Episodios

  • CEOs on ICE, the SEC kills small investors, the manchild economy, and AI navel gazers

    CEOs on ICE, the SEC kills small investors, the manchild economy, and AI navel gazers
    Jan 30 2026
    Story of the Week (DR):Trump's ICE tactics force CEOs to choose between staying silent and risking White House backlash MMCEOs of Target and Minnesota’s Biggest Companies Call for ‘De-Escalation’ After ShootingMinnesota workers pressure employers to take action against ICE operationsCEOs, long silent on Trump’s immigration crackdown, seem to hit their breaking point over killing of Alex Pretti in MinnesotaTarget's incoming CEO tells staff violence in Minneapolis is 'incredibly painful' – without naming Trump or ICEJan 28: Target Unveils Largest Spring Beauty Assortment Ever — Making Trend-Driven, Expert-Backed Beauty More AccessibleTech's top CEOs mum after ICE killings, while leaders like Reid Hoffman, Yann LeCun speak outICE is going too far': Sam Altman, Jamie Dimon, and more CEOs on the unrest in MinnesotaReid Hoffman says business leaders are wrong to stay silent about the Trump administrationApple's Cook says he's 'heartbroken' by Minneapolis events and has spoken with TrumpCompanies reap $22bn from Trump’s immigration crackdownMeta blocks links to ICE List across Facebook, Instagram, and ThreadsAs Big Tech CEOs speak up about violence in Minneapolis, 1 in 3 corporate leaders think ICE tensions are ‘not relevant to their business’How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters AreAgents use facial recognition, social media monitoring and other tech tools not only to identify undocumented immigrants but also to track protesters, current and former officials said.Freefloatanalytics data blast:Palantir Technologies: Continues to be a primary partner. In 2025, they were awarded a $30 million contract to build "ImmigrationOS," a platform designed to provide "near real-time visibility" on individuals for the purpose of streamlining apprehensions and tracking self-deportations. Gender Influence Gap -26%RELX: LexisNexis Risk Solutions: Provides ICE with investigative databases used to track, vet, and target individuals. Their current contract is valued at over $22 million. Gender Influence Gap -24%Thomson Reuters: Supplies ICE with access to massive databases, including over 20 billion license plate scans. This data allows agents to track vehicle movement history and identify where individuals may be living or working. Gender Influence Gap -28%Clearview AI: Recently signed a $3.75 million contract (September 2025) to provide facial recognition technology. While officially limited to certain types of investigations, procurement records suggest its use is expanding. Gender Influence Infinity% (no women on advisory board; Hal Lambert and Richard Schwartz as co-CEOs)King “Bumps”JPMorgan’s Dimon sees 10.3% pay bump to $43MDisney CEO Bob Iger’s Pay Increased 11.5% to $45.8 Million in 2025Goldman Sachs hikes CEO David Solomon's pay 21% to record $47 millionWells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf Gets 28% Pay Boost to $40 MillionWhy Starbucks is letting Brian Niccol use the company plane for more personal travel“Following a security review of risks, the Starbucks board of directors made the decision to enhance security measures for Brian,” a company spokesperson said. “This included a decision by the board to require Brian to use private aircraft for all travel.”$96M in 2024; $31M in 2024, including temporary housing expenses in the amount of $371,536; and security expenses in the amount of $1,142,700; and $997,392 in expenses related to his use of Starbucks aircraft for commuting and personal usemedian employee: $17,279. CEO Pay ratio 1,794 to 1 (January 1st: 10:10am)Temporary housing expense ratio: 22:1The docu-bribe: At ‘Melania’ Premiere, the President Sees ‘Glamour’ and Others See GraftAmazon paid Melania Trump’s production company $40 million for the movie and then paid another $35 million to promote it.Guests included:Jordan Belfort: The real-life "Wolf of Wall Street."Director Brett Ratner, accused of rape, sexual assault, sexual harrassment, and homophobic abuse by at least 9 women:Melania Trump documentary marks a post-#MeToo comeback for its directorBrett Ratner was all but exiled from Hollywood after facing sexual misconduct allegations. Trump’s win gave him an opening to return.Tim Cook (Apple)Andy Jassy (Amazon)Lisa Su (AMD)Eric Yuan (Zoom)Lynn Martin (President of the NYSE)Larry Culp (GE)Sam Altman (OpenAISatya Nadella (Microsoft)Sundar Pichai (Google)Safra Catz (Oracle):David Brown (Victory Capital)David Ellison (Skydance/Paramount)Marc Benioff (Salesforce)Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Diversity on Fortune 50 boards: white men haven’t been a majority for 3 years in a rowWhereas about a decade ago, white men held two-thirds of the seats on the top 50 Fortune boards, in 2023, for the first time, they held fewer than 50%. In 2024, that number dropped to 48.4%, but this year it climbed back to 49.7%.Since white men make up about 31% of the U.S. population, they still have been very much overrepresented in all three years.DR: National Shutdown: General ...
