The Department of Justice has approved Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing one of the biggest regulatory obstacles to a deal that would reshape the entertainment industry.
According to reports from <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/12/paramount-acquisition-warner-bros-approved-00960300?_sp_pass_consent=true">Politico</a> and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/12/paramount-wbd-merger-approval-doj.html">CNBC</a>, the DOJ&#8217;s Antitrust Division concluded the transaction does not pose a threat to competition and declined to challenge the merger.
The decision paves the way for Paramount to merge with the media giant behind CNN, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Pictures, TBS, TNT, and other major entertainment brands, creating one of the world&#8217;s largest media companies.
The approval is expected to be formally announced on Friday.
Federal regulators reportedly approved the deal without requiring Paramount to divest any assets or accept behavioral remedies, conditions that often accompany major media mergers.
The merger has been among the most closely watched antitrust reviews of President Donald Trump&#8217;s second term because of its size and its potential impact on the media landscape.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, son of Oracle founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison, reportedly met personally with DOJ officials multiple times during the review process. According to Politico, Ellison spent roughly two hours meeting with Antitrust Division officials and career attorneys several weeks ago to discuss the transaction and its competitive effects.
Throughout the review, Paramount argued that the merger would strengthen competition by creating a larger media company capable of competing against streaming giants and technology firms that increasingly dominate the entertainment business.
Earlier this year, Netflix briefly pursued its own acquisition proposal for Warner Bros. Discovery before dropping out of the bidding process. According to CNBC, Paramount&#8217;s offer values Warner Bros. Discovery at approximately $31 per share.
Despite the federal approval, the deal still faces additional scrutiny.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, continues to investigate the transaction and could attempt to challenge the merger in court. Attorneys general from several states, including California and New York, monitored portions of the federal review process.
&#8220;The Paramount acquisition of Warner Brothers remains an active investigation,&#8221; a spokesperson for Bonta&#8217;s office told Politico.
The merger must also receive approval from European regulators before it can be finalized. The European Union has opened its own review and set a July deadline for its initial assessment.
On Wednesday, Paramount announced that Australia&#8217;s competition regulator had <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/06/paramount-wbd-mergerl-clears-australia-1236952390/">approved the transaction</a>.
Critics of the merger have warned that it could lead to another round of consolidation-related layoffs across Hollywood. Industry unions and some entertainment advocates have argued that the combined company would likely pursue significant cost-cutting measures.
For Paramount and the Ellisons, the DOJ&#8217;s decision represents a major victory after months of regulatory scrutiny. The company has said it expects the transaction to close by September if all remaining approvals are secured.

