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CNN —Nearly five months after she was released from Russian detention, WNBA star Brittney Griner says it feels “a little overwhelming” to return to public life given the widespread interest in her case. Griner spent nearly 300 days in custody before being released as part of a prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December. She has since been reintegrating into life in the United States, meeting with US President Joe Biden, attending the Met Gala on Monday, and preparing for the season ahead with the Phoenix Mercury. “I didn’t think it could get that big,” Griner told reporters during the Mercury’s annual preseason media day on Wednesday. Griner arrives back in the United States in December.

☆ Car Insurance Rates Are Going Up Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Leslie Scism | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The rate increase comes amid inflation, higher claims costs and rising prices for auto parts, insurers say. Photo: patrick t. fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesAllstate and Progressive , two of the nation’s biggest car insurers, say inflation continues to hurt their auto-insurance businesses, and are pushing ahead with additional premium-rate increases for vehicle owners. The two giants, and many other big car insurers, say higher claims costs continue to dent their results, despite slowing inflation. Prices continue to rise for auto parts, they say, and vehicles are taking longer to be repaired than in past years due to shortages of workers. Those delays, in turn, lead to extended rental-car use by policyholders, at the insurers’ expense.

☆ JPMorgan Eyes the True Prize in First Republic Deal: Wealthy Customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Aaron Back | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

JPMorgan Chase bought First Republic Bank early Monday after the FDIC took over the troubled lender. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty ImagesJPMorgan Chase executives haven’t been too subtle about what they like about First Republic: its wealth-management business. There is good reason for that. With the fallen bank’s elite coastal clientele, JPMorgan has a chance to take its business managing money for the wealthy to another level, using its broad bank platform to capitalize on the opportunity in a way that First Republic simply couldn’t.

LOS ANGELES, May 1 (Reuters) - Thousands of film and television writers will go on strike starting Tuesday, throwing Hollywood into turmoil as the entertainment business grapples with seismic changes triggered by the global streaming TV boom. The rise of streaming has led to declining television ad revenue, as traditional TV audiences shrink and advertisers go elsewhere. The last WGA strike, in 2007 and 2008, cost the California economy an estimated $2.1 billion as productions shut down and out-of-work writers, actors and producers cut back spending. Writers say they have suffered financially during the streaming TV boom, in part due to shorter seasons and smaller residual payments. Half of TV series writers now work at minimum salary levels, compared with one-third in the 2013-14 season, according to Guild statistics.

☆ How will TV shows be affected by the Hollywood writers strike?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike BlakeLOS ANGELES, May 1 (Reuters) - Thousands of Hollywood film and television writers will go on strike starting Tuesday, an action that will disrupt TV production. How will the walkout by the Writers Guild of America's affect viewers' favorite TV shows and movies? Which shows will feel the first impact of the strike? A protracted strike could delay the start of the fall television season, when networks debut new scripted shows and fresh seasons of their hits. Netflix (NFLX.O), which makes shows around the world, has said it can feed its service with shows produced outside the United States.

☆ Writers' strike support: Celebs stand in solidarity with TV and film writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Several stars are vocalizing their support for TV and film writers. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is currently on strike as they seek better compensation and other concessions from studios and streamers. “Everything changed with streaming and everyone needs to be compensated for their work,” actress Amanda Seyfried told Variety on the red carpet. “Whatever I can do to support the guild,” Fallon said. She also spoke on the Met red carpet about being a member of the guild.

☆ Michael Milken says recent crisis is the same mistake banks have been making for decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Michael Milken, Chairman of the Milken Institute, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, on May 2, 2022. "You shouldn't have borrowed short and lent long... Finance 101," Milken said on CNBC's "Last Call." "Again here, the banks have enough credit, they had enough equity, they had enough ability to absorb credit losses that are coming. The founder of the Milken Institute believes that there will be a decrease in the percentage of loans that are owned by the banking system in the aftermath of the crisis. "People are so focused on credit risk, etc., but one of the great risks is interest rate risk."

☆ Late Shows Go Dark in First Fallout From Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The fallout from the writers’ strike is beginning to hit. Late night shows, including “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” will immediately begin showing repeats, according to several people briefed on the plans. The Comedy Central program “The Daily Show,” which has no dedicated host, will also air repeats, as will the HBO shows hosted by John Oliver and Bill Maher. The writers have said that their compensation has stagnated even as television production has rapidly grown over the past decade. leaders have said the current system is broken, arguing that the “the survival of writing as a profession is at stake in this negotiation.”

☆ Hollywood's writers are striking over pay, a move that will grind production on most TV shows to a halt
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Writers Guild of America will go on strike from Tuesday in protest of low pay. The WGA's press release added that picketing would begin on Tuesday afternoon. Rumors of a writers' strike have been looming amid talks between union negotiators and media and tech companies. In April, Writers Guild of America members voted 98% in favor of striking if no deal was met before their contract expired at 11.59 p.m., Pacific Time, on Monday. A representative for the AMPTP told Insider that negotiations with the Writers Guild of America "concluded without an agreement" on Monday.

