ReportWire

Tag: 2024

  • CNN Reporters Throw Temper Tantrum Over Their Own Network's Vivek Ramaswamy Town Hall

    CNN Reporters Throw Temper Tantrum Over Their Own Network's Vivek Ramaswamy Town Hall

    [ad_1]

    Opinion

    Screenshot YouTube : CNN

    This week, embattled and struggling 24/7 news network CNN hosted a town hall for GOP Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Mr. Ramaswamy is not one to turn down a media appearance, including one guaranteed to be hostile, so no doubt CNN felt it was an easy way to try to attract viewers they so desperately need.

    Even with the writing on the wall that CNN is quickly losing its foothold in the all-day, all-night news arena, their reporters voiced their displeasure at the network’s decision to host Mr. Ramaswamy.

    After all, it’s not the news media’s job to provide balanced coverage of elections and those candidates hoping to cinch the support of the American public, at least not according to Oliver Darcy.

    Taxes the imagination

    Wednesday, CNN hosted an hour-long town hall for GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. CNN’s senior media reporter Oliver Darcy was none too happy about the decision, writing about his frustrations with his own employer in his CNN newsletter.

    Mr. Darcy wrote:

    “The notion that the infotainer, who CNN has reported ‘struggles for relevance’ as he polls in the low single digits and remains exceedingly unlikely to be the Republican Party’s nominee, deserves an hour-long national platform to sell his personal brand and insidious talking points to the masses taxes the imagination.”

    It taxes the imagination how such outrageous, open, and hostile bias still manages to garner a paycheck from CNN. But perhaps he has a point; maybe it doesn’t make sense for CNN to provide so much air time to someone who isn’t in the top two positions in most polls for the GOP nomination.

    RELATED: Tucker Carlson Announces He’s Launching His Own Streaming Service

    In that case, it would square with Mr. Darcy’s argument that CNN provide an hour for former President Donald Trump, who by every measure is the front-runner and more than likely will be the Republican nominee. However, when CNN did just that in May, Mr. Darcy also railed against that.

    Is there anything that would make Mr. Darcy happy at CNN, or perhaps, like the famous Jane Austen character by the same name, he is too prideful or prejudiced? It’s hard to recall which.

    Not so iconic

    Mr. Darcy seems particularly incensed that his employer would want to attach their brand to the ideas Mr. Ramaswamy espouses, writing:

    “Handing Ramaswamy a microphone and putting him on a stage affixed with CNN’s iconic branding to answer audience questions helps validate him and provides oxygen to the menacing wildfire of delusions he has pushed into the public discourse.”

    Delusions such as stricter immigration policies, elevating concepts like patriotism and faith, and thinning out the administrative branch of government that no citizen ever voted into power, or that there were FBI informants in the crowd at the Capitol riot.

    The best part of the above statement is Mr. Darcy’s assertion that the CNN “iconic” brand means anything anymore.

    Before the terrorist attacks by Hamas, CNN was raking in only about 55,000 viewers for their weekend lineups, including for their shows State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and Fareed Zakaria GPS. Their Sunday numbers were even worse, only bringing in about 43,000 viewers for The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper and Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.

    Those ratings are the worst CNN has ever had since the dawn of tracking viewership in 1991. Since the war in Israel began, CNN has only attracted roughly 619,000 viewers as of mid-November Monday tracking.

    Compare that to two million that tuned into Fox News on that same tracked Monday and 1.7 million that switched on MSNBC. Maybe tossing the millennial conservative provocateur on a stage with a microphone and the beleaguered CNN brand is a good idea.

    RELATED: Vivek Ramaswamy Gets Praise For Promise To Release Epstein Client List: ‘Every Candidate Should Commit To This’

    Missing the point

    In response to Oliver Darcy’s tirade, a CNN spokesperson explained that Vivek Ramaswamy is a legitimate guest for a town hall given that he is a:

    “…significant candidate for the GOP nomination, having made every debate stage thus far.”

    A true statement, however, is still missing the reason why Vivek should get a town hall appearance. Mainstream news networks like CNN should have newsmakers on their networks because the idea behind claiming they report the news would indicate including those who generate news.

