A year ago, Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, acknowledged that the company’s quality fell below industry standards. Farley and his management team estimated that it would take two or three years to regain competitiveness in this area. Since then, Ford has experienced issues such as engine fires in its F-150 Lightning and several recalls, including one affecting 231,942 vehicles due to […]

Harvey Pitt, a legal wunderkind who lasted just 18 months as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission under President George W. Bush, died on Tuesday in Washington. He was 78. His death, in a hospital, came after a sudden illness, according to his family, which did not specify the ailment. Mr. Pitt’s career had three consecutive legs, any one […]

Fat Ham, James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy nominated for five Tony Awards, will add one week of performances to its Broadway run, producers announced today. The production, directed by Saheem Ali, will now run through Sunday, July 2 at Broadway’s American Airlines Theatre. Tickets for the extension week go on sale Monday. The production’s Tony nominations include Best Play, Best […]

The Biden Administration and House Republicans recently reached a bi-partisan deal to raise the debt ceiling. To reach the compromise, and keep the United States from a catastrophic debt default, the White House agreed to a series of spending cuts to social safety net programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps. (Here is a look at the […]

The Institute for Supply Management released a report on Thursday showing U.S. manufacturing activity contracted at a slightly faster rate in the month of May. The ISM said its manufacturing PMI slipped to 46.9 in May from 47.1 in April, with a reading below 50 indicating a contraction. Economists had expected the index to edge down to 47.0. “The May […]

The U.S. housing market has cooled considerably in recent months. Precipitated in part by rising mortgage rates, existing home sales totaled just 4.28 million in April 2023, down 23% from the same period last year, according to the National Realtors Association. Still, the nationwide cooling, a number of American cities are breaking from the broader trend. In these places, most […]

Toy maker Mattel, Inc. has unveiled a new product collection from across the portfolio of its brands inspired by the upcoming film, Barbie. The hugely anticipated feature film, created in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures, debuts in theaters nationwide July 21. The new line features over half a dozen iconic Barbie and Ken looks inspired by the film. The Mattel […]

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel went to town on CAA, said his company almost invested $1 billion in the new LIV Golf tour, and projected that COO Mark Shapiro will take over the company whenever Emanuel calls it quits. The wide-ranging conversation with Freakonomics Radio host Stephen J. Dubner has just gone online as a podcast and will also air on […]

More than two years after it launched an investigation of actor Armie Hammer over sexual assault allegations, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said today that the actor won’t be charged. Related Story Danny Masterson Guilty Of Rape On Two Counts, Jury Decides; Facing 30 Years In Prison, Actor Taken Into Custody “Sexual assault cases are often difficult to prove, […]

European stocks may open higher on Thursday despite U.S. debt ceiling talks showing no progress. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is insisting it’s not his fault if the U.S. defaults on its debt. With just over a week left – including a holiday weekend – U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated her dire warning that the U.S. could have a hard time […]