Axios

Young people are increasingly seeking out in-person events to meet partners, per a June report from event management platform Eventbrite.

Why it matters: The shifting dating landscape follows diminished interest in dating apps and a recent boom in speed dating events.

An upstart stock exchange hopes to challenge Wall Street's duopoly. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's based in Texas.

Why it matters: Texas is seizing the zeitgeist and emerging as a hub for the current corporate backlash against ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing principles.

Streaming is replacing cable by becoming cable — without the profits.

Why it matters: The cable industry churned out profits like clockwork, until it didn't, but streaming hasn't yet shown financial viability.

Your next apartment could be inside an old school.

The big picture: Shuttered schools accounted for 3% of U.S. apartment conversions in 2023, data shared with Axios shows.

Adorned in fake bandages while holding a beer and at one point a Magic 8 ball, GameStop meme trader Keith Gill, aka Roaring Kitty, hosted a YouTube livestream Friday afternoon that proved — at least for the day — fun couldn't win over fundamentals.

Why it matters: The video game retail chain issued a surprise earnings report earlier in the day which disclosed a steep drop in first-quarter sales and a plan to sell additional stock.

Michael Lynch was found not guilty by a San Francisco jury of defrauding Hewlett-Packard during the $11.7 billion sale of Autonomy, an enterprise software company he co-founded and led.

Why it matters: This was Silicon Valley's largest financial fraud case ever, in terms of alleged dollars lost.

The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell back under 7% this week, per Freddie Mac.

Why it matters: The dip is a reflection of renewed optimism that the Federal Reserve will cut rates. But rates are still very high, a continuing turn-off for would-be buyers.

Coinbase has just leveled up the user experience for cryptocurrency with a new kind of cryptocurrency wallet that will be much easier to use.

The big picture: Its reliance on cloud services to allow users to transfer it between devices will test true cryptocurrency believers, who have traditionally valued the ability to trust no one but themselves.

Hiring is hot and wage growth is strong, indicating plenty of demand for workers.

Why it matters: The May jobs report is good news for workers who continue to benefit from a still-solid economy. But the numbers call into question the narrative of a cooling labor market.

Robinhood has named seasoned financial communicator Andrea Williams head of corporate communications, the company tells Axios first.

Why it matters: Her hiring comes as Robinhood rethinks its external storytelling efforts.

• CEO Vlad Tenev previously told Axios' Hope King that he's been trying to be more visible in public — talking more to the press, being more proactive on social media and communicating with customers outside of product launches.

Context: Williams most recently led media relations at Goldman Sachs and previously managed global communications, brand and marketing at Oak Tree Capital, an alternative asset management firm.

• Netflix and Amazon alum Jennifer Levine has been named head of public relations and communications for the National Women's Soccer League.
• Netflix alum Jake Urbanski is senior vice president, communications, at Nielsen.
• Nobilia appointed Cheryl Dixon senior vice president, marketing and communications.
• Harman promoted Darrin Shewchuk to senior vice president, public affairs and communications, and chief of staff to the CEO.
• Fidelity alum Jennifer Barrett joined J.P. Morgan Wealth Management as head of content and communications.
• Mandy Gutmann joined Professional Women's Hockey League as vice president, communications and external affairs.

• Burson has named Adrian Warr as CEO, South Asia-Pacific; Chad Latz will be global chief innovation officer; Grant Toups will be global chief digital and intelligence officer; Chris Kief will serve as global chief technology officer; David McAlpine joins as senior vice president, earned media; and Kelli Parsons will be global CEO of Hill & Knowlton, which will operate as a full-service global firm within the Burson group of brands.
• Ellen Chan joins One Strategy Group as senior vice president for digital strategy.
• Brunswick alum Bryan Darrow joins Prosek Partners as managing director.
• Risa Heller Communications hired Erika Masonhall to lead its new Los Angeles office.

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences promoted Jennifer Davidson to chief marketing and communications officer.
• Shawn Ferguson is chief global government relations officer for Special Olympics International.
• Vanessa Yanez has been promoted to senior vice president and public information officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
• American Cancer Society appointed Dave Lew as chief marketing officer.
• Rebecca Buck is senior vice president, communications, at Better Medicare Alliance.
• National Geographic alum Meg Calnan joins National Audubon Society as vice president, executive communications.

🚨 Soon media moves will be shared exclusively with Axios Communicator Pro members. Join today to stay in the know.

• Axios: Colin Demarest will report on the future of defense; Kate Hunter is a politics editor.
• Bloomberg News: Laura Noonan is a senior finance reporter; Monique Mulima is a transportation reporter; Lee Yian is an economy and government reporter based in Taipei.
• CBS News: Lindsey Reiser is an anchor and correspondent for CBS News 24/7.
• CNN: Mike Valerio is an international correspondent; Hank Butler is an editorial producer for "Laura Coates Live."
• Complex: Aria Hughes is editor in chief, and Noah Callahan-Bever is chief content officer.

Salesforce and C3 AI alum Cheryl Sanclemente has joined human resources platform Lattice as its first chief communications officer.

Why it matters: Sanclemente will lead corporate storytelling efforts as the company transitions from a startup to a more established AI-driven management platform.

The U.S. economy added 272,000 jobs in May, while the unemployment rate edged up to 4% from 3.9%, the Labor Department said on Friday.

Why it matters: The boom in hiring shows workers are still in demand.

Video games, TikTok and YouTube are getting a new generation interested in classic cars — but they're gravitating toward different rides than older car lovers.

Why it matters: Despite predictions that combustion-engine car culture would die out with the old codgers, young people are now poised to carry the torch.

A group of over 100 former federal prosecutors and federal agents on Thursday sent a letter to Secretary of State Tony Blinken, asking that the U.S. government "step up its efforts" to secure the release of crypto executive Tigran Gambaryan from a Nigerian prison, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: This increases pressure on the State Department, one day after it received a similar letter from 16 members of Congress.