    But that’s not really what employees at CNN want to do; they want to drive public discourse and shape American opinions. Legacy news isn’t about and hasn’t been about reporting facts and presenting engaging, compelling counterarguments for a long time.

    Legacy news is about entertainment and power. Dialing into the most extreme viewer’s most basic needs and controlling the group-think of the agreed upon audience.

    It taxes the imagination why legacy news media and print keep wondering why American viewership and readership have plummeted in the last few years, and reliance on citizen journalists on social media has increased.

    Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.
    The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.”

    [ad_2]

    Kathleen J. Anderson

    Source link

  • Powell surprises with dovish turn; economists mull how many Fed rate cuts in '24

    Powell surprises with dovish turn; economists mull how many Fed rate cuts in '24

    [ad_1]

    Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell startled economists with a press conference Wednesday that was viewed as much more dovish than expected.

    It was “12 doves a-leaping,” said Michael Feroli, U.S. economist at JPMorgan Chase.

    “The Fed can’t believe its luck. The data is going their way,” said Krishna Guha, vice chairman of Evercore ISI.

    The first dovish signals came in the Fed’s statement and economic forecasts at 2 p.m. Eastern. First, the Fed penciled in three rate cuts in 2024 instead of two that were projected in September. The Fed also softened its tightening bias by saying they were mulling the need for “any” more hikes.

    Then, half an hour later at his press conference, “Chair Powell did nothing to undo the impression of those signals,” said Feroli, in a note to clients. Powell said Fed officials were starting to discuss when to cut rates.

    “The question of when it will be appropriate to begin dialing back the policy restraint” was clearly “a discussion for us at out meeting today,” Powell said. Fed officials think the Fed is “likely at or near the peak rate for this cycle.”

    While Powell didn’t take rate cuts “off the table,” they are “collecting dust,” said Michael Gregory, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital Markets.

    Markets reacted with the 10-year Treasury yield
    BX:TMUBMUSD10Y
    falling to 4.025%.

    Traders in derivative markets now see an 80% chance of the first rate cut in March, and now see five quarter-point cuts next year.

    Matt Luzzetti, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank, said the main thing learned from Wednesday’s press conference was that Fed Gov. Chris Waller’s dovish comments a few weeks ago were a reflection of the mainstream view at the central bank, rather than a dovish outsider.

    In a speech late last month, Waller raised the possibility of a rate cut by spring if inflation keeps slowing.

    Some economists think that March is too soon for a rate cut.

    “We still judge rate cuts will commence later rather than sooner, still by the end of the third quarter of 2024,” Gregory of BMO Capital Markets said.

    Feroli said he now sees the first rate cut in June, instead of his prior forecast of July, and predicted that the Fed will cut five times by the end of 2024.

    Luzzetti of Deutsche Bank sees six rate cuts next year, but not beginning until June as the economy falls into a mild recession.

    The Fed doesn’t forecast a recession. Its rate cuts are purely a story of weakening inflation. If there is a recession, the Fed will cut very fast, Luzzetti said.

    Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, said the odds of a recession are lower now that the Fed has signaled it will actively take steps to try to avoid one.

    The Fed wants the economy to cruise at a lower altitude, and no longer wants a landing, Swonk said in an interview.

    That is a 180-degree turn from Powell’s speech in Jackson Hole, Wyo., in the summer of 2022 when he spoke for less than 10 minutes but warned of “pain” and the unfortunate costs of fighting inflation. That speech, “a bucket of ice water,” Swonk said, sent the stock market reeling at the time.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • 8 Top Shoe Trends For 2024 That Will Instantly Enhance Your Whole Outfit

    8 Top Shoe Trends For 2024 That Will Instantly Enhance Your Whole Outfit

    [ad_1]

    All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

    If you’re looking for any easy way to update your old clothes, the good news is, you don’t have to buy a brand-new wardrobe. The real trick is to focus on making a few small swaps, like changing out your footwear for 2024‘s best shoe trends. By opting for fresh styles, such as a pair of metallic boots or a cute pair of clogs, you’ll be able turn even the most basic of staples into an on-trend outfit.

