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☆ More than 100 U.S. political elites have family links to slavery
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Reuters Graphic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +46 min

Then the war came, and according to the family history, Union soldiers plundered Sessions’ 27-room house. About 48 years old at the time, he did not stand a chance to succeed without slavery, the family history suggests. ‘A Better Nation’Some historians and genealogists say there is a valuable reason for white leaders – and other white Americans – to explore their links to slavery. Nicka Sewell-Smith, a professional genealogist with the family history website Ancestry.com, said people frequently ask her what to do with such documents. The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Meeks said in an interview that he has spent years trying to trace his family history back before 1870.

Persons: Black, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton, James Lankford, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Joe Biden, –, Donald Trump –, Jimmy Carter, George W, Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Trump’s, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch –, Asa Hutchinson, Doug Burgum, Tim Scott, James Clyburn, Henry McMaster, ”, Henry Louis Gates Jr, Gates, ” “, ” Gates, enslavers, Tony Burroughs, Biden, Obama, McConnell, Burroughs, Joseph Maddox, Maddox, Sela, Rubin, James, Sal, Sam ”, Graham, Graham didn’t, Nancy Mace, Drucilla, Drucilla Mace, John Mace, Hector Godbolt, John Mace’s, Godbolt, “, ” Nancy Mace, Henry Coe, Duckworth, Coe, Margaret, Isaac, Warner, George …, Isaac Franklin –, “ There’s, ” Duckworth, George Floyd, Donald Trump, ” Biden, ‘, ’, Ben Affleck, ” Affleck, Independent Angus King, Mo Brooks, ” Brooks, Sean Kelley, Kelley, White, don’t, wasn’t, Richard Sessions, Pete Sessions, Richard’s, William Sessions, John Cowger, Tom Cotton of, ” Cotton’s, Cowger, Cotton, Archibald Crawford, Juneteenth, Shaheen, Pocahontas, Edmond Dillehay, Peter ”, Milly, Lankford, ” Lankford, Joe Wilson, Stephen H, Wilson, Boineau, General David Addison Weisiger, Wilson –, Addison Graves Wilson –, Weisiger “, ” Wilson, Daniel Weisiger, Daniel Weisiger’s, Samuel, Samuel Weisiger, Daniel, Julia Brownley, Jesse Brownley, Brownley, ” Brownley, Thomas Ferguson, Brooks, Manumission, Marie Jenkins Schwartz, ” “ It’s, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, Harvard’s Gates, Sherman, Andrew Johnson, Abraham Lincoln, Nicka Sewell, Smith, Ancestry.com, ” Sewell, LaBrenda Garrett, Nelson, Garrett, Rick Larsen, John Wiggins, Larsen, – Gilbura, George, Agg –, ” Larsen, Gilbura, Agg, Gregory Meeks, Meeks, Jim Crow South, – Meeks, – “, ” Meeks, “ I’m, I’m, Tom Bergin, Makini Brice, Nicholas P, Brown, Donna Bryson, Lawrence Delevingne, Brad Heath, Andrea Januta, Gui Qing Koh, Tom Lasseter, Grant Smith, Maurice Tamman, Catherine Tai Design, John Emerson, Jane Ross, Emma Jehle, Jeremy Schultz, Blake Morrison Organizations: Reuters, Republicans, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Harvard University, PBS, United States Congress, Representative, WikiLeaks, Sony, Facebook, White, FedEx, National Museum of, 117th, Independent, University of Essex, Geographic, American Economic, Pete Sessions, Sessions, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jeanne Shaheen U.S, CNN, Biden, Trump, ” Reuters, South, South Carolina General Assembly, Confederate, statehouse, Congressional, Chesterfield County, Mount Vernon College, George Washington University, Mo Brooks Former U.S, “, New York Times, United, Federal Government, Union, Black, Southern, Democrat, House Foreign Affairs, Klux Klan Locations: U.S, America, Confederate States, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Carolina, Congress, Black, Northern, Southern, Illinois, Virginia, Frederick County , Virginia, United States, Minnesota, ”, Mo Brooks of Alabama, American, Texas, Mississippi, Chicot County , Arkansas, Chicot County, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Yell County, Yell County , Arkansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Frankfurt, Germany, Chesterfield County , Virginia, California, Portsmouth , Virginia, Alabama, Haywood County , North Carolina, Antebellum, United States of America, Washington, Nicholas County , Kentucky, Queens , New York, New York, York County, Mende, Sierra Leone, Africa, Bunce