    Más Menos
    1 h y 3 m
  • The feckless Minnesota CEO response: George Floyd vs. Alex Pretti

    The feckless Minnesota CEO response: George Floyd vs. Alex Pretti
    Jan 28 2026
    At the beginning of December 2026: ICE announced an enforcement surge in the Twin Cities.January 6, 2026: DHS announced what it called the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out, sending 2,000 agents to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. January 7, 2026: ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shoots Renée Nicole GoodJanuary 8–14, 2026: Protests, vigils, and marches continue in Minneapolis against ICE and Operation Metro SurgeJanuary 13, 2026: ‘Madness’: two US citizens violently detained by ICE in Minnesota, officials say. Two Target employees forced to the ground, then into SUV, then dumped in different parking lotJanuary 14, 2026: A different ICE agent shoots and injures a man in north Minneapolis; the man survives after being shot in the leg. This second shooting further intensifies public anger and calls for an end to the federal surgeJanuary 17, 2026: National Anger Spills Into Target Stores, AgainJanuary 22, 2026: Target Store Staff Are Skipping Work Over ICE's Crackdown in MinnesotaJanuary 23, 2026: A statewide Day of Truth & Freedom / Minnesota general strike is held, described as the first U.S. general strike in about 80 years, explicitly targeting ICE operations and Operation Metro Surge. On that day, many workers, businesses, schools, and institutions in Minneapolis and across Minnesota participate in work stoppages, marches, and large rallies against federal immigration enforcement.January 24, 2026: Federal Border Patrol agents assigned to the metro surge shoot and kill Alex Jeffrey PrettiJanuary 25, 2026: The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released this letter on behalf of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies today.Eight people have died in dealings with ICE so far in 2026. Keith Porter, Parady La, Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos. The high-profile fatal shootings follow the deaths of at least 32 people in ICE custody in 2025 – the highest number since 2004.Minnesota CEOs Seek De-Escalation After Border Police Shooting“The business community in Minnesota prides itself in providing leadership and solving problems to ensure a strong and vibrant state. The recent challenges facing our state have created widespread disruption and tragic loss of life. For the past several weeks, representatives of Minnesota’s business community have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions. These efforts have included close communication with the Governor, the White House, the Vice President and local mayors. There are ways for us to come together to foster progress. With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions. We have been working for generations to build a strong and vibrant state here in Minnesota and will do so in the months and years ahead with equal and even greater commitment. In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future. “3M – William Brown, Chairman and CEOAmeriprise Financial – James Cracchiolo, Chairman and CEOAPi Group – Russell Becker, CEOBest Buy – Corie Barry, CEO C.H. Robinson – Dave Bozeman, President and CEODeluxe Corporation – Barry McCarthy, President and CEODonaldson Company, Inc. – Tod Carpenter, Chairman and CEOEcolab – Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEOGeneral Mills – Jeff Harmening, Chairman and CEOH.B. Fuller – On behalf of our entire organization [CEO Celeste Mastin]Hormel – Jeff Ettinger, Interim CEOMedtronic – Geoff Martha, CEO and ChairmannVent – Beth Wozniak, Chair and CEO Patterson Companies – Robert Rajalingam, CEOPentair – John L. Stauch, President and CEOPiper Sandler – Chad Abraham, Chairman and CEOSleep Number – Linda Findley, CEO (4/2025)Solventum – Bryan Hanson, CEOSPS Commerce – Chad Collins, CEO SunOpta – Brian Kocher, CEOTarget – Michael Fiddelke, Incoming CEO Tennant Company – Dave Huml, CEOThe Toro Company – Rick Olson, Chairman and CEOU.S. Bancorp – Gunjan Kedia, CEOWinnebago Industries – Michael Happe, CEOXcel Energy – Bob Frenzel, Chairman and CEO Keith Rabois, Managing director of Khosla Ventures: “no law enforcement has shot an innocent person. illegals are committing violent crimes everyday.”Khosla Ventures: “We prefer brutal honesty to hypocritical politeness.”“Technology and innovation have reshaped our world and disrupted the way we all live and work. The future may not be knowable, but it is inventable—and it belongs to those who dare to imagine what’s possible.”Managing Directors: 5 dudes (...