☆ What the Hollywood writers' strike could mean for your favorite TV shows, from 'Abbot Elementary' to 'Saturday Night Live'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Topical shows relying on actively scripted material, including late night, will be the most immediately affected. The strike — which was authorized by nearly 98% of Writers Guild of America members who voted last month — will most immediately impact shows that rely on active writers' rooms working on current material, including "Saturday Night Live" and late night shows. The moment may be an opportunity for reality TV producers as well as non-union productions. Some celebrities on shows likely to be impacted have addressed the possibility of the impending strike on the late night circuit. Davidson acknowledged a writer's strike might mean his "SNL" episode doesn't happen as planned and said he gained a new perspective working on the production as a prospective host.

More than 11,000 film and television writers, who say their compensation doesn't match the revenue generated in the streaming era, are on strike for the first time since 2007-08. Most immediately, this will have a significant impact on late-night shows, where writers are tasked with crafting timely and topical jokes. That's because many shows and films have already wrapped production and will enter the marketplace unaffected by the strike. Instead, they feel they've been shortchanged on compensation as studios, networks and streaming platforms write a new rulebook in real time. Unlike the 2007 strike, writers currently have social media on their side and are rallying on platforms like Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to get their message out.

REUTERS/Alyssa PointerLOS ANGELES, May 1 (Reuters) - Negotiators for Hollywood writers and film and television studios engaged in 11th-hour contract talks on Monday to try and avert a strike that would disrupt TV production across an industry grappling with seismic changes. The Writers Guild of America could call a work stoppage as early as Tuesday if it cannot reach a deal with companies such as Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Netflix Inc (NFLX.O). Writers say they have suffered financially during the streaming TV boom, in part due to shorter seasons and smaller residual payments. Half of TV series writers now work at minimum salary levels, compared with one-third in the 2013-14 season, according to Guild statistics. The WGA wants safeguards to prevent studios from using AI to generate new scripts from writers' previous work.

☆ Deere Seeks Satellite Network to Connect Far-Flung Farms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Bob Tita | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Deere’s technology was on display at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesTo raise more crops from the earth, tractor maker Deere & Co. is looking to space. The farm-equipment company wants to use satellites to connect farms in remote areas of Brazil and the U.S. as the company rolls out high-tech machinery and software designed to sow and harvest crops more quickly, and with less manpower.

LOS ANGELES, May 1 (Reuters) - Negotiators for Hollywood writers and film and television studios engaged in 11th-hour contract talks on Monday to try and avert a strike that would disrupt TV production across an industry grappling with seismic changes. Writers say they have suffered financially during the streaming TV boom, in part due to shorter seasons and smaller residual payments. Half of TV series writers now work at minimum salary levels, compared with one-third in the 2013-14 season, according to Guild statistics. The WGA wants safeguards to prevent studios from using AI to generate new scripts from writers' previous work. The last WGA strike in 2007 and 2008 lasted 100 days.

☆ Factbox: Why are Hollywood writers threatening to strike?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, May 1 (Reuters) - Hollywood writers and the film and television studios are racing to agree to a new contract to replace the one that expires at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time Monday. Why is the Writers Guild of America threatening a strike? The writers argue that they have been negatively impacted by streaming, saying they are working more for less money. They're seeking better compensation for their work on film, television and streaming shows, and residual payments that reward writers when a show becomes a hit. Striking writers are prohibited from doing work on any television or film project.

☆ How a writers’ strike might affect your favorite TV shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

If production does come to a halt due to a writers’ strike, here’s where audiences may see an impact. Likewise, for variety shows such as “Saturday Night Live.”If past is precedent, you will see reruns in place of live shows. Programs like “Big Brother,” and “Celebrity Apprentice” helped to fill the gap of scripted shows whose productions paused during the strike. Andrew Cooper/NetflixMany shows on both linear and streaming platforms work far enough ahead that new episodes are already written. Some platforms, like Netflix, have promised they’ll be able to offer new TV shows and movies for quite some time.

☆ Elite investors overseeing trillions warned the crowd at Milken about a looming US credit crunch. Here's how 2 of them say they're planning to capitalize.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( James Faris | Akin Oyedele | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Leaders of major asset management firms discussed the prospect of a credit crunch at the 2023 Milken Global Conference. They shared how they're planning to capitalize on the dislocations that arise. The tighter environment was top of mind during an economics panel at the 2023 Milken Global Conference, with multiple participants warning of an impending credit crunch. "The commercial real estate sector in particular, which was 50%-plus from the regional banking system, is definitely going to be limited." Hunt also discussed how PGIM is planning to react to a credit crunch: by continuing as normal and trying to absorb more market share from traditional banks.