☆ Pinterest CEO: 'Advertisers are looking for a place that is positive'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailPinterest CEO: 'Advertisers are looking for a place that is positive'CNBC's Julia Boorstin speaks with Pinterest CEO Bill Ready from the annual Cannes Lions ad festival about the company's recent initiatives around building a positive space for advertisers along with its growth in e-commerce shopping.

Persons: Julia Boorstin, Bill Ready Organizations: Cannes Lions

☆ Pinterest's guidance is disappointing, but its Amazon partnership shows promise, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Wall Street analysts were mixed on Pinterest after its latest earnings results, saying the near-term outlook appears murky, though an Amazon partnership seems promising. While the image-sharing company beat expectations on the top and bottom lines in its first quarter, it issued second-quarter revenue growth expectations that were disappointing. Along with its results Thursday, Pinterest said Amazon will be its first partner for third-party ads. Bank of America's Justin Post reiterated a neutral rating, calling Pinterest a "near-term disappointment, long-term opportunity." Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs' Eric Sheridan maintained a buy rating, saying the engagement trends are pointing in the right direction.

☆ Pinterest's ad woes hurt revenue growth, shares slump
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Vansh Agarwal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

While Pinterest said that the ad market was stabilizing, it warned the market was still uncertain. Shares of peer Snap Inc (SNAP.N) fell about 18% aftermarket on weak first-quarter revenue and the company warned it could miss estimates for the second as well. Analysts on average had expected $592.99 million, according to Refinitiv data. Pinterest said it expected revenue growth in the current quarter to be in line with revenue growth in the first quarter and the fourth quarter of 2022. Fourth quarter revenue grew 4%.

CNN —The Texas Senate passed a bill Thursday requiring each public school classroom to display a copy of the Ten Commandments, a move that drew backlash from civil liberty advocates who say lawmakers should not dictate what religious materials students are exposed to. The legislation, which passed the state Senate on a 17-12 vote, will now head to the state’s House of Representatives. “This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year,” the bill reads. Senate Bill 1396 also passed with a 17-12 vote. “Parents should be able to decide what religious materials their child should learn, not the (Texas legislature),” the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said in a statement.

☆ Montana lawmakers pass bill to ban TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Montana legislators approved a bill on Friday that would ban TikTok from being offered in the state in a 54-43 vote. Beyond Montana, federal lawmakers have for months been pushing an act that would ban TikTok across the country if ByteDance won't sell its stake in the viral video app. The Montana bill cited likely Chinese surveillance and the potential theft of state intellectual property as some of the impetus behind the ban. TikTok said it opposes the bill, adding that there's no clear path for the Montana government to enforce it or punish violators. "We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach."

☆ Watch Sara Eisen's full interview with Pinterest CEO Bill Ready
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch Sara Eisen's full interview with Pinterest CEO Bill ReadyPinterest CEO Bill Ready joins CNBC's Sara Eisen for an exclusive interview at 'ShopTalk' in Las Vegas. He discusses the company's growth, their new app 'Shuffles', AI and the state of the consumer.

☆ UBS says this social media stock can rally more than 25% on plans to improve advertising
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pinterest could see big gains ahead as new leadership pushes the e-commerce platform to unlock untapped advertising opportunities, according to UBS. Analyst Lloyd Walmsley upgraded the stock to buy from neutral. Walmsley said Pinterest's partner monetization strategy began showing "rapid improvement" in the international space. The company has also seen an increase in ad loads stemming from improved ad density and relevance. Still, he said the company could benefit from a large global partner to help, while smaller local partners can provide additional support.

☆ A new bill in Florida would require bloggers writing about Ron DeSantis to register with the state or be fined
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Florida senator filed a bill mandating that anyone blogging about DeSantis must register with the state. Ron DeSantis to register with the state. 1316 would require any blogger who writes about DeSantis — and is paid for their work — to register with the state ethics commission or the Florida Office of Legislative Services. Brodeur's suggested law does not appear to apply to news organizations but instead would target individual bloggers who write about DeSantis and other officials. Brodeur told the website Florida Politics that he believes "paid bloggers are lobbyists who write instead of talk."

