SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " cra " 100 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Sign in to save shuffle history.
New Amazon delivery center brings 2-day delivery to Upper Peninsula for 1st time
The opening of Amazon's first delivery station in the Upper Peninsula shrinks the region's delivery times from eight days to two.
A record number of women are running for state legislatures this year
A record number of women are running for state legislative seats this November, more than two-thirds of whom are Democrats. Across the 46 states with legislative seats on the ballot, a total of 3,824 women are running — up from 2022’s previous record of 3,621 women candidates, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.
AI as the next political divide
We have a guest post today from our friends at Focaldata, with whom we have done polling before. They have been doing a lot of work on attitudes towards AI and how this is affecting politics on both sides of the Atlantic. In this post, they explore exclusive new polling – with a whole set of fascinating charts on how voters’ views are developing and why. In particular, the authors explore why the debate is currently so much more polarised by party in the US than in the UK, to the benefit of the Democrats. Subscribe Focaldata HQ is located in Shoreditch, east London. To access the office from the Shoreditch High Street Overground station, you have to walk under the bridge at Braithwaite Street. We mention this not as a navigational aid, but because the posters above caught our eye over the summer. Since June, the area has been the centre of a fiercely contested debate around the construction of a data centre on the Truman Brewery estate on Brick Lane, less than 200 metres from our office. It was one of the first ‘US-style’ protest movements around AI data centres the country has seen, and may not be the last. These protests served as the catalyst for our forthcoming report, examining whether AI could become the next political divide on both sides of the Atlantic. We wanted to understand what was driving the emerging politics of AI and whether the dynamics at play in the US offer clues as to how the British debate will evolve. Over the last month, we polled 3,851 people across the UK and US about their views on AI. Our research found striking similarities between the two countries: for instance, both electorates are evenly split on their views towards AI development, with just over a third in favour (37% in each country), a similar number opposed, and the remainder somewhere in the middle or unsure. Statistically speaking, there is no difference in overall sentiment towards AI between the UK and US. Under the hood, demographic patterns also look largely the same in the two countries, with millennials, degree holders, full-time workers and those who describe themselves as financially comfortable more pro-AI than the rest of the country. Despite this convergence in overall attitudes, there is a striking divergence in how much of a politicised issue AI has become. In the US, attitudes are increasingly split by political affiliation and the issue has become the latest front in the seemingly interminable culture war, playing a role in the upcoming midterms. This stark political polarisation of AI has not happened in the UK – at least not yet. In what follows, we test several hypotheses for why the two countries are so far apart on a political basis. Understanding which hypothesis is correct will give us an indication of where the British dynamics go next.
Bloomfield natives bring $800M coworking firm to Birmingham building once slated for Dykema
The building is expected to open to tenants in the second quarter next year.
Safran To Divest Cabin Business
Safran launches the sale of its $2.24 billion cabin business as the French aerospace group sheds its aircraft interiors unit.
Polymarket, Kalshi expand political donations as firms face state, federal scrutiny
By Douglas Gillison WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Prediction market operators Kalshi, Polymarket and their founders have given at least $5 million combined to Republican and Democratic political
Federal agents descend on Tarzana as part of bust on alleged health care fraud; 1 in custody
One person was taken into custody in Tarzana Thursday morning as part of a federal crackdown on health care fraud in California.
Democrats’ Projected Majority Grows as 19 More House Races Shift Away From the GOP
Republicans’ path to keeping control of the House has all but evaporated. The outstanding question is how large Democrats’ majority will be in 2027; in the best-case scenario, their party could enter the new Congress with more seats than they had after successfully flipping control of the House in 2006 and 2018.
In New Mexico governor’s race, Deb Haaland’s historic bid tests Democrats' political hold
(AP) — If Deb Haaland wins New Mexico’s race for governor this year, she’ll make history as the first Native American woman to lead a state. But first she has to convince New Mexicans that they should...
Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lucas accused of leading marijuana criminal conspiracy
U.S Attorney General Todd Blanche says a powerful Democratic Virginia state senator was charged with leading a criminal marijuana enterprise.
DOJ, state launch separate health care fraud crackdowns, arresting over 100 people across California
Federal authorities arrested 15 people, including a doctor, in Los Angeles, while California officials announced the arrests of 103 people statewide in separate health care fraud investigations.
Michigan bet big on EV batteries. Here’s what happened.
Four years after Michigan pledged more than $1 billion in incentives to build an electric vehicle battery industry, the state has clawed back millions of dollars after companies have drastically changed their plans.
Cook Political Report shifts AL-2 race rating towards Democrats
The Cook Political Report shifted Alabama's 2nd Congressional District race from likely Republican to lean Republican.
How both Texas parties have shifted their political ad messaging
Democrats have moved from healthcare to taxes and corruption, while Republicans have ramped up ad spending on property taxes, crime and transgender issues, an analysis of AdImpact data shows.
Democrat running for Stefanik's seat says 'my identity is not in politics'
Upstate New York congressional candidate Blake Gendebien (D) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss his campaign in New York's North Country and where his priorities fit into the Democratic Party's agenda.
