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National

Media Trends

Axios Media Trends

Twitter users are pushing back against Elon Musk's new pay-for-verification policy, with many journalists and celebrities opting to cancel their subscriptions out of embarrassment instead of keeping their blue checks.

Why it matters: Internet verification used to be a badge of honor. Now that it's achievable to anyone who is willing to buy it, it's become a signal of desperation.

Driving the news: Twitter last Thursday began removing blue check marks from hundreds of thousands of accounts belonging to celebrities, journalists and other public figures who were verified by the platform before Musk changed the rules.

The Twitter CEO later announced he's personally paying for some high-profile users to remain verified on Twitter, even when they'd indicated they didn't want this status under his new subscription system.

Then, it emerged over the weekend that blue check marks had returned to the Twitter profiles of many accounts with more than 1 million followers.

Be smart: The new system could create more chaos and confusion for everyday users that relied on verification to know if accounts belonging to notable figures were real or fake.

There was further confusion over the weekend after blue checkmarks returned to several accounts of high-profile Twitter users who are no longer alive, with the message: "This account is verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number."

This includes the accounts of Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in 2018; chef Anthony Bourdain, who died the same year as the Washington Post journalist; and NBA star Kobe Bryant and actor Chadwick Boseman, who both died in 2020.

The big picture: More social media networks, including Meta, are forcing users to pay for features that were once free, including verification.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a February Facebook post that this "new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services."

In addition to retaining a blue check, Twitter allows subscription users the exclusive option to continue using text messages for two-factor authentication, which is no longer available across the platform.

The bottom line: Online verification used to be a badge of honor. Now, it's become a badge of shame.

"Verified" becomes a badge of dishonor

Accounts of late celebrities including Chadwick Boseman have been marked "subscribed to Twitter Blue."

 In this photo illustration tweets by Stephen King and Elon Musk is seen on a mobile cellphone on April 21, 2023 in Knutsford, United Kingdom. 

Tweets by Stephen King and Elon Musk seen on a cellphone on Friday. Photo illustration: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Twitter

Metaverse, VR and AR

Media

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Technology

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

Economy

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Conflicts, policies and powers are intersecting and shaping the world. Breaking news and analysis of national security, foreign policy and global crises.

World

Data: Federal Election Commission, Cook Political Report; Chart: Alice Feng/Axios

House Republicans in competitive districts dominated their Democratic counterparts in fundraising during the first three months of 2023, according to an Axios analysis.

Why it matters: Republicans have an early financial edge as they seek to expand their narrow majority and defend nearly 20 seats that went for President Biden in 2020.

By the numbers: Out of the 39 House incumbents whose seats are rated as either "toss-up" or "lean" by Cook Political Report, 17 of the top 20 fundraisers in the first quarter were Republicans.

On average, the Republicans raised $686,075, while the Democrats brought in $404,687.

National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Jack Pandol also noted the average Republican targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has $705,767 in cash on hand, while the average Democrat targeted by the NRCC has just $424,560.

What they're saying: "Money and message makes a majority, and our members are sprinting out of the blocks to build formidable war chests and tell their stories," Pandol said in a statement to Axios.

"A shift in control typically translates to increased fundraising for members of a new majority, but the razor thin margin gives every Republican in a swing district the ability to credibly claim that control of the House hinges on their re-election," said Ken Spain, a former communications director for the NRCC.

The other side: DCCC spokesperson Tommy Garcia noted that the committee out-raised the NRCC by $12 million during the first quarter.

"Come 2024, House Democrats will have the resources necessary to send extreme MAGA Republicans back to the minority," he said.

The DCCC also pointed to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) transferring $95,000 to $220,000 to many of the House Republican targets on the list.

Between the lines: Democratic strategists told Axios the numbers raise real concerns about their grassroots energy going into 2024, but also pointed to mitigating factors.

Several argued that, as the 2024 Republican presidential primary heats up, former President Trump — and, to a lesser extent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — will juice Democrats' political engagement.