In this photo illustration, the Paramount logo is seen

Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Clears Major Hurdle

Anti-trust

Antitrust

Business

Economy

Entertainment

Hollywood

justice department

Paramount

Warner Bros

Warner Brothers

Elon Musk’s SpaceX opened at $150 on Friday after the company sold 555 million shares at $135 each in what would be the largest initial public offering in history.
The company raised approximately $75 billion in the IPO, surpassing the previous record set by Saudi Aramco in 2019. Shares quickly climbed more than 10% in early trading.
“It’s certainly hard to believe that a little company that started in a warehouse in El Segundo is now going public in the largest IPO ever,” Musk said from SpaceX headquarters in Starbase, Texas. 
“I gave SpaceX less than a 10% chance of succeeding at all,” Musk added. “In fact, I told people this. I said, ‘Look, we’re probably going to fail, but you know, we should give it a try, because if we don&#8217;t, if there&#8217;s not a new company that enters space, we will never be a truly space-bearing civilization.&#8221;
The public offering also cemented Musk&#8217;s status as the world&#8217;s wealthiest person. His net worth is now <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/">valued</a> at more than $1.2 trillion, making him the first person to reach trillionaire status. Musk owns roughly 42% of SpaceX shares and is required to hold them for one year.
The IPO also created a major windfall for SpaceX employees. More than 4,000 workers became millionaires through company stock holdings, including cafeteria employees who participated in the company&#8217;s stock program.
One employee, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/technology/spacex-ipo-employee-millionaires.html">Trevor Hise</a>, started at SpaceX as an intern in 2011 and accumulated more than 100,000 shares, now valued at more than $15 million. Hise said his parents once urged him to turn down the SpaceX offer and take a job with General Electric instead.  
More than <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/12/spacex-millionaires-wealth-management.html">100</a> SpaceX employees now reportedly have combined assets valued between $1 billion and $5 billion. 
Musk and SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell marked the company&#8217;s public debut by ringing Nasdaq’s opening bell, with Musk appearing from Texas and Shotwell from New York City. 
Shotwell said the company could pursue major deals following the record-breaking IPO, while also hinting at future overlap between SpaceX and Musk&#8217;s other companies. 
“There’s no question that there are synergies between Tesla and SpaceX in our futures,” she <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/12/spacex-ipo-spcx-live-updates.html">said</a>. “There’s a convergence of what we’re all trying to accomplish in the future, but right now I’m focused on keeping the lights on here.”
Musk has also floated the possibility of eventually merging Tesla and SpaceX. SpaceX bought xAI earlier this year, giving the aerospace company ownership of xAI&#8217;s data centers, Grok AI models, and X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. 
For now, Musk said the IPO proceeds will help fuel “a significant growth phase” for SpaceX. His plans include placing more than 1 million satellites in orbit and building artificial intelligence data centers in space.

SpaceX Listed On Nasdaq Exchange

SpaceX Just Pulled Off Something Wall Street Has Never Seen

Elon Musk

SpaceX

Technology

The meal delivery service HelloFresh made headlines last week for a vulgar ad it shared on social media in honor of Pride Month. Not to be outdone, its competitor company Blue Apron followed with an equally suggestive Instagram post.
“Official Statement: We know that for some, eating is a top priority this month. We respect that. And while eating out can be exciting, there’s something to be said for diving head first into a satisfying box at home. Happy Pride to everyone who appreciates a good box,” the company <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZYLUusgQ1V/">wrote</a>. The caption added, “Happy Pride. Comment BOX and we’ll DM you how you can eat ours.”
This was, of course, a thinly veiled reference to oral sex. It was likely an appeal to lesbians and a response to the HelloFresh post, which alluded to anal sex for gay men. 
Commenters on the Blue Apron post were either delighted or disgusted, with no in-between.
“Just cancelled my subscription,” one of the top comments says. 
“Why does everything have to do with sex,” a second commenter asked. 
“This is…. f***ing weird,” a third reaction said.
The Daily Wire reached out to Blue Apron, seeking comment.
The controversial social post came just days after meal kit delivery company HelloFresh shared an equally sexually charged social media post.
“We know that eating isn’t always a top priority this month,” the company wrote. “We respect that. But for those of you who are … prepping … we have an extensive lineup of high-fiber recipes available. Happy Pride.”
The post is a reference to anal sex and preparation for sexual activity. The company further amplified the “joke” by using a suggestive promotional code from a commenter. “Use code BOTTOMSUP for a Pride Month discount,” the company wrote, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hellofresh-crosses-line-with-repulsive-pride-month-ad-its-sickening">reported</a>.
Major food companies have used sexual themes during Pride Month marketing in the past. In 2022, the Uber-owned food delivery service Postmates launched a “bottom-friendly” Pride campaign developed with an anal surgeon that promoted specific foods for those preparing to engage in anal sex. 
Despite the backlash, these companies continue to cater to a very small percentage of their customers and virtue signal their fealty to Pride, even as other <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-replaces-pride-collection-with-all-american-nuclear-family">major retailers like Target</a> move away from rainbow-drenched displays in June.

