This episode: Google’s courtroom victory sparks a $21 trillion surge across eight U.S. megacaps and reshapes the S&P 500. We remember Giorgio Armani - the designer who changed fashion twice and ran his brand with iron focus. CBS News changed Face the Nation’s editing rules after pressure from the administration, raising questions about editorial independence. Fox News topped the broadcast networks in summer primetime. And President Trump signed an order renaming the Pentagon the “Department of War.”

Timestamps: 0:00 - Teaser / Episode preview 1:07 - Google legal win & $21T tech rally. 13:14 - Giorgio Armani: legacy & control. 21:54 - CBS edits policy change after pressure. 33:36 - Fox News tops broadcast networks — ratings context. 43:59 - Trump renames the Pentagon the “Department of War.”

Episode Notes: • CNBC reports the eight megacaps now account for ~36% of the S&P 500. • Armani remained the sole shareholder, founded the Giorgio Armani Foundation in 2016 to protect the brand. • CBS will only air live or unedited interviews on Face the Nation going forward. • Fox averaged 2.43M viewers in primetime (June–Sept); dramatic decline in broadcast-era ratings compared to 2000. • President Trump signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense; Pentagon signs changed quickly. #tech news #big tech #fashion #journalism #Fox News #trump administration #department of defense

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This episode breaks down Tesla’s extraordinary new pay package for Elon Musk and why critics call it historic and risky. We also report on a surge in A.I. deepfakes impersonating doctors, the rise of virtual influencers making real money, why millionaire renters are on the rise, and how tariffs are cutting into John Deere’s sales.

Full chapter timestamps below. 0:00 - Intro 1:32 - Elon Musk’s $900B pay package 13:32 - A.I. deepfakes hijack doctors 24:33 - Fake influencers 37:30 - Millionaire renters surge 48:14 - John Deere and tariffs Subscribe to the show, like and leave a 5-star review

Levi Strauss warns global anti-American sentiment could dent sales of iconic U.S. brands, and that risk is just the opening act. We unpack five big stories that matter to leaders, communicators, and business builders: Xi & Putin’s hot-mic musing on longevity, Waymo’s tough test in New York, the influencer-fuelled rise of propranolol, Florida’s move to scrap vaccine mandates, and our grab-bag headlines at the end. Practical takeaways for brand risk, media training, product rollout, healthcare comms, and public policy.

Key facts:

Levi’s warned that rising anti-American sentiment abroad could hurt its global sales.

Chinese state TV accidentally aired Xi and Putin chatting about living longer, a hot-mic moment underlining the leader's image and optics risks.

Waymo is testing driverless cars in NYC, a market far more transit-dependent than San Francisco, which raises concerns about mode shift and congestion.

Propranolol prescriptions are up ~28% since 2020, driven by influencers and telehealth, raising questions about oversight and off-label use.

Florida plans to end vaccine mandates for schoolchildren; the show cites WHO reporting that immunization has added ~20 years to global life expectancy over the past ~70 years.

Why watch: If you lead a brand, product or team, each of these stories contains a communications playbook, how to manage reputational risk, control narratives, design city rollouts, talk to customers about health, and stay credible in media environments where hot-mics and influencers can instantly swing public opinion.

What you’ll walk away with:

3 rapid framing moves to protect a brand against geopolitical sentiment

2 media-training shots leaders should practice (and what to absolutely avoid on a live mic)

A checklist for piloting new mobility tech in transit-dense cities

Risk signals to watch when consumer health tools move from clinics to influencers