    Más Menos
    1 h
  • Jamie Dimon is non-binary, Chip Wilson hates Chip Wilson at LULU, anti-woke winning the proxy

    Jamie Dimon is non-binary, Chip Wilson hates Chip Wilson at LULU, anti-woke winning the proxy
    Jan 23 2026
    Story of the Week (DR):CEOs are finding their blowhard whistles?Jamie Dimon is done being ‘binary’: On Trump’s ‘economic disaster’ credit card plan, foreign policy, and NATOJamie Dimon issues rare CEO criticism of Trump's immigration policy: 'I don’t like what I’m seeing'JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said Trump's proposed 10% cap on credit card rates would be an 'economic disaster'Jamie Dimon issues rare CEO criticism of Trump's immigration policy: 'I don’t like what I’mOf course… Trump sues ‘woke’ JP Morgan for $5bn over debanking Nestlé chief blames Trump for company going quiet on sustainabilityAmazon CEO Jassy says Trump's tariffs have started to 'creep' into prices Ryanair CEO rips Trump as a 'liar' who is 'historically wrong'Of course… Minneapolis ICE Standoff Has Become the Political Issue CEOs Can’t IgnoreEmployees in Minnesota are afraid to show up to workTarget in Your Town: How We’re Showing Up in Communities from Coast to CoastLast "statement:" Target Statement on Texas Floods (July 8, 2025)And two new dudes on the board:John Hoke, former Chief Innovation Officer at NIKESteve Bratspies, former CEO of HanesBrandsSome stakeholder wins?Trump administration drops appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges Trump administration concedes DOGE team may have misused Social Security dataJamie Dimon tells Davos: ‘You didn’t do a particularly good job making the world a better place’Jamie Dimon says government should have power to intervene in AI-driven mass layoffsRollout of AI may need to be slowed to ‘save society’, says JP Morgan bossSalesforce's Benioff calls for AI regulation, says models have become 'suicide coaches'BlackRock’s billionaire CEO warns AI could be capitalism’s next big failure after 30 years of unsustainable inequality after the Cold WarBlackRock CEO says capitalism isn't spreading the wealth – and AI might not eitherBrett Kavanaugh says letting Trump fire Lisa Cook ‘would weaken, if not shatter, the independence of the Federal Reserve’A majority of millionaires say extreme wealth is a threat to democracyAmazon Joins Microsoft In Pledge To Self-Fund Power Grids, While CEO Andy Jassy Questions OpenAI's 'Ambitious' SpendingThe board matters??Lululemon founder Chip Wilson blames board for 'total operational failure' in Get Low launch [more later]Early 2026 season proxy indicators MMApple: 1 SHPNational Center for Public Policy Research: China Entanglement AuditExcluded: National Legal and Policy Center: Financial Impact of Renewable Energy ImplementationDisney: 4 SHPsBowyer Research: How the Employee Gift-Matching Program May Impact Risks Related to Religious Discrimination Against EmployeesNational Center for Public Policy Research: Return on Investment from Climate CommitmentsNational Legal and Policy Center: Cumulative Voting for Board ElectionsErik G. Paul: Accessibility and Disability Inclusion PracticesQualcomm: 2 SHPsJohn Chevedden: Shareholder Ability to Call for a Special Shareholder MeetingBowyer Research: Risk of China ExposureGoodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: America could ‘lose the AI race’ because of too much ‘pessimism,’ White House AI czar David Sacks saysMM: Elon Musk Says 'They Will Eventually Apply the Wealth Tax to Everyone' —Just Like How Income Tax Started As A 'Temporary' Tax For Top 1%This is a great ideaMM: AOC and Paris Hilton team up on a bill targeting AI deepfake pornWhat a teamAssholiest of the Week (MM):Governance asshole: Chip Wilson DRLululemon's founder is blasting the company for selling sheer leggings, calling it a 'new low'Lululemon founder Chip Wilson blames board for 'total operational failure' in Get Low launch“In 2013, Lululemon recalled 17% of all its pants for being too sheer. At that point, the company blamed the manufacturing error on an incomplete testing protocol”Wilson owned 29.22% of the stock at the timeSAME BOARD MEMBERS THAT CHIP WILSON PICKED:Martha Morfitt (2008)David Mussafer (2014)Michael Casey (2007)Emily White (2011)40% of the board IS CHIP WILSON’S HAND PICKED PEOPLELast week: Lululemon founder Chip Wilson launches proxy fight for board shakeupWilson has nominated three independent director candidates to be elected at the 2026 annual meeting and submitted a proposal to "declassify" the board so that all members must stand for election annuallyHE CLASSIFIED THE BOARD - sucks to be on the outside looking inCapitalist assholes: DavosBlackRock CEO says capitalism isn't spreading the wealth and AI might not eitherBlackRock’s $40 billion deal highlights the unstoppable AI data center gold rush, as CEO Larry Fink pushes back on AI bubble fearsJamie Dimon tells Davos: ‘You didn’t do a particularly good job making the world a better place’As he attends every year without irony - and this: How Wall Street Turned Its Back on Climate ChangeBillionaire Marc Benioff challenges the AI sector: ‘What’s more important to us, growth or our kids?’...
