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☆ Nestle and Keurig are going all in on customers making iced coffee at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Iced coffee just isn’t the same when you make it at home. This year, Keurig Dr Pepper launched a machine that is dedicated to iced coffee, advertising a drink “as cold as the coffee shops” in three minutes or less for $199. But there’s science behind why iced coffee is so much better at coffee shops, and current single-serve espresso machine innovations don’t meet that quality despite their marketing. And iced coffee mania comes at a time when coffee production is at risk of surging prices as factors like climate change could slash the global supply. Almost a quarter of Americans enjoy their coffee cold, according to this fall’s National Coffee Data Trends report.

Persons: Keurig Dr Pepper, Nescafé, ” Christopher Hendon, ” David Rennie, Coffee, Jennifer Creevy, ” Creevy, ”, It’s, ” Rennie, Nestlé, “ It’s, Dr Pepper, they’re, CNN’s Erika Tulfo Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nestle, ”, University of Oregon, CNN, International Coffee Organization, United Nations, Nestlé Coffee, National Coffee Association Locations: New York, Australia, China, Americano

☆ Microsoft’s massive Outlook and Teams outage has gone on for hours
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Microsoft said Monday that it has identified the cause of a major Outlook and Teams outage, and is deploying a fix to the problem. As of noon ET Monday, outage-tracking site Downdetector showed more than 5,000 user-reported problems, though this data doesn’t fully reflect the scale of the outage. Around noon, the company said the fix had reached “approximately 98% of the affected environments,” though reports on Downdetector kept increasing. The outage has hindered many office workers – though some US users on X celebrated the small break ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Tech outages have had dire effects around the world this year, though Microsoft’s case isn’t as widespread in comparison.

Persons: We’ve, Downdetector, what’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Microsoft, Tech, Fortune Locations: New York

☆ Scott Bessent: CEOs relieved about Trump pick to lead Treasury
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Business leaders say they are relieved President-elect Donald Trump made a safe choice to lead the Department of Treasury after more unconventional selections to other cabinet posts. Hedge fund executive Scott Bessent survived an internal squabble over the role of Treasury secretary, a key position that will face almost immediate deadlines and pressures. “Bessent is reasonable and pragmatic.”JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, one of the most powerful executives on Wall Street, is a fan, too. And for this key position, Trump opted to go with a pick that is not expected to draw a contentious confirmation battle. Trump instead picked Lutnick for Commerce secretary, another key role, though not as prominent as Treasury.

Persons: , Donald Trump, Scott Bessent, “, ”, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Jamie Dimon, Dimon, he’s, Jim Rogers, Jim Chanos, Stanley Druckenmiller, George Soros, Trump, Smoot, Hawley, ” Sonnenfeld, Larry Kudlow, Bessent, Biden, Kudlow, Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick, Elon Musk, Sonnenfeld, Anthony Scaramucci, Jay Timmons, Mike Pence, ” Timmons, Timmons, Larry Summers, Clinton, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Summers, ” Tony Carrk, “ Scott Bessent’s Organizations: New, New York CNN — Business, of Treasury, Democrats, Yale Chief, Institute, JPMorgan, Wall, CNN, Federal Reserve, Congress, National Economic Council, Trump, Commerce, Treasury, Treasury Department, National Association of Manufacturers Locations: New York, ”, China

☆ Walmart rolls back DEI programs after right-wing backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, will curb some diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. It’s the latest company to backtrack on diversity initiatives in the face of right-wing pressure. The company said Monday it is ending racial equity training programs for staff and evaluating programs designed to increase supplier diversity. “We are willing to change alongside our associates and customers who represent all of America,” Walmart said in a statement. Walmart joins Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply Co., John Deere and other companies in revising or pulling back on their DEI programs, support for Pride marches and LGBTQ events, strategies to slow climate change and other social policies.

Persons: “ We’ve, Robby Starbuck, ” Starbuck, Starbuck, Davidson, John Deere Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, for Racial Equity, Harley, Tractor Supply, Pride Locations: New York, United States, America, Hollywood

☆ Lunchables were a smashing success. Now they’re in crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Lunchables’ slide is hurting its parent company, Kraft Heinz. The end result isn’t just that Lunchables sales are down — numerous competitors have popped up, including Lunchly by YouTube stars Logan Paul and MrBeast. Kraft Heinz also pitched Lunchables to budget-strapped school cafeterias as a way to save money on labor and other costs. Kraft Heinz criticized the findings and said the report contributed to Lunchables’ sales slide. Lunchables’ ‘transformation’Despite Lunchables’ recent woes, Kraft Heinz says it’s investing in the brand.

