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☆ Trump and the Fun Factor
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Astead W. Herndon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Donald Trump was indicted on criminal charges in New York City two months ago, I tried to make sense of the political fallout with my colleague Nate Cohn, The Times’s chief political analyst. After poring over traditional markers about fund-raising and poll numbers, Nate mentioned another standard I’ve been thinking about over the past few days: Do Trump’s legal challenges make him more (or less) fun? But after Trump’s arraignment in federal court in Miami this week, I’m reminded of its importance. Nate wasn’t calling Trump fun as a self-evident fact, but rather identifying a set of voters who are attracted to showmanship and celebrity, are distinct from Trump’s base and follow politics only casually, if at all. Perhaps you have a friend who doesn’t care about politics, but can’t believe Trump said THAT.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nate Cohn, Nate, I’m, Nate wasn’t, Trump, Marco ” Rubio, “ Lyin, Ted ” Cruz Organizations: New York City, Democracy Fund Locations: New York, Miami

☆ Can Christie Succeed as ‘Trump Slayer’? New Jersey Has Thoughts.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Any race that pits Mr. Christie against Mr. Trump is bound to be especially personal. Mr. Trump seemed to find joy in belittling Mr. Christie from the White House; Mr. Christie blamed Mr. Trump for giving him a bout of Covid that left him gravely ill and hospitalized. In interviews with New Jersey voters, Mr. Christie’s assets and liabilities were repeatedly described as two sides of the same coin. And to Trump loyalists who might prefer that Mr. Christie retreat permanently to his beach house in Bay Head, it was much the same refrain: He is not Mr. Trump. After dropping out of the 2016 presidential contest, Mr. Christie became one of Mr. Trump’s biggest boosters.

Persons: Christie, Mr, Trump, “, ” David Philips, ” Mr, Philips Organizations: New, Democrats, Trump Locations: New Jersey, Bay, Trenton

☆ Project Veritas sues its founder James O'Keefe, alleging he set up a competitor and wooed donors while on the company's payroll
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Project Veritas is suing its founder and former leader, James O'Keefe. Project Veritas alleges that he violated his employment contract and wooed donors from a confidential list. "Defendant James O'Keefe ("O'Keefe") failed in his duties to Plaintiff, Project Veritas, causing it serious and significant damage." Later that month, O'Keefe founded the O'Keefe Media Organization, which is also a defendant in the lawsuit along with two other Project Veritas employees who assisted with the project. The O'Keefe Media Organization directly competes with Project Veritas — a violation of O'Keefe's employment contract, Project Veritas alleges.

Persons: James O'Keefe, O'Keefe, —, Roy Moore, O'Keefe didn't Organizations: Veritas, Service, Project Veritas, Plaintiff, Pfizer, Company, O'Keefe Media Organization, OMG Locations: Washington, New York, Maine

☆ Strategists are gloomy going into the start of first quarter earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

I noted last week that following a strong first quarter (S & P up over 7%), the S & P 500 almost invariably is up even more by the end of the year. For the most part, the strategist community is fairly gloomy going into first quarter earnings season and the prospects for further gains in 2023. He too noted that the S & P 500 is now "within spitting distance" of his year-end price target of 4,200 and announced Tuesday he was shifting direction. Indeed, it looks like a race to the bottom to see who can claim the mantle of "lowest estimate on the Street" for full-year 2023 earnings. 2023 earnings: the trough is Q1 Q1: $50.63 Q2: $54.13 Q3: $56.84 Q4: $58.32 Source: Refinitiv That works out to $219.83, just a tad above the $218.09 that 2022 printed.

[1/2] People exit the building after a vote on to expel two of three Democratic members for their role in a gun control demonstration at the statehouse last week, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., April 6, 2023. On Thursday, the Tennessee House of Representatives' Republican supermajority voted to remove Democratic Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, two young Black legislators, over demonstrations pushing for stricter gun laws. On Thursday, President Joe Biden decried the expulsions of the state lawmakers on Twitter, calling them "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent." The White House, which announced the trip, did not provide other details about the meeting, scheduled for Friday evening. Nearly 50 organizations, led by the gun safety advocacy group the Newtown Action Alliance, called for nationwide student walkouts in solidarity with those in Tennessee.

☆ Gavin Newsom says he's taking a road trip through red states to fight the policies and 'anger machine' of DeSantis and other GOP governors
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is traveling to red states to tout the progressive agenda. Gavin Newsom of California already had a plan in the works to go on offense against Republican governors. California Gov. California Gov.

☆ Wagner representative barred from Russian army HQ in Ukraine, its boss says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Since mid-January, Russia's campaign in Ukraine has been commanded personally by the chief of the general staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov. "If Wagner retreats from Bakhmut now, the whole front will collapse," Prigozhin said in the video, apparently filmed in a bunker. "The situation will not be sweet for all military formations protecting Russian interests." A prominent critic of the mercenary boss said, without providing evidence, that it was two weeks old. In Monday's statement, he said: "We are continuing to smash the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Bakhmut."