    Más Menos
    58 m
  • BLAME GAME: WestJet’s cramped seats, Walmart’s exec planning, SEC proxy voting, Netflix movie list

    BLAME GAME: WestJet’s cramped seats, Walmart’s exec planning, SEC proxy voting, Netflix movie list
    Jan 20 2026
    DAMIONMLK Day:Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner:Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy reminds us blahblahblah. During our annual MLK Day Celebration, we reflected on blahblahblah. We care for people. Blahblahblah We strive to be honest, fair, and courageous. And we put others first in the work we do to help people live better.When we lead with care, show respect and do what’s right, we honor Dr. King’s legacy through action and continue building a Walmart that reflects our purpose and values.Walmart: $27,408,854, the fiscal 2025 annual total compensation of our median associate was $29,469, and the ratio of these amounts was 930:1.By 11:14 AM: He has earned $29,469 (the median worker’s entire year of labor).Total Earnings by MLK Day: ~$1,425,000That $1.4 million is equivalent to the lifetime earnings of 48 median Walmart associates (assuming each works for one year at $29,469)As of January 20, 2026, the combined net worth of the Walton family has reached a historic $513.4 billion, according to the latest Bloomberg and Forbes data.As of January 2026, the Walton family collectively receives approximately $3.4 billion per year in dividends from Walmart.Per Day: The family earns roughly $9.27 million every day just by owning the stock.Per Hour: They earn about $386,000 per hour, 24 hours a day.King was literally campaigning for a living wage in Memphis when he was shot by the FBI. your move, walmart CEO John Furner WHO DO YOU BLAME?WestJet reverses cramped seating layout after viral videos show passengers' knees pressed against seats.In the reconfigured layout, which rolled out in late October on select Boeing 737s, space between rows was reduced to 28 inches to accommodate an extra row of seats. WestJet also made economy class seats non-reclinable, offering passengers the option to pay extra for adjustable seats.In a news statement, the company said it will reverse what it called the "densified seating" by removing the additional row of seats.WHO DO YOU BLAME?Samantha (Sam) Taylor was appointed WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Experience Officer March 2025. Sam joined Sunwing in March 2020 as Chief Marketing Officer. Sam’s portfolio is accountable for critical touch points in the guest journey and includes leading all Marketing, Guest Experience and Contact Centres for WestJet and Sunwing Vacations. MMStakeholders!Customers: WestJet’s rollout of the reconfigured seats has sparked widespread outrage among travelers and even crew members.Employees: Reuters reported that pilots and flight attendants have raised concerns over the new configuration's comfort and safety, specifically whether passengers could safely evacuate the plane in an emergency due to the confined seating.Journalists: Reuters reported that pilots and flight attendants have raised concerns over the new configuration's comfort and safety, specifically whether passengers could safely evacuate the plane in an emergency due to the confined seating.Labor Unions: Alia Hussain, president of the union local representing WestJet cabin personnel, said: "It created a hostile working environment for us as cabin personnel."Onex Corporation, WestJet’s publicly traded ownersWhich is really founder and board Chair Gerry Schwartz (annual Chair fee of $1 million), who maintains 100% control of the Multiple Voting Shares (MVS) of Onex Corporation, which effectively grants him 60% of the total voting power in the company.This control allows him to elect 60% of the members of Onex's Board of Directors. While he also personally holds a significant portion of the Subordinate Voting Shares (SVS)—roughly 11.3% as of late 2024—the primary mechanism of his control is the MVS class.All stupid U.S. dual class dictatorships who do not do this!!The "Sunset" Provision: In May 2023, Onex shareholders approved a plan to implement a "sunset" on these special voting rights. Under this agreement, Schwartz’s multiple voting rights are scheduled to expire three years after the effective date of the amendment (roughly May 2026).Current Status: As we are currently in early 2026, Schwartz remains the controlling shareholder. Upon the "Event of Change" later this year, the Multiple Voting Shares will convert into Subordinate Voting Shares, and he will lose his absolute control, shifting the company toward a more traditional governance structure.Matt Damon says Netflix wants to make action movies differently to account for shorter attention spansHow the art of filmmaking is being subvertedThe "Say What You Do" Rule: Writers are frequently being told to eliminate subtext. In traditional filmmaking, if a character is sad, you show them staring at a cold cup of coffee. Now, streamers often request that the character explicitly say, "I’m just so sad right now," or have another character ask, "Why are you so sad?"The Reason: If you are looking at your phone during a silent, emotional shot, you miss the story. If the character says it out loud, you can...
