Jack Dorsey’s Square/Block Has Become Too Confusing of a Company for its Own Good
Square/Block now has so many moving parts that even professional stock analysts are a little lost.
Biden’s Climate Bill Could Be a Boon for Electric Carmakers—But It Doesn’t Include Tesla
Most Tesla cars won’t be eligible for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act due to multiple price hikes.
The Best PR Firms in America 2022
Here is the Observer’s annual list of the 50 best PR firms in America.
Business
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Here Is Every Powerful Friend of Elon Musk’s Subpoenaed in the Twitter Lawsuit So Far
Some of the individuals subpoenaed in the Twitter case have no known involvement in Musk’s proposal to buy the social media company.
Smart Brevity Pays: Axios Founders Allen, Schwartz, and VandeHei Sell Company to Investor Cox
Cox Enterprises, having invested in Axios, is now buying the digital media company for $525 million.
Lawsuit Claims Starbucks’ Fruit-Based Drinks Are Missing Key Fruits
A woman from Queens has sued Starbucks over its ‘Refresher’ line, claiming the beverages don