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President Trump Shot; Mass Layoffs Sweep U.S. Companies

An assassination attempt nearly kills President Trump, major U.S. companies are announcing substantial layoffs across various sectors, and the June CPI report indicates underlying economic issues and a significant drop in core CPI.

The User's Profile Ivor July 14, 2024
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In an attempted assassination, former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired from a rooftop over 130 yards away. Trump was seen grabbing his ear and falling but later stood up and walked off stage. Nine shots were heard, resulting in the deaths of a spectator and the shooter, with two others critically injured. Trump responded on social media, detailing the incident and his injuries. He was treated at a hospital and later released. The Secret Service, criticized for ignoring prior warnings about the shooter, killed the assailant and is investigating the incident with the FBI.

The rally venue was declared a crime scene, and the Secret Service implemented protective measures. Trump’s security team had previously requested increased protection from the Biden administration’s DHS but was repeatedly denied. The incident has sparked political reactions, with some Democrats making controversial comments about Trump. Media coverage varied, with some outlets downplaying the severity of the event. Elon Musk and other public figures expressed support for Trump, and there was a surge in donations to his campaign following the attack.

Moving on to other news, the economic landscape is witnessing significant shifts, particularly in the labor market. Major U.S. companies have announced substantial layoffs across various sectors. Nike is cutting staff as part of a $2 billion cost-cutting initiative due to slow sales growth. Google has laid off hundreds in its central engineering and hardware teams, following a 6% global workforce reduction in 2023. Discord is reducing its workforce by 170 employees due to inefficiencies from rapid expansion. Citigroup plans to cut 20,000 jobs as part of a corporate overhaul to save up to $2.5 billion, while Twitch, owned by Amazon, is laying off over 500 employees to streamline operations.

Other notable companies making cuts include BlackRock, which plans to lay off 3% of its workforce, affecting around 600 people, and Rent the Runway, which will cut 10% of its corporate jobs. Unity Software is eliminating 25% of its workforce, impacting about 1,800 jobs. eBay is cutting 1,000 jobs to become more nimble, and Microsoft is reducing its headcount by 1,900 in its gaming divisions, including Activision and Xbox. Flexport is laying off 15% of its staff, and iRobot is cutting around 350 employees as its founder steps down. UPS will reduce its headcount by 12,000 by the end of 2024, and PayPal is laying off 9% of its workforce, affecting about 2,500 employees.

The trend continues with Okta cutting roughly 7% of its workforce, impacting around 400 employees, and Snap reducing its global workforce by 10%. Estée Lauder will eliminate up to 3,100 positions, and DocuSign is cutting 6% of its workforce, primarily in sales and marketing. Zoom is slashing 150 jobs, and Paramount Global is laying off 800 employees. Morgan Stanley is trimming its wealth management division by hundreds of staffers, and Cisco is slashing more than 4,000 jobs amid a corporate tech sales slowdown. Expedia Group is cutting more than 8% of its workforce, impacting 1,500 roles, and Sony is laying off 900 workers, primarily in its game-making teams at PlayStation Studios.

In a related development, the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report revealed a significant drop in the core CPI, which excludes volatile items like food and energy. This decline, which began in March 2024, suggests underlying economic issues despite the core CPI still rising. Historically, such sharp slowdowns in the core CPI have only occurred during periods of significant economic distress, such as the Great Recession of 2008-2009. The current sharp slowdown in the core CPI, coupled with declining consumer confidence as reported by the University of Michigan, indicates potential trouble in the labor market and broader economy. Consumers’ expectations for future price changes have also decreased, suggesting concerns about economic stability rather than inflation.

Meanwhile, the era of cheap money is provoking what some analysts describe as “creditor-on-creditor violence.” This term refers to the increasing conflicts among creditors as they vie for repayment in a tightening financial environment. The excesses of the cheap money era have led to a complex web of financial obligations, making it challenging for creditors to secure their interests without clashing with others.

In corporate news, Unilever has announced plans to slash a third of its office jobs in Europe. This move is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and improve efficiency amid a challenging economic environment. The company aims to reduce costs and focus on core business areas to remain competitive.

Sources

From Insult to Identity: The Evolution of Neoconservatism

Irving Kristol, the godfather of the movement, defined a neoconservative as “a liberal who has been mugged by reality.”

Source | Submitted by 0007

Mass Layoffs Hit Major US Companies: Amazon, Tesla, Google, and More Slash Thousands of Jobs

The full list of major US companies slashing staff this year, from Tesla and Lucid Motors to Google and Apple.

Source | Submitted by Shplad

June CPI Report: When Disinflation Becomes a Red Flag

The June core CPI wasn’t just disinflationary; it was too disinflationary.

Source | Submitted by rhollenb

Cheap Money Era Sparks ‘Creditor-on-Creditor Violence’

Excesses of cheap money era are provoking ‘creditor-on-creditor violence’

Source | Submitted by Shplad

Unilever to Cut One-Third of Office Jobs in Europe

Unilever to slash a third of office jobs in Europe

Source | Submitted by Shplad

Trump Survives Assassination Attempt at Pennsylvania Rally; Shooter Identified as 20-Year-Old Thomas Matthew Crooks

Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear by a would-be assassin at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.

Source | Submitted by AaronMcKeon

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