☆ An anonymous 'art-world family' took out a job ad for an executive assistant to make their life easier 'in every way possible'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A job posting for an executive assistant for a "high-profile art world family" recently went viral. For a $65,000-$95,000 salary, the prospective candidate is asked to "make life easier for the couple in every way possible." The ad has been removed, but was originally posted on a job board hosted by the New York Foundation for the Arts. But a recent ad for an "Executive Assistant" for an "Art World Family" has gone viral for its unreasonable — and borderline exploitative — list of job requirements. The ad was originally posted on a job board hosted by the nonprofit New York Foundation for the Arts.

☆ What Elon Musk has said publicly — and in private texts — on his ideas for Twitter and X, an 'everything app'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Elon Musk has discussed his plans for X, an "everything app," on Twitter and in private texts. AP Photo/Jacquelyn MartinPrivate texts about a blockchain-based platformMusk has also discussed creating a social media platform built on a blockchain. In April, the billionaire privately outlined his idea for a "Doge" social media platform in texts to his younger brother, Kimbal Musk. "I have an idea for a blockchain social media system that does both payments and short text messages/links like Twitter," Musk texted. Shortly after buying Twitter, Musk began charging Twitter users for the app's blue check mark.

NFL Hall of Famer and NBC Sports analyst Tony Dungy is facing renewed criticism for his history of anti-LGBTQ statements after he tweeted an anti-transgender conspiracy theory last week. That’s the criteria for avoiding hell.”In another tweet from 2020, Dungy wrote that being “LGBTQ is a lifestyle,” a sentiment that suggests being queer is a choice. . . things will happen.’’Cyd Zeigler, an LGBTQ advocate and a co-founder of the LGBTQ sports site Outsports.com, has been raising the alarm bells on Dungy’s anti-LGBTQ sentiments for years. “I’ve never called for Tony Dungy to be fired or lose his job or his ability to provide for his family,” Zeigler said. Zeigler said he isn’t convinced that Dungy’s anti-LGBTQ rhetoric would stop anytime soon.

With more than 250,000 followers and 2.7 million likes, Chef Way grew to stardom on TikTok for his cooking videos. But now, the social media influencer who is an assistant district attorney in Texas is facing backlash for his previous comments belittling Black women — particularly those with dark skin. In a series of deleted tweets that date back to 2015 from @WaymoTheGod, Chef Way, whose real name is Waymond Wesley, posted demeaning photos and made misogynistic comments about Black women. “To those I’ve hurt with my past tweets that have resurfaced, I am deeply sorry,” he wrote. “Women of color have been too forgiving in the past, which put some of us in undesirable positions and unhealthy situations,” one user tweeted.

What to say instead: "We've always done it this way, but let's see if it's time to change practices." What to say instead: "Back in my day, we had it much worse, and I'm so glad it's better for you. What to say instead: "It's important to have open conversations about salary." What to say instead: "[X person] has more experience and will have other opportunities. What to say instead: "Let's come up with wording that keeps you protected and focuses on the issue."

☆ Black women are worn out from discrimination in corporate America. They're leaving to launch their own businesses, creating a hole for talent across industries.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Alexandra York | Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Black women are being pushed out of corporate America by microaggressions, belittling, and burnout. Their departures are likely to hurt innovation and profits in corporate America. For Black women facing disrespect on the job, those pledges of a more equitable workplace can seem hollow. Insider spoke with Stewart and two other Black women who've left the corporate world since 2020 to start their own businesses. They're among those making Black women the nation's fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs.

☆ Mr Avocado Head has Morocco daring to dream
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Shady Amir | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

When the appointment of Regragui following the departure of Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic was announced in August, underwhelmed pundits branded him "avocado head" as a belittling term of derision. Morocco first grabbed attention at the World Cup with a goalless draw against Croatia, the runners-up four years ago. Unfortunately, I did not play in the World Cup. "I think Africans can go far, why not dream of winning the cup? The Moroccan people made us united on the field," Regragui told Bein Sports.

☆ Kanye West made a Yeezy designer sit on the floor during an hours-long meeting and told her she didn't 'deserve to sit at the table,' report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kanye West once made a designer sit on the floor for an hours-long meeting, per Rolling Stone. The ex-staffer cited by the publication said the incident started with a disagreement between West and the young designer. "You don't deserve to sit at the table," the former employee recalled West saying before making the designer sit on the floor for the rest of the meeting, which they said lasted hours. A spokesperson for Adidas said: "Adidas does not tolerate hate speech and offensive behavior and therefore has terminated the Adidas Yeezy partnership. "Having said this, we will not discuss private conversations, details or events that lead to our decision to terminate the Adidas Yeezy partnership and decline to comment on any related speculation."