Blue Apron

HelloFresh Rival Saw Grotesque Pride Ad And Said, ‘Hold My Beer’

Food

LGBT

Pride Month

Retailers are reporting a disturbing new trend affecting their bottom line, and they strongly suspect it has something to do with customers using GLP-1 drugs.
According to the Wall Street Journal, businesses are noticing a higher return rate, which is being chalked up to people losing weight and needing to purchase smaller sizes. The number of purchasers sizing down has increased in each of the past three full calendar years, hitting a high of 14.6% in 2025, the outlet noted.
“It’s becoming a real issue,” Farnam Elyasof, owner of the suit retailer FlexSuits, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/americans-on-glp-1s-are-overwhelming-retailers-with-their-nonstop-returns-9c512caf">told</a> the outlet. “It’s a loss for me.” He said he’s noticed an increase in the number of customers who purchase multiple sizes at once and then return most of them, likely due to weight-loss-related size changes.
The outlet noted that between shipping, labor, and warehouse expenses, returns cost retailers a lot of money. There’s also the issue of reselling the item, which often needs to be discounted because it’s out of season. 
Judith Somekh, co-founder of online retailer The Dress Outlet, has resorted to charging customers a 20% restocking fee to help slow the avalanche of returns in the age of Ozempic. 
“We kind of force the customer, unless they have an excess amount of money, to do their research before they buy,” Somekh told the Journal. “Higher returns mean higher costs, and higher costs mean higher end-costs for the consumer. We obviously don’t want that.”
Another online store owner said she’s been stocking smaller sizes because those are now selling better than ever. 
Over the past few years, weight drugs have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/weight-loss-medication-may-have-dangerous-side-effects-i-dont-care">exploded in popularity</a>, with brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy becoming household names as newer versions like Zepbound join the market and makers rush to come out with newer, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/move-over-ozempic-theres-a-new-weight-loss-shot-everyone-is-freaking-out-about">more effective options</a>. 
The surge in prescriptions cannot be overstated. About 18% of American adults <a href="https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/poll-1-in-8-adults-say-they-are-currently-taking-a-glp-1-drug-for-weight-loss-diabetes-or-another-condition-even-as-half-say-the-drugs-are-difficult-to-afford/\">say</a> they have taken a GLP-1 medication at some point, and roughly one in eight (12%) report currently using one. That number is only expected to grow as a pill form hits the market. But even with people being forced to give themselves weekly injections, the popularity of the shots keeps growing as waistlines continue shrinking.
It’s not just clothing retailers feeling the loss. Snack food producers say purchasing is way down as their customers continue to eat less. Interestingly, tobacco and alcohol producers are also reportedly feeling the sting as users become less likely to continue addictive habits.
“This modulation of the brain’s reward system extends beyond food, with early evidence suggesting benefits in reducing alcohol misuse, drug dependence, and even gambling,” Sophie Dix, head of medical affairs at MedExpress, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/26/how-glp-1s-wegovy-zepbound-are-reshaping-the-economy.html">told</a> CNBC of GLP-1s last August.
This has reportedly had an effect on compulsive shopping habits, which means the same customers making all those returns are purchasing fewer items in the first place. It all results in decreased revenues for retailers across the board.