    Of course, it’s helpful to know where to start — and, in this case, where to shop. So, we’re rounding up our favorite 2024 shoe trends from the runway, ahead, along with some links so you can instantly add all these must-have styles cart.

    Clogs

    Pictured: JW Anderson, Image: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

    It’s not just you: clogs really have been everywhere for the past few seasons. Spring 2024’s runways proved the trend is still going strong, since this playful, chunky shoe popped up at JW Anderson, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Simone Rocha. TBH, our favorite clogs were that ones that included a little something extra — embellishments, prints, texture, etc. — so we’ll definitely be looking for fun details when shopping for a pair of our own.

    Courtesy of The Sak

    The best footwear combination, in our opinion, is easy yet statement-making. On one hand, it’ll take little to no effort to slip on these clogs from The Sak before heading out the door. On the other, the bold checkered print will give your outfit some oomph, even if you’re just wearing jeans and a tee.

    Courtesy of Anthropologie

    Wider-leg pants and flared jeans may be the norm these days, but choosing which shoes to wear with them is still kind of confusing. A chunky pair of platform clogs will help to balance out the proportions of a baggy look, and if you’re into bright colors and fuzzy shearling material, this yellow pair from Larroudé will be right up your alley.

    Pictured: Bottega Veneta, Image: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

    When it comes to neutral colors, it’s time to think beyond black and white. Metallics, such as silver and gold, complement almost every single shade while also adding interest to your ensemble. It’s no wonder that metallic boots, heels, and flats are on-the-rise for Spring 2024, appearing at Bottega Veneta, Versace, Coperni, and more. Embrace the glitz and glam and don’t worry about matching — these shiny shoes were made to stand out!

    Courtesy of Zappos

    From Coastal Cowgirl to Western Goth, new Western aesthetics seem to pop up every few months — which means these metallic boots will be a smart purchase. Pair ’em with flowy floral dresses, black leather mini skirts, sleek jumpsuits, and denim shorts (if you dare). No matter how you wear them, they’re bound to give your outfit some flair.

    Courtesy of ASOS

    For those who prefer to keep their outfits somewhat casual, golden New Balance sneakers are a great way to achieve the best of both worlds. Slip them on when you want to spice up your regular uniform of flared leggings and an oversized sweatshirt.

    Kitten Heels

    Pictured: Gucci, Image: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

    Kitten heels might be the most divisive shoe trend of 2024, but there are plenty of reasons to embrace a micro heel — especially since top fashion houses like Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo, and Givenchy have given them the stamp of approval. Aside from elevating your look and dressing it up, kitten heels are way more comfortable than, say, a stiletto. Plus, there are tons of classic options to shop right now, which you’ll likely keep in rotation for years to come.

    Courtesy of Mango

    Two trends for the price of one? That’s what you’ll get by purchasing these $69.99 shoes from Mango, which not only feature a small heel, but also include some statement-making bows, another popular detail that’s bubbling up for 2024.

    Courtesy of Revolve

    The kitten heel trend isn’t exclusive to pumps and sandals. You can also invest in kitten heel boots, which might be the more practical option for those cold winter months, when exposed toes feel a little too risky.

    Slouchy Boots

    Pictured: Victoria Beckham, Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD via Getty Images

    There’s something about a slouchy boot that instantly gives off cool-kid vibes. Tone down elaborate designs by taking a note from brands like Dion Lee, Philosophy di Lorenzo, and Coach, which all styled this typically-bohemian shoe with flowy, ruffled dresses. Alternatively, you can toughen up knits and other staples with a scruched-up moto boot, similar to what we saw at Victoria Beckham.

    Courtesy of Amazon

    It’s hard to find a quality pair of boots for under $100, but customers swear that these simple yet perfectly slouchy brown pair
    from Amazon defy all odds. “I danced and walked in these all night,” reads one of the top reviews. “They were so comfortable and received tons of compliments. I usually wear a size 8, ordered an 8 and they feel comfortable with crew socks.” Sold.

    Courtesy of Nordstrom

    The biker boot is currently rising in popularity, partially due to Miu Miu’s fall 2023 collection, but it seems the style will be sticking around for 2024, too. Josef Seibel’s laid-back leather pair will complement the distressed denim and baggy bomber jackets that are already hanging in your closet, while also adding a grunge twist sweeter styles like pleated skirts.

