Happy Friday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
Insight | Finding more reach and more mass.
Sting had a problem.
His 1999 album Brand New Day needed a push.
Radio stations were giving Sting's solo effort little airplay.
The album's leadoff song Desert Rose was struggling for air time.
And worse, audiences were turning away from radio stations and disc jockeys for music selection.
Audiences were heading to this new-fangled technology called the Internet and music-sharing sites for music selection.
Read the full post here.
Jacinda Ardern steps down as Prime Minister: Kiwis react to PM’s shock resignation NZ Herald
Jacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New Zealand: Labour leader to stand down no later than 7 February, saying she ‘no longer had enough in the tank’ to do the job. Guardian
Jacinda Ardern's resignation is the ultimate flex: New Zealand’s prime minister ends her barrier-breaking run with one last swing at those barriers. Beth Kowitt
Bolsonaro in Florida: KFC, a McMansion and trips to the supermarket: Supporters gather outside a house where former Brazilian president is staying amid chaos at home. FT
AP: Protesters stream to Peru capital demanding president resign
CIA director holds secret meeting with Zelensky on Russia’s next steps: CIA Director William Burns traveled in secret to Ukraine’s capital last week to brief President Volodymyr Zelensky on the US assessment of the weeks and months ahead. The visit comes as the government in Kyiv airs concern about the durability of US support. WP
William Burns is Team Biden's MVP.
Pentagon announces another $2.5 billion in military aid for Ukraine.
+ Includes 59 Bradley fighting vehicles and, for the first time, 90 armored Stryker vehicles.
+ This is the 30th drawdown from US stocks since August 2021.
+ Brings total to $27.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration.
Untested German defense minister has allies watching closely: Boris Pistorius, the new defense minister, is seen as a skilled politician but entering a world stage on which Ukraine is at war, he may pose a risk for Chancellor Olaf Scholz. NYT
US, allies ramp up pressure on Germany to send tanks to Ukraine: Politico reports Berlin has said it wouldn't transfer its tanks or give other European countries permission to do so until the US sends its own vehicles.
+ Sweden is increasing its military assistance to Ukraine.
US cable: Russian paramilitary group set to get cash infusion from expanded African mine: The Wagner Group's mining efforts are becoming increasingly lucrative for the organization. Politico
Russia, China to hold naval drills off South Africa: AP reports Russia and China will conduct naval drills in the Indian Ocean off the coast of South Africa next month, in another indication of their strengthening relationships with Africa’s most developed country amid the war in Ukraine and global financial uncertainty.
The great fall of China Michael de Adder
FT: Beijing’s top economic adviser tells Davos CEOs ‘China is back’
China’s reopening is the boost the flagging world economy needs: The easing of COVID restrictions will unleash pent-up demand for commodities, consumer goods, and travel. Politico
Will the UK warm to Finland's naked sauna diplomacy? BBC
Million French workers march over retirement age: The Times report about 10,000 police officers were deployed across France today amid mass protests over President Macron’s pension reform plan.
+ In Paris, unions claimed that 400,000 people had joined the march against legislation raising the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.
Pension reform: Over a million march in protest throughout France: Le Monde reports hundreds of thousands marched in street demonstrations across France on Thursday after labor unions unanimously called for a day of protests against government plans to raise the retirement age.
The Times: Thousands revive call for Catalan ‘freedom’
After years of false dawns, can Britain realize its nuclear ambitions? New investment would allow the country to reduce its reliance on dirty gas-fired power plants, but financing remains uncertain. FT
Sunak, Starmer and the Davos divide Katy Balls
The EU should stop whining about the US stealing its jobs Eric Levitz
‘You’re hurting my country’: Manchin faces Europe’s wrath: The West Virginia senator is pushing Europeans to stop worrying and love the Inflation Reduction Act. Politico
Once burned, twice keen: Scaramucci isn’t giving up on crypto: Focus on the tech, not the scandals, Anthony Scaramucci, and other crypto backers tell the Davos elite. Politico
Marine, Air Force generals emerge as Joint Chiefs chairman contenders: WP reports the Biden administration has opened its search to replace Gen. Mark A. Milley, who is expected to retire later this year.
The Co-dependency of Biden and Trump: The classified documents saga underscores how much they need each other in a 2024 rematch. Rich Lowry
Ron DeSantis backers plan $3.3mn spending blitz on White House bid: FT reports the Ready for Ron political action committee aims to boost governor’s national profile ahead of 2024 run.
+ Donald Trump has officially asked Meta to restore his Facebook account.
