Jan 9, 2017

Facebook is changing its video ads to go after YouTube

Facebook will start showing ads after 20-seconds in videos and share the money with publishers, according to Recode. For now, Facebook will sell the ads and share 55% of revenues with the people who supply the videos — the same policy as YouTube.

Why this matters: In 2016, users were watching 100 million hours of Facebook videos per day, but most video publishers saw little ad revenue from their clips on Facebook thanks to Facebook's ban on "pre-roll" ads. His stance discouraged some publishers from sharing valuable content on Facebook.

Winners: Facebook users because publishers will put their most valuable content on Facebook. Publishers will make more money off Facebook videos if they can hold viewer attention.

Loser: YouTube.

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Orion Rummler

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Trump hits back at Mattis: "I gave him a new life"

President Trump speaks at the White House. Photo: Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images

President Trump unloaded on his former defense secretary via Twitter on Wednesday, hours after James Mattis condemned him for making a "mockery of our Constitution" in his response to mass protests in the wake of George Floyd's killing.

What he's saying: "Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General. I asked for his letter of resignation, & felt great about it. His nickname was 'Chaos', which I didn’t like, & changed it to 'Mad Dog'"

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Stef W. Kight

5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Obama praises young protesters, urges mayors to pursue police reforms

Former President Barack Obama called on all mayors to review their use-of-force policies and commit to policing reform in a virtual town hall Wednesday hosted by the Obama Foundation's My Brothers Keepers Alliance.

Why it matters: Obama has addressed the killing of George Floyd and the nationwide protests that followed on social media and in a Medium post, but this was his first time speaking about the past week's events on camera. His voice will add weight to the growing pressure on local, state and federal officials to pursue policing reforms.

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Orion Rummler

5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

James Mattis condemns Trump as a threat to the Constitution

Mattis on Fox in Septemnber 2019 in New York City. Photo: Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis condemned President Trump for making a "mockery of our Constitution" in a statement to The Atlantic on Wednesday, saying he was "appalled" at the president's response to mass protests in the wake of George Floyd's killing.

Why it matters: Trump’s former defense secretary had refrained from publicly criticizing his former boss since resigning in 2018.

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