The Zeitgeist: July 26, 2024

Today’s Edition: Mean Owls, Parodies and The Olympics

Happy Friday! The U.S. economy is on the rise, growing at a 2.8% annualized rate in the second quarter, outpacing expectations thanks to lively consumer spending and businesses stocking up. Southwest Airlines is shaking things up with assigned seating and premium seats with extra legroom—goodbye, traditional model! Meanwhile, Barbie continues to champion diversity with new additions to its lineup: a blind Barbie and the first Black Barbie with Down syndrome.

In the world of entertainment, the SAG-AFTRA union is striking against video game companies using actors’ images and voices, echoing last year’s strike against TV and movie studios. In sports, the WNBA All-Star Game soared to new heights with a record 3.44 million viewers, making it the third most-watched WNBA event ever and the biggest audience since 1997. Also, the 2024 Paris Olympics Games debut today amist a star-studded opening ceremony and train arson attacks.

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

Also, Kylie Cosmetics collab with Crumbl, Popeyes giveaway for National Intern Day, Poppi x Avocados From Mexico for National Avocado Day, Gen-Alpha’s favorite dress brand LoveShackFancy is collaborating with Stanley and Matthew McConaughey and his wife go pantless for National Tequila Day ad for Pantalones Tequila.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

Corporate

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

Connections

Feed intelligence

Media Moves:

  • TechCrunch has hired Margaux McCall as a senior reporter.

  • Max Harlow has been hired by Bloomberg News to be a data reporter in London.

  • Morning Brew has hired Paige McGlauflin as a reporter for its HR Brew newsletter.

  • Morning Brew has hired Caroline Catherman to cover health care.

  • Eve Crosbie has been named a senior entertainment reporter at Business Insider, based in London.

  • Katrina Northrop will join The Washington Post as a China correspondent.

  • The Telegraph has hired Pui-Guan Man as a business correspondent covering commercial property and construction.

Also... read how to explain the Kamala-Brat situation to your parents.

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