GLP-1 Money

The Unexpected Victim Of America’s Ozempic Boom

glp-1

Retail

weight Loss

Now for a little dose of good news: while some companies are clinging to Pride-themed ad campaigns in June, one of the most notorious offenders is going all-in for Americana just ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Target’s homepage on Tuesday featured a man and woman with children smiling and clad in red, white, and blue. “Epic Style: Americana-inspired looks for everyone,” the website headline says.
 The retail giant still has an LGBT-themed section, because of course they do, but it’s way below the fold and not prominently featured.
<div id="attachment_1107019" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107019" class="size-large wp-image-1107019" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-1024x482.png" alt="Target 2026" width="1024" height="482" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-1024x482.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-300x141.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-768x362.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com</div>
This is a significant change from years past. 
In 2021, the Minneapolis-based retailer pushed its Pride collection to the top of its homepage in all its rainbow-hued glory. The banner read, “#takepride everywhere” and included various people, and even a dog, sporting Pride-themed apparel. It also promoted a children’s book called “What Are Your Words? A Book About Pronouns.” 
<div id="attachment_1107015" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107015" class="size-large wp-image-1107015" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-1024x300.png" alt="Target 2021" width="1024" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-1024x300.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-300x88.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-768x225.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
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In 2020, there was not a hint of red, white, or blue on the homepage. Instead, a rainbow-colored shirt that said, “Ask Me About My Pronouns,” was featured front and center. 
<div id="attachment_1107013" style="width: 464px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107013" class="size-large wp-image-1107013" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-454x576.png" alt="Target homepage" width="454" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-454x576.png 454w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-236x300.png 236w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-768x975.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 454px) 100vw, 454px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
By 2024, the Pride collection had been moved down toward the bottom of the homepage. But even that placement was far more prominent than its status in 2026. 
<div id="attachment_1107017" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107017" class="size-large wp-image-1107017" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-1024x281.png" alt="Target homepage" width="1024" height="281" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-1024x281.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-300x82.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-768x211.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
The march back toward sanity comes as no surprise after Target announced it would be reversing its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in early 2025.
“Many years of data, insights, listening and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Chief Community Impact and Equity Officer Kiera Fernandez said in an internal memo at the time. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future – all in service of driving Target’s growth and winning together.”
WATCH FROM TODAY&#8217;S EPISODE OF MORNING WIRE:
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&nbsp;
Target also stopped reporting to external diversity-focused groups, including the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
The retailer came under fire in 2023 for marketing a line of Pride-themed merchandise, including products like “tuck-friendly” swimming suits, in prominent displays near the front of its stores. Other products in its “Pride Collection” included small shirts with phrases like “Just Be You And Feel The Love,” Pride-themed onesies, rainbow-colored leggings, tutu skirts, and jumpers.
Following widespread backlash and boycotts, the Pride collection was significantly scaled back in 2024. It was also confirmed at the time that the retailer would no longer market Pride merchandise to children, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-rolls-back-dei-joining-other-major-companies-like-walmart-meta">reported</a>.

happy family with the flag of america USA at sunset outdoors

Target Picks A Different Flag This June

Pride

Target

Vacationers who choose Costa Cruises for their next adventure could face fines of up to $70 for bringing buffet food back to their cabins under a new onboard policy. 
Going forward, guests on some of these cruises will not be permitted to bring buffet food back to their rooms and will instead be asked to consume all meals in designated areas, per the cruise-focused blog Crew Center. This does not include meals that are delivered by Costa Cruise employees.
A statement regarding the update said, “guest safety and well-being are our top priority.”
“On a limited number of specific sailings, onboard communication was shared as a preventive and deterrent measure, in line with our existing policies, to encourage guests to [have] responsible behavior,” the Costa Cruises spokesperson <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/travel/cruise-buffet-guests-face-surprise-charges-taking-food-back-cabins">told</a> Fox News Digital.
“Costa Cruises remains committed to ensuring a high-quality, safe and enjoyable experience for all guests on board.”
The Genoa, Italy-based cruise line, which is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, operates routes throughout the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South America.
The policy change sparked an online debate after being highlighted by the Instagram account unrealcruises.
One Instagram user <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYpOf33DZ6y/">mentioned</a> that another cruise line tried something similar and said, “it did not end well for them,” and that they “had to end it.” 
“Let people eat where they want. Collect the dishes. It’s a cost. Bear it and pass it on to the cruiser. But these kinds of policies with policing never end well for the company,” the commenter wrote.
Others complained that eating breakfast or drinking coffee on private balconies is part of the cruise experience.
“We love to take our food and coffee to enjoy on our quiet balcony,” another person complained.
“Zero chance I’d pay that fine. Make breakfast in bed for my wife every morning by [bringing] food back. Who cares where you eat the included food,” echoed a third.
Others supported the measure, saying passengers often leave dirty dishes and half-eaten food scattered throughout hallways and decks.
“Umm, I say good, nothing worse than plates and cups lining the hallways, its not a good look. Never ever in 47 cruises needed to take food to my cabin…,” one supporter chimed in.
“Only the ones that do deck clearance know the struggle. Yall take everything from the buffet and toss the plates full on the hallways. Is it that hard to eat close to other people?” another agreed.