    Más Menos
    1 h y 1 m
  • Brian Cornell and Target’s silence, Bill Ackman’s fat mouth, and the manbaby economy

    Brian Cornell and Target’s silence, Bill Ackman’s fat mouth, and the manbaby economy
    Jan 16 2026
    Story of the Week (DR):Target silent after federal immigration agents arrest Twin Cities employees, operate near stores DRPress Release, January 14, 2026: Target Expands Its Style Offerings with Exclusive Bedding Collection from Acclaimed Interior Designer Jeremiah BrentQuote from the investors page: “Together, Target’s purpose-driven team of more than 400,000 works daily to help all families discover the joy of everyday life.” Brian Cornell, Chair and Chief Executive OfficerBill Ackman defends donation to ICE officer who shot Minnesota woman: 'Presumed innocent until proven guilty'Chipotle clarifies Bill Ackman 'not affiliated' with chain after billionaire's ICE agent donationFord worker suspended for calling Trump 'pedophile protector' has 'no regrets' for 'embarrassing' presidentSuspended Michigan autoworker who heckled Trump gets outpouring of donationsGrok blocked from undressing images in places where it’s illegal after global backlashI asked Grok's AI to undress me after X's new limits. It's still easy on the appGrok was finally updated to stop undressing women and children, X Safety saysGrok Is Getting Access to Classified Military Networks Elon Musk's xAI probed by California DOJ over Grok's deepfake explicit imagesElon Musk’s X Under UK Investigation Over Grok’s Sexualized A.I. ImagesOpposition to Elon Musk’s AI Stripping Clothing Off Children Is Nearly Universal, PollingMalaysia and Indonesia block Musk's Grok over sexually explicit deepfakesAshly St Clair, the conservative influencer who had Musk’s baby, just sued Xai for sexualizing her - after saying in 2024 that X and Musk were “essential” to free speech, that Musk was the only one doing it, and that, “Truly, the only things they will ban are things that are against the law”... oops?Trump canceled or stopped enforcement against 166 corporations in his first year. Many of them were donorsNew analysis finds federal agencies halted or limited enforcement and prosecution, including many involving companies and individuals with ties to President Donald TrumpRipple, the cryptocurrency company behind XRP, donated $4.9 million — among the largest donation — to Trump's inauguration events. Shortly afterward, the Securities and Exchange Commission withdrew an appeal seeking nearly $2 billion in penalties against the company, settling instead for $125 million.After he and his wife donated $1.8 million to Trump's reelection, Trevor Milton — the CEO of electric vehicle startup Nikola, who was convicted in 2023 of defrauding investors — received a presidential pardon wiping out over $660 million in restitution. Milton’s legal team included Attorney General Pam Bondi’s brother, Brad Bondi.Amazon was facing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit for allegedly discriminating against pregnant workers. After Trump signed an April 2025 executive order directing agencies not to rely on disparate impact analysis — an important tool for proving discrimination — the EEOC then dismissed the case.The report details how Amazon donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, made another $1 million in-kind donation by streaming the inauguration on Amazon Video, and is backing Trump's $300 million “Golden Ballroom” in the White House's East Wing. The company also announced a deal to stream The Apprentice, resulting in "unspecified" payments to Trump, who starred in and executive-produced the show. The company reportedly also paid $28 million to first lady Melania Trump for a documentary.What’s more, Attorney General Pam Bondi worked as a registered lobbyist for Amazon in 2020 and 2021, while Trump ally Brian Ballard lobbied on Amazon's behalf in 2024.Trump tries to reduce CEO pay and halt billions in stock buybacks at defense contractorsTrump threatens to sideline Exxon from Venezuela's oil: 'They're playing too cute’Justice department opens investigation into Jerome Powell as Trump ramps up campaign against Federal ReserveFed chair accuses DoJ of threatening criminal charges over building renovation projects because central bank defied Trump’s interest rate demandsGoodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: MacKenzie Scott is using her $26 billion philanthropy push to rescue organizations in danger after the Trump administration’s funding cutsMM: RFK Jr.’s Health Department Is Studying Health Effects of CellphonesNot that there are any doctors there, or that anything they do anymore is science, BUT THIS IS GREATEven if they end up with spurious research that says “your cellphone and wifi will give you ballsack cancer”, it means less phones, less online, and happier humans with human friends and going outside moreAssholiest of the Week (MM):Brian Cornell“That could have been one of my Target team members”.“We have to be the role models that drive change and our voice is important. And we’ve got to make sure that we represent our company principles, our values, our company purpose on the issues that ...