Persons: Kraft Heinz, Kraft, Lunchables, ”, Diana Frost, “, Logan Paul, MrBeast, It’s, Matt McClain, Carlos Abrams, Rivera, ” Frost, Oscar Mayer, Michael Moss ’, ” Moss, ” Lunchables, Moss, Justin Sullivan, Bob Drane, it’s, “ Lunchables, Frost, David Garfield Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, YouTube, Washington Post, ”, School, Center for Science, Consumer, US Department of Agriculture, Kraft, School Nutrition Association, Crain’s Magazine Locations: New York, Euromonitor, Turkey, bologna, Moss

☆ Egg prices are going even higher. This time it’s avian flu and the holidays
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-24 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Egg prices have risen steadily over the past two years. Egg prices at the grocery store were up 30.4% in October from the year prior, according to the consumer-price index. Increased demand from holiday cooking makes egg prices even more volatile. Avian flu, which is spread through wild birds, has been plaguing farmers and egg supply since January 2022. “Our egg prices really ride the waves associated with high influenza,” said Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Persons: ”, Stew Leonard Jr, Steward Leonard’s, Emily Metz, That’s, Bernt Nelson, Leonard Jr, he’s, “ I’ve, ” Morton Williams, “ It’s, they’re, Steve Schwartz, Morton Williams, Schwartz, nothing’s, ” Schwartz Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Egg Board, American Farm Bureau Federation, US Department of Agriculture, Grocers Locations: New York, Oregon , Utah, Washington, York, New York City, mayo

☆ Trump’s Labor secretary pick is surprisingly pro-union. It doesn’t mean his administration will be
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

New York CNN —This week ended with President-elect Donald Trump nominating one of the most pro-union Republican members of Congress to be his secretary of Labor. Trump support growing among unionsTrump received more support from rank-and-file union members in this election than he had in past elections. “Now he is threatening to take the unprecedented action of removing current pro-worker NLRB members in the middle of their term, replacing them with his corporate friends. Nearly half of the nation’s union members work for different units of government, not companies. Many of the public-sector bargaining rights are not set at the national level, but at the state level, where most public-sector employees and union members work.

Persons: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, shouldn’t, Lori Chavez, DeRemer, “ Lori Chavez, “, United States —, Chavez, Biden, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Harris, It’s, Mitt Romney, Sean O’Brien, Trump, O’Brien, Becky Pringle, Pringle, Donald Trump’s, ”, ” Pringle, ” Jody Calemine, Calemine, Jennifer Abruzzo, Musk, he’s, Todd Vachon, ” Vachon, “ I’m, ” “, “ Trump Organizations: New, New York CNN, Republican, Labor, National Labor Relations Board, Labor Department, AFL, United, Trump, CNN, United Auto Workers, Teamsters, Convention, National Education Association, NLRB, Biden, SpaceX, Occupational Health, Safety Administration, Musk, Tesla, UAW, Labor Education Action Research Network, Rutgers, National Employment Law, Competitive Enterprise Institute Locations: New York, United States, unionize

☆ McDonald’s is giving its menu the biggest shakeup in years
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —McDonald’s is hoping a new value menu will win back customers that have been put off by its higher prices. On Friday, the fast-food chain unveiled the “McValue” menu, a new, budget-friendly category that will roll out at US restaurants on January 7, 2025. Also on the McValue menu are more in-app offers, plus local food and drink deals organized by its franchisees. But the dollar menu proved relatively unpopular compared to the far more successful $5 value meal, which rolled out this summer. The McValue menu will replace what’s left of it.

Persons: New York CNN — McDonald’s, McDonald’s, We’ve, Joe Erlinger, what’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, McDonald’s Locations: New York, McDonald’s USA

☆ UFC boss Dana White says he is done with ‘disgusting’ politics after backing Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

White also used his connections to leverage appearances for Trump on friendly, right-leaning podcasts with millions of young listeners. White was upfront about his motivation in connecting Trump with so-called manosphere or bro-casters, saying the move was intended to tap into young voters. “You’re getting conversations in these podcasts, and you yourself, as a young kid, get to really see who Donald Trump is,” White told The New Yorker. Still, even as the UFC boss backs away from future political campaigns, he remains firmly in Trump’s corner as he returns to the White House. “Donald Trump is tougher and more badass than anybody,” White told The New Yorker.