GOP in talks with networks about debates, and even CNN is included: NYT reports conversations between RNC officials and television executives signal that the contours of the Republican nominating contest are shaping up.
Biden bets it all on Republican failure: His overconfidence hides a weak hand. His only hope is that the GOP’s is weaker. Karl Rove
Republican Dave McCormick is making moves for a potential run against Sen. Bob Casey in PA: Philadelphia Inquirer reports Dave McCormick has attended high-profile political events and has a book coming out soon, fueling hopes among some Republicans that he can emerge as a consensus candidate against Sen. Bob Casey.
2024 Senate map is a GOP dream. But candidate strength is unsettled. Emerging landscape points to potential decisions on the horizon about if and how to intervene in battleground contests with flawed contenders. WP
Today: President Joe Biden notches two years in office today. That represents 730 days since his inauguration.
Biden won't announce his re-election plans before State of the Union speech: NBC News reports advisers to the president say documents probe won't influence a final decision, expected to be announced as early as next month.
The Biden classified-document payback: Democrats stoked the Trump bonfire for years. Now it’s put them in political hell. Daniel Henninger
WP: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) expected to address plans in Richmond on Friday
In Michigan, Democratic women are rising. Now some are weighing a Senate run. The electoral success Democratic women have had in Michigan stands out among battleground states. In the wake of a senator’s retirement, several are eyeing their next steps. WP
Ohio House ex-speaker’s trial in $60M bribery probe to begin AP
+ You need this, trust me. Total Communications Reset. More here.
300 nuclear missiles are headed your way. You must respond. What now? Inside Moran Cerf’s quest to modernize the decision-making process that could end life on earth. FT
Is >300 less concerning?
Reed Hastings is stepping down as chief executive of Netflix, the company he co-founded 25 years ago
Disney’s troubles show how technology has changed the business of culture: At 100, the mouse can still roar. But it faces a new kind of rival. Economist
+ Bob Chapek, Disney’s former CEO, will get a $20 million severance package.
AP: EU’s Breton warns TikTok CEO: Comply with new digital rules
+ Maine is the latest state to ban TikTok for state workers.
Costco announces reauthorization of stock buyback program of up to $4 billion.
What exactly is going on with Tesla? Lizzie O'Leary
Fake meat was supposed to save the world. It became just another fad: Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods wanted to upend the world’s $1 trillion meat industry. But plant-based meat is turning out to be a flop. Bloomberg
'They're boiling the frog': SEC's new crypto crackdown roils industry: The SEC's move last week to charge two digital asset giants with selling unregistered products to individual investors was a stark warning to crypto exchanges, lenders, and other platforms. Politico
How Frank Gehry delivers on time and on budget: Lessons from the master architect in managing big projects. Bent Flyvbjerg + Dan Gardner
ChatGPT: 'Until now, AI has promised to take away our jobs. Will it also deprive us of our storytelling?': Karl Eychenne warns that the development of AI software like ChatGPT represents a dark time for the art of storytelling. Le Monde
The quest for a dumber phone: Digital minimalists use simple talk-and-text devices to spend less time online, curb distraction, and navigate internet addiction. Fadeke Adegbuyi
Bloomberg: Bunk beds come to economy class in battle for New York flyers
+ Qantas and Air New Zealand try to outdo each other on comfort.
+ Could set a blueprint for a growing number of ultra-long flights.
How much income do you need to be rich? Nick Maggiulli
Variety: David Crosby, Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash co-founder, dies at 81
Famous fans say farewell to the B-52’s: ‘They got me to question my own prejudices’ Guardian
Why the scary, funny, profane ‘FAFO’ was 2022’s word of the year Amanda Katz
AP: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ leads race for BAFTA awards
+ Full 2023 BAFTA nominations - click here.
How Eagles center Jason Kelce became the ‘king of Philly’ WP
Parenting lessons from the 1990s kids who grew up Bills fans: They said watching the Bills lose four straight Super Bowls taught them about football and life. The Times asked which of those lessons of fandom were worth passing on to their children now that the team is favored to win it all. NYT
Frances Tiafoe’s life goes technicolor: A thunderous run to the semifinals at the 2022 US Open changed Tiafoe’s life. Now the rising American tennis star wants more. NYT
Usain Bolt wants to know where his missing $12 million went WP
Second NBA game in Paris hopes to be a slam dunk for basketball's growth in Europe: Le Monde reports in addition to interest in the sport across the Atlantic, European sports leagues are taking note of how the NBA has innovated to grow its base of committed fans.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
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