    Más Menos
    55 m
  • Silence on Minnesota, public oil company graft, Grok’s children problem, where are investors

    Silence on Minnesota, public oil company graft, Grok’s children problem, where are investors
    Jan 13 2026
    Let's start with the Bad News?The ICE game3 UnitedHealth Group Minnetonka41 Target Minneapolis105 U.S. Bancorp; IR site not working: Minneapolis108 Best Buy Richfield115 CHS Inver Grove Heights174 3M Maplewood216 General Mills Golden Valley230 Ameriprise Financial MinneapolisAnthony Saglimbene, Chief Market Strategist, Ameriprise Financial: Is Corporate America Up For Its First Big Test Of 2026? 1/12/2026“geopolitical and Washington headlines have increased risk, from developments in Venezuela to broader policy noise, including the pending International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) decision which didn’t occur last week, affordability proposals in Washington, and unexpected policies and executive orders that could impact housing and defense companies”233 C.H. Robinson Eden Prairie262 Land O'Lakes Arden Hills274 Ecolab St. Paul319 Xcel Energy Minneapolis352 Hormel Foods Austin388 Thrivent Financial MinneapolisThe Good GameThe oil CEO who stood up to Trump is a follower of the disciplined ‘Exxon way’ with a history of blunt statementsBig Oil executives met at the White House to discuss investing billions to revive Venezuela’s oil industry.Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods pushed back, calling Venezuela “uninvestable” without long-term reforms.President Trump reacted angrily, calling Exxon “too cute” and signaling he may exclude the company from Venezuela.Woods declined to appease Trump at the expense of Exxon shareholders.Analysts said Exxon stock would likely have fallen if it committed billions to Venezuela’s uneconomic, high-risk environment.Veteran analyst Jim Wicklund said Woods was the only executive willing to speak plainly.Industry has little urgency to return to Venezuela, and no deal can offset the extreme political risk.Even sweeter terms wouldn’t change the math: political risk outweighs potential rewards by “a factor of 10.”Microsoft Pledges to Pay More for Electricity, Drawing Praise From Trump A senior Microsoft executive on Tuesday addressed the impact data centers have on the electrical costs for home consumers, an increasingly touchy subject that became a political hot button in November’s elections.In a blog post ahead of a speech on artificial intelligence, Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, reiterated that Microsoft wants to pay for the electricity its data center use and avoid affecting everyday customers. “We’ll ask utilities and public commissions to set our rates high enough to cover the electricity costs for our data centers,” Mr. Smith wrote.US Judge Allows Orsted to Resume $5 Billion Rhode Island Offshore Wind Project Halted by TrumpRevolution Wind is a $5 billion development co-owned by Orsted that aims to deliver renewable power to Rhode Island and Connecticut. It is the first of five offshore wind projects paused by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in late December over what officials described as radar interference risks identified by the Department of Defense.Trump tries to reduce CEO pay and halt billions in stock buybacks at defense contractorsThe executive order is creating a “new, government-mandated form of ESG,” referring to the environmental, social, and governance framework that grew prominent in recent years and prodded CEOs to focus on their companies’ broader stakeholder impact and not just shareholders.Ironically, the prioritization of ESG was derided as “woke” by critics and the administration has been generally hostile toward ESG. The defense contractor order is conceptually similar in that it prods companies to prioritize a customer over maximizing value for shareholders.President Donald Trump signed an executive order zeroing in on pay packages for executives at large defense contractors deemed to have underperformed on existing government contracts while chasing newer, bigger deals, according to the White House. At the same time, the order claims, these companies have bought back billions in stock, enriching both shareholders and executives.“Effective immediately, they are not permitted in any way, shape, or form to pay dividends or buy back stock, until such time as they are able to produce a superior product, on time and on budget,” the order, titled “Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting,” states.The order further directs the Secretary of War to identify contractors that have underperformed the terms of their deals with the government and hatch a plan to resolve delays and production issues. If the resolution plan is insufficient, according to the secretary, future contracts will include provisions banning stock buybacks and dividends and will prohibit tying pay to “short-term financial metrics” such as free cash flow or earnings per share.Trump elaborated in a post on his messaging platform Truth Social last week, railing against pay packages in the defense industry, claiming they are “exorbitant and unjustifiable” given the delays in delivering military equipment. Until ...