In New Mexico governor’s race, Deb Haaland’s historic bid tests Democrats’ political hold
Republican contender Gregg Hull says the state is “primed for a shift.”
How well have past GOTY winners sold?
We’re less than two months away from 2026’s The Game Awards, and what a year it’s been for fantastic games, including Resident Evil Requiem, Forza Horizon 6, Slay the Spire II, the Blood of Dawnwalker, and Control Resonant – just to name a few. So as we approach the end of the year, we thought we’d look back on our estimates for the GOTY winners of the past four years. In terms of revenue, Elden Ring (2022 winner), Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023), Astro Bot (2024), and Expedition 33 (2025) have generated a combined $3.8B via 73M copies sold: Let’s have a look, then. Elden Ring has generated $2B in revenue Elden Ring is a phenomenon in every sense. It’s sold a whopping 36.4M copies across Steam (50%), PS5 (35%), and Xbox (15% across console and PC). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring also just passed an astronomical milestone: $2B in revenue. While PlayStation and Xbox account for half of Elden Ring’s copies sold across these three platforms, they account for 57.5% of revenue. This – as ever – is due to regional pricing and the higher relative share of PC gamers in lower-priced markets. For example, around 17.4% of Elden Ring’s Steam copies sold were in China, where the game costs about 26% less than the price in the States. There’s an … interesting narrative going around these days that console gamers are only interested in ball-and-gun games and have the patience for little else. Well, Elden Ring’s impressive sales prove that is simply not true, and across all platforms. What’s more, over 9.8M people have played Elden Ring for over 100 hours, with nearly 3.5M people getting all of the achievements and trophies. For reference, 10.9% of Elden Ring’s PlayStation players have the platinum trophy, while 10.5% of players on Steam and 3.9% of Xbox players unlocked all the achievements. Git gud, Xbox players! Of the 1.5M people who played Elden Ring on PlayStation last month, 4% also played Dark Souls 3 last month, 4% played Bloodborne, and 3% played Sekiro. There’s those Soulsborne diehards for you. By many accounts, including my own, Elden Ring is one of the best games of all time. It’s an evergreen seller that will continue to be a cash cow for Bandai and FromSoftware for years to come. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring has sold another 2M copies across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox this year, generating almost $110M. This means it’s outperforming many of this year’s high-profile releases. Even Elden Ring’s standalone run-based PvE spinoff, 2025’s Nightreign, has sold 7.8M copies and generated $282M in revenue. Baldur’s Gate 3 is another billion-dollar-plus banger Another cross-platform phenomenon is Baldur’s Gate 3, which has sold 23.2M copies and generated over $1.2B in revenue. About 18.7M of these copies (80.6%) are via Steam, 2.9M via PS5 (12.7%), and 1.6M (6.8%) via Xbox. Around 1.3M folks on Steam bought BG3 before it hit 1.0. The PlayStation version launched about a month after the PC 1.0 release, while the Xbox version came four months later due to technical issues around developing local co-op on the Series S. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Across platforms, Baldur’s Gate 3’s monthly active users have never dropped below 2M, including 2.2M MAUs last month (68.5% on Steam, 21.9% on PS5, and 9.6% on Xbox). And it still regularly brings in 280K to 400K players every day: About 1% of BG3’s Steam player base has played for over 500 hours! That’s a little under 200K people. Astro Bot is also an evergreen seller, albeit a more niche, family one Astro Bot, 2024’s winner, has now sold 4.7M copies and generated $291M in revenue. The budget, including marketing, is almost certainly under $100M, given the small Japan-based core team and three-year dev timeline. You can really see why the tides are changing toward less expensive hubs. Astro Bot is the only first-party winner on this list, but follows other first-party winners of The Last of Us Part II (2020’s winner), God of War (2018), and Breath of the Wild (2017). Around 46.6% of Astro Bot’s copies sold have been physical, which is far higher than the typical game. This makes sense for a couple of reasons: There’s a large family audience for this one, and physical boxes are an item to wrap when giving Astro as a gift. Astro has collector value for the PlayStation core (this is nostalgia-fueled platformer celebrating PlayStation’s history) Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Astro is another one of those games that continues selling over time, regularly selling more than 100K a month. It’s sold around 1M more copies this year ($60M in revenue) and is a popular title with families. We can see this using the Alinea platform’s MAU crossover tool: Astro Bot’s top #2, #3, and #4 games by crossover in any given month this year are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox – without fail. The #1 title every month, though, is Astro’s Playroom, a pack-in with all PS5 consoles. For every month this year, between 20% and 30% of Astro Bot players also played Astro’s Playroom that month. So the free pack-in is a noice funnel for converting players to a full paid product. Expedition 33 sells 8.7M despite Game Pass cannibalisation Finally, we have last year’s winner – Expedition 33. The turn-based-RPG banger has generated $366M via 8.7M copies sold, with 58.8% on Steam, 35.7% on PS5, and 5.5% on Xbox. Xbox’s share of copies sold is this low due to Expedition 33 launching on Game Pass, where 4.3M people across console and PC accessed the game. A little under 700K Xbox players used their subscription to play Expedition 33 this year. That said, the game’s 1.5-year Game Pass deal ended last week on October 16, and we’re already beginning to see a positive trend on Expedition 33’s copies sold via Xbox (but the jury’s still out!). There’s understandably a lot of French pride behind this one, as France is the game’s #3 market on both Steam and PlayStation. Vive la France! One thing that stood out to me is that the GOTY winners aren’t $300M Hollywood productions made in the US. They’re mostly mid-budget studios outside the traditional AAA cost centres. Lots to think about there. Also, good games sell well; who’d have thunk it!? And there’s a whole load of them this year, with GTA 6 still to come, too. GTA just made the cutoff point for the VGAs this year. What a coincidence! Loading... Cool links and other stuff Our physical games newsletter from Tuesday was picked up by GameSpot, Eurogamer, TweakTown, and a bunch of others. We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply right here on Substack/email, and we’ll set you up. Next week, we’ve got some exciting news regarding the future of our newsletter, so stay tuned! The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. Want to see why these companies (and many others) are subscribed to Alinea? Get a free platform trial! [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
'Today's' Craig Melvin crowned People's sexiest morning show host
'Today' co-anchor Craig Melvin reluctantly accepts the crown for sexiest morning show host in People's Readers' Choice Poll.
