Axios

Massive cleanup operations recently kicked off inside three of America's most iconic companies: Boeing, Starbucks and Nike.

Why it matters: Each dominate vastly different industries, but they all have two main problems — focus and culture.

Tesla's business had a remarkably strong third quarter.

Why it matters: Investors have grown increasingly worried about the health and direction of the company as CEO Elon Musk has spent more time this year on politics and selling a story about a future built on Tesla's robotics and autonomous vehicles.

Driving the news: The EV-maker and energy storage company reported 8% growth in revenue to $25.2 billion, and a 17% jump in net income to $2.2 billion, which largely beat Wall Street expectations.

• Shares popped over 7.5% after the bell on the news, though they're still down about 14% this year.

Behind the numbers: "Our cost of goods sold per vehicle came down to its lowest level ever at ~$35,100," the company said in a release.

B-schools are booming amid a tougher job market for white-collar industries like tech, fresh data shows.

Why it matters: A hot job market the last two years actually cooled demand for business schools.

Between the lines: More full-time MBA programs reported yearly application growth than any time in the last decade, the Graduate Management Admission Council says in a new report.

• Applications at some of the most prestigious names like Harvard and the University of Chicago saw double-digit dips in 2022.

McDonald's confirmed Wednesday that, as a precautionary measure, one-fifth of its restaurants are temporarily not selling Quarter Pounders because of the E. coli outbreak.

Why it matters: The fast-food giant is trying to reassure consumers that this doesn't appear to be a widespread or nationwide issue.

A majority of Americans often tell survey-takers that they live paycheck to paycheck. But a new look at aggregated data from one of America's largest banks implies that this may not be true.

Why it matters: A widespread, self-reported sense of financial strain suggests Americans think their financial lives are more precarious than economic data appears to indicate — the latest example of a disconnect between how people feel and what the data shows.

Twenty-three Nobel prize-winning economists are backing the economic policies of Vice President Kamala Harris in a letter released Wednesday, warning that former President Trump's economic policies would increase national debt and lead to higher prices.

Why it matters: With the economy a top priority for voters in the 2024 election, the signees backing Harris' policies are a boost for the Democratic nominee with less than two weeks until Election Day.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) slapped American Airlines with a record-setting $50 million fine on Wednesday for violating laws meant to protect passengers with disabilities.

The big picture: American Airlines was one of the worst performers among U.S. airlines in wheelchair and scooter mishandling claims and the rate of mishandling claims, the DOT said in a release announcing the penalty for violations between 2019 and 2023.

The same technology that puts AI chatbots on your phone and computer is coming to the car.

Why it matters: Having a powerful voice assistant at a time when you can't afford to take your eyes off the road could be enormously beneficial.

Vice President Kamala Harris is trying to retain the White House for the Democrats at a time when voters all over the world are throwing out their incumbents.

Why it matters: Harris could be swept out in the same tide of inflation-fueled economic angst that has doomed incumbents elsewhere. Or she could be saved by the relative buoyancy of the Biden-era U.S. economy — the envy of the world.

An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has left one person dead and caused 10 hospitalizations, the CDC said Tuesday.

The big picture: There are 49 cases in 10 states, the CDC said in a food safety alert.

Dude Perfect will invest more in toys, gaming, new content around women's sports and live events, newly named CEO Andrew Yaffe said at Axios' BFD event alongside co-founder Coby Cotton.

Why it matters: The sports and comedy brand, best known on YouTube, is gearing up for a big expansion after raising more than $100 million.

Walmart is jumping into same-day prescription drug delivery in direct competition with its rival Amazon and struggling drugstores.

Why it matters: It's the latest battleground in a rapidly changing pharmacy retail industry.

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, his partner Matt Smith and another man, Jim Jacobson, were arrested Tuesday as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York confirmed.

The big picture: Their arrest comes nearly a year after a former model sued the fashion brand, accusing Jeffries of leading a "widespread sex-trafficking operation."

The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday issued long-awaited rules that will help pave the way for the commercialization of electric air taxis as soon as next year.

Why it matters: This new form of transportation, known as "advanced air mobility," represents the biggest innovation in aviation since the jet age and could revolutionize how people move within and between cities.

Child welfare advocates are pressuring New Mexico, which has the largest proportion of Latino residents nationwide, to create state-funded saving accounts for children born into poverty.

Why it matters: Roughly 28% of New Mexico children under age 5, and a quarter of those under 18, live in poverty — while the official poverty level nationally is 11.1%.

The Internal Revenue Service released its annual inflation adjustments Tuesday with new federal income tax brackets and standard deductions for the 2025 tax year.

Why it matters: The changes, which include other tax provisions, are going up by the smallest amount in recent years.

The U.S. economy has defied predictions of a recession and is on track to continue its world-beating streak of robust growth, according to new forecasts from the International Monetary Fund.

Why it matters: The world faced a slew of shocks in recent years — pandemic, inflation, war and more. But one thing has stayed constant: The U.S. economy has come out in a better position than other large, rich nations.

Horror fans and Halloween party hosts, these are the terrifying titles available to stream this October on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV+, Prime Video and Max.

What we're watching: Horror, thriller and suspense from "Dracula," "Ghostface" and "Coraline" to paranormal mysteries and true crime.

Three major retailers — Target, Walmart and Aldi — are promising to cut prices for the holidays after four years of higher costs.

Why it matters: Discounts were hard to come by during the inflation crisis but now retailers are getting more competitive to entice shoppers to spend.

New York City's first solar-powered school buses will help to manage the city's growing demand for electricity by generating clean energy and sending it to the local grid during periods of peak demand.

Why it matters: By integrating solar buses into a smart energy hub, or microgrid, the project aims to show how electrification can work affordably even in urban areas like Brooklyn, where space is limited and demand for clean energy is high.

For the last 15 years, all you've needed to do to achieve double-digit returns on your money was park it in an S&P 500 index fund, reinvest dividends, and forget about it. That happy ride may be over, according to a new note from Goldman Sachs that has Wall Street abuzz.

The big picture: The S&P is on track to return only about 3% a year in the coming decade, Goldman's portfolio strategy group estimates. Compare that to 13% average annual returns over the last ten years.

Weeks before "Wicked" flies into movie theaters, promotions for the film are starting to pop up everywhere from grocery stores to Starbucks and beyond.

Why it matters: "Wicked" is on track to have one of the biggest opening weekends of 2024 with first-day ticket presales on Fandango trailing only "Deadpool & Wolverine," according to NBCUniversal.

Once a bastion for buttoned-up center-right executives, corporate America has drifted left, a new study finds.

Why it matters: While radical leftists have hardly conquered the business world, the research is a sign that the strong connection between the Republican party and corporate America is loosening.

Elon Musk, Tesla and Warner Brothers Discovery are being sued by "Blade Runner 2049" production firm Alcon Entertainment for alleged copyright infringement, which accused them on Monday of "a massive economic theft."

The big picture: Alcon alleges the defendants used an AI-generated image like the one from "Blade Runner 2049" to promote Tesla's robotaxi concept at Warner Bros. Discovery's studio lot in Burbank, California, earlier this month after it denied their request to use "an iconic still" from the 2017 movie at the event.

Ohio offers opportunities for business leaders in health care, life sciences, technology and other fields to achieve their goals and find long-term success.

Here's how: The Midwestern state has a favorable business climate and a private economic development corporation committed to helping companies achieve growth — without surprises.