Persons: New York CNN — Dana White, Donald Trump, ” “, ” White, “, Trump’s, White, casters, Joe Rogan, ”, Rogan, Theo Von, Adin Ross, Andrew Schulz, Trump, “ Donald Trump Organizations: New, New York CNN, White House, Trump, Republican National Convention, Saturday’s UFC, Madison, UFC, Garden, CNN, Pew Research Center Locations: New York, Trump, Madison, West Palm Beach , Florida, Trump’s

☆ How the news media is quietly preparing for a hostile second Trump administration
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“You can just tell by the nominees for cabinet positions and agency heads that this will be an administration of retribution,” Baron added. Trump’s impending return to power was a theme of the conversations at the Committee to Protect Journalists gala. Attendees discussed the need to report without fear or favor, to be open-minded but clear-eyed about what actions the Trump administration might take, and to avoid fearmongering but to consider a range of possibilities. Here are some of the specific concerns that have arisen among members of the media:In the second Trump term, legal threats and frivolous lawsuits could pile up, costing newsrooms money and time. The Trump administration could reinstate the Justice Department’s past practice of pursuing reporters’ records in leak investigations.

Persons: Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski’s, Donald Trump, Brzezinski, Trump, Joe ”, Marty Baron, ” Baron, Jodie Ginsberg, they’re, newsrooms, Trump’s, Jessica Lessin, ”, it’s, ” Lessin, Jacob Weisberg, Matt Egan, ” Poynter, Kelly McBride, “, leakers, nix, CNN’s Liam Reilly Organizations: New, New York CNN, MSNBC, Scarborough, Washington Post, ”, Protect Journalists, Committee, Newsroom, “ Journalists, Trump, Media, TV, Nonprofit, Social, Republicans Locations: New York, Mar

☆ Elon Musk has never been richer. He’s now worth nearly $350 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —The aftermath of the 2024 US presidential election has been a boon to Elon Musk. The richest person in the world got even richer Friday, with Musk’s net worth hitting a record $347.8 billion, Bloomberg reported. That beats his previous record set in November 2021, when the Tesla founder’s net worth exceeded $340 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Musk, Tesla’s largest individual shareholder, is roughly $83 billion richer since Election Day, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. As of Tuesday, Musk was more than $100 billion richer than the second richest person, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Persons: Elon Musk, Trump, Donald Trump, Musk, Tesla, Vivek Ramaswamy, ”, Jeff Bezos, CNN’s Allison Morrow Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bloomberg, Tesla, SpaceX, Boring Company, “ Department, Government Efficiency, Wall Street Locations: New York

☆ One of Trump’s Treasury contenders hails from the most cutthroat private equity firm on Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The words “private equity” are almost poetic in their power to obfuscate in such a way that most people simply tune out when they hear them. But there’s a reason workers tend to have a negative association with private equity. Per Bloomberg, Apollo “built its name as the scrappiest private equity and distressed-debt investor on Wall Street by buying businesses and loading them up with debt that offered creditors meager protections in the face of default.”Historically, private equity deals were largely handled by big banks. Private equity firms now hold controlling stakes across an array of industries, including supermarkets, housing, health care, fashion, restaurants and vet clinics. And other efforts to force more transparency and accountability in private equity have similarly faced opposition.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Marc Rowan, Donald Trump’s, Rowan, Bill Lazonick, he’s, ”, Megan Greenwell, aren’t, ” Dennis Kelleher, Apollo “, it’s, Sen, Elizabeth Warren of, hadn’t, Scott Bessent, Kevin Warsh, “, ” Greenwell Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Apollo Global Management, Treasury, OCC, Republicans, Industry Research Network, — Bloomberg, KKR, Blackstone, Carlyle Group, Securities and Exchange Commission, “, Research, Treasury Department, Bloomberg, Financial Times, Federal Reserve Locations: New York, ”, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

☆ TJ Maxx says Trump’s tariff ‘chaos’ will help the chain
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But TJ Maxx believes that Trump’s tariff plans will benefit the discount chain. TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, said Wednesday that the “chaos” Trump’s tariffs may bring to the retail industry plays right into its business model. Tariffs are taxes placed on imported goods designed to protect domestic manufacturers. Unlike most brands and retailers, TJX says it only imports a small, undisclosed percentage of its merchandise from factories overseas. “In other words, even if prices do generally rise because of tariffs, TJX will still be relatively cheaper.”