Kristin Dietzel focuses on business growth, access in run for Dubuque County supervisor
Watch KCRG-TV9's full interview with Democratic candidate for Dubuque County supervisor Kristin Dietzel from October 2026.
Minivan driver barrels through red light, plows into South L.A. business
A minivan crashed into a business in South Los Angeles after its driver allegedly ran a red light and collided with another vehicle, authorities said. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Departmen…
Malik Monk ruled out of Kings' season-opener vs Clippers
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk injury status update vs. Los Angeles Clippers.
In Era of Runaway Health Inflation, Employers Scramble to Keep Costs in Check
New data shows cost of family health plan rose 5%, while workers’ contributions rose 9%.
Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lucas accused of leading marijuana criminal conspiracy
U.S Attorney General Todd Blanche says a powerful Democratic Virginia state senator was charged with leading a criminal marijuana enterprise.
Nestle beats sales forecasts as it excludes seized Russian business
By Alexander Marrow LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Nestle reported better-than-expected organic sales growth for the third quarter on Thursday and said it had excluded its Russian unit from consolidated financial accounts after Moscow seized the business....
15 charged in massive $2 billion L.A. health care fraud crackdown
Federal authorities charged 15 people, including six medical professionals, in a sweeping Los Angeles-area health care fraud crackdown involving $2 billion in alleged fraudulent claims, the Justice…
Crowley, Tiffany clash on education, taxes in Wisconsin governor’s debate
MADISON (WKOW) -- The only scheduled debate between Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley and Republican candidate Tom Tiffany was held Wednesday evening.
McKinsey: Leisure flying is powering business aviation
Challenges involve aircraft availability, airport infrastructure, maintenance capacity, and rising operating costs
Zero Republican political science professors found at 4 major Pennsylvania universities, research shows
(The College Fix) — Professors registered as Democrats outnumber colleagues registered as Republicans by a 28 to one ratio in […]
Get the Facts: Fact-checking controversial political ad in Ohio governor's race
While pushback continues to grow, Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign is standing firm on its decision to run a controversial political ad targeting Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton, featuring Acton's estranged mother.
Why Is James Talarico’s Final Message to Voters ‘Friday Night Lights’–Themed?
The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate leaves it all on the field.
Democrats cast most early voting ballots + What a new NC poll says
Read Under the Dome for a daily dose of North Carolina politics.
Pedal to the Metal: NASA’s Psyche Heads Toward Asteroid Belt
With a successful Mars gravity assist in its rearview mirror, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has fired up its thrusters and is accelerating to the metal-rich
‘Clear political stunt’: Beshear rejects Ball’s nominees for executive ethics commission
A day after submitting nominations for an appointment to the Executive Branch Ethics Commission, Republican Auditor Allison Ball says Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear rejected her list. A spokesperson for the governor said the list was “a clear political stunt.”
In New Mexico governor’s race, Deb Haaland’s historic bid tests Democrats' political hold
If Deb Haaland wins New Mexico’s race for governor, she’ll make history as the first Native American woman to lead a state.
“The View” stars compare Megyn Kelly to ‘fungus’ for shaming Christina Applegate amid MS misdiagnosis: ‘Are you crazy?’
Whoopi Goldberg tore into Kelly for saying Applegate was “crying now because I guess she no longer gets to be the face of this disease.”
Slotkin's viral 'threat' to conservatives takes new twist as student moves to hold her accountable: 'Shocking'
Michael Bicksell, the University of Chicago student who broke the story, filed the ethics complaint arguing Elissa Slotkin's remarks targeted students.
The consumer-voter is killing German politics
Friedrich Merz's collapse in popularity owes less to his own failings than to the hollowing out of civic culture across the world's democracies.