☆ AI like ChatGPT amplifies 'darkest aspects of human nature,' Pinterest CEO warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Pinterest CEO Bill Ready warned that emerging AI tech could accelerate the negative impact of social media on mental health. During an interview with "Good Morning America," the CEO said that AI amplifies the "darkest aspects of human nature." The Pinterest CEO made the comments during a recent interview with "Good Morning America." "Interestingly, the discussion has been that this is just human nature — the social media platforms are just reflecting human nature — but in reality AI has been amplifying the darkest aspects of human nature," he said. Ready is far from the first executive to sound the alarm on emerging AI technology.

☆ Iowa now has its own version of a 'Don't Say Gay' bill, requiring parental consent for nicknames that don't match a kid's 'biological sex'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Yelena Dzhanova | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill to limit gender identity and expression in the classroom. The bill is similar to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" legislation, which forbids discussion of gender expression, identity, and sexual orientation in kindergarten classrooms through third grade. The text of the "Don't Say Gay" bill specifies that such discussions are not "age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students." The Iowa law would prohibit the discussion of gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. Limits on gender expression in the classroom can create a culture of fear, she said.

☆ We're performing quite well, says Pinterest CEO Bill Ready, after earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe're performing quite well, says Pinterest CEO Bill Ready, after earningsCNBC's Julia Boorstin talks to Pinterest CEO Bill Ready about the company's earnings report and the guidance that's currently weighing on the stock.

☆ Pinterest shares plunge as much as 12% on fourth-quarter revenue miss and weak forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Pinterest shares sank as much as 12% after the company reported revenue that missed analyst expectations and issued a light forecast for the first quarter. Pinterest recorded net income of $17 million in the fourth quarter, but logged a net loss of $96 million for 2022. Its average revenue per user, or ARPU, for the U.S. and Canada region rose 6% in the fourth quarter to $7.60 from a year ago. Additionally, revenue in Alphabet's YouTube unit sank 8% year-over-year to $7.96 billion in the fourth quarter. Snap said its sales in the fourth quarter was slightly up year-over-year to $1.30 billion, which missed analyst expectations of $1.31 billion.

☆ Fact Check-California bill allows non-citizens with work permits to become police officers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A California bill allows non-citizens with valid work authorization to become police officers. Gee whiz.”Another post reads, in part, “The bill makes no distinction between legal and illegal immigrants.” (here)The posts refer to bill SB-960, which can be seen (here), introduced on Feb. 9, 2022, by California State Senator Nancy Skinner. Peace officers is a term used to refer to different law enforcement positions, such as a police officer or a sheriff (here). It is a violation of federal law to work in the U.S. without valid work authorization (here), (here), (here). Bill SB-960 amends the requirement that police officers have to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and allow non-citizens with valid work authorization to hold the position.

☆ Fact Check-California bill would allow non-citizens with work permits to become police officers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A California bill would allow non-citizens with valid work authorization to become police officers. The bill would not extend those rights to those without legal migratory status, however, contrary to what is being shared by posts on social media. Gee whiz.”Another post reads, in part, “The bill makes no distinction between legal and illegal immigrants.” (here)The posts refer to bill SB-960, which can be seen (here), introduced on Feb. 9, 2022, by California State Senator Nancy Skinner. It is a violation of federal law to work in the U.S. without valid work authorization (here), (here), (here). Bill SB-960 would amend the requirement that police officers have to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and allow non-citizens with valid work authorization to hold the position.

☆ Pinterest reaches deal with activist Elliott; Steinberg to join board
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Pinterest on Tuesday said it reached a deal with Elliott Management, the activist investment firm that has offered up ideas on how to improve operations at the image sharing and social media service company. Marc Steinberg, a portfolio manager at Elliott, will join the board on Dec. 16, Pinterest said. Pinterest CEO Bill Ready, who took the job in June, called the deal with Elliott a "one-of-a-kind agreement" and said the company "appreciates the perspective" Steinberg, Jesse Cohn, a managing partner at Elliott, and others at the firm bring. Pinterest's stock climbed 2.5% in after hours trading on the news that Elliott, one of the company's biggest investors, was joining the board. Elliott, one of the world's busiest activist investing firms, has extensive experience in the tech and social media sector as Cohn held board seats at Twitter and eBay (EBAY.O) and worked closely with Steinberg on those investments.