☆ Elon Musk Expects SpaceX to Spend Around $2 Billion on Starship Rocket This Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Micah Maidenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SpaceX’s Starship lifting off on its inaugural test mission earlier this month from its launchpad in southern Texas. Photo: patrick t. fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSpaceX anticipates spending about $2 billion on its Starship rocket program this year and might not need to raise additional outside funding as that work unfolds, according to founder and Chief Executive Elon Musk. Mr. Musk outlined SpaceX’s plans Saturday during an audio chat on Twitter about Starship, the powerful rocket the company launched for the first time earlier this month. The inaugural test mission ended after about four minutes when a flight-termination system on the vehicle destroyed it as the rocket began to tumble.

☆ SpaceX to spend about $2 billion on Starship this year, as Elon Musk pushes to reach orbit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The SpaceX Starship lifts off from the launchpad during a flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on April 20, 2023. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty ImagesElon Musk expects SpaceX to spend about $2 billion on its Starship rocket development this year, as the company pushes to build on its first launch earlier this month. "To my knowledge, we do not need to raise incremental funding for SpaceX," Musk said. As for the dramatic first fully stacked Starship rocket launch on April 20," the SpaceX CEO said, "The outcome was roughly in what I expected, and maybe slightly exceeding my expectations." He put the probability of reaching orbit with a Starship flight this year at "probably" 80%, but espoused that he thinks there is a "100% chance of reaching orbit within 12 months."

☆ What’s next for SpaceX’s Starship after a dramatic first launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Starship launches for the first time on its Super Heavy booster from Texas on April 20, 2023. Soon after the launch, SpaceX began the process of cleaning up the launchpad and assessing the damage to its infrastructure. Fish and Wildlife Service disclosed this week that the Starship launch started a 3.5-acre fire on land owned by Texas' Boca Chica State Park. A SpaceX Starship prototype stands in a bay at the SpaceX Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas on April 18, 2023. As with any rocket-development program, and especially the largest ever assembled, SpaceX's timeline for the next Starship flight is likely to evolve and change.

☆ Google Is All About Cost Control Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Google parent Alphabet expects capital expenditures to be modestly higher than last year. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesGoogle is working hard to do more with less. How it does with a lot less remains to be seen. But the company’s total advertising revenue was still flat year over year. And while Google doesn’t give formal projections, it said on its conference call to discuss its quarterly results that “the outlook remains uncertain.”

☆ SpaceX's Starship mega-rocket was too powerful for its own good
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Chris Panella | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Rocks and other debris fly around remote cameras as SpaceX’s Starship lifts off atop its Super Heavy booster for the first time. Starship was too strong for its launchpadA field of debris surrounds Starship's launchpad after the rocket's launch blew up concrete beneath it. Debris litters the Starship launchpad, with damaged fuel tanks visible in the background. PATRICK T. FALLON / Contributor / Getty ImagesThere were no injuries related to the Starship launch, according to the FAA. In addition to the mishap investigation, SpaceX must request a modification to its launch license in order to fly another Starship.

☆ Goldman Sachs M&A team doesn't get out of bed for less than $10 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Goldman Sachs' M&A team operates under a similar mandate, albeit with a few more zeros. Why bother stressing over 10 $1 billion deals when you can just do a $10 billion deal? It's not just the M&A market that's facing issues. The bank has held the top spot on the year-end M&A league tables for decades, but it is hearing footsteps. More on Goldman's M&A strategy amid an industry drought.

☆ Photos show SpaceX's Starship rocket blew a crater into its launchpad and flung concrete chunks hundreds of feet during liftoff
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Kelly Mclaughlin | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

SpaceX's Starship blew a huge hole in its launchpad during takeoff last week and scattered debris. Members of the public walk through a debris field around the Starship launchpad at SpaceX's facilities near Boca Chica, Texas. It was also missing a water-deluge system, which helps further reduce energy blast around the launch site during liftoff. Rocks and other debris fly around remote cameras as SpaceX’s Starship lifts off atop its Super Heavy booster for the first time. Last week's flight was the first time SpaceX launched a Starship rocket on top of it its Super Heavy booster.

☆ Carol Burnett's birthday special' is an elegant (and hilarious) event
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hulton Archive/Getty Images Burnett peeks at a portrait of herself that was being painted by artist Dmitri Vails in 1963. CBS/Getty Images Burnett interacts with the audience of her new variety show, "The Carol Burnett Show," in 1967. CBS/Getty Images Burnett, left, and Cher perform a skit on "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" in 1972. CBS/Getty Images Burnett poses with her memoir "One More Time" at a book signing in Beverly Hills, California, in 1986. Will Hart/NBC/Getty Images Carol Burnett Square was unveiled in Los Angeles in front of her alma mater, Hollywood High School, in 2013.

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