Good morning readers. Have you ever wondered about the origins of “Secret Santa?” The festive tradition, a staple of holiday cheer among friends, family, and colleagues, has a history as intriguing as its gift exchanges. Originating from the Dutch "Sante Klaas," the term evolved into "Santa Claus" by the mid-19th century in America. The concept of "Secret Santa" first emerged in early 20th-century U.S. newspapers, initially referring to anonymous gift-givers for the needy. It wasn't until decades later that it became synonymous with gift exchanges, with early iterations in Nebraska's social clubs during the 1920s. By the 1960s, "Secret Santa" gained popularity, eventually becoming a beloved, and sometimes humorously parodied, part of office culture and various festive gatherings.

Ho, ho, hope you found that as interesting as we did.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Celebrity cameos in the crossfire

• Headline Hustle: House panel launches probe into Harvard, MIT and UPenn, UNLV shooter identified as former business professor, FedEx issues safety warning to its drivers

• Podcasting’s pivotal moment

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

TECHNOLOGY

Russian trolls turn Hollywood stars into propaganda pawns

In an age where truth often takes the backseat to sensationalism, Russian propagandists have upped the ante in the disinformation game, and their latest ploy involves some unexpected players: Hollywood celebrities. In a plot twist worthy of a spy thriller, stars like Elijah Wood and Priscilla Presley have been unwittingly cast in a misinformation drama, their well-intentioned videos manipulated to undermine Ukraine and its leadership.

Through Cameo, an app where fans can receive personalized messages from celebrities, Russian trolls orchestrated a deceptive masterstroke. They lured at least seven Western celebrities into recording messages for a guy named "Vladimir," only to edit these videos into a disinformation narrative suggesting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky struggles with substance abuse. A method so sneaky, it'd make a con artist blush.

This isn’t just a one-off prank

It's part of a broader Russian effort to manipulate global perceptions of the war in Ukraine. This maneuver, uncovered by Microsoft, reveals a novel twist in Russia's disinformation playbook: using real footage of American celebrities, a move as cunning as it is alarming. These doctored videos, although not viral sensations, have trickled into thousands of views online. Cameo, caught in the crossfire, maintains a tight-lipped policy against users who exploit its service but hasn't commented on this specific case.

It doesn’t stop at Hollywood. This operation, spearheaded by the shadowy group Storm-1099, is a tiny part of a colossal iceberg. They've been busy (to put it lightly), crafting fake news and spreading false narratives about everything from the Gaza conflict to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The recent demise of Russian disinformation kingpin Yevgeny Prigozhin hasn't slowed them down either – if anything, it shows there's a whole network of digital puppeteers at play.

Bottom line: This situation highlights a fundamental truth — in the world of instant information, it's more important than ever to question not just what you see, but also the context in which you see it.

Headline Hustle

🔎 House panel probes Harvard, MIT and UPenn amid antisemitism fight. The House Education Committee has initiated an investigation into Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) following a controversial hearing where their leaders struggled to clarify whether they would take disciplinary action against student protestors advocating for the genocide of Jews. The universities presidents appeared before the committee and faced questions regarding such remarks on their campuses. The probe aims to address concerns about the response to antisemitism at these institutions, with the committee demanding substantial document disclosure and not ruling out the use of subpoenas if necessary. Business leaders, including Bill Ackman and Albert Bourla, expressed disappointment in the university leaders' responses during the hearing.

🏫 UNLV shooter identified as former business school professor seeking position at university. In a tragic incident at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), a gunman, identified as 67-year-old Anthony Polito, unleashed a deadly attack that claimed the lives of three faculty members and injured another. Polito, a former business school professor, had applied for a teaching position at UNLV but was rejected, leaving him financially distressed. Armed with a handgun, he arrived on campus and began shooting. Prior to the attack, Polito mailed mysterious letters to university personnel nationwide, with one containing an unknown white substance. The incident has sent shockwaves through a city that still bears the scars of a previous mass shooting in 2017.

🚚 FedEx issues safety warning to contractors amid reports of crimes against drivers. FedEx has issued a security alert to its package-delivery contractors in response to a surge in thefts and carjackings targeting their drivers. The alert emphasizes the importance of driver safety and vehicle security during what is traditionally a peak season for package thefts. Recent videos on social media and television have shown thieves targeting trucks from FedEx, Amazon, and UPS across various cities. While it's unclear if this year's peak season has seen a higher rate of truck robberies than previous years, FedEx is taking proactive measures to protect its team members and customers' shipments. The company has nearly 7,000 independent contractors in its Ground unit, many of whom are small-business owners responsible for their own delivery trucks and drivers.

MEDIA

A reality check for the podcasting boom

In the ever-evolving world of digital media, Spotify's latest move – laying off 17% of its workforce and axing top-tier shows, including a Pulitzer Prize winner – has sent ripples across the podcasting landscape.

Despite pouring over a billion dollars into podcasting, snatching up platforms like Gimlet and The Ringer, and rolling out the red carpet for celebs, Spotify's gamble hasn't hit the jackpot they were betting on. Their big bet? Making their shiny new shows exclusive to their platform. The result? A significant audience drop-off, not the subscriber surge they were hoping for.

This isn't a podcast apocalypse. It's more about Spotify's strategy misfire than a death knell for the industry. The bigger picture shows a disconnect between the high-stakes moves of venture capitalists and the gritty reality of the creator economy. When the VC dollars started drying up, it wasn't because creators were losing their touch; it was more about a mismatch between market needs and investor bets.

Now, the winds are changing. The market's new mantra? Sustainable growth over rapid expansion, a shift that’s nudging media companies, including those in the podcasting ring, to rethink their strategies.

A lesson in overreaching: While Spotify's recent setbacks may seem like dark clouds over the podcasting world, they're more a reflection of its corporate strategy rather than the industry's overall health. For the podcasting community, the message is clear: diversify, innovate, and maybe don't put all your episodes in one app's basket.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Elon Musk has called for the removal of Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, angered by Disney's decision to withdraw ads from Musk's social media platform, X.

• Yellow declined a proposal to resurrect the bankrupt trucking company and rehire its employees, marking the end of an attempt to save a major U.S. freight carrier.

• Golf star Jon Rahm has joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league, leaving the PGA Tour in a surprising move.

• Hundreds of Washington Post employees staged a one-day strike on Thursday due to ongoing disputes with management regarding pay, workplace policies, and proposed job reductions.

• The Canadian government plans to implement a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions in its oil and gas sector, positioning Canada as one of the first major oil producers to impose such restrictions on its energy industry.

• Grok, a ChatGPT rival created by Elon Musk's xAI, has launched on X (formerly Twitter) for its Premium Plus subscribers in the U.S., with full rollout expected within a week.

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