Black voters in Louisiana are confused. Louisiana House of RepresentativesIn an unusual twist, Jordan initiated a campaign last summer for an amendment he authored to fail. Jordan was fine with the amendment not passing, even though many Black voters disagreed. The Louisiana State Penitentiary, nicknamed Angola. “I have to believe that every person of color in Louisiana would vote to have that removed from Louisiana’s Constitution.

☆ Wolfe Research says these unloved stocks are starting to show favorable signs heading into 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A few stocks that were unloved this year look set to turn the page heading into 2023, according to Wolfe Research. Wolfe Research searched for unloved names with buy ratings from less than 40% of analysts covering them. According to Wolfe Research, Carnival is expected to accelerate earnings by 647%. Pinterest has low short interest, just 5.5%, according to Wolfe Research. Regardless, the airline company has a high 2Q22 earnings quality score of 96, and it's forecasted to accelerate earnings by 17%, according to Wolfe Research.

☆ Cathay’s outgoing boss can flash half-decent card
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Nov 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Cathay Pacific’s (0293.HK) new boss has reason for optimism. The outgoing chief executive can flash a half-decent report card. He navigated the Air China- (601111.SS) and Swire Pacific-backed (0019.HK) company through backlash from Beijing after employees took part in the 2019 Hong Kong protests. The $6 billion airline has seen a modest rebound of travellers since Hong Kong dropped hotel quarantine requirements. Since Tang’s appointment in August 2019, Cathay has logged a negative total return of 16%.

☆ Primark’s price freeze is risky inflation gambit
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Primark is breaking with the pack to navigate soaring inflation. Its largest rival Inditex (ITX.MC), owner of Zara, is taking a different approach by hiking prices over the next year. AB Foods Chief Executive George Weston appears to be willing to sacrifice Primark’s near 10% operating margin to keep price-sensitive customers happy. Assume inflation shaves almost 3 percentage points off the retail unit’s operating margin next year, taking it down to 7%. The 4% bump in AB Foods’ share price on Tuesday suggests investors reckon the plan may work.

☆ Disney will solve its Netflix problem
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Nov 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) boss Bob Chapek is knee-deep in the video-streaming money pit. New subscribers keep signing up, too: Disney+ counts 164 million, a 39% jump from 12 months earlier. With investors now prioritizing costs over growth, however, Disney shares fell 10% in after-hours trading. Netflix generated $5 billion of operating profit over the first nine months of 2022. If the Netflix enterprise commands 18 times expected EBITDA, per Refinitiv data, Disney will find enough fairy dust to warrant a multiple higher than 12 times.

☆ Japan baulks at U.S. car credits
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Nov 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Japanese carmakers don’t offer much in the way of new technology. Nonetheless, Tokyo is sounding the alarm on U.S. President Joe Biden’s plan, via his Inflation Reduction Act, to offer credits for electric vehicles, officially noting it threatens Japanese carmakers in America, and will discourage investment. A new three-page comment from the government on the credits mentions the word “allies” nine times and reminds Biden that Japanese car makers have been investing in the United States for more than 40 years. After Tokyo stood firm behind the United States in slapping financial sanctions against Russia this year, Washington highlighted the pair’s alignment. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Starbucks waits stubbornly in China queue
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Nov 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Howard Schultz is patiently sipping on a salted caramel Americano while he stubbornly waits for the slow drip in Shanghai. The Starbucks (SBUX.O) boss on Thursday unveiled 3% revenue growth, to $8.4 billion, for the three months through Oct. 2 despite the top line falling 20% in China because of the country’s zero-Covid policy. North America generated nearly all of Starbucks’ operating income, helping bridge what Schultz calls the “nonlinear” recovery in China. Shareholders seem ready to bide their time, too, imputing a healthy multiple of 25 times expected earnings at Starbucks. With limited growth options elsewhere, Starbucks may have little choice but to double down there.

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