November 22, 2023

The Appetizer

“Most of them just come to have a party, drink, see a DJ play, or watch a performance act. I can do that all over the world …”

• Max Verstappen, three-time Formula One World Champion, criticizing some of the Formula One (F1) Las Vegas fans.

Now, on to the numbers. Drum roll, please …

• 91%: The percent of consumers who plan to celebrate Thanksgiving this year.
• 30 million: The number of passengers the TSA expects to screen from November 17 through November 28.
• 77%: The percentage of adults who agree that Thanksgiving celebrations are not the time or place to discuss politics with family.
• $107,000: The average income of a homebuyer between July 2022 and June 2023, up from $88,000 the year prior, the largest annual increase on record.
• 63%: The percentage of Gen Z workers who say they have a best friend at their job, according to a recent Glassdoor survey. For all workers, the percentage is 51%.

Dig In
Formula One Racing

F1 has been taking the U.S. by storm. What is F1 you ask? Think NASCAR, but cooler… you would agree if you watch the Netflix documentary, Drive to Survive. The show, along with Liberty Media’s new ownership, is revitalizing the sport.

An F1 season is made up of a series of races, or grand prix, held at 24 race tracks around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships. The F1 cars are so fast that the drivers’ bodies are fighting against five times the G-force of a normal car!

Total global attendance in 2022 was 5.7 million, a 36% increase compared to 2019. So logically, Liberty Media decided to make a push for U.S. expansion. Miami and Austin were added in 2022, followed by Las Vegas in 2023. But how does the saying go, don’t get too ahead of yourself?

F1 needed to hear this as many think it overshot its expectations for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. It was offering multimillion dollar hospitality packages, initial “get-in” prices of $2,000, and hotels nearby were charging crazy high prices. The reality? Ticket prices leading up to the event were slashed more than 60%.

Regardless, the sport has surely caught some traction and is projected to continue gaining viewership. Whether you are an avid sports fan or someone who just likes to see cars push boundaries, F1 is popular for a reason!

Weekly Specials

Moody’s expressed worry about the government’s fiscal situation, changing its view from “stable” to “negative.” Concerns about growing budget shortfalls and a decrease in the government’s ability to manage its debt effectively caused this shift in perspective.

Pet whisperers are gaining popularity as the latest trend. Nikki Vascone, who charges $550 for a 90-minute session, claims to facilitate a psychic connection with animals, whether living or in spirit. She says she can not only understand messages from animals, but can even channel their emotions into her own body.

Last week, a tool bag became the latest addition to Earth’s orbiting debris, which totals a whopping 11,000 tons. Two astronauts inadvertently lost the bag during a spacewalk, adding to the 35,290 objects drifting in space. Observers can potentially spot it from Earth with a pair of binoculars during the next few months.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s time to get excited for the presidential turkey pardon! This year, the White House hosted its 55th pardon of two stunning turkeys from Minnesota, Liberty and Bell.

Corporate Lunch

The world’s largest operator of Boeing 777 aircrafts, Emirates, is ordering 95 more Boeing jets worth $52 billion. Talk about loyalty.

Tesla attempted a no-resale clause on the Cybertruck, but buyers quickly scratched that idea – turns out, people prefer their trucks with freedom, not fine print.

Chili’s is recruiting Boyz II Men to remix its legendary baby back ribs jingle, because apparently, even a catchy tune needs a makeover. “I want my baby back, baby back, baby back … ribs.”

Toys “R” Us is rising from the retail ashes and is setting up shop in America’s biggest mall, the Mall of America. Who said nostalgia can’t share a space with roller coasters?

Crocs and McDonald’s are teaming up for a limited-edition shoe line. Because nothing says “I’m lovin’ it” like shoes dedicated to the spirit of Grimace.

Nvidia just released the H200, its newest high-end chip for training and deploying AI models. It is here to generate everything from text and images to predictions.

Exxon Mobil is eyeing the electric vehicle spotlight, planning to be a lithium powerhouse by 2027, after purchasing acres in Arkansas that are rich in lithium.

Target surprised everyone by beating lowered analysts estimates, gaining up to 17% after the report. Meanwhile, Home Depot earnings softened on slowing home improvement projects, but were still ahead of estimates.

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