
New owners of Mount Kato plan upgrades, reassure skiers hill will stay open
Montgomery County Precinct 4 to open new park
Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 4 will open Granger Park in Conroe on Oct. 29 with a walking trail, children's play features and a ribbon cutting.
Live & Local: Where to find upcoming local music, open mics and live entertainment
Rafters
Week 8 Open Thread
With no UW game this weekend, you can stay on this thread for the full weekend. Here are some of the top games to watch in each game window. Friday Evening – There are two ACC games tonight. First, Duke heads to Virginia in a fairly even matchup between teams trying to get a step […]
Boston Encourages Residents to Apply for Health Insurance during Open Enrollment Season
Friday, October 23, 2026 – Open Enrollment season begins today, October 23, 2026 and runs through January 23, 2027, and Mayor Michelle Wu, the City of Boston, and Boston Public Health Commission strongly encourage residents to take advantage of the numerous coverage options available in Massachusetts and apply for health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector Marketplace. For those who need help navigating
Crackgate? iPhone Duo Owners Report Screens Breaking Along the Hinge
Some iPhone Duos are already experiencing hinge issues that cause display cracks, based on photos shared on Reddit and the MacRumors forums. Almost all of the display faults are right along the hinge, and most result in a line of bright pixels across one side of the screen. An iPhone Duo owner in Australia said his device cracked after being opened fewer than 20 times, and there was no visible damage beforehand. Had my iPhone Duo for about six hours and had probably opened it fewer than 20 times.
Connecticut health insurance enrollment for 2027 opens
Access Health CT is holding one-day enrollment fairs across the state throughout October and November, with more events expected in December and January.
Progressive Community Health Centers expands services with new pharmacy
Looking to fill a void in pharmacy access on Milwaukee’s north side, Progressive Community Health Centers will open a full-service retail pharmacy Monday
When health changes your sex life, intimacy doesn’t have to disappear
Aging and illness can impact intimacy. The Aging Untold experts are sharing practical ways for couples to talk openly and safely navigate sex after a diagnosis.
When health changes your sex life, intimacy doesn’t have to disappear
Aging and illness can impact intimacy. The Aging Untold experts are sharing practical ways for couples to talk openly and safely navigate sex after a diagnosis.
Titans Becoming Open to Alontae Taylor Playing Multiple Positions
After a surprise benching, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is reconsidering how to deploy Alontae Taylor, potentially returning the former Saint to his dominant role in the slot.
Now Google says it might use your Gmail and Google Photos data to target ads
According to the new terms, sharing your data for better AI recommendations also means opening it up for more personalized ads.
Buy your health insurance through the Mass. Connector? Open enrollment starts Friday
The Massachusetts Health Connector has begun its open enrollment period Friday and will run through Jan. 23, 2027. State and Boston officials are urging residents to take advantage of the Connector's assistance program — especially after recent federal changes to healthcare spending.
World Series in Milwaukee impacts high school sports, Bucks home opener
High school football and the Milwaukee Bucks are making changes to accommodate the Brewers and sports fans.
Humble ISD to unveil 'Magic Science Lab'-themed playground at Ridge Creek Elementary
Humble ISD will celebrate the opening of a new Magic Science Lab-themed playground at Ridge Creek Elementary on Oct. 27.
Open enrollment begins on state's health insurance marketplace amid affordability challenges
Open enrollment has started for the Massachusetts Health Connector, which offers health insurance coverage for those without employer-based health insurance.
Access Health CT enrollment window opens for insurance coverage
The open enrollment period runs from Oct. 23, 2026 through Jan. 15, 2027.
Presbyterian Health Foundation raises its investment in OU Health center to $1M
Presbyterian Health Foundation increased its support for OU Health’s pediatric behavioral health center to $1 million ahead of its December opening.
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.
West Texas DA opens forgery investigation into disputed transgender mailers
The pamphlets appear to be an attempt to anger voters ahead of the midterm elections, GOP District Attorney Sarah Stogner said.
Sigma fp2 Announced: The World’s Smallest Full-Frame Camera Gets a Ground-Up Redesign
Sigma reveals the fp2, featuring a 24.5MP partially stacked sensor, 6K open gate raw video, tilting screen, and 70GB internal storage in an ultra-compact full-frame body.
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:
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon on AI’s economic impact: ‘There’s very little that we do where we need frontier models’
"The important thing is to get it right, not to get it quicker," Solomon told small businesses of his $500 million AI push with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta.
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.
Gasperini requests two signings in January
January is approaching, when the transfer window reopens, and Gasperini is asking Roma for reinforcements. Sporting director D’Amico has confirmed that something will likely happen. According to Tut...
New business opens at Northwoods Mall food court in Peoria
PEORIA – Crazy Pop started this spring as a pop-up concept based out of Prophetstown.
‘Bardo’ art exhibit opens space to talk about death, grief
Cedar Rapids' “Bardo” exhibit at Kinheart Studio in the Cherry Building explores death and grief through art and free Death Café gatherings. Next event: Nov. 5, 2026.
In Madison Opera’s first-ever ‘Norma,’ ‘the melodies are phenomenal’
Madison Opera presents Vincenzo Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 in Overture Hall to open its 2026-27 season.
Access Health CT open enrollment begins
Open enrollment for Access Health CT, the state’s official marketplace for Affordable Care Act coverage, is open now through Jan. 15.
Dollars & Sense: Tips for health insurance open enrollment
Open enrollment season is approaching, giving millions of Americans an opportunity to review their health insurance coverage and make decisions that could affect both their healthcare and their finances in the coming year.
