Good morning readers. We wanted to start off this edition with a big thank you to all of our subscribers. We’ve seen incredible growth over the last few weeks, a ton of engagement and support…we weren’t expecting this to happen so quickly. There’s only one problem…we don’t know a lot about you! So, we’ve created a quick survey (5 questions) to try and get to know you a little better. And to make it worth your time, we’re giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to a select few.

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Amazon's Black Friday NFL game changes the game

• Headline Hustle: Israel & Hamas reach deal to release hostages, Starbucks has a worker treatment problem, Canada’s inflation report brings good news

• Binance’s billion dollar brush with the law

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

RETAIL

A touchdown for retail

In an audacious play that could only be described as a touchdown in the retail game, Amazon teams up with the NFL for a holiday blitz that's got everyone talking turkey—and touchdowns. This Black Friday, as Americans are knee-deep in turkey leftovers and eyeing up those sweet deals, Amazon is set to stream the very first NFL Black Friday game on Prime Video. It's a spectacle of sports meets shopping spree, a combo as tantalizing as mashed potatoes and gravy.

So, what’s cooking?

The fusion of sports and retail on one of the busiest shopping days signals a new era—where cheers for your favorite team might mingle with the clicks of online deal hunters. Amazon's clever integration of shoppable ads into the live game experience doesn't just up the ante for viewers; it redraws the battleground of digital commerce entirely. As the NFL expands its Thanksgiving dominion, this Black Friday feature fills a void, stitching together a weekend-long tapestry of sports extravagance and satisfying an insatiable appetite for continuous engagement.

Advertisers aren’t on the sidelines either. With the ad inventory sold out and 30-second commercials fetching up to $600,000, heavy-hitters like Bose and Carnival Cruises are seizing this prime-time opportunity to score with consumers directly from their couches. But this move isn't just a one-off—it's Amazon's latest drive in a series of strategic maneuvers to stretch the shopping season. By blurring the lines between Cyber Monday and Black Friday, Amazon is not just responding to the competitive surge from global e-commerce rivals; it’s attempting to outpace them with innovation in advertising and expedited delivery.

Looking ahead…as the game whistles to life this Black Friday, what we're really seeing is the evolution of entertainment, retail, and tech—a trifecta that Amazon is betting will become as iconic as pumpkin pie and Black Friday itself. It's more than a game; it's a glimpse into the future of how we watch, shop, and cheer.

Headline Hustle

🤝 Israel, Hamas reach deal to release 50 hostages. In a striking diplomatic turn, Israel and Hamas have inked a deal to swap hostages for prisoners, marking a pause in their ongoing conflict. The two-phase agreement will see 50 civilians released from Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees and a temporary halt in combat. Brokering nations Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. can chalk up a win for their efforts. While Netanyahu asserts Israel's continued campaign against Hamas, domestic and international pressures tilt towards negotiation and potential de-escalation. Hamas, labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S., sees this as a chance to regroup and tout political wins. The unfolding scene? A complex blend of strategic exchange and humanitarian relief amidst a backdrop of war and diplomacy.

☕️ Labor group plans board fight at Starbucks. Starbucks finds itself in the thick of a corporate governance saga as a labor group, holding a fractional share, vies for board seats. This strategic push by the labor coalition to address what they see as oversight failures in worker treatment signals a new chapter in shareholder activism. With three director nominations up their sleeve, they're turning the heat up on the coffee conglomerate's management of labor issues. As the company grapples with unionization efforts and fresh leadership, these developments are brewing a potent mix of challenges. The outcome of this proxy battle could very well signal a shift in the power dynamics between corporate boards and organized labor, with implications that ripple far beyond the coffee industry.

🇨🇦 Canada’s inflation continues to ease in October. In a display of economic cool-down, Canada's inflation took a backseat in October, signaling a breather for central bankers and hinting at steady interest rates amid an economy that's more crawl than sprint. October's consumer prices only nudged up by 0.1%, a stark contrast to last year's 8.1% spike, with cheaper gas offsetting pricier homes. Core inflation's chill suggests the Bank of Canada's rate hikes have been hitting the mark. As the nation anticipates Governor Macklem's take on inflation costs, economists watch for signs of a rates freeze at December's meeting. The big picture? The Bank's tightening grip seems to be reining in the inflation beast, with a possible rate cut tease for 2024.

CRYPTO

Binance’s billion dollar settlement

In the high-stakes poker game of financial regulation, Changpeng Zhao, CEO of cryptocurrency giant Binance, just pushed all his chips to the middle, pleading guilty to U.S. anti-money laundering violations. It’s a headline-grabbing twist that closes a chapter on a prolonged probe into Binance's operations. The plea, a part of a broader settlement including a hefty $4.3 billion fine, is a monumental move that might allow Binance to keep its virtual doors open.

Navigating the grey zone

Binance's rap sheet isn't for the faint-hearted: facilitating deals with sanctioned entities and coaching U.S. users on how to dodge detection. It's the stuff of financial thrillers, with the platform's previous lack of oversight leading to a hefty volume of transactions with users in no-go zones like Iran. Zhao's admission isn't just a personal mea culpa; it’s Binance’s acknowledgment of its Wild West compliance strategy, culminating in a payout that settles scores with various U.S. watchdogs.

Big picture: This isn't just Binance's cross to bear. The crypto industry at large is under the microscope, with U.S. regulators tightening the leash. Zhao’s case parallels Arthur Hayes of BitMEX, whose similar anti-money laundering charges led to a guilty plea but spared him jail time. The clear message from U.S. regulators? Innovative tech is no shield against legal obligations. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s stance is unambiguous: Disguising legal breaches as disruption is a no-go. This landmark case sets a precedent, underscoring the fine line between fintech innovation and adherence to financial laws. For the crypto world, it’s a wake-up call: Innovate within legal confines or face the consequences.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Microsoft's CTO Kevin Scott proposed to match the salaries of the many OpenAI employees considering resignation.

• The NFL continues its partnership with X, previously Twitter, amid advertiser backlash against the platform's hate speech and antisemitism issues under Elon Musk's ownership.

• A Florida judge ruled that there is "reasonable evidence" suggesting Elon Musk and Tesla management were aware of defects in the Autopilot system yet permitted the cars to be driven.

• During the Epic vs. Google trial, a Google executive testified that a deal permits Spotify to avoid Play Store fees.

• Sony faces a mass lawsuit that could reach £6.3 billion over accusations of abusing its dominant position, resulting in overcharging PlayStation customers.

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