Axios

For actors on strike, it's a good year to dress up as a ghost over Barbie.

The big picture: SAG-AFTRA, the union representing Hollywood actors who have been on strike since July, advised members not to wear any Halloween costumes that could promote struck employers' content.

The Supreme Court lifted a restriction on Friday that prevented the Biden administration from communicating with social media platforms about the moderation of online misinformation.

Why it matters: The high court has agreed to take up the administration's appeal in what will become a high-stakes case on the future of free speech online and the government's role in it.

General Motors, Ford and Stellantis are offering striking workers record contracts with huge raises and improved benefits, but after a nearly five-week work stoppage, hard-line union leaders are still holding out for more.

• It's a risky strategy that will only succeed if the United Auto Workers follow it up with an equally aggressive effort to unionize other automakers.

For our money, the most interesting segment of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's appearance Thursday at the Economic Club of New York was a discussion of just why long-term interest rates have been surging — and bond prices falling — over the last few months.

Why it matters: Powell is an astute bond market observer — besides having hundreds of economists in his employ, he once was the Treasury undersecretary in charge of issuance — whose decisions also shape it.

• By parsing Thursday's answer, you can get hints of how the Fed will and won't react to the rates surge.

UAW president Shawn Fain acknowledged Friday that the Detroit Three automakers have offered "record contracts," but said he wants more before agreeing to deals.

Why it matters: Nearly 34,000 UAW workers are on strike at six plants and 38 distribution parts facilities, marking the first time the union has targeted General Motors, Ford and Stellantis at the same time.

D.C. council members plan to introduce a first-of-its-kind bill that would issue government-funded vouchers to city residents to donate to local journalism outlets of their choice, sources told Axios.

Why it matters: The bill, if passed, would mark the first time a local news voucher program would be implemented by a local government in the U.S.

The prospect of higher for longer rates got a lot more real these last few months — and it'll make it harder for high-debt companies with upcoming maturities to refinance their debt.

The big picture: The lagging impact of the Fed's policy-tightening is on full display in the corporate market, where much of the borrowing is fixed-rate. Nearly everyone took advantage of easy money in 2020-21 to refinance.

Kristin Burkhalter was a Division 1 athlete at Duke University and later helped build one of the most powerful and durable pipelines of high school lacrosse talent in America called "Stars."

• Today, she's an Axios SVP who oversees our events and Smart Brevity Studio — our fastest-growing business in 2023 — as a leader, coach and sometime player, Jim writes.
• Kristin runs events like a stand-alone business inside a larger one, with full autonomy and delegated authority.

The former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the state's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill was sentenced to four months in federal prison on Thursday.

Driving the news: Former state Rep. Joe Harding (R-Williston) pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements related to COVID-19 relief funds, according to the Department of Justice.

America's love of costumes is driving Halloween spending to new highs, according to the National Retail Federation's annual holiday survey.

The big picture: Halloween participation is expected to break a record this year and drive up spending overall, the survey found.

Tesla remains the most powerful player in the electric vehicle space, but investors are getting antsy as they await new EVs from the company.

Why it matters: The automaker reported higher third-quarter net income and revenue on Wednesday, but it fell short of expectations as price cuts and increased investments offset increased vehicle sales.

Reggaeton star Bad Bunny will perform 47 shows in North America next year.

What's happening: Live Nation announced the singer's Most Wanted Tour will kick off in February in Salt Lake City.

FTX's former general counsel testified in federal court on Thursday that he never signed off on borrowing customer funds, taking aim at Sam Bankman-Fried's anticipated defense that the ex-CEO relied on legal advice ahead of the company's collapse.

Why it matters: Filings indicate that SBF's legal team aims to use the advice claim to undermine prosecution's argument that he had fraudulent intent when conducting various activities specified in the government's charges that led to FTX's spiral. Can Sun's testimony appeared to contradict that claim.

