In this podcast, Krystal and Saagar cover a range of fascinating topics including the Ukraine-US meetings, French election results, Elon Musk's deal with Twitter, Biden administration's fight for the travel mask mandate, Amazon workers rallying in NYC, DeSantis vs Disney, Obama's campaign against online speech, the collapse of CNN+, and more!
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Quick takeaways
The Biden administration is appealing the ruling on the travel mask mandate to preserve the CDC's authority and enforce mask requirements.
Voting has begun for a second union election at an Amazon facility in Staten Island, with left politicians showing support for the workers.
Elon Musk's $43 billion offer to acquire Twitter is likely to be accepted, potentially leading to more transparent content policies.
The failure of CNN Plus highlights the challenges faced by traditional cable news networks in the streaming era.
Deep dives
Appeal filed against mask mandate ruling
The Justice Department is appealing the ruling on the travel mask mandate after the CDC issued guidance stating masks are still needed on public transportation. The administration faced conflicting statements on the issue, with Jen Psaki advising mask wearing on planes, Joe Biden stating it was up to individuals, and the HHS secretary saying an appeal was likely. The appeal aims to preserve the CDC's authority to make public health decisions and enforce mask requirements.
Second Amazon union election underway
Voting has begun for a second union election at an Amazon facility in Staten Island, following the union victory at JFK8. This sorting facility presents different challenges, including a higher number of part-time workers and increased union busting efforts from Amazon. Left politicians, including Bernie Sanders and AOC, have shown their support for the workers, with AOC joining in-person to back the movement. The outcome of this election will determine if the Amazon labor union's success can be replicated.
Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition moves forward
Twitter is reported to likely accept Elon Musk's $43 billion offer to acquire the platform. Musk has secured the funding necessary and negotiations for the deal are ongoing. This acquisition would give Musk control over Twitter's content policies, potentially leading to more transparent algorithms and a different direction for the social media platform.
CDC mask mandate faces criticism and appeal
The burial of the travel mask mandate by a federal court is being appealed by the Justice Department, while the CDC still advises masks on public transportation. Conflicting statements from the administration, including Jen Psaki advising mask wearing and Joe Biden stating it was an individual choice, created confusion over the issue. Critics argue that the CDC should issue advisories rather than enforce mask mandates as their authority lies in public health, not policy-making.
The downfall of CNN Plus: A costly failure
CNN's streaming service, CNN Plus, faced a major setback as it quickly collapsed after its launch. Despite the network's effort to compete in the streaming space, CNN Plus failed to achieve significant viewership and profitability. The service was launched amidst a changing media landscape, with increasing emphasis on streaming content. However, the limited appeal and poor marketing strategy of CNN Plus led to its demise. This failure highlights the challenge faced by traditional cable news networks as they try to pivot to the streaming world.
The challenges of cable news in the streaming era
CNN Plus, MSNBC's Peacock Portal, and Fox News' streaming service have all faced challenges in gaining significant consumer appeal. The cable news industry, which heavily relies on live TV and linear programming, struggles to adapt to the changing streaming landscape. While some networks have successfully moved into the subscription-based streaming model or ad-supported streaming, others have struggled to find a winning strategy. The success of streaming platforms often depends on factors such as broad appeal or catering to niche markets. The cable news industry must navigate these challenges and find new ways to engage viewers in the streaming era.
The significance of owning the CNN Plus NFT
Breaking Points proudly owns one of the limited edition CNN Plus NFTs, capturing the launch of the failed CNN streaming service. This ownership symbolizes the network's commitment to holding CNN accountable for its failures in the streaming space. While recognizing the hard work of individual workers, Breaking Points views the collapse of CNN Plus as a necessary consequence of an industry that has failed to serve the best interests of the country. This NFT ownership reflects the community's dedication to highlighting the shortcomings of major news networks and advocating for a more accountable and impactful media landscape.
Krystal and Saagar break down the Ukraine-US meetings, French election results, Musk's deal with Twitter, Biden administration's fight for the travel mask mandate, Amazon workers rallying in NYC, DeSantis vs Disney, Obama's campaign against online speech, the collapse of CNN+, and more! For all of the information in the show' check your email with the full show for the newsletter!!!