Persons: Donald Trump’s, TJ Maxx, it’s, ”, Ernie Herrman, ” “ That’s, TJX, Trump, Herrman, Lowe’s, Steve Madden, John David Rainey, ” Neil Saunders Organizations: New, New York CNN — Companies, Marshalls, Companies, National Retail Federation, “ Manufacturers, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Walmart, CNBC, GlobalData, CNN, “ Locations: New York, HomeGoods, East, China, TJX

☆ Trump’s hush money sentencing is postponed indefinitely, judge says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Kara Scannell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial has adjourned his sentencing, which was set for next week. Judge Juan Merchan also agreed to hold off on issuing his decision on presidential immunity until after he reviews the parties’ filings. The judge did not set a new sentencing date or make any further statements about the delay. Trump’s lawyers have argued his conviction should be tossed both because of the presidential immunity decision and his return to the White House. His sentencing, originally scheduled for July, was delayed twice after the Supreme Court’s immunity decision prompted Trump’s lawyers to file a motion to vacate the conviction.

Persons: Donald, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Trump’s, Steven Cheung, Trump, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Shania Shelton Organizations: New, New York CNN, Attorney, Democrat Locations: New York, Georgia, York

☆ Jeep was a hot brand. Then Stellantis priced its fans out of its showrooms
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —The Jeep Gladiator was unveiled to great fanfare by then-owner Fiat Chrysler in 2018, the first pickup model for the hot brand in more than a quarter of a century. Gladiator sales have fallen steadily from the 2020 peak as a result and are down another 21% so far this year. The company’s relentless focus on short-term profits for 2023 had devastating consequences for Stellantis, Farris wrote. A car hauler transporting Jeep Wranglers drives past striking United Auto Workers members outside the Stellantis Jeep Plant in Toledo, Ohio, during the 2023 strike. One of the two factories at that assembly complex is about to lose one of the two shifts that builds the Jeep Gladiator.

Persons: Stellantis, Dodge, ”, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, “, Charlie Chesbrough, Kevin Farris, Carlos Tavares, Farris, Farris ’, Rebecca Cook, “ You’re, he’s, ” Farris Organizations: New, New York CNN, Fiat Chrysler, Fiat Chrysler’s, PSA Group, Gladiators, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Pacifica minivan, Toledo Assembly, Stellantis, Ford Motor, Cox Automotive, Dealers, Council, United Auto Workers, Jeep Wranglers, CNN, Challenger, Cherokee, Renegade Locations: New York, Toledo, Edmunds, Warren , Michigan, Stellantis, Toledo , Ohio

☆ Trump’s social media company is exploring a crypto payment service called TruthFi
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Truth Social, the social media platform owned by President-elect Donald Trump, appears to be exploring a move into the crypto space. Trump Media & Technology Group filed a trademark application earlier this week for TruthFi, which it described as a cryptocurrency payment processing platform. It’s not clear how far along Trump Media is in evaluating a crypto payment service or whether the Trump-owned public company will ultimately launch such a platform. The trademark application illustrates the thorny conflict-of-interest issues raised by Trump’s election victory and his sprawling business empire. The trademark application for a crypto payment service comes just days after the Financial Times reported that Trump Media is in advanced talks to acquire crypto trading platform Bakkt.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Gary Gensler, Gensler, Bakkt, Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick, Lutnick Organizations: New, New York CNN, President, Trump Media & Technology Group, Trump Media, Trump, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Financial Times, Liberty, Commerce Department Locations: New York, Washington, United States, Bakkt

☆ Trump demands Republicans ‘kill’ bill that would protect journalists from government spying
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —In between his posts on Truth Social announcing nominees for his incoming administration, President-elect Donald Trump urged Republicans Wednesday to nix a bipartisan bill that would give journalists greater protections under federal law. Trump wrote on his favorite social network that “REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL!”He linked to a PBS “NewsHour” interview with Jodie Ginsberg, the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, who urged the Senate to pass the legislation. Known as the PRESS Act, the Protect Reporters From Exploitative State Spying Act would prevent the government from forcing journalists to reveal their sources and limit the seizure of their data without their knowledge. “It’s really important that we have that federal shield law to protect journalists at the federal level,” Ginsberg said on PBS. “Many Trump supporters from Rep. Jim Jordan to Sen. Mike Lee are champions of the PRESS Act because it would protect all journalists, including many who reach primarily conservative audiences.