    Darling Details

    Pictured: Blumarine, Image: Marco Mantovani/Getty Images

    Bows and beads at Chanel, flowers at Zimmermann, butterflies at Bluemarine, spikes at Collina Strada, pearls at Dior. No more proof is needed to convince us that tiny, eye-catching details will be everywhere for the next year, adding an element of fun to otherwise classic designs.

    Courtesy of Zappos

    Sure, anyone can wear these pearl-embellished ballet flats, which are versatile enough to become your new go-to. However, if you’re getting married in 2024, they’ll also make a comfy-cute wedding flat, so grab them while you can.

    Courtesy of Target

    Every so often, we wonder if we’ve missed the boat on a trend and worry whether it’s too late to shop it. In the case of bow-embellished heels, though, now is the time to add to cart. The delicate detail is here to stay, and thankfully this $40 option from Target is well within our budget.

    Statement Toes

    Pictured: Louis Vuitton, Image: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images

    It’s possible you’ve owned at least one pair of toe-ring sandals over the course of your life, but for 2024, the trend is advancing to the next level. We’re talking exposed big toes, similar to what we spotted at Louis Vuitton, as well as the slightly more wearable cap-toe sneaker, à la Schiaparelli.

    Courtesy of Tory Burch

    These pierced mules are practically slippers, but the unique design will make you want to wear them outside the house. The best part is that the gold ring wraps around your big toe, securing the shoe in place and making it less slippery as you walk.

    Elaborate Embellishments

    Pictured: AZ Factory, Image: Peter White/Getty Images

    2024 is not the year to wonder whether your shoes feel like too much. In fact, the bigger the flower and more voluminous the ruffles, the better, which is a lesson we learned from brands such as Balmain, Ulla Johnson, and AZ Factory (just to name a few).

    Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

    Consider this strappy heel a smart way to test out this shoe trend without fully committing. On days when you want to go all out, just keep the flower on, but if you’re leaning toward a simpler look, you can easily remove it.

    Preppy

    Pictured: Prada Ready, Image: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

    We struggled to pin down a name for this trend — simple? classic? no frills? timeless? — but ultimately, decided that preppy was the way to go. After all, those lace-up oxfords we spotted at Prada, Ferragamo’s loafer heels, and Miu Miu’s Mary Janes all feel very schoolcore. No doubt Blair Waldorf would approve.

    Courtesy of Madewell

    Somewhere in the back of our mind, we know Taylor Swift would style these with a plaid mini skirt, but there’s no need to limit your outfit options. Experiment by pairing them with dark jeans or black slacks, giving old, well-loved staples a fresh collegiate spin.

    Courtesy of Charles & Keith

    There’s no shortage of Mary Janes on the market right now, but if you’re looking for something that feels a bit more…special, add this Charles & Keith pair to cart. The T-strap detail takes it beyond the super popular yet super simple alternative and feels unique. Plus, you can’t beat the under-$100 price tag.

    [ad_2]

    Samantha Sutton

    Source link

  • Disgraced Former CNN Host Chris Cuomo Claims He May Vote For Trump As He Slams Biden – No ‘Greater Risk To America’

    Disgraced Former CNN Host Chris Cuomo Claims He May Vote For Trump As He Slams Biden – No ‘Greater Risk To America’

    [ad_1]

    Opinion

    Source: News Nation YouTube

    The former CNN host Chris Cuomo has shockingly claimed that he may vote for Donald Trump in 2024.

    Cuomo Sounds Off

    While being interviewed on the PBD Podcast on Thursday, Cuomo was asked by host Paul Bet-David, “Could Trump do anything to get your vote?”

    Cuomo responded by saying that he interviewed Trump “routinely” over the years.

    “I was one of the people to let him do the phone interview,” Cuomo explained. “And we were smart enough at CNN to say, ‘Offer it to Hillary, offer it to Hillary.’ And her campaign would be like, ‘No, we’re not giving you an interview, like, every third day.’ It’s on them. He wanted the opportunity, we gave it to him.”

    Cuomo then said that Trump “made life hard” for his family.

