GOOD DAY FOR: A mermaid-clown smackdown, after Starbucks unveiled the outlines of a breakfast value meal, to stem declining sales amid a souring economy and increasing coffee competition from value-meal veterans McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts. McDonald’s foray into espresso drinks—they are sold at about 7,000 locations—has been profitable and is likely sapping customers from the slightly costlier Starbucks. (AP in FOX News)
BAD DAY FOR: Ticket prices, after dominant concert promoter Live Nation and ticket giant Ticketmaster were reported to be in last-state merger talks. The resulting music recording, management, and promotion powerhouse would be worth about $700 million and have ties to more than 200 artists, including Madonna, Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, and the Eagles. The deal, if finalized, is expected to face a stiff antitrust challenge. (Reuters)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Book reviews: 'America, América: A New History of the New World' and 'Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson'Feature A historian tells a new story of the Americas and the forgotten story of a pioneering preacher
-
Another messaging app used by the White House is in hot waterThe Explainer TeleMessage was seen being used by former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz
-
AI hallucinations are getting worseIn the Spotlight And no one knows why it is happening