Cruise ship breakfast

New Cruise Ship Buffet Policy Dubbed A Vacation Buzzkill

Carnival

Italy

News

Travel

Vacation

Jonathan Andic, an heir to the Mango clothing company, stepped down Tuesday as vice president of the fashion empire after being accused of involvement in his billionaire father&#8217;s death.
He said he left his role to focus on clearing his name after Spanish authorities arrested him in connection with the case.
&#8220;I make this decision sadly, but convinced that it is what&#8217;s best for the company and for me,&#8221; Andic wrote in a letter to staff. &#8220;I need to concentrate all my energy on demonstrating my innocence.&#8221;
His father Isak Andic, the founder of Mango and one of Spain&#8217;s richest men, tragically died in December 2024 after falling from a cliff during a hike with Jonathan outside of Barcelona. At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of roughly $4 billion, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/05/26/mango-billionaires-son-steps-down-as-vp-after-arrest-in-fathers-death/">Forbes</a>.
Authorities initially believed the death was an &#8220;accident.&#8221; But prosecutors reopened the investigation in October 2025, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mango-clothing-chain-founder-isak-andics-son-jonathan-andic-denies-killing-his-father/">CBS News,</a> and Jonathan became the primary suspect.
The 45-year-old was arrested last week in Spain before posting bail equivalent to $1.2 million.
During the investigation, detectives uncovered tensions between the father and son related to money and changes to Isak’s will, per <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/05/26/mango-founder-son-resigns-after-arrest-in-fathers-death/">TMZ</a>.
Jonathan strongly denied any wrongdoing in the letter to employees.
&#8220;A public narrative has been constructed that is one-sided, taken out of context and distorted, and which has created a perception of guilt that bears no relation to reality,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;I know that dismantling it will require time, effort, and intense dedication.&#8221;
Just weeks after his father’s death, Jonathan was appointed executive vice president of Mango&#8217;s holding company in January 2025, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/jonathan-andic-steps-down-mango-vice-chair-2026-05-26/">Reuters reported</a>.
Jonathan, who inherited part of the business alongside his two sisters, calls the accusations against him &#8220;serious, unjust, and unfounded.&#8221;
Mango CEO Toni Ruiz and the company&#8217;s board continue to support Jonathan following his resignation.
In a memo to employees, Ruiz said company leadership believes the legal process will clarify the facts, and he urged staff to &#8220;remain united.&#8221;
Isak founded Mango in Barcelona in 1984, and the fashion group expanded internationally in 1992 with its first store in Portugal before eventually growing worldwide, including a flagship location in New York.
Jonathan is due back in a Spanish court next month.