Sigma FP2 Announced – 6K Open Gate, ProRes RAW, 24.5MP Partially Stacked Sensor
Sigma FP2 announced: 24.5MP partially stacked sensor, 6K open gate, ProRes RAW, 32-bit float audio and a tilting screen for $2,199.
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.
The world’s smallest full-frame mirrorless camera is back – and slimmer than ever. Sigma’s new minimalist FP2 packs 6K open gate, faster performance, and a tilt screen
The Sigma FP2 is an ultra-compact full-frame mirrorless body with a new partially stacked sensor and updated autofocus
The Tricky Convergence of Democratic Socialism and Civil Rights
Some worry that a new generation of progressives threatens the coalitions that opened government to historically excluded communities. But there’s plenty for them to learn from each other.
Google opens its cloud to rival OpenAI, promises business data won’t train models
Google Cloud adds OpenAI models in private preview, giving businesses broader AI options with unified billing and data protections.
Sixers Mount Historic Comeback, LeBron James Wins Home Debut
The Philadelphia 76ers made history on Thursday night in LeBron James’ home debut at Wells Fargo Center.Fueled by an electric 32-point performance by Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers erased a 29-point deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 in their home opener.The 29-point comeback is the Sixers’ biggest comeback victory in the play-by-play era. The improbable […] The post Sixers Mount Historic Comeback, LeBron James Wins Home Debut appeared first on HEAVY.
Tigers Trample Lions In Road Victory
By: Jared Barton The North Allegheny ice hockey team traveled to the Mt. Lebanon Ice Center for a matchup with South Fayette on Thursday night. Goals were not at a premium, as the Tigers rolled to a 7-1 win. NA opened the game with two first-period markers from senior Cedric Otey and sophomore Brady Dixon…. More »
Downtown Sacramento businesses prepare for crowds ahead of Kings home opener
A new team store, Kings-themed drinks and game-day discounts are among the offerings available to fans near Golden 1 Center.
Celtics Get Mixed Injury News Ahead of Knicks Showdown
The Celtics receive mixed injury news ahead of their home opener against the Knicks, with one former first-round pick ruled out. The post Celtics Get Mixed Injury News Ahead of Knicks Showdown appeared first on HEAVY.
Local business owners trained by OpenAI share thoughts on $20 billion data center
Small business owners who took part in a training session with OpenAI are sharing their thoughts on the company’s $20 billion data center project planned for Effingham County.
One Bad Quarter Hurts Jazz in Season Opener
A dismal second-quarter collapse and Ty Jerome’s 45-point masterclass doomed Utah in Memphis, exposing critical defensive lapses and rebounding woes the Jazz must fix before their home opener.
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.
Nonprofits warn online sports betting initiatives put vulnerable Nebraskans at risk
The Open Door Mission hosted Gambling with the Good Life this morning to speak out against Initiatives 440 and 441, two measures that would amend the Nebraska Constitution to legalize online sports gambling.
Little Rock Central High science building dedicated to retired principal Nancy Rousseau
Little Rock Central High School's new science building, which opened a year ago, now sports a new name: the Nancy Rousseau Science Building.
Senior Health Insurance Program navigators available to help during Medicare open enrollment
Chrissy Childers is the lead navigator for SHIP at Rural Health, Inc. This year, she said she’s reminding people to check their Part D plan, since many plans have changed.
Ex-OpenAI science chief Kevin Weil launches Warp Sciences with $215M for drug chemistry
Ex-OpenAI science chief Kevin Weil launches Warp Sciences with $215M for drug chemistry - SiliconANGLE
OPINION: Miami Heat Should Target Free Agent Shooting Guard
Following a dismal long-range shooting performance on opening night, the Miami Heat could look for a veteran marksman to restore the team's perimeter threat.
Blessing Health to host free Medicare presentation
Medicare open enrollment is happening now. On Tuesday, Oct. 27 Blessing Health System is hosting a free informational presentation for those who have questions about enrollment.
How to speak whale
Can AI decode sperm whale language? A Northeastern physicist explains how Project CETI pairs whale clicks with dive data.
Handcrafted art helps fight hunger
Buy a soup bowl to help combat local hunger, visit a new spot to make pottery, and stock up on some holiday gifts when Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon opens
New Amazon delivery center brings 2-day delivery to Upper Peninsula for 1st time
The opening of Amazon's first delivery station in the Upper Peninsula shrinks the region's delivery times from eight days to two.
Justice Dept. Opens Inquiry Into Corey Lewandowski
The details of the inquiry remain unclear, but it is one of the rare instances in which a Trump ally or appointee has been investigated for potential wrongdoing during the president’s second term.
Mucins are her mission: Stacy Malaker carves a new path in the fight against cancer and other diseases
In a new Q&A, Yale chemist Stacy Malaker tells the story of how she helped develop a new field of research and the potential it has for detecting and treating disease.
NBA finally reveals if LaMelo Ball travelled on viral play
The star Minnesota Timberwolves guard canned a controversial three-pointer on opening night.
4 Knicks Keys To Victory For Friday’s Matchup Versus Celtics
After falling in their season opener on Tuesday, the New York Knicks will travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Friday. Boston lost their season opener in Detroit on Tuesday, so both of these preseason top Eastern Conference teams will be vying for their first win of the campaign. Here are four …
Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative to open full-service hospital in August 2027
The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative plans to operate as a full-service hospital in Chippewa Falls next summer after securing funding.
Employer Political Activity During the 2026 Midterms: Key FAQs
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, employers may have questions about whether (and how) they can support candidates or political positions. This FAQ addresses common questions about company political activity, communications with employees, mandatory political meetings, and political contributions.