☆ 'They are untouchable': Microsoft employees say 'golden boy' executives are still running wild, 8 years after the company vowed to clean up its toxic culture
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

The Microsoft executive walked into the small, windowless room in Studio C at about 8 o'clock that evening. Despite Nadella's public stance against those he has called "talented jerks," many inside the company say Microsoft retains a nearly unlimited tolerance for bad behavior by its top rainmakers and developers. "The Microsoft of 2021 is very different from the Microsoft of 2000 to me and to everyone at Microsoft," Nadella said. But some women say the investigations drag on for months or even years, with no clear timeline for resolution. What's more, some employees say Microsoft's efforts to promote racial equity often smack of tokenism.

☆ Pro-DeSantis midterm mailer did more than mock LGBTQ communities
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Nicholas Mitchell | Nicholas Mitchell Is An Assistant Professor Of Curriculum Studies At The University Of Kansas. He Is A Curriculum Theorist Whose Scholarship Focuses On The Intersection Of Education Theory | Policy | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

It and other publications rightly called it out for mocking the LGBTQ community. Republicans are belittling knowledge that they find threatening to the status quo that gives the lives of social conservatives meaning. To play on the words of Ben Shapiro, I call this movement the “feelings over facts” orientation, and it has been positioned as a bulwark against indoctrination by disciplines that focus on race, gender and art. This is the not-so-subtle implication of the mailer supporting DeSantis. For everyone who doesn’t believe gender studies is threatening, the student in the photo the mailer used is just a new nonbinary college graduate.

☆ The GOP has Paul Pelosi’s blood on its hands
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Arick Wierson | Arick Wierson Is A Six-Time Emmy Award-Winning Television Producer | A Former Senior Aide To Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He Advises Political | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The whole thing highlights how while the suspect, David DePape, may have invaded the Pelosi home, the GOP also bears its share of responsibility for it. It would be a mistake not to see how DePape was radicalized (at least in part) by a right-wing media that does the bidding of a Republican Party. Although some Republicans, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, did the right thing and publicly condemned the attack on Paul Pelosi, others on the right jumped at the chance to get some digs in. Following the attack on Paul Pelosi, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), said it best: “Somebody is going to die.” That’s very well what could have happened last week at the Pelosi residence. I came here to have a little chat with his wife,” DePape said he told Paul Pelosi, according to the memo.

☆ ‘The Independent’ Review: John Cena and Journalistic Integrity
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

’Tis the season for election-conspiracy thrillers and campaign-finance mysteries, though the time might never be ripe enough for the likes of “The Independent,” an undercooked serving of political skulduggery that nevertheless provides a showcase for the magnetic Jodie Turner-Smith . “Your writing—it’s got punch,” says Nicholas Booker ( Brian Cox ), weathered dean of Washington political columnists. “It’s raw—but there’s something there.” He might have been reviewing “The Independent.” Instead, he’s appraising the work of Elisha “Eli” James (Ms. Turner-Smith), fledgling investigative journalist. Booker likes the cut of her jib, as he and his fellow ink-stained wretches might have said while standing around the AP teletype machine during the Nixon administration. (“The Independent” isn’t really a story about newspapers—which is fine, because its portrayal of the newspaper world is a caricature.)

☆ Elon Musk and Donald Trump now own rival social networks. Here's a timeline of their rocky relationship.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Former President Donald Trump said he's "very happy" that Elon Musk now owns Twitter. January 2020: 'One of our great geniuses'Former President Donald Trump speaks during a "Save America" rally in Anchorage, Alaska, on July 9, 2022. May 2020: Trump backs up Musk in feud with California covid rulesElon Musk meets Donald Trump at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. May 30, 2020. May 2022: Musk said he would reinstate Trump's Twitter accountTesla CEO Elon Musk. July 2022: Trump lashes outFormer President Donald Trump gives the keynote address at the Faith and Freedom Coalition during their annual conference on June 17, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee.

☆ What Elon Musk has said publicly — and in private texts — about X, his idea for an 'everything app'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Elon Musk has discussed his plans for X, an "everything app," in Twitter and in private texts. AP Photo/Jacquelyn MartinPrivate texts about a blockchain-based platformMusk has also discussed creating a social media platform built on a blockchain. In April, the billionaire privately outlined his idea for a "Doge" social media platform in texts to his younger brother, Kimbal Musk. "I have an idea for a blockchain social media system that does both payments and short text messages/links like Twitter," Musk texted. A battle against botsOne thing is clear throughout Musk's dealings with Twitter — the billionaire's social media platform will be tasked with eliminating scam accounts.

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