    “Gratuitously, ok?” he stated. “If he had done something that made it harder for your kids in school, is he going to get your vote?”

    Related: Chris Cuomo’s Book On ‘Harsh Truths’ About Trump Canceled After He Was Fired By CNN

    Cuomo Slams Biden

    Cuomo went on to bash President Joe Biden, saying, “Do I think [Biden] is the best of us? No. Do I think he’s the best we can do as president? Absolutely not. Do I think he’s the best that Democrats can do? Hell no.”

    “If you’ve got those two, though, are you going to sit it out?” Bet-David asked.

    “If it’s Biden-Trump? Look, for me, again: We survived a Trump administration. Would we survive another one? Yes. Yes,” Cuomo replied. “I don’t think there’s any greater risk to America with him than with Biden.” 

    “And for people who are now going to attack me, and say, ‘What are you talking about? Trump is like this crazy man!’ Well look…Nobody was trying to kill us when Trump was president in a way that they’re not now,” he added. “If anything, there’s more hostility. And you can have reasons for that, any way you want. I’m just saying, existentially, I’m not afraid of a Trump presidency.”

    Related: Report: Chris Cuomo Set To Sue CNN For $18 Million After He Claims Boss Jeff Zucker Knew All About Efforts To Help His Brother

    Cuomo Doubles Down

    Not stopping there, Cuomo proceeded to double down.

    “Existentially, I’m not afraid of another Biden presidency, because unlike many people in America, I believe that the country is much stronger than any individual leader,” he said. “We survived the Russia thing. We survived January 6. We survived having Biden as a gaffe machine.”

    “We survived Congress going after each other and doing nothing for the rest of us,” Cuomo continued. “We survive these things. Are we better for it? No. Should we be doing things differently? Yes. I think it happens, I don’t know when, I don’t know why. In terms of who I’m going to vote for, I would really have to see where we are at the moment in time.”

    “So you’re open to a Trump vote?” Ben-David asked, to which Cuomo replied, “I am always open. And I’ll tell you this: People say, ‘Oh, bulls***! You’ve never voted for a Republican in your life.’ Wrong. Not only have I, the first vote I ever cast was for a Republican.”

    Cuomo then said that this Republican was George H. W. Bush, who defeated Gov. Mike Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election.

    Do you believe that Cuomo may vote for Trump? Let us know in the comments section.

    Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.
    The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.”

    [ad_2]

    James Conrad

    Source link

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson meets with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to bolster relationship

    House Speaker Mike Johnson meets with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to bolster relationship

    [ad_1]

    House Speaker Mike Johnson has met with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago as the new leader tries to bolster his relationship with the most powerful figure in the Republican Party.

    Following a well-worn path for GOP politicians, Johnson journeyed to Trump’s plush estate to signal his fealty to the former president, who’s now vying for another shot at the White House.

    The two leaders met after attending a separate fundraising event hosted by a pro-Trump Florida congressman, several media outlets reported.

    The sit down came after Johnson sought to signal in recent days that he is strongly behind Trump‘s 2024 presidential campaign.

    “I’m all in for President Trump,” Johnson said in an interview with CNBC. “I have endorsed him wholeheartedly.”

    Unequivocally backing Trump in the still-unfolding Republican primary race represents a very different approach by Johnson than that of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, his predecessor as speaker.

    Johnson and Trump barely knew one another before Johnson became speaker, although the Louisiana Republican has been a strong supporter of his MAGA movement.

    Neither Trump nor Johnson immediately commented on their meeting.

    Aside from Johnson’s support for Trump in the presidential primary, it wasn’t clear if the former president has demands for the new House leader related to legislation or other issues.

    Johnson last week successfully orchestrated passage of a stopgap spending bill that averted a government shutdown and pushed more spending disputes until 2024.

    Many of Trump’s hardline right-wing supporters in Congress strongly opposed the deal, which Johnson passed with the near-unanimous backing of Democrats. But so far they have not called for his ouster.

    He threw a bone to Trump’s supporters by releasing thousands of hours of security footage from the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, a key demand of MAGA hardliners.

    McCarthy praised Trump but hewed close to the traditional position of party officials to stay neutral in contested presidential primaries until a presumptive nominee is established.