"I think [we're] just in an enthusiasm gap right now," said Democratic strategist Chris Coffey. "But I don't think it will last. The only way it will last is if you have a run-of-the-mill Republican" presidential nominee.

What we're watching: Two freshman Republicans stood out for strong fundraising: Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) brought in over $1 million in the first quarter, giving him an early advantage in a swing Phoenix-area district.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) also was one of the strongest Republican fundraisers, bringing in $831,000 — the most first-quarter money raised by a freshman lawmaker in state history.

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), who narrowly won re-election in 2022 and has faced ethics issues, raised the least out of any frontline Republican besides embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.).

Zoom in: Two anomalous bright spots for Democrats were first-term Reps. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.).

A New York Democratic operative pointed to Ryan raising his profile with his victory in a nationally watched special election last year, along with the fact that he's the last remaining swing-seat Democrat in the all-important Empire State.

A Perez spokesperson said the early news of hard-right Republican Joe Kent's repeat run after his upset loss to Perez last year was a "big motivator," with the campaign taking in 2,700 grassroots donors.

"People want to see real people in Congress,” the spokesperson added of Perez, an auto shop owner who has been on a tear against D.C. elitism.

The intrigue: Several other Democrats in competitive districts raised attention for underwhelming fundraising — raising retirement speculation.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) raised less than $100,000 for the quarter, receiving only nine itemized contributions.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), representing a Trump district, raised just $222,000 — toward the bottom of Democratic lawmakers in competitive seats.

House GOP's money machine

Democratic strategists say the numbers raise concerns about grassroots energy going into 2022.

House Republicans

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

Gaming

Axios Gaming

More Americans aged 50 and up play video games than ever before. But they feel overlooked by the gaming industry, according to a new study by AARP.

Why it matters: Video games are not just a pastime for the young, contrary to the popular image of who does or doesn’t play.

Numbers: AARP counts 52.4 million Americans who are 50 or older and play games at least once a month — some 45% of all Americans that age.

That’s a slight bump up from 50.6 million in 2019. (It’s also way up from 40.2 million in 2016.)

Gamers aged 50+ are also playing more. They averaged 12 hours of gaming a month in 2022, compared to 8 ½ hours per month in 2019. Nearly half of the older Americans who play games are doing so daily.

These gamers mostly play on their phones and prefer puzzle, card, and word games. 73% of 50-plus gamers play puzzle and logic games; just 12% say they prefer shooters, so there still aren't that many grannies and grandpas playing Call of Duty.

Yes, but: Many older gamers feel neglected by the games industry.

“Our research shows, however, that almost 70% do not feel like the games are made with them in mind,” AARP’s director of community and gaming, Maura White, tells Axios.

More than half say they don’t see themselves reflected in the games they play nor the marketing around them and feel many games are too complicated. The numbers get worse for players over 60, still worse for those over 70.

“They would like the video gaming industry to create games and features designed to onboard easily, play consistently, and stay challenged,” White says.

Between the lines: The AARP study, like many about gaming demographics, alerts the industry of potentially profitable opportunities.

American gamers who are 50 or older spent an average of $49 on games in the first six months of 2022, which amounts to $2.6 billion across the full 52.4 million older players.

But spending on games is actually down since 2019, when AARP’s research showed older gamers were spending $64 in the comparable time period.

Coupled with lengthening playing time averages, the survey suggests older gamers are playing more, but paying less.

The bottom line: Video games, like smartphones, are now a significant part of the lives of millions of older people who just want to be sure that the people making them consider that.

Over-50 gamers feel overlooked, study finds

AARP counts 52.4 million Americans who are 50 or older and play games at least once a month.

Illustration of a smart phone with several video game apps on one side, and one puzzle app on the other side.

Video games

Closer

Axios Closer

Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday and said it plans to liquidate, adding that it will reverse course if it finds a last-minute buyer.

Why it matters: Bed Bath & Beyond has been in distress for years, having failed to reinvent itself in the digital age despite efforts to declutter its stores and remake its coupon strategy.

State of play: Famous for its towers of towels and bedding, wedding registries and myriad home goods, the retailer had some 955 stores and tens of thousands of employees as of a year ago.

