Break up Google, Starbucks CEO out, Kamala’s price controls, Boeing disaster, Kursk offensive
20 Aug 2024 (27 days ago)
Bestie intros: Jason gets a dish named after him!
- David Friedberg visited Bucks in Woodside.
- Friedberg's preferred menu items are the tuna melt and onion rings. (00:02:47)
- The restaurant added "J Cal's onion rings" to their menu in honor of Jason Calacanis.
DOJ considers breaking up Google after last week's antitrust ruling
- The Department of Justice is considering breaking up Google after a ruling that found the company has an illegal monopoly in search and advertising.
- A breakup of Google could involve spinning off various properties, such as YouTube, Android, or Chrome.
- There are arguments for and against breaking up Google, with some arguing that it would be good for competition and others arguing that it would stifle innovation. (00:10:09)
Starbucks replaces CEO with Chipotle chief
- Laxman Narasimhan stepped down from his role as CEO of Starbucks after just 16 months.
- Brian Niccol, the current CEO of Chipotle, will take over as CEO of Starbucks at the end of August.
- Starbucks' new CEO is expected to simplify the menu and potentially introduce automation to reduce costs.
Work culture, WFH's damage to informal mentorship
- Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, believes that the emphasis on work-life balance and remote work is detrimental to a company's success and that startups thrive because employees are dedicated to hard work. (00:45:56)
- The CEO of Starbucks believes in maintaining a work-life balance and prioritizing family time after 6:00 PM, only making exceptions for highly important matters.
- It is argued that remote work can hinder career advancement, as it limits opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and spontaneous interactions that contribute to innovation and career growth.
Election update: Harris flips the polls despite unclear policy; reports of price control focus
- Nate Silver’s current prediction for the 2024 election shows Kamala Harris with a 57% probability of winning the electoral college, a significant increase from Biden’s 27% before the “hot swap”.
- The Washington Post and Politico have reported that Kamala Harris will propose a federal ban on corporate price gouging for food and groceries. (01:01:14)
- The proposed price controls are expected to be similar to those implemented in the 1970s under Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter, which were widely considered unsuccessful and were followed by a period of high inflation.
Boeing's Starliner disaster strands two astronauts in space
- Two NASA astronauts launched on the Boeing Starliner capsule on June 5th, docked with the ISS, and are now unable to leave until at least February due to technical issues with the Starliner.
- The Starliner project has been plagued with problems since its inception, including design flaws, propellant leaks, parachute failures, software errors, and most recently, malfunctioning thrusters and helium leaks.
- The failure of the Starliner is contrasted with the success of SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which has flown 13 missions to the ISS. (01:23:19)
Russia/Ukraine update: Ukraine wins land in Kursk, Nordstream report
- Ukrainian forces launched an offensive operation in the Kursk region of Russia, advancing through several hundred miles of what is described as undefended territory.
- This offensive is characterized as a strategic move by Ukrainian President Zelensky in response to heavy losses suffered by Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region.
- Doubts are expressed about the long-term effectiveness of the Kursk offensive, suggesting that it may not significantly alter the course of the war and could ultimately weaken Ukrainian defenses in strategically important areas.