    Más Menos
    59 m
  • 2026 Predictions: corporate governance ghosting, CEO retentions, mass labor movements

    2026 Predictions: corporate governance ghosting, CEO retentions, mass labor movements
    Jan 9 2026
    Damion 2026 PredictionsThe "Ghost Board" MovementFollowing the 2025 retreat from ESG, a major S&P 500 company (likely in the energy or defense sector) will successfully petition to keep its director bios private for "national security” or “personal safety reasons"Trend starts at a Big Data company using China as an excuse with a single, government-connected director whose identity is kept secret for “national security reasons”By mid-2026, "blind governance" becomes a trend where investors vote for directors identified only by a serial number and a list of "alpha-generating achievements"The “Ghost Board” movement ultimately backfires as shareholders start to vote against subpar achievementsBlackRock and State Street scrap public stewardship for private, encrypted channels with board chairs—Welcome to Dark GovernanceThe 100% Variable Pay CEOCEO Pay routinely targets $1B+ packages, using 100% “at-risk” pay as an excuseThe Rise of "Corporate Sovereignty" ZonesThink the SpaceX "Starbase" model: a major tech or manufacturing firm will strike a deal with a poor red state (like West Virginia or Mississippi, et al) to create a "Special Innovation District" or some other made up name likeAdvanced Innovation ZoneStrategic Innovation CorridorFreedom Technology DistrictAnti-DEI, Pro-ROI Innovation ParkInside these zones, the company provides the police, the utilities, and the "credits/scrip" used at the grocery storeThis revival of the 19th-century company town uses the excuse of "infrastructure efficiency" or “ESG-free zone”The Death of the “Public” Annual MeetingAfter the 2025 proxy season proved shareholders could still be annoying, companies codify mandatory virtual-onlyAI moderators pre-screen questions for “civility” and “relevance,” eliminating most investor dissentShareholders wishing to speak must demonstrate ownership of $1M+—because democracy is not for impoverished nunsElon Musk formally steps back from day-to-day operations at Tesla but calls it an “AI-enabled leadership leverage” and not a full resignation and thus keeps his pay package, with full board approval.Multiple large companies stop using the word “independent” in director bios, replacing it with “objective” or “experienced” or “industry-aligned” or “deeply informed.”Like Europe, board chairs increasingly become the primary public voice on operational and governance issues instead of CEOs, leading to a significant increase in chair pay.A sharp increase in director pay follows due to “heightened complexity and security issues.”The Jay Hoag effect: companies start to exclude attendance data from proxy statements.A company ties massive NEO bonuses to “AI adoption speed,” which becomes completely discretionary and unmeasurable. Starts in Big Data and then happens everywhereMatt 2026 PredictionsWill happen:Sam Altman is caught lying to investors (and no one cares)30% of the S&P 500 will seek to implement a “retail voting” program by the fallHighest retail vote companies: Tesla (~30%), Intel (~30%), AT&T (~30%), Exxon (~30%), Apple (~30%), Pfizer (~30%), Verizon (~25%) - real paragons of board independenceCompanies where executives are suggesting college degrees or elite college degrees are “stupid” do not stop hiring largely from pools of people who have college degrees and/or went to elite colleges25% of CEO pay packages in the US move to “3 year vesting, pretend moonshot, billion plus, no clawback, no strings”Jay Hoag will not be voted off the Netflix boardIn the absence of engagement, precatory proposals, or other shareholder rights, there is one thing for shareholders left: vote no on director campaigns from NON ACTIVISTS (by which I mean institutional investors / pension funds with less than 5% or 13G filers)Specifically - there will be a 150% increase in exempt solicitationsAt least 10% of US large cap companies will have AI “board advisors” - bots that advise boards on legal and governance issuesCould happen:Mass labor movementThe 2025 “badge of honor” that was layoffs, the absolute bonanza of CEO pay, the explosion of “AI billionaires” and “AI took your job” stories, and the attempt to crush labor rights will escalate into the first violent confrontation between employees and their corporate overlordsWidespread strikes will hit, but in the least likely of places: tech and finance, where employees are replaced with AI faster than in other sectorsNatural outgrowth of the “it’s someone else’s fault” movement - everything is someone else’s fault, not management’s fault, with the primary culprit of lazy employees - we fired you and it’s your fault, not oursThe anti-woke go woke and realize how much data they don’t have, but need, to be anti-wokeAt least 1 large company announces it will no longer produce any employee metrics at all, not the count of employees, the names of executives (except where demanded by regulation), or any ...
