David Lidsky's Blog, page 322

‘We’re getting a kakistocracy’: Social media users are reeling over Trump’s defense secretary pick

Trump tapped Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department. And people have some questions.

On Tuesday evening, President-elect Donald Trump tapped Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his pick for Defense Secretary–the same man who believes germs aren’t real because . . . he can’t see them. 

Please listen to Mark Zuckerberg performing ‘Get Low’ with T-Pain

The Meta CEO recorded a version of the hit song as an ode to his wife, Priscilla Chan.

If I know anything, it’s that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is a certified Wife Guy. Like, that man really loves his wife, pediatrician and philanthropist Priscilla Chan.

Amazon is shutting down Freevee, its ad-supported streaming service

Freevee’s library has migrated to Prime Video, where much is expected to stay in front of its paywall.

Amazon is shutting down its free, ad-supported video streaming service Freevee, a spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

Global luxury goods market expected to shrink in 2025

The outlook could worsen if the sector is hit by tariffs promised by Donald Trump.

Global sales of personal luxury goods are forecast to shrink in 2025 for the first time since the Great Recession, according to a Bain consultancy study released Wednesday. The outlook could worsen if the sector is hit by tariffs promised by Donald Trump.

Gen X is most likely to carry credit card debt, but Gen Z feels the most burdened by it

A new report shows debt burdens are high, but Gen Z remains optimistic about their financial future.

It may not feel like it to some, but generational mobility is still alive and well in the United States, according to a new report from H&R Block.

‘He will deliver’: Trump’s plans to save TikTok remain unclear

Trump could issue an executive order to nullify a ban on the platform, but experts question the legality of such a move.

After a tumultuous year filled with anxiety and a legal battle about its future in the U.S., TikTok may have just been thrown a lifeline by the man who was once its biggest foe: Donald Trump.

Meta to offer Facebook and Instagram users in Europe less personalized ads after pressure from regulators

Data from all of a user’s previous time spent on Facebook or Instagram, which is typically combined to precisely target an individual with tailored ads, won’t be used.

Facebook and Instagram users in Europe will get the option to see less personalized ads if they don’t want to pay for an ad-free subscription, social media company Meta said Tuesday, bowing to pressure from Brussels over privacy and digital competition concerns.

Trump’s new EPA pick wants to make the U.S. the AI ‘capital of the world’

AI is notorious for being an energy sucker, as it requires massive compute to train systems.

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to “pursue energy dominance” to “make the United States the artificial intelligence capital of the world,” he said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.

COP29: Countries grapple with raising trillions to fight climate change

When it comes to discussions on climate finance, the amount of money being talked about to help poor nations could be as high as $1.3 trillion a year.

United Nations annual climate talks stuttered to a start Monday with more than nine hours of backroom bickering over what should be on the agenda for the next two weeks. It then turned to the main issue: money.

What the Negro League can teach us about our economy

Those who invested in the Negro League, and now in an equitable and inclusive economy, are creating a true meritocracy.

I am a huge baseball fan, so World Series time is one of my favorite times of the year, especially when my Yankees are playing. (Yes—I’m a Yankees fan. Winners can handle the hate.) I went to my first game at Shea Stadium to see the Yankees play the Senators and played stickball in Lefferts Park imagining I would pitch for the Yankees someday.