Persons: Donald Trump, nix, Trump, Jodie Ginsberg, Sen, Tom Cotton, Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, ” Ginsberg, John Oliver, Dell Cameron, Trevor Timm, ”, ” Timm, Jim Jordan, Mike Lee Organizations: New, New York CNN, Social, Republicans, PBS, Protect Journalists, Senate, Freedom, Press, Republican, The New York Times, HBO, WIRED, Democratic, Press Foundation, CNN, Trump, Rep Locations: New York

☆ The fate of MSNBC could be in Trump’s hands
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It’s true that analysts expect the Trump administration to generally be less hostile to mergers. Yet it’s also true that some Republicans – including some tapped to join the Trump administration – have been described as “Khanservatives” because they’ve called for tougher, not weaker, antitrust scrutiny. Earlier this year, Gaetz told NOTUS that the FCC chair’s work “inspired me” and he expressed hope she stays in power for a Trump administration. As Gaetz fights to survive a tough nomination process to be attorney general, Comcast dropped a bombshell in the media industry by spinning off MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen and other networks. “It’s hard not to look at the spinoff of CNBC and MSNBC as potentially a response to the new administration,” said Petro.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Donald Trump, ” Craig Moffett, MoffettNathanson, Brendan Carr, Trump’s, Kamala Harris, Carr, Skydance’s, ”, Moffett, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Sonnenfeld, Gaetz, Vance, Lina Khan, it’s, they’ve, JD Vance, Khan, Biden, Matt Gaetz, NOTUS, “, Brian Roberts, Will Trump, Frank Louthan, Raymond James, It’s, Louthan, Lee Petro, Dickinson, it’s “, Petro Organizations: New, New York CNN, Department, T’s, CNN, Timer Warner, Trump, Comcast, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC, DOJ, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Paramount, Fox News, CBS, Yale, Leadership, Time Warner, Biden, Federal Trade, ”, Washington DC Locations: New York, Florida, USA

☆ BJ’s Wholesale Club membership fees are going up for the first time in 7 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —BJ’s Wholesale Club is hiking the price of its annual membership fee for the first time since 2018. The warehouse store chain, a smaller rival to Costco and Sam’s Club, announced Thursday that the cost will increase by $5 to $60 per year for its basic plan. Annual fees have been one of the biggest profit-generating areas for BJ’s, helping it offset expenses to keep its prices down. Meanwhile, Sam’s Club last raised its fees in 2022. The company has fewer stores than its major competitors, and its locations are a little smaller, though BJ’s carries a wider variety of items.

Persons: BJ’s, ’ Organizations: New, New York CNN, BJ’s Wholesale, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sam’s Locations: New York, Westborough , Massachusetts, East Coast, Michigan

☆ McDonald’s has temporarily stopped selling espresso drinks at some US locations
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —A machine is giving McDonald’s a headache, and this time it’s not the one that makes ice cream. Melitta, the manufacturer of the $3,000 espresso machine, informed customers of a problem with the equipment, forcing McDonald’s to temporarily decommission them while the issue is resolved. As a result, McDonald’s customers can’t order its espresso-based drinks, including frappés and Americanos. The chain recently launched a spinoff restaurant called CosMc’s that focuses on specialty coffee drinks. “One area of focus has been identifying ways for McDonald’s to participate in attractive and fast-growing categories … we’ve honed in on specialty beverages and coffee,” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski previously said.

Persons: McDonald’s, Melitta, ”, it’s, Chris Kempczinski Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN Locations: New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Pittsburgh , New York, Tampa , Florida

☆ Target sounds the alarm bell on holiday shopping
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Target is expecting a surprisingly weak holiday shopping season, a warning sign for the retail industry. The holiday shopping season is pivotal for retailers. While Target can survive a weak holiday season, many smaller companies depend on strong sales during the holidays. But Target has also slumped because of its merchandise mix and higher prices compared to rivals like Walmart. Walmart raised its financial outlook, a signal it expects a strong holiday shopping season.