    Más Menos
    1 h y 8 m
  • Venezuela oil exec takeover, Musk’s child exploitation, rich people are richer, and blowhards predict stuff

    Venezuela oil exec takeover, Musk’s child exploitation, rich people are richer, and blowhards predict stuff
    Jan 6 2026
    Pick the headline that best describes the story:VenezuelaTrump’s Hint to Oil Executives Weeks Before Maduro Ouster: ‘Get Ready’Maduro overthrow could help these U.S. oil companies recover assets seized by VenezuelaTrump makes it clear shocking Venezuelan regime change is largely about oil: ‘They stole our oil … We’re going to make a lot of money’US oil giants mum after Trump says they’ll spend billions in VenezuelaUS oil companies gain after capture of Venezuela's MaduroA group of about 20 US investors is already planning a trip to Venezuela in MarchMaduro falls, Bitcoin rises: The 1,671% surge that hit before Wall Street woke upAI-generated content spreads after Maduro’s removal — blurring fact and fictionElonElon Musk’s X faces probes in Europe, India, Malaysia after Grok generated explicit images of women and childrenElon Musk’s X faces regulatory probes in Europe, India and Malaysia after its Grok chatbot began generating deepfake explicit images, some depicting child sex abuse.Elon Musk After His Grok AI Did Disgusting Things to Literal Children: “Way Funnier” Elon Musk's Grok AI faces government backlash after it was used to create sexualized images of women and minorsMusk's xAI faces backlash after Grok generates sexualized images of children on XWoman felt 'dehumanised' after Musk's Grok AI used to digitally remove her clothesElon Musk plans 'high-volume production' of Neuralink brain chips and says he wants to automate the surgical procedureTesla Loses EV Crown to BYD After Second Annual Sales DropAIChildrenTech Giants Pushing AI Into Schools Is a Huge, Ethically Bankrupt Experiment on Innocent Children That Will Likely End in DisasterChildren Falling Apart as They Become Addicted to AIOpenAI’s child exploitation reports increased sharply this yearPsychosisDoctors Say AI Use Is Almost Certainly Linked to Developing PsychosisWoman Suffers AI Psychosis After Obsessively Generating AI Images of HerselfMan Describes How ChatGPT Led Him Straight Into PsychosisAI Godfather Warns That It’s Starting to Show Signs of Self-PreservationDisturbing Messages Show ChatGPT Encouraging a Murder, Lawsuit AllegesOpenAI Reportedly Planning to Make ChatGPT “Prioritize” Advertisers in ConversationBillionairesThe world's richest people just had their best year yetAI boom adds more than half a trillion dollars to wealth of US tech barons in 2025There are more self-made billionaires under 30 than ever before—11 of them have made the ultra-wealthy club in the last 3 months thanks to AIJamie Dimon made $770 million last year. 2026 could be even better for banksEasing rules and a rebound in dealmaking are reshaping the landscape for U.S. banks, with bigger profits likely aheadThreat of California Billionaire Tax Draws Criticism From UltrawealthyBill Ackman slams California wealth tax as ‘expropriation’ of private propertyBill Ackman Blasts Ro Khanna For Defending Billionaire Tax: 'Lost His Way'Peter Thiel and Larry Page are preparing to flee California in case the state passes a billionaire wealth tax, report saysTech billionaires threaten to flee California over proposed 5% wealth taxBari Weiss yanking a 60 Minutes story is censorship by oligarchy Speed Round Dumb or Good Rating (1-10)Dumb2 former Hinge execs are building an app to make it easier to plan hangouts with your friends 10Boeing (BA) CEO “is a Nonsense Guy,” Says Jim Cramer 2Some men may downplay climate change risks to avoid appearing feminine 0New research provides evidence that men who are concerned about maintaining a traditional masculine image may be less likely to express concern about climate change. The findings suggest that acknowledging environmental problems is psychologically linked to traits such as warmth and compassion. These traits are stereotypically associated with femininity in many cultures. Consequently, men who feel pressure to prove their manhood may avoid environmentalist attitudes to protect their gender identity. The study was published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.CEO of local public company to step down after nearly 10 years 9Malcolm Gladwell tells young people if they want a STEM degree, ‘don’t go to Harvard.’ You may end up at the bottom of your class and drop out 6OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he is ‘envious’ of Gen Z college dropouts who have the ‘mental space’ and time to build new startups 9This 22-year-old college dropout with an AI powered YouTube empire makes $700,000 a year and works just 2 hours a day 1Trump Mobile says its first-ever smartphone is delayed, and the government shutdown is to blame 3The college-to-office path is dead: CEO of the world’s biggest recruiter says Gen Z grads need to consider trade jobs with no degree required 4ChatGPT gets ‘anxiety’ from violent user inputs, so researchers are teaching the chatbot mindfulness techniques to ‘soothe’ it 7Good?Minimum wage just went up in 19 states—workers in one state are ...
    Más Menos
    53 m