    The former president says he is already the presumptive nominee by virtue of his overwhelming lead in polls, despite the fact that no votes have been cast.

    He is demanding that all Republican officials get behind him now or potentially suffer the political consequences of incurring his wrath.

    That dynamic played out during McCarthy’s failed battle to keep the speaker’s gavel and the tortuous fight to settle on a successor.

    Trump did not put up a fight to keep McCarthy in power, a reticence that aligns with their longstanding lukewarm political and personal relationship.

    Trump effectively torpedoed the speaker candidacy of Rep. Tom Emmer, who is the No. 3 Republican in the House, and boosted the failed candidacy of Rep. Jim Jordan, one of his closest allies in Congress.

    After Jordan’s bid collapsed, Trump urged Republican lawmakers to unite behind Johnson, who wound up winning in a unanimous vote of the House GOP caucus.

    [ad_2]

    Dave Goldiner

    Source link

  • West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin won’t run for reelection in blow to Democratic hopes of holding Senate

    West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin won’t run for reelection in blow to Democratic hopes of holding Senate

    [ad_1]

    Sen. Joe Manchin Thursday announced he won’t run for reelection in a major blow to Democratic hopes of retaining control of the Senate after the 2024 elections.

    The coal country moderate was considered the only Democrat with any chance of holding the pivotal seat in deep-red West Virginia, leaving them with only the narrowest of paths to retain control of the upper chamber.

    With Manchin’s seat off the board, Democratic incumbents would likely need to win tough battles for reelection in Montana and Ohio to win 50 seats, enough for a majority if President Biden can also win reelection.

    Manchin, 75, said in a videotaped statement that he made the decision “after months of deliberation and long conversations” with his family.

    “I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia,” Manchin said. “I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life and decided that I will not be running for re-election.”

    Manchin hinted that he is open to the idea of a political future as a moderate force in national politics.

    “What I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together,” said Manchin, without elaborating.

    Democrats say any independent run for president would effectively help Trump beat President Biden in 2024.

    A GOP win would likely catapult Minority Leader Mitch McConnell back into the driver’s seat, forcing aside dealmaker Sen. Chuck Schumer after four years in charge.

    Next year’s election was already shaping up as a difficult one for Senate Democrats, who hold a 51-49 edge with the help of three independents who caucus with them.

    Besides Manchin, Sens. Jon Tester (D-Montana) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are both running for six more years in states that have trended red in recent years.

    In Arizona, Democrats face a potentially tricky race because of the antics of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a mercurial moderate who recently left the Democratic Party.

    Adding to Democratic angst, there are only two Republican senators who are considered potentially vulnerable: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Rick Scott.

    Even before Manchin’s announcement, Republican challengers had already been lining up to run for the Senate seat that he barely held onto in 2018

    Gov. Jim Justice is running and won the coveted endorsement of Trump. Rep. Alex Mooney (R-West Virginia) is also a candidate the GOP is running and Republican state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who unsuccessfully challenged Manchin in 2018, has hinted at jumping into the race.

    Whoever the GOP nominates will be the prohibitive favorite to take the seat given that West Virginia voted for former President Donald Trump over President Biden by a more than 40% margin.

    [ad_2]

    Dave Goldiner

    Source link

  • The Last Airbender Returns in Live Action on Netflix in 2024: A Promising Adaptation

    The Last Airbender Returns in Live Action on Netflix in 2024: A Promising Adaptation

    [ad_1]

    The Last Airbender to Return in Live Action on Netflix in 2024

    Nickelodeon’s popular series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, will be making a comeback in 2024 in an exciting new Live Action version, with Netflix taking the reins. After the disappointing 2010 film adaptation, this latest adaptation looks promising, as Netflix has released images of the characters from the Land of Fire. The story follows a young boy who is the last Airbender and future Avatar, tasked with restoring order between the four nations of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. When the previous Avatar died, the Fire Nation seized control, disrupting the peace. Now, the last airbender must discover a way to restore balance. Fans can expect this highly anticipated series to release next year, aiming to stay faithful to the original material.

