Group Nine Media said Monday that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire POPSUGAR Inc., a lifestyle digital media company that caters to millennial women, in an all-stock transaction.
Why it matters: It's the latest media mega-merger between two venture-backed companies that are looking to consolidate for survival. Vice Media acquired Refinery29 last week for a reported $400 million.
Kroger and Walgreens have become the latest retailers to stop the sale of e-cigarettes amid rising deaths and illnesses linked to vaping.
The big picture: E-cigs have come under increased scrutiny in recent months, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linking at least 18 deaths and over 1,000 illnesses to vaping. In response, federal, state and local lawmakers have been increasingly pushing for bans on the sale of e-cigs in general and flavored vape products in particular, due to their popularity among young people.
Jeff Daniels will play former FBI Director James Comey in a CBS Studios miniseries adaptation of Comey's memoir, "A Higher Loyalty," Deadline reports.
The big picture: Writer and director Billy Ray spent a year interviewing Comey and other key FBI and government officials to represent the viewpoints of those on both sides of the political aisle.
Private equity takeovers result in significant job losses, according to a landmark new study by Josh Lerner of Harvard Business School and Steve Davis of the University of Chicago.
Why it matters: Private equity regularly defends its employment record by citing a 2011 study by the same two academics.
Why it matters, via Axios' Dion Rabouin: The U.S. economy continues to grow, but is increasingly struggling to do so — and multiple sectors are beginning to view the talks, which will involve China's top trade envoy Vice Premier Liu He, as a primary indicator for the country's economic outlook moving forward.
Economists said in a new survey that they think the U.S.-China trade war will bring about a slowdown in U.S. growth this year and next, per AP.
Why it matters: The economists also said they expect the trade war to increase the risk of recession in late 2020, which would put an end to the longest period of economic expansion on record in the U.S.
The battle among streaming companies is getting competitive, as rivals block competitors from marketing on their TV channels or distributing content on their apps.
Why it matters: TV networks, hardware companies and telecom giants control access to some of the biggest audiences for new products, but they want to use that reach to benefit their own streaming offerings and stymie the competition.
With the exception of a small band of true believers like Sean Hannity and Judge Jeanine Pirro, President Trump has grown disillusioned with Fox News and often complains the network doesn't have his back.
Why it matters: Trump still watches Fox religiously, but he views such wobbliness as a particular problem during tough times like impeachment, sources close to him say. Into this breach has stepped more fervently loyal outlets, like Breitbart News.
American manufacturers rode a wave of optimism after President Trump took office, clinging to his promises to revive the industry and bring back jobs.
Yes, but: The politically important sector is being choked by his trade war with China, and business leaders tell Axios that the tariffs threaten to upend the economy if not addressed soon.
Warner Bros.' "Joker" topped the October opening-weekend box office record, bringing in $93.5 million despite security concerns over the film's violent themes, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The big picture: The film received stellar praise during its film festival debuts but sparked a backlash from some critics over whether its portrayal of the Batman series' villain — an outcast with a neurological deficit who becomes a mass murderer — could inspire violence. Most notably, families of the victims of the 2012 shooting at a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado — another Batman film — penned a letter to the studio citing concerns about the film.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a new Facebook ad that impeachment will fail under his leadership, despite acknowledging last week that he would hold a trial if the House approves articles of impeachment against President Trump.
"Nancy Pelosi's in the clutches of a left-wing mob. They finally convinced her to impeach the president. All of you know your Constitution. The way that impeachment stops is a Senate majority with me as majority leader."
The Trump administration was noticeably absent on Sunday's cable news lineup, with not a single member making an appearance on CNN, Fox, ABC, CBS or NBC.
Why it matters: President Trump is in the midst of an impeachment storm over allegations that he pressured Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. The Sunday shows are widely viewed as a space for political actors to speak directly to the public and relay their perspectives on pressing political issues.
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