SPAIN-POLICE-RETAIL-FASHION

Fashion Empire Rocked After Heir’s Arrest In Father’s Mysterious Death

Billionaire

Crime

Spain

The CEO of Hooters says the chain doesn’t want to be known for just big hooters anymore.
Neil Kiefer, who has been involved with Hooters since its founding in 1983 and became CEO in 1992, insists the restaurant has always been a family-friendly destination despite its famously scantily clad waitstaff.
“It&#8217;s a neighborhood place that many families frequent, and singles and couples,” Kiefer <a href="https://people.com/hooters-is-rebranding-as-family-friendly-as-ceo-insists-we-ve-never-switched-from-being-a-neighborhood-place-exclusive-11981778">told</a> People after The New York Times published a recent report on the company&#8217;s attempt to reinvent itself.  
Hooters was founded by six Florida businessmen who, according to the company&#8217;s website, “got together to open a place they couldn’t get kicked out of.” During its heyday, there were more than 420 locations in 42 states and 29 countries, and even a Hooters airline, as the Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/style/hooters-restaurant-chain-family-rebrand.html">reported</a>.
Things went downhill during the 2008 recession, the COVID pandemic, and amid various lawsuits. Hooters of America closed several locations and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2025.
But Kiefer is not ready to give up on the original concept just yet. While the CEO blames the takeover of private equity on the restaurant’s overly sexualized image, the NYT noted that scantily clad “Hooters Girls” were part of the gimmick from the start. Now, Kiefer is leaning into a different aesthetic.
“We’re getting back to what makes us a beach-themed restaurant as opposed to a girlie bar,” Kiefer told the NYT, blaming the owners of certain locations for taking the sexy image too far. 
“It was a sporty athletic look at the time, and I think in the last 10 or 15 years, a lot of the country has seen a more sexualized version of that,” he added. “That chased away a lot of customers.”
“That was never the intention when this concept started,” the CEO insisted.
When asked whether the company is trying to become more family-friendly, Kiefer <a href="https://people.com/hooters-is-rebranding-as-family-friendly-as-ceo-insists-we-ve-never-switched-from-being-a-neighborhood-place-exclusive-11981778">told</a> People the restaurant has “been that way always.”
“If you&#8217;ve ever been to a Hooters in Chicago or in Tampa Bay or in South Florida, you&#8217;re going to see tons of families, tons of children,” he said. “It&#8217;s [a] tongue-in-cheek type of beach theme restaurant.”
“I understand the word hooters, the Steve Martin joke,” he said. “It was a double entendre. It was acceptable humor back then, and it&#8217;s coming back to be acceptable humor, but it was oversexualized too much in the last 15, 20 years.”
The restaurant was named after a Steve Martin comedy routine during which he insisted that the real name for breasts should be “hooters.” 
Kiefer claims family-friendly, beach-themed locations in Florida and Chicago are doing well, though he also admits it will take time to “win customers back” after decades of a scandalous reputation. 
“We&#8217;re having success, but it&#8217;s a long road to climb out of it,” he told People.

Hooters

Hooters Says It Was Never Really About The Hooters

Families

Restaurant

United States

James Murdoch, the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, acquired Vox Media’s New York Magazine, podcast division, and explanatory journalism brand Vox.com in a deal reportedly worth more than $300 million.
The acquired divisions will fold into James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems, the media investment company he founded in 2019 after resigning from the board of News Corp over editorial disagreements. The deal brings New York Magazine — which is currently embroiled in a plagiarism scandal — back into the Murdoch family orbit decades after Rupert Murdoch owned the publication in the late 1970s before selling it in 1991. Vox purchased the magazine in 2019 for $105 million. 
James Murdoch said the acquisition reflects his focus on long-term media brands that resonate with modern culture. New York Magazine currently publishes both print and digital content across verticals including The Cut, Grub Street, and Vulture. Vox Media’s podcast division spans politics, technology, sports, personal finance, and self-help programming, with hosts including Kara Swisher and Maria Sharapova.
Lupa Systems did not disclose the exact purchase price of the deal but sources familiar with the matter told the New York Times Vox Media was acquired for more than $300 million dollars. In 2015, that figure would have been much higher since Vox Media was reportedly worth about $1 billion at the time. 
Vox Media will act as a subsidiary of Lupa Systems while collaborating with the company’s broader portfolio, including the Tribeca Film Festival and Bodhi Tree Systems, an investment platform that backs a major streaming service in India.
Not included in the deal are Vox Media properties The Verge and Eater, which will remain under the restructured Vox Media and be overseen by current president Ryan Pauley.
James Murdoch is betting big on podcasts, saying that in a world with content “slop” and “packaged media,” he thinks people will turn to podcasts that are “authentic.” Last year, Vox’s podcast division did <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/business/media/vox-media-james-murdoch-sale.html?smtyp=cur&amp;amp;smid=tw-nytimes">$80 million</a> in revenue. 
The acquisition is on par with the growing trend of media consolidation as companies navigate the decimation of search-driven clicks replaced by artificial intelligence summaries, social media disruption, and changing audience preferences. Over the past decade, WarnerMedia merged with Discovery, Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, BuzzFeed acquired HuffPost, Fox Corporation acquired OutKick, and The New York Times acquired The Athletic, among numerous other deals.
New York Magazine is currently undergoing an internal investigation after one of its columnists, Ross Barkan, was accused by Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell of copying his Daily Wire hit piece.
There were some identical phrases, such as &#8220;In the run-up to the 2020 presidential election,&#8221; and the pieces showed similar framing. Both stories began with a claim that Ben Shapiro could say he was at the top of conservative media, that the Daily Wire dominated news feeds, and that the Daily Wire found new stories, including Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s visit to a hair salon after advocating for a lockdown.