Scientists Just Cracked a Quantum Mystery That's Puzzled Physicists For Decades
The Kondo effect conquered.
After Trump said he didn’t trust mail ballots, Democrats turned to voting in person
The president lost in court, but Democrats are still wary of mail-in voting as the midterm election approaches.
Gov. JB Pritzker doling out big bucks to help Democrats — and boost a 2028 presidential run
Pritzker is taking out $40 million from his vast personal wealth to boost candidates in contentious races, and building coalitions with Democrats across the country, including in 2028 early primary states. "It's a terrific strategy," says former presidential candidate Howard Dean.
Ham: LaVine Hits ‘DeMar DeRozan Moment’ in Kings Tenure
Despite looming trade rumors, Zach LaVine is embracing a veteran leadership role in Sacramento, delivering efficient scoring while mentoring a young core during a pivotal contract year.
More Lakeshore employers report rising sales and expansion plans
A Lakeshore Advantage survey finds rising sales and expansion plans among Ottawa and Allegan county employers, despite various challenges.
A 'battle of the ages' in a California House race: Matsui, 82, faces a 41-year-old challenger
Rep. Doris Matsui fights for her political life in her first competitive reelection challenge from Sacramento City Council member Mai Vang
Maine Department of Health and Human Services will hold public hearing on Prime Healthcare
Democratic Representative Julie McCabe requested the public hearing. She represents Lewiston, home to Central Maine Healthcare's flagship hospital.
Kamala Harris rallies for Mississippi Senate candidate as she elevates profile
The former vice president’s presence highlighted newfound attention from the party on Scott Colom, who is vying to become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the state in some four decades.
Lavender Heights businesses form alliance to push for changes to Sacramento parking rules
Supreme Court backs Republicans on New Hampshire voter IDs
(Bloomberg) — The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a ruling that would have allowed use of student-ID cards to help show eligibility to vote in New Hampshire, siding with Republicans in a state where Democrats are defending a Senate seat next...
New attention on Bankhead claim she was offered job to leave Senate race, DNC denies allegation
Montana’s U.S. Senate race was at the center of political controversy again this week, over an allegation from the Democratic nominee that she had been offered a job if she would drop out of the race.
Latest threat to democracy: Politicians bullying journalists
When officials refuse to answer questions they aren’t simply disrespecting journalists. They are disrespecting the citizens those journalists serve.
In House District 13, Two Political Newcomers Square Off
House District 13, the Lake County district that includes Polson, has been held by a Republican for more than a decade. This year, self-described moderate Democrat Dalton Bradford hopes he can change that. “I’m just a hometown guy,” Bradford said. “My wife would say I’m overly humble, but that truly is me. I don’t view […]
Chris Pappas Could Make History in New Hampshire’s Senate Race
Chris Pappas, the Democratic nominee in New Hampshire, would be the first openly gay man in the Senate. On the campaign trail, he doesn’t dwell on it.
Muslims have always had to prove our Americanness. Enter Abdul El-Sayed
Michigan’s Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, is many things to many people.
Klobuchar, Demuth tangle over what they’ve done in politics, what they would do as governor
A probable final debate in Minnesota’s race for governor had Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Lisa Demuth scrutinizing the records and plans of the other.
Trump says Amy Acton is ‘fair game’
President Donald Trump on Thursday called Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton “fair game” as he defended Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad that features her estranged mother and ignored the abuse allegations against her stepfather.
Detroit councilwoman defends Kercheval business review requests amid neighborhood backlash
Detroit City Councilmember Renata Miller says she's sticking up for residents scared to speak up.
Powerful Virginia Lawmaker Indicted Over Marijuana Business
L. Louise Lucas, a Democrat from Portsmouth, was the focus of F.B.I. searches earlier this year.
Birmingham AI security startup launches with $10M seed round
A Birmingham startup has raised $10 million to develop its software that polices AI agents.
'Just wrong': Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tells Ramaswamy to immediately take down controversial ad
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is telling Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy to pull down his controversial ad featuring Democrat Dr. Amy Acton's estranged mother.
United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America
The labor union representing workers in auto, aircraft and agricultural implement manufacturing and other industries in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
In New Mexico governor’s race, Deb Haaland’s historic bid tests Democrats' political hold
If Deb Haaland wins New Mexico’s race for governor, she’ll make history as the first Native American woman to lead a state.
California latest target in DOJ efforts to end public benefits fraud
High-ranking federal officials in recent days have touted the crackdowns across the country
Hakeem Jeffries eyes speaker role as Democrats seek House control
Jeffries could become the first Black American to hold the role.
A Typography Geek Pointed Out Something About The Space Shuttle Discovery And Now I Can't Unsee It
Even though I was born in the Apollo Era, barely, the spacecraft that I think had the most influence on my childhood had to be the Space Shuttles. I remember poring over diagrams and drawings of the shuttles in National Geographic foldouts, where they even took my attention from the Forbidden Nipples seen on some of the […]
Nick Coffey, Jon Echols clash over how to handle cases, partisan politics in Oklahoma AG debate
Democrat Nick Coffey and Republican Jon Echols took part in an attorney general debate ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
New business opens at Northwoods Mall food court in Peoria
PEORIA – Crazy Pop started this spring as a pop-up concept based out of Prophetstown.