Organizations: New, New York CNN, Target, Walmart, Costco Locations: New York

☆ Sheetz is slashing gas prices by 40 cents
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Sheetz, the gas station and convenience store chain, is slashing prices at some of its pumps ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel period. Sheetz and other chains periodically slash prices to generate buzz and sales, even at the expense of lower profit. Drawing in people with cheap gas could help give convenience store sales a boost. But it’s an odd time to cut gas prices, which are below $3 a gallon in 31 states and hovering at $3.06 a gallon nationally. “Gas prices, after two-plus years of sizzling because of outside factors like Covid and Russia, are finally coming back into balance,” GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan previously told CNN.

Persons: New York CNN — Sheetz, GasBuddy, ”, Patrick De Haan Organizations: New, New York CNN, AAA, Drivers, CNN Locations: New York, Russia

☆ Comcast’s cable networks spinoff raises questions about future of the TV business
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On Wednesday morning, the media giant confirmed that it is spinning off most of its cable channels, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a separate publicly traded company. The new company doesn’t have a formal name yet — Comcast is simplycalling it “SpinCo” — a suitable label since employees’ heads are spinning with questions. Discovery, spin off their cable channels too? How might the cable bundle business model be impacted? “This is a very clear, direct statement by Comcast” that “they are exiting the cable network business,” Greenfield said.

Persons: Mike Cavanagh, NBCUniversal, Tom Rogers, Rogers, “ it’s, ”, ” Rogers, Rich Greenfield, ” Greenfield, ’ It’s, Mark Lazarus, Lazarus, “, Joe Kernen, Greenfield’s, Greenfield, Matt Stoller, Hugh Johnston, “ SpinCo Organizations: New, New York CNN, Comcast, MSNBC, CNBC, Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, NBC Cable, Lightshed Partners, Paramount, USA Network, SYFY, Golf, Rotten, NBC, American Economic Liberties, Disney, ” Fox Corp Locations: New York

☆ Trump’s Commerce secretary pick backas a crypto company that can’t seem to stay out of trouble
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It is effectively an unregulated, offshore bank that’s become a tent pole of the $3 trillion crypto industry. The tether token is known as a stablecoin, a kind of crypto that was created to hold its value steady while others, like bitcoin and ether, swing wildly minute to minute. The company is now one of the biggest players in crypto, with a daily trading volume that eclipses even bitcoin, the world’s most popular token. Tether told the WSJ in a statement that any suggestion it was involved in criminal activity was “outrageous” and that the company works actively with law enforcement to combat illicit activity. But Lutnick, a Bitcoin enthusiast whose Wall Street firm manages Tether’s stockpile of Treasury bills, has eagerly defended the stablecoin issuer.

Persons: New York CNN — Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald, who’s, they’re, Brock Pierce, “, Giancarlo Devasini, “ There’s, we’ve, ” Lutnick, Donald Trump’s, —, didn’t, Lutnick, Gary Gensler, ” Faryar Shirzad, “ It’s, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, US Commerce Department, Ducks, Street, Manhattan US, Treasury Department, Bloomberg, Economic, Commerce Department —, Treasury, Securities and Exchange Locations: New York, Russian, Davos, United States, bitcoin

☆ How much of Musk’s wealth comes from tax dollars and government help?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Government crucial to Musk’s net worthIt’s worthwhile to ask just how much of his world-leading net worth comes from government help over the last 10 to 15 years. Tesla and SpaceX got started – and survived their early days – with assistance from state and federal policies, government contracts and loans. Tesla buyers received federal tax credits worth an estimated $3.4 billion before the perk disappeared entirely for Tesla buyers at the end of 2019. “Take away the subsidies, it will only help Tesla,” Musk posted on his social media platform X in July. According to USASpending.gov, the government database that tracks federal spending, SpaceX has signed contracts worth nearly $20 billion.

Persons: New York CNN — Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Musk, ”, Daniel Ives, SpaceX doesn’t, Tesla’s, Noah Berger, Tesla, Trump, ” Musk, Elon Musk, Frederic J . Brown, Ives, Brandon Bell, USASpending.gov, Casey Dreier, ” Dreier, “ Elon, Dreier, CNN’s Jackie Wattles Organizations: New, New York CNN, SpaceX, Trump, Government, Wedbush Securities, Reuters, Department of Energy, Biden, US, Tesla, Getty, NASA, International Space, Planetary Society Locations: New York, Fremont , California, Hawthorne , California, AFP, Brownsville , Texas, Russia

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