Watch 12 contestants waffle between a posh villa and a hammock in the woods or meet real-life ghostbusters in a new show from the creators of "Queer Eye."

• Here's what's new on streaming this October weekend.

During the pandemic, the U.S. government pulled out all the stops to try to keep Americans' financial lives intact. To a stunning degree, it worked.

Why it matters: The pandemic-era actions of the government prevented a spiral of declining asset values, depleted savings and higher household debt.

Robust economic growth could undermine the Fed's fight against inflation and warrant more rate increases, chair Jerome Powell said in a speech Thursday, while also acknowledging a surge in long-term interest rates that could slow activity.

Why it matters: The Fed may well be done with interest rate hikes, but is keeping its options on the table if a recent run of strong economic data continues and looks to undermine progress on inflation.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder and CEO of the failed crypto exchange FTX, thought very little of his industry's political intelligence, evidence revealed at his trial shows.

Why it matters: Bankman-Fried lost significant good faith in the crypto industry after releasing a blog post in October 2022 on what he felt was needed in terms of cryptocurrency legislation in the United States.

Corporate communicators have felt tangled in geopolitical messaging following Hamas' terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7.

• All know that their executives should say something, but many are unsure of what the appropriate statement is.

Why it matters: Complex, weighty moments like this highlight the true need for corporate affairs and communication functions.

An Atlanta-based bank will enter a $9 million agreement to settle allegations of redlining predominately Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida, the U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday.

Driving the news: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the DOJ has filed a consent decree in federal court involving Ameris Bank following an investigation into its lending practices.

The U.S. House of Representatives soon may move to make Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) temporary speaker, following a series of failed GOP nominations. A vote could even come later on Thursday, if Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) loses for a third time.

Why it matters: Beyond stemming the D.C. dysfunction: Crypto and crypto investors don't have a lot of heroes right now, but one of them seems poised to become one of America's most powerful politicians.

Venture capital firm Greycroft told investors this week that it will refocus its core strategy around AI startups, according to a letter obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: The move is emblematic of the overall VC market, but it also caused internal friction at Greycroft that will result in two longtime partner departures.

As revelations pile up in the criminal trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the cryptocurrency world has been left without any high-profile cheerleaders who might seem worthy of trust or admiration to the general public.

Why it matters: Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, was, briefly, about as close as anyone to achieving the status of crypto hero. Now that he's finding himself elevated to the highest tier of villains, there's no one left to root for or get behind.

Three firms caught in the FTX contagion allegedly lied to customers, each other and public about risk — the latest development in the crypto industry saga.

Driving the news: New York attorney general Letitia James announced Thursday that her office has sued Gemini Trust, Genesis Global and Digital Currency Group for defrauding some 230,000 investors of more than $1 billion.

The share of workers with relatively speedy commutes has increased compared to pre-pandemic times, per a new Axios analysis of census data.

Why it matters: Shorter commutes are tied to better mental health, greater job satisfaction and a host of other personal benefits.

The Biden administration eased sanctions primarily on Venezuela's oil and gas sector Wednesday after Nicolás Maduro's regime agreed with the U.S.-backed opposition to a roadmap to presidential elections in 2024.

Why it matters: The biggest rollback of Trump-era economic restrictions on the country underscores U.S. efforts to bolster global oil and gas supplies, which Axios' Matt Phillips notes Russia's war on Ukraine has greatly disrupted.

ESPN drives more annual profit for Disney than the entirety of Disney's entertainment business, according to a new regulatory filing.

Why it matters: Disney is looking for a strategic partner to help ESPN manage its transition into the streaming era. The network's high profit margins may help explain why Disney isn't looking to sell the asset completely.

Elon Musk has been using price cuts to drive demand as competition grows. And some investors think more cuts will be needed.

State of play: Tesla's average transaction prices are now already lower than luxury market brands Acura, Lexus, Infiniti and Volvo, according to a Kelley Blue Book report from last week.