Handcrafted art helps fight hunger
Buy a soup bowl to help combat local hunger, visit a new spot to make pottery, and stock up on some holiday gifts when Rainbow Springs Art in Dunnellon opens
Political scientist explains why race, not class, is at the heart of America’s 'democratic crisis'
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, a new book examines America’s “racial hierarchy” and how it shaped the nation’s power structure.
Car crashes into business in Visalia
A car crashed into a buissiness on VisaliaAt approximately 5:58 p.m., Visalia Police officers and Visalia firefighters responded to the 3300 block of South Fair
In New Mexico governor’s race, Deb Haaland’s historic bid tests Democrats' political hold
If Deb Haaland wins New Mexico’s race for governor, she’ll make history as the first Native American woman to lead a state
Downtown Sacramento businesses prepare for crowds ahead of Kings home opener
A new team store, Kings-themed drinks and game-day discounts are among the offerings available to fans near Golden 1 Center.
Chancellor plans to end pointless paperwork to cut £800m business costs
Ministers say the changes in regulations will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy.
Abortion, ICE and socialism spark fireworks in swing state governor debate: 5 top moments
Republican Tom Tiffany pointed to a 20-week abortion limit while Democrat David Crowley declined to name a gestational cutoff in their debate.
In New Mexico governor’s race, Deb Haaland’s historic bid tests Democrats’ political hold
Republican contender Gregg Hull says the state is “primed for a shift.”
There’s a Reason That Netflix’s Ad Business Has Underwhelmed
Somewhat lost in the company’s slew of firings and engagement warnings over the past few weeks was the fact that Netflix is scaling back its ad forecast for 2026 from $3 billion to $2.7 billion. That’s despite the fact that: CTV is growing by 14-15% this year This year saw a monster upfront Netflix is the biggest streamer out there this side of YouTube, and was the platform that for years brands were supposedly dying to be a part of In other words, that’s an alarming pull-back from Netflix. A Wall Street analyst I spoke with last week was blunt, calling Netflix’s ad business “disappointing.” To me, a red flag on the ad front is that Netflix has never revealed how many ad-supported subscribers it has. Because if I know anything about how big companies work, if they have a positive number that makes them look really good - they tend to share it. (How many subs does go90 have right now? We’re not saying just yet. How are ads going on ChatGPT? Oh, a billion run rate - I see). Yes, to date Netflix has shared some fuzzy ad numbers, such as the idea that the company’s ad tier ‘reaches’ 250 million users globally.’ Here’s why that figure gives me pause: a)they lead with global, and b) they don’t explain how they are calculated. (Are they based on average people in each room? Surveys of some kind?). Regardless, some insiders say that Netflix’s ad tier is scaling nicely - others not so much. Either way, one of Netflix’s biggest challenge on the ad front appears to have been its starting point. Remember, when Netflix launched ads in 2022, it had 73 million subs in the US and Canada. That’s 73 million people who were used to Netflix with zero ads. And when the ad product rolled out, the company clearly was going after new users - a limited pool of potential subscribers by default. That focus seems to have changed over time, as Netflix has tried to convert longtime subscribers to the ad tier. Historically Netflix subscribers are very sticky. But is the company’s low churn a problem? Not necessarily, according to Antenna data. Rather, Netflix’s consumer loyalty is a bit of a double-edged sword. “Netflix is the one streamer which actually has seen substantial “trade downs” but has much lower ‘win backs,’ said Antenna founder Jonathan Carson (win-backs being people who were on the ad-free plan, cancelled, then rejoined on the ad plan). “Netflix has lower churn and so has less opportunity to win back old subs with a lower cost plan option.” This all might explain why Netflix has been so slow to roll out all of these table stakes targeting options until just this week. It likely didn’t have enough users to carve up into various targets. etc. However, what really hit Netflix’s ad business was Amazon’s move a few years ago to turn on advertising for Prime Video by default. Suddenly the market was awash in premium inventory, and Netflix was playing catch-up on multiple fronts. Thus, the streaming giant appears to still be figuring out if if wants lead in ‘programmatic TV,’ or premium ‘upfront’ TV sales. “The CTV market now sorts into three businesses, and Netflix is not the leader of any of them,” wrote analyst Jack Myers. Ouch. So how does Netflix ratchet up its ads business? Get the next NFL package You’re gonna have to wait until 2030 unless one of the bigger media companies like Skydance opts out, but the easiest (not cheapest) way for Netflix to become a huge TV ads contender is to get one of the regular NFL packages, ideally Sunday afternoons. That way it can sell ads to its whole U.S. subs base overnight. Go FAST This one is risky, because to program a compelling FAST channel, you’d likely have to take some older Netflix exclusive shows and make them available for free to non-subscribers. But FASTs, for better or worse, are ad-inventory machines. Go full UGC I’m not sure I see this happening. There is something already off about Netflix carrying podcasts and shows for creators. The experience sticks out in what is such a produced, and generally non-communal environment. But Netflix could open up its platform by allowing creators to upload videos without having to be approved by the service. But that opens a whole other can of worms (policing brand safety, copyright infringement, overall quality). Make a huge RMN Deal I was going to suggest something crazy, such as ‘instead of buying Warner Brothers, Netflix should buy Target. But the company doesn’t want to be in the brick and mortar business. Yet for Netflix’s ad business to compete in an Amazon world, it needs to be able to connect ad exposures to shopping. What if, instead of letting Amazon target Netflix viewers with its DSP, Netflix inked a deal with Target, or even took control of Roundel, and created its version of the Amazon full-funnel for brands? Price us out. I hope they don’t do this, but Netflix’s price increases - while significant - haven’t been enough to push long-term customers out of the ad-free tier. But if they made those prices so prohibitive, it could push large swaths of consumers to trade down. Then again, that could also dent engagement - as binging becomes much less appealing once you bring ads into the equation. Or, they could just launch a bunch of hit shows and maybe everyone will quickly forget all this angst. More from Amazon unBoxed A few weeks ago, I recorded two podcasts live at Amazon’s unBoxed event in San Francisco. I was able to go really deep with several brand partners about how Amazon’s various data and ad products work - particularly the under appreciated Amazon Marketing Cloud. First, I talked with Laura Abadias Velilla, of the Amazon specialty agency Amerge, along with Amazon’s own Charlotte Maines, Vice President, Devices Content & Advertising, about how the two partners helped a very specific printer company Epson launch into a brand new category - high end projectors. It’s a great example of how brands connect audience data across platforms to make budget deployment decisions. Next, I chatted with Monks VP Head of Digital Investment for North America Tom Burchill about how the agency actually brought in data from Linkedin to help target B2B customers across various Amazon properties for the brand Quicken. Check it out: Check these out, or just listen:
Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall in debate blames Ukraine war, not Iran war, for high diesel prices
The answer, delivered during a debate with Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, aligned Marshall with President Donald Trump's freshly antagonistic posture toward Ukraine, which has spent more than four years defending itself against an invasion.
Climate group pours in midterms money for Democrats
The League of Conservation announced more than $100 million to support Democrats going into the midterms.
Entertainment this week: Tahoe City Zombie Crawl, Steely Dead and more
Friday, October 23 2026 Business Walks – Incline Village. Description Tahoe Property Center October 19-23, the Tahoe Prosperity Center and partners from across the region will visit businesses around the Lake for the 2026 Tahoe...
More Than a Charcuterie Board: A Mother and Daughter Build a Business Around Gathering.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Birch Bay Retirement Village. NORTHEAST HARBOR—Food’s ability to be a social cornerstone is one of the founding premises of one of Mount Desert Island’s newest, and perhaps most unique, endeavors in cuisine based catering. From intimate gatherings to large functions, Olive & Pearl creates charcuterie boards that can not only astound the tongue but also the eye. Many would agree that food can bring people together. In fact, culinary delights, and sometimes adventures, have been utilized as the centerpiece for social and business occasions of all kinds for centuries. Often times it even has the ability to start conversation, temper differences, and build new relationships. Settings can vary, from a multi-course sit down meal, a backyard barbecue, or a couple of bowls of chips and dip in front of a television, but the result can be the same. Humans come together, they share food, and the whole process is a catalyst for thought, communication, and a shared experience. Imagined and created by the mother and daughter team of Dr. Susan Scanlan (formerly MacCready) and Kayla Musetti, Olive & Pearl was started in June of this year and has been creating, delighting, and growing since. We gave the two an opportunity to answer some questions about themselves and their new venture. The love, passion, and pride for what they are doing and the fact that they are doing it as a mother and daughter team came through so strongly in their answers that we decided to present the question and answer session in its entirety. The Interview What did you do prior to Olive & Pearl? We’re a mother-daughter team, and food, family, and hospitality have always been a big part of our lives. Susan grew up in a large family in Pennsylvania, where the table was always at the center of everything. There were multiple dishes, little bites, stories, and plenty of conversation. Food was never simply about eating. It was about gathering, celebrating, and spending time together. After living in several Southern states, Susan relocated to Maine more than 20 years ago, and Maine has truly become home. She loves its sense of community, natural beauty, and connection to local food and makers. Professionally, Susan is a registered nurse and holds a doctorate in health administration. She has worked in a variety of clinical, nonclinical, and leadership roles and currently works as a faculty academic director. Building Olive & Pearl has been an exciting creative venture alongside her career. Kayla is also a registered nurse and works in the ambulatory surgery unit at Mount Desert Island Hospital. While healthcare is an important part of both of our professional lives, Olive & Pearl has given us an entirely different way to connect, collaborate, and create something together. Tell us about the business. Olive & Pearl is a mother-daughter charcuterie business centered around beautiful food, thoughtful presentation, and bringing people together. We create curated charcuterie boards designed for everything from intimate gatherings and dinner parties to weddings, showers, corporate events, boat days, and celebrations of all kinds. We think of our boards as more than food. They’re an experience and an invitation to gather, slow down, and enjoy time with the people around you. We’re intentional about quality ingredients, artful presentation, and personalization. Whenever possible, we also incorporate Maine-made and locally sourced products, including cheeses, jams, honey, seasonal produce, and baked goods. What inspired you to start Olive & Pearl? In many ways, Olive & Pearl grew out of something we had been doing our entire lives —bringing people together around food. We’ve always loved creating beautiful spreads for family and friends. There was something special about watching people gather around a table, graze, talk, laugh, and simply enjoy being together. Friends and family began telling us, “You should do this as a business,” and one day, we stopped laughing it off and started mapping it out. We realized we had an opportunity to combine our different strengths and create something that reflected what we both value: hospitality, creativity, quality, and connection. Charcuterie felt like the perfect expression of that. It’s beautiful and creative, but it’s also communal and approachable. At its heart, it brings us right back to where the idea began, a table filled with food and people gathered around it. Do you have a business partner(s)? Our business partner is each other! Olive & Pearl is truly a mother-daughter partnership, and building it together has been incredibly meaningful and sometimes hilarious! We know each other extremely well, which can be both a strength and, occasionally, a challenge. We have different personalities and strengths, but we’ve learned to lean into those differences and use them to our advantage. There’s a lot of trust between us, and we’ve learned how to communicate, collaborate, and occasionally laugh at ourselves along the way. We’re also building Olive & Pearl while continuing our careers in healthcare and education, so we’re taking things thoughtfully and growing the business one step at a time. We all have to start somewhere. One of the most rewarding parts has been having something that belongs to both of us. We get to learn from one another, celebrate the small wins together, and create something that we hope will become part of our family’s story for years to come. When exactly did you launch the business? Recently, in June 2026, we launched Olive & Pearl, turning an idea we had talked about for years into real business. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch something that started around our own family table and begin to find a place within the community. How is it going so far? How do you feel it has been received? It has been going very well, and we’ve been incredibly encouraged by how warmly Olive & Pearl has been received. As more people hear about us, our orders have continued to increase, and we’re seeing growing interest in boards for events and celebrations. It’s exciting to watch something that began as an idea between the two of us start to grow within the community. One of the most rewarding parts is hearing from customers after their events or seeing photos of our boards being enjoyed. Knowing that something we created became part of someone’s celebration is incredibly meaningful to us. Is there a brick-and-mortar location or is it all online? Olive & Pearl is currently an online business. We’re intentionally starting this way so we can build relationships with our customers, learn what they love, and grow thoughtfully. Our long-term dream, if the business continues to grow, is to eventually have a sit-down space where people can experience Olive & Pearl in person. Do you have any future plans if things go well/keep going well? Absolutely. For now, our focus is on continuing to grow Olive & Pearl, getting to know our customers, and becoming part of more celebrations and gatherings throughout the area. Long term, we would love to have our own physical space where people can come together and experience Olive & Pearl beyond the boards themselves. We can imagine a place that combines food, hospitality, creativity, and community. Ultimately, we want to build something that continues to grow while still feeling personal and connected to the people and community around us. Is there an aspect of the business that you really love? There are so many things we love about it, but the people and the connection are probably at the top of the list. We love creating something beautiful, but what really matters to us is what happens after we hand it over to the customer. We picture our boards on kitchen islands, at backyard gatherings, on boats, at weddings, or around a long dinner table—with people laughing, talking, and lingering a little longer. We also love the creative side. Every board is an opportunity to play with color, texture, shape, seasonality, and flavor. We don’t just want to fill a board, we want to curate an experience. And supporting local makers is especially meaningful to us. Whenever possible, we love incorporating Maine-made cheeses, local jams and honey, seasonal produce, and products from nearby bakeries and businesses. It allows us to showcase some of what makes Maine so special. Perhaps most importantly, we love doing this together. Building something as a mother and daughter has given us another way to spend time together, learn from one another, celebrate small wins, and create memories. Is there anything regarding any aspect of Olive & Pearl that you may think is important that is not reflected on the website? One thing that may not always come through online is just how personal this business is to us. Olive & Pearl isn’t something we created simply because charcuterie was popular. It grew very naturally from our family, our traditions, and the way we’ve always enjoyed gathering with people we love. There is a lot of heart behind every board. We think about the people who will be enjoying it, the occasion they’re celebrating, and how we can make the experience feel special. We also want people to know that we care deeply about supporting locals whenever possible. Using Maine products isn’t just about sourcing ingredients, it’s about telling a little story about where we live and the talented people who make and grow wonderful things here. Is there anything that we have not asked that you think is important/relevant that would like readers to know? We hope people see Olive & Pearl as more than just a charcuterie business. At its heart, it’s about gathering. Our goal is to make it easier for people to create those moments when everyone gathers around the table, conversations last a little longer, and people simply enjoy being together. We also hope people see the mother-daughter story behind the business. We’re building Olive & Pearl alongside our careers, one step at a time, and there is something incredibly special about creating a shared family legacy in the process. For us, success isn’t just about how many boards we make. It’s about becoming part of people’s special moments - birthdays, weddings, weekends with friends, quiet evenings at home, or a beautiful day on the Maine coast. If one of our boards helps people put down their phones, linger a little longer, laugh a little more, and enjoy the people around them, then we feel like we’ve done exactly what we set out to do. All photos courtesy of Olive & Pearl. LINKS TO LEARN MORE Olive & Pearl website Olive & Pearl Facebook Olive & Pearl Instagram RECENT PRESS RELEASES AND BRIEFS To see all the press releases, click here. To see our news, click here. For the full archive, click here. All of these are on our dedicated website. [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ Pemetic Students Share Thoughts on Declaration of Independence Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ Fall Festival at the Nor’Easter for Mount Desert Nursery School, October 24. Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Explore career opportunities where you make a difference for Maine’s natural resources—and the people who enjoy them. Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Cranberry Isles Comprehensive Plan Committee Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/cranberry-isles-comprehensive-plan) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/cranberry-isles-comprehensive-plan) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) [ Community School Hosts a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser October 25! Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
University Hospitals Urgent Care in Medina sells for $3 million
The sale was between two third-party owners and will not affect operations at the site, the buyer's broker reports.