After launching a furious round of store closings as its business spiraled over the last several months, the company has 360 Bed Bath & Beyond stores and 120 buybuy Baby locations left.

Between the lines: If the company can't find a buyer, it will go out of business.

That means selling off everything from inventory to store fixtures — and shutting down for good. 

If Bed Bath & Beyond ends up completely liquidating, it would be one of the largest going-out-of-business sales of the last 15 years — joining a club that includes Circuit City and Toys "R" Us.

The company told customers in an email Sunday morning that it will honor coupons through April 26, accept gift cards through May 8 and process returns or exchanges until May 24 on products bought before April 23.

As for wedding registries, "we expect to partner with an alternative platform where you will be able to transfer your data and complete your registry," the retailer said.

What they're saying: "Millions of customers have trusted us through the most important milestones in their lives — from going to college to getting married, settling into a new home to having a baby," CEO Sue Gove said in a statement. 

"Our teams have worked with incredible purpose to support and strengthen our beloved banners, Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY. We deeply appreciate our associates, customers, partners, and the communities we serve, and we remain steadfastly determined to serve them throughout this process. We will continue working diligently to maximize value for the benefit of all stakeholders."

Yes, but: Private equity firm Sycamore Partners had expressed interest in purchasing and continuing to operate the buybuy Baby brand, a source familiar with the situation told Axios. 

What happened: Increased competition from digital threats like Amazon and big-box competitors like Walmart and Target ate into Bed Bath's customer base.

And after former Target chief merchandising officer Mark Tritton took over in 2019 at the behest of activist investors, he pursued private-label products, decluttered stores and cut back on Bed Bath's famous 20%-off coupons.

Those moves alienated the chain's most loyal shoppers, and Tritton was ousted in June 2022. He is now suing the company over his severance deal.

Gove took over from Tritton and quickly moved to shore up the chain's inventory and close money-losing stores.

But by February 2023 the company was on the precipice of bankruptcy before it arranged a complex financing deal with Hudson Bay Capital Management.

That deal failed to provide a sustainable lifeline and the retailer's more recent attempt to raise $300 million through a stock offering didn't come to fruition.

The bottom line: Citing $5.2 billion in total liabilities and $4.4 billion in assets, Bed Bath & Beyond's business become increasingly tenuous in recent months — and now the company's faces an imminent existential crisis.

"Bed Bath and Beyond has finally succumbed to the fact its business is broken and filed for bankruptcy," GlobalData retail analyst Neil Saunders said Sunday in a written analysis. "While management refused to go down without a fight, and explored every option to avoid bankruptcy, they simply could not defy gravity forever.

Bed Bath & Beyond files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, will liquidate

Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sunday and said it would start to liquidate, adding that it will reverse course if it finds a last-minute buyer.

A person walks on a sidewalk past a big-box store

A Bed Bath & Beyond store in Farmingdale, New York, on Jan 6, 2023. Photo: Johnny Milano/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Retail

Watch out, northerners: The armadillos are coming.

What's happening: The scaly critters have slowly but steadily expanded north from Texas for over a hundred years. Now their movement is rapidly accelerating.

Armadillo sightings in North Carolina are on the rise and the state's Wildlife Resources Commission is trying to determine the extent of their range, Axios Raleigh co-author Zachery Eanes reports.

Armadillo invasion: Why the creatures are rapidly moving north

Don't be surprised if you spot an armadillo in Iowa or North Carolina.

Axios

Sunday's top stories

"Verified" becomes a badge of dishonor

House GOP's money machine

Over-50 gamers feel overlooked, study finds

Bed Bath & Beyond files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, will liquidate

Armadillo invasion: Why the creatures are rapidly moving north

Our lawmakers are more religious than we are

Biden: U.S. diplomatic staff and their families evacuated from Sudan

Gamers keep leaking sensitive military info

"Unprecedented" wave of fake threats at schools causes terror

State politics are driving high schoolers' college decisions

Inside the GOP maneuvering to pass something on the debt ceiling

Supreme Court maintains access to abortion pills during appeals process