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Fox Scion Buys Up Podcasts, Vox, And Scandal-Plagued NY Mag In $300 Mil Deal

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New York Magazine

podcasts

The CEO of Barnes &amp; Noble just clarified where he stands on AI-written books, and commenters are accusing him of choosing profit over integrity.
Bookstore exec James Daunt <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/books/barnes-and-noble-ceo-james-daunt-interview-ai-books-rcna345417">told</a> Jenna Bush Hager during a recent “Today” show appearance that as long as the “author” discloses that the book is AI-generated, he has no problem stocking it.
&#8220;I have actually no problem selling any book, as long as it doesn&#8217;t masquerade or pretend to be something that it isn&#8217;t, and that it has an essential quality to it, and that the customer, the reader, wants it,” Daunt said during the interview.
“So as long as an AI-written book says it&#8217;s an AI-written book and doesn&#8217;t pretend to be something else and isn&#8217;t ripping off somebody else, as long as that&#8217;s clearly stated and the customer wants to buy it, then we will stock them,” he added.
The CEO also argued that some books currently being sold probably use AI anyway.
“We have 300,000 titles across all of our stores. Do we think that some of those may be AI? The chances are that they are, but we&#8217;re not really conscious of them,” Daunt added.
Daunt also downplayed the issue, saying it’s not a big deal for now. “At the moment, it seems unlikely to us that these AI-generated books are going to get much commercial traction. So I think it&#8217;s something that one should treat with common sense and acceptance, but not allow anything to masquerade,” he told Bush Hager. 
Commenters on social media did not agree.
“I will stop shopping at Barnes and Noble and I hope everyone else does too. AI is NOT the future,” one X commenter <a href="https://x.com/maddog_mead/status/2056763337523032152">argued</a>.
“Sorry, but ethics has a place in business, and selling works generated off the THEFT of other people&#8217;s work  is UNETHICAL. For shame!” another person <a href="https://x.com/AcCargill/status/2056763335052234802">agreed</a>. 
“The point of a bookstore is discovering human thought. Real stories. Real suffering. Real imagination. Replacing authors with machines because it’s cheaper is how civilizations become hollow,” a third commenter <a href="https://x.com/iLoveJaneAdams/status/2056763156475638079">said</a>.
“The slop knows no bounds,” echoed <a href="https://x.com/OVVOLabs/status/2056762106276368858">another</a>.

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble CEO Slammed For Stance On Selling AI-Generated Books

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Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright said the solution to shrinking portion sizes is simple: just ask for more.
The exec addressed the issue during an appearance this week on Yahoo! Finance. Customers have been complaining for months that fast food burgers are smaller, pre-packaged snacks have less food, and burritos from Chipotle aren&#8217;t as stuffed as they used to be. 
“If you want more, you should ask for a little more,” the fast food exec said. “I promise you, there&#8217;s never a team member on that line that is going to say no to you.”
“We will continue to put heaping spoonfuls of food in bowls and burritos,” Boatwright continued, adding that the company is focused on both portions and food quality. 
“It has always been our brand ethos, and it is still to this day,” he insisted. “We serve big, beautiful bowls and burritos. No questions asked.”
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The CEO further pushed back on claims that Chipotle employees were “skimping” on portion sizes.
“I tell my team all the time, ‘put as much food in that bowl and burrito as you possibly can,'&#8221; he told Yahoo! Finance. “‘I want the consumer to tell you, &#8216;it&#8217;s too big.'&#8221;
“We&#8217;re about abundance, we&#8217;re about value,” he went on. “Value equals benefit over price.” The exec also claimed to be “absorbing” the cost of inflation rather than passing it on to customers. He told the outlet that Chipotle is pleased to offer “an affordable price point for all walks of life, and we&#8217;re for everyone. We want everyone to have access to wholesome, nutritious food.”
Commenters were skeptical that restaurant workers would be willing to increase portion sizes without charging them extra. 
“Save this video [for] every time you walk in,” one commenter wrote.
“He said if you want more, they will give you more, but will also charge you more,” another comment said.
“Bro … have you been to Chipotle,” a third person chimed in.
“Straight lies they will 100% charge you double each time you say more,” yet another commenter agreed.
Others brought up the common complaint that delivery portions are rumored to be much smaller than those being served inside the restaurants, a problem that wouldn’t be solved by Boatwright’s suggestion to &#8220;ask for more.&#8221;