Commissioner Lahbib visits Ottawa for discussions on preparedness for health emergencies
Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib will visit Ottawa to meet with Canadian authorities to discuss health emergencies preparedness and response. The trip includes a visit to an aircraft factory where a total of 24 firefighting aircraft are being produced.
Republican gerrymanders in Texas threaten to fall flat, poll finds
Democrats have strong chances in two key congressional seats, new Post-Schar School poll finds.
The top 10 Senate seats most likely to flip, less than two weeks before the midterms
With the November election in sight, Democratic excitement about the party winning control of the US Senate is running high, but it’s far from a sure bet.
The last Democratic legislator in Rutland County is leaving office. What could that mean for the county’s political future?
Historically a Republican stronghold, Rutland County sent Republicans to fill a large majority of its seats in the Legislature last session. This election cycle, the Democratic Party couldn't find anyone to run for Senate and several House seats in Rutland.
Nestle third quarter organic sales beat forecast, deconsolidates Russian business
By Alexander Marrow LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Nestle reported better than expected organic sales growth for the third quarter on Thursday and said it had deconsolidated its Russian business after Moscow seized control of Nestle's Russian assets last...
Bernie Sanders Gives $1 Million to Bolster El-Sayed and Counter AIPAC in Michigan
The transfer came day after the news that the pro-Israel lobby was planning to contribute as much as $9 million to defeat the Democratic nominee for Senate.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine calls on Vivek Ramaswamy to take down ad featuring opponent’s estranged mother
DeWine, a Republican, said he still endorses Ramaswamy over Democrat Amy Acton in the race to succeed him as Ohio’s governor.
GOP player in ‘ghost’ candidate scandal behind texts slamming AG candidate
Alex Alvarado’s political action committee sent the texts attacking Jose Javier Rodriguez, the Democrat running for Florida attorney general, and was an early supporter of Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier’s campaign.
Op-ed: Brooklyn’s small businesses can’t wait any longer on child care
Brooklyn is home to more than 74,000 businesses, and the vast majority are small. You cannot build a competitive workforce, or a healthy economy, on top of a broken child care system.
Things to do: Oct. 22-28
HUNTINGTON — There’s an abundance of activities this week as people can participate in book clubs, see live performances or make and browse crafts at different venues. Here are events
Farmers, Health Care and Highways: 5 Takeaways from the Kansas Senate Debate
The Republican incumbent, Roger Marshall, is facing a surprisingly tough challenge from the Democratic nominee, Adam Hamilton.
eMudhra kills its certificate business after researchers cracked its private keys in under a second
eMudhra is shutting down its SSL/TLS certificate business after researchers cracked its intermediate private keys in under a second, prompting global browser bans.
Chicago business leaders push back against mayor's revived head tax proposal
Under the plan, a company with 500 employees would pay $150,000 per year - a cost Johnson described as "a drop in their ocean of resources."
Trump backs Ramaswamy on ad featuring Amy Acton\'s estranged mother
President Donald Trump has urged Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, to keep running a controversial ad. The ad features the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton.
Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas indicted in connection with marijuana business
Lucas, the 82-year-old president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, is one of the state’s most powerful Democrats.
The Tricky Convergence of Democratic Socialism and Civil Rights
Some worry that a new generation of progressives threatens the coalitions that opened government to historically excluded communities. But there’s plenty for them to learn from each other.
Alexis Levine presents theory for why only women have been voted out of ‘Survivor 51’
Alexis Levine presents her theory for why only women have been voted out of ‘Survivor 51’ and reveals a crazy, bloody scene that did not make it to air.
State allocates $32M in ongoing effort to boost healthcare workforce
The funding is part of a broader state effort to increase staff recruitment and retention in healthcare facilities.