The final days of Trump’s presidency inspire hour-by-hour countdowns
A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter. You can sign up for free right here. Were there hour-by-hour countdowns to the end of the Bush presidency? The end of the Obama years? No, definitely not to this extent. Trump’s time in office is ending in ignoble fashion. There are countdowns…… MORE
China’s economy grows 2.3% in 2020 as recovery quickens
China’s economy grew more than expected last year, even as the rest of the world was upended by the coronavirus pandemic. The world’s second largest economy expanded 2.3% in 2020 compared to a year earlier, according to government statistics released Monday. It’s China’s slowest annual growth rate in decades — not since 1976 has the…… MORE
Oscar Mayer hiring team to drive its Wienermobile across the US
Frankly, this could very well be someone’s dream job. Kraft Heinz is looking to hire a new team of Hotdoggers (yes, that’s what the job posting says) to drive its famous hot dog-shaped Wienermobile across the country for a year. An ideal Hotdogger is an “outgoing, creative, friendly, exuberant, college graduate who has an appetite…… MORE
Jamie Lynn Spears blames Elon Musk and Tesla for killing her cats
Jamie Lynn Spears called Tesla “a secret cat-killer” and told CEO Elon Musk that he owes her a couple new feline friends. The actress, singer and sister of Britney Spears said in a since-deleted Instagram video that her cats were run over by a Tesla they never heard coming. Teslas, like other electric cars, run quieter…… MORE
Corporate earnings don’t look great. But the drought may be over soon
It’s report card season for Corporate America. Companies are starting to release their earnings for the fourth quarter of last year, and so far it doesn’t look like many blue chip stocks are going to get a passing grade. There’s good news though: 2021 is likely to be a lot better. Big banks JPMorgan Chase,…… MORE
Chris Cramer, veteran journalist and pioneering former CNN executive, dies aged 73
Chris Cramer, the passionate and forthright leader at the helm of CNN International for 11 years, has died, aged 73. He was an early champion of recognizing the impacts of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among journalists and his lasting legacy is an industry with far greater awareness of the dangers journalists face around the world.…… MORE
Analysis: TV news is realigning, with Fox’s ratings sagging and CNN’s soaring
A realignment in TV news is under way. Fox News Channel’s ratings have sagged ever since Election Day. And CNN’s ratings have surged to historic levels. These shifts are related, but complicated. It’s not as simple as “X is up so Y is down.” People who don’t normally watch a lot of cable news are…… MORE
It’s 53% alcohol and tastes like fire. Here’s how this liquor brand took over China
When Costco opened its first store in China in 2019, it wasn’t just the hot rotisserie chickens and discounted Birkin bags that lured frenzied crowds. A fiery, throat-tingling liquor called Kweichow Moutai also flew off shelves. At 1,498 yuan, or $209 for a half-liter bottle, it might not sound like the kind of bargain Costco…… MORE
James Murdoch criticizes ‘media property owners’ who have ‘unleashed insidious’ forces with election denialism claims
James Murdoch, the youngest son of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch, assailed “media property owners” and outlets that have promoted disinformation and conspiracy theories about the results of the 2020 election. Murdoch did not explicitly mention Fox News, which is controlled by his father and his brother Lachlan Murdoch. But it was clear that, even…… MORE
NRA files for bankruptcy
The National Rifle Association of America, the nation’s foremost gun lobby, has filed for voluntary bankruptcy in Texas, the organization said Friday. The group said it plans to leave New York and reincorporate as a Texas nonprofit, in an move it is calling “Project Freedom.” The NRA said it’s in its “strongest financial condition in…… MORE