    Netflix’s Commitment to Staying True to the Source Material

    Netflix has assured fans that they will use the original material as a guide to create the Live Action adaptation. The platform aims to give a fresh visual dimension to the 2005 animated series. This is not the first time Netflix has revived an anime, as they previously produced a successful live action version of One Piece. For those eager to revisit the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the animated series is currently available on the SVOD platform.

    The First Reactions are Very Positive

    Since the release of the trailer, fans have taken to social media to express their excitement. Messages such as “Netflix, I trust you, don’t be wrong” and “Oh my God, this is so good. I can’t wait” flooded the official Netflix tweet revealing the Fire Nation actors. Currently, no further information about the story or additional cast members has been disclosed. However, Netflix has hinted that more details will be revealed during GeekedWeek 2023, which will take place from November 6 to 12.

    [ad_2]

    Alice Zampa

    Source link

  • U.S. dollar defies China, Russia and Wall Street skeptics as 2023 rebound continues

    U.S. dollar defies China, Russia and Wall Street skeptics as 2023 rebound continues

    [ad_1]

    The U.S. dollar is proving its haters wrong.

    Not only is the buck defying the expectations of Wall Street strategists who had anticipated that it would weaken this year, it’s also proving once again that talk of de-dollarization has been over-hyped.

    In financial markets, a gauge of the dollar’s value against its biggest rivals is nearing its highest level in six months. The ICE U.S. Dollar Index
    DXY,
    a gauge of the dollar’s strength against the euro
    EURUSD,
    -0.01%
    and other major currencies like the Japanese yen
    USDJPY,
    -0.09%
    and British pound
    GBPUSD,
    +0.21%    ,
    traded at its highest level since early June on Friday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell helped catapult it higher by talking up the possibility of more interest-rate hikes.

    The index was adding to those gains on Monday, trading 0.1% higher at 104.13, according to FactSet data. A break above 104.70 would put it at its highest intraday level since March 16. The index is up 0.5% since the start of the year, having erased earlier year-to-date losses over the past six weeks.

    Earlier this year, dollar weakness occurred against the backdrop of U.S. rivals like China and Russia making strides in their efforts to wean themselves off the buck.

    But despite their efforts, data released last week by SWIFT, the nexus of international interbank financial transactions, showed that the dollar has never been more popular as a means of settling international trade and transactions.

    SWIFT’s data showed that 46% of interbank payments conducted on the platform in July involved the U.S. dollar, a record high. The data also showed that the Chinese yuan’s share of international payments had ticked higher while the euro’s declined.

    As if to underscore this point, the data from SWIFT arrived late last week just as a summit hosted by the BRICS nations in Johannesburg, South Africa, was breaking up.

    Rather than being a watershed event for opponents of the U.S. dollar, as some had feared, statements from the group’s members revealed internal disagreement on the subject of a BRICS currency intended to offer an alternative to the greenback.

    What’s more, while the economic alliance announced plans to admit a spate of new member nations in its first expansion in 13 years, one notable holdout seemed to spoil the party.

    Indonesian President Joko Widodo opted to keep his country, one of the world’s most populous, with a fast-expanding economy, out of the economic alliance, at least for now.

    To be sure, as MarketWatch reported back in April, talk of de-dollarization is hardly a new phenomenon, but it has received renewed attention as China, Russia and others have redoubled efforts to try and push for countries to conduct more trade in their own currencies as opposed to the dollar.

    But Russia and China aren’t alone in their disappointment at the dollar’s resilience.

    Read more: Opinion: China is nowhere near deflation, and global investors aren’t ready for what’s coming

    A compilation of 2023 year-ahead outlooks produced by Bloomberg News back in December showed investment houses in Europe and the U.S. widely expected the buck to weaken this year, with some reasoning that the two-decade high reached by the dollar index in late September likely marked its peak for the cycle.

    The ICE index traded as high as 114.78 on Sept. 28, its highest level since May 2002, according to FactSet data. The milestone marked the peak of a torrid rally that saw the buck emerge as one of the few havens from a punishing selloff in stocks and bonds that defined global markets in 2022. But the gauge has fallen 9.3% since then.

    Now, with real yields in the U.S. pushing higher and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell hinting at the possibility of more interest-rate hikes later this year, strategists say the conditions are ideal for the U.S. dollar to climb even higher.