Chipotle

The Chipotle Phrase That Could Get You More Food For Free

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Money

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is being absolutely trashed online for saying that no one can legitimately become a billionaire.
“You can’t earn a billion dollars. You just can’t earn that,” the democratic socialist congresswoman <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTZzXzRCA50">told</a> comedian Ilana Glazer on an episode of the “It’s Open” podcast. 
“You can get market power, you can break rules, you can do all sorts of things,&#8221; AOC said. “You can abuse labor laws, you can pay people less than what they’re worth. But you can’t earn that, right? And so you have to create a myth that — since you didn’t earn that, you have to create a myth of earning it.&#8221; 
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;">  <iframe style="aspect-ratio: 9/16; max-width: 220px; display: flex; justify-content: center; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/01HjTo301q9Gmv2K8j7iu5VdYnqXalvDSA?metadata-video-content-type=short&amp;metadata-video-id=182bada4-4c01-424a-a259-324f705f7c95&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=All%20lies.&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fshorts%2F2a2a5153-958e-4fbd-83ef-6ac563cbc73e.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
The Democrat seemed laser focused on billionaires in business without commenting on billionaire entertainers like Taylor Swift. When the critics started calling her out, AOC doubled down in an X post she <a href="https://x.com/AOC/status/2052529622655402174">shared</a> Thursday evening.
“The single largest form of theft in America is wage theft. $50 billion a year are stolen from American workers,” she wrote. 
“Some people get enraged that I draw attention to this. That’s on them. Let them call me shrill, dumb, inexperienced, girly, uneducated – these folks will say anything to distract from or undercut the truth that working people are getting screwed, and giving people a fair shake means we must have a grown conversation about reigning in abuse of power.”
Commenters with common sense pointed out the multiple flaws in her argument.
“Lies. Billionaires get rich by innovating and risk-taking, offering new and better goods and services at prices people are willing to pay. Government makes cash through confiscation. AOC&#8217;s conspiratorial, envious view of the world leads to impoverishment and tyranny,” Ben Shapiro, the editor emeritus of The Daily Wire, <a href="https://x.com/benshapiro/status/2052576063738269819">wrote</a>. 
“Socialists don’t run businesses,” author Helen Raleigh <a href="https://x.com/HRaleighspeaks/status/2052521924090097961">wrote</a>. “They produce nothing valuable or desirable that others want. They enrich themselves only by taking from others by force. Therefore, they don’t understand how entrepreneurs can be so wildly successful in a free market simply by providing goods or services many people want and are willing to pay for.”
“What a naive and wrong point of view. So much of leftist politics and thinking these days is about justifying envy,” entrepreneur and venture capitalist Joe Lonsdale <a href="https://x.com/JTLonsdale/status/2052452637245657095">agreed</a>. “I’ve co-founded six different multi-billion dollar companies, with more on the way. AOC perhaps isn’t bright enough to make a lot of money without massive grift &#8211; sure. But 10000’s who worked with me are rich; some are also billionaires!”
He added, “Our innovation sector is the best in the world, solving problems and growing the pie with US talent for a brighter future for all. I’m aligned against cronyism. But demonizing success is totally unAmerican.”

Did AOC Just Spark Bad Blood With Taylor Swift?

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