<insert Pintrest-y quote about beginnings and gumption or something>
I thought an inspirational quote might be the right way to kick things off for the first SWIRL. And then I thought a joke about an inspirational quote would be even better. So if you’re wondering how this is going to go - this whole thing that is SWIRL - there’s your first clue.
Before we get to the *actual content* of this week’s SWIRL, I should probably officially welcome you and give you a quick tour of what you’re in for. So, welcome! (that’s it, that’s the welcome). Now, the tour.
What is SWIRL?
A weekly newsletter that swirls around buzzy developments in Tech, Business, and Politics.Why should I read SWIRL?
Honestly? I’m not so sure that you should just yet (but also yes). Not because it won’t be informative, entertaining, and free - it aims to be all of those things! But because I’m going to mess up a lot, get things wrong, and most certainly bring dishonor upon my family’s name. You’re even more intrigued, aren’t you? -__-How is SWIRL different?
For starters, no one else is calling their newsletter SWIRL. As far as I’m aware. More importantly, SWIRL isn’t ‘news,’ ‘journalism,’ or an ‘advice column.’ Very smart people with the appropriate press-badges, degrees, and careers already do those wonderful things. SWIRL stirs all their good work into one pot to explore how tech, business, and politics come together - or don’t - and how all of it impacts us.“Isn’t someone else probably already doing that too?” Maybe. But remember, they’re not calling it SWIRL.
Puns
We’re going to be doing lots of that. If that’s a turn off, I suggest Financial Times.
Alright, I think that covers the important parts. Let’s get - and I can’t stress this next part enough - swirling! (You’re really going to learn to embrace the whole swirl, whirl, mixy-mixy, fluidity motif after a couple years, I promise.)
It’s Monday, January 25th. Here’s the SWIRL.
🌀 Tech: Uber is shaking. Things up.
🌀 Business: AMC - the popcorn and movie house from the Before Times - might be shorthand for “American Movie Comeback”
🌀 Politics: President Biden has ordered lots of executives. Wait, I think that’s wrong.
Uber is shaking. Things up.
Over the last few months, Uber has been shaking things up. It picked up food delivery competitor Postmates in an acquisition that completed in Dec of last year. But unless you’re in an Uber Pool, a new rider usually means dropping off another rider. Which is exactly what Uber has done. The SF-based ridesharing company has sold off its self-driving car and flying car divisions to other companies; the two projects at Uber were gobbling up cash. While we’re on gobbling….food delivery has kept Uber on the road throughout the pandemic while all of us staying home has cost the company billions with a b in revenue. Growing its delivery business and dispatching costlier investments seems to be the core of Uber’s strategy in the stretch ahead.
AMC could be shorthand for “American Movie Comeback”
If you were starting to feel bad for Uber’s luck during the pandemic, you should save some of those feels. In November of 2020, AMC’s financial check-up revealed a heart-stopping 90.9% dip in revenue. That’s like all the money. For obvious reasons, theater ticket sales have suffered during Covid. Some good news: the CEO of AMC - Adam Aron - has raised billions (again, with a b) of investment dollars to keep the theater chain alive. The dream? Attract enough cash to keep the lights on until we emerge from the pandemic. How does Adam feel about that prospect?
“If you want to know my mood, I’m very encouraged that multiple vaccines are rolling out globally,” he said. “To use a bad pun, it’s a real shot in the arm.”
President Biden has ordered lots of executives. Wait, I think that’s wrong.
Turns out executive orders don’t involve the president hailing executives to his office, nor is it a term for the ordering of executive Diet Cokes. Instead of enacting new laws through Congress, modern presidents may govern through executive orders. Democrat and Republican presidents alike have wielded this power, but both sides also tend to agree its not the ideal approach. What one president does via executive order, another can typically and swiftly undo with - you guessed it - an executive order. Ten of Biden’s thirty initial executive orders reversed Trump’s orders, i.e. border wall funding, bans on Muslims entering America, and our withdrawal from the World Health Organization. Most of the other orders signed by Biden were aimed at the economy and battling Covid, with a handful focused on additional immigration items, the environment, and social issues.
So, how do all of these stories swirl together? A common theme baked into all of them: a return to basics.
Uber is outsourcing its more ambitious projects to other companies so it can focus on delivery and ridesharing
AMC is splicing together investment dollars to withstand horror-movie-like revenues so it can limp to a reopening of all its theaters
The White House is rolling back Trump initiatives and refocusing federal attention on battling the virus and boot-strapping the economy
We’re not seeing fancy moves here. We’re not seeing ‘bold plays.’ We’re seeing organizations and their leaders take a sober look at the state of play, the months and years ahead of them, and choosing to bolster the basics. At least for now.
And that, folks, is the SWIRL. If you found this informative, entertaining, or free, then I kept my promise! Would you consider making me a promise? Subscribe and share SWIRL- you can do all that right here:
Thanks for being here and thanks for sharing any feedback about SWIRL or this post by leaving a comment.
Until next week - cheers!