    “Interest-rate differentials and relative economic strength are the foundation [of dollar strength],” Matt Miskin, co-chief investment strategist for John Hancock Investment Management, said during a phone interview with MarketWatch.

    China’s struggles to revive its flagging economy have helped bolster the dollar while pushing the Chinese yuan
    USDCNY,
    -0.01%
    toward its weakest level since late last year. The offshore yuan traded at 7.29 to the dollar on Monday, near its weakest level since November.

    Read this next: Opinion: The debt supercycle that hit the U.S. and Europe has now come for China

    A weakening eurozone economy has weighed on the euro and boosted the dollar. PMI survey data released earlier this month showed Europe’s services sector weakening alongside manufacturing. GDP data released by Eurostat, Europe’s official economic statistics agency, has been tepid compared to the U.S. The latest reading on second-quarter GDP put it at 0.3%.

    Right now, the dollar will be tough to beat given the twin tailwinds created by rising real interest rates and still-robust economic growth.

    The yield on the 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Security note
    912828B253
    was trading north of 2.2% Friday, according to data from the St. Louis Fed. The 10-year TIPS yield hit its highest level since 2009 earlier this month when it broke north of 2%. The inflation-protected security is often cited as a proxy for U.S. “real” yields, which refers to the return bond investors receive after adjusting for inflation.

    On the growth side of the equation, the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow forecast estimated the rate of growth for the third quarter at 5.9% according to its latest reading dated Thursday. A year ago, even the most optimistic economists on Wall Street were expecting growth of about 2%, and top Fed officials had a median projection of 1.2% growth for 2023, according to projections released in September.

    “It’s hard to beat the dollar when it is a high yielder among safe havens in a risk-off environment,” Steve Englander, head of North America macro strategy at Standard Chartered, said in comments emailed to MarketWatch.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Biden would beat Trump even if a third-party candidate joins White House race: poll

    Biden would beat Trump even if a third-party candidate joins White House race: poll

    [ad_1]

    Voters are more interested in another Joe Biden administration than any third-party option or Donald Trump in 2024, according to polling data from Monmouth University.

    In another Biden vs. Trump election, a combined 47% of voters say they would definitely or probably vote for President Biden and 40% of voters would definitely or probably vote for ex-President Trump. But majorities would not vote for either Biden or Trump, the poll found.

    The electorate is seemingly disheartened with these two choices, but they’re not exactly enticed by a third-party option, either.

    Biden still had more support than Trump, even when a third-party “fusion ticket” with one Democrat and one Republican was added to the mix, Monmouth found.

    With a fusion ticket as an option, 37% of respondents would definitely or probably vote for Biden whereas 28% would definitely or probably vote for Trump. Thirty percent of respondents would entertain voting for the fusion ticket.

    Democrats have expressed concern that a third-party ticket would siphon votes from Biden and spoil his chances in 2024. The presence of a third-party fusion ticket detracts votes from both Biden and Trump, but not enough for the ticket to be a “spoiler,” the polling report said.

    Support for a fusion option declines when actual candidates are named on the ticket.

    When the poll introduced a potential ticket of Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and Republican former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, 44% of respondents definitely would not vote for the option. Only 2% of respondents definitely would vote for the hypothetical Manchin-Huntsman ticket.

    Manchin and Huntsman headlined a town hall on Monday hosted by the nonprofit No Labels, which is pursuing ballot access to enter a “unity” ticket, similar to the Monmouth poll’s fusion ticket, in the 2024 race. The event heightened speculation that Manchin could have presidential aspirations for 2024.

    Read: Sen. Joe Manchin fuels rumors of a third-party 2024 presidential bid

    If 2024 turns out to be a Biden vs. Trump vs. Manchin-Huntsman race, Biden would likely get 40% of the vote, Trump 34% and Manchin-Huntsman 16%, the poll found.

    “Some voters clearly feel they have to back a candidate they don’t really like. That suggests there may be an opening for a third party in 2024, but when you drill down further, there doesn’t seem to be enough defectors to make that a viable option,” Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth Polling Institute, said.

    [ad_2]

    Source link