David Lidsky's Blog

Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival represents everything wrong with the stand-up economy

In an era when star comedians expect massive paydays, the craft has become more about taking money from power than speaking truth to it.

Every comedian on the path to stardom will inevitably have to do shows they aren’t proud of.

Pokémon and Theo Von both featured in DHS videos without permission

Neither Von nor the Pokémon Co. International was made aware of their featuring roles before the content began circulating on social media.

The official X account of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been testing out a new social media strategy that no one asked for—as a meme lord. 

Starbucks CTO resigns, but its AI overhaul is still brewing

The resignation comes as Starbucks announced more layoffs Friday and as the CEO pushes a tech revamp in stores.

Starbucks’s chief technology officer Deb Hall Lefevre resigned without a permanent replacement, according to an internal memo sent to corporate staff on Monday, seen by Reuters. 

Wall Street rebounds after a 3-day slump, boosted by PCE report

The S&P 500 added 0.2%, as 4 out of every 5 stocks within the index climbed after a crucial report showed inflation accelerated slightly last month.

Most U.S. stocks are rising Friday after a report showed that inflation is behaving roughly as economists expected, even if it’s still high.

Social Security payments will see a big change next week: What you need to know about the September 30 update

The Social Security Administration will no longer issue these kinds of checks, starting Tuesday. Here’s what retirees will need to do to collect benefits.

Starting next week on Tuesday, September 30, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will no longer issue paper checks for benefit payments, and instead move exclusively to electronic payments: either direct deposit or a prepaid debit card.

Fed’s favored inflation gauge climbs slightly in August

The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was up 2.7% in August compared with a year earlier.

The Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge accelerated slightly in August from a year earlier.

Building Braindate

Christine Renaud, cofounder and CEO of Braindate, shares how her app is transforming networking into meaningful, purpose-driven conversations.

Christine Renaud, cofounder and CEO of Braindate, shares how her app is transforming networking into meaningful, purpose-driven conversations.

Ikea in the crosshairs as Trump adds 50% furniture tariffs

With 90% of its products imported, Ikea faces steep costs under the latest U.S. trade crackdown.

Don’t look now, but President Trump just issued more sweeping tariffs. This latest round stands to affect two groups particularly hard: homeowners and furniture and home furnishing companies. That’s because the new round of Trump’s tariffs will see up to 50% fees applied to kitchen cabinets and upholstered furniture imported into the United States. Here’s what you need to know.

Fed Governor Bowman warns of housing market risks: ‘Declines in house prices could accelerate’

Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman cautions that falling home prices could accelerate, posing new risks to construction and the economy.

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter.

How AI can help detect pests early and reduce pesticide use in cotton fields

Our research team set out to combine AI-based early pest detection methods with existing integrated pest management practices and an insect adviser app.

Precision agriculture uses tools and technologies such as GPS and sensors to monitor, measure, and respond to changes within a farm field in real time. This includes using artificial intelligence technologies for tasks such as helping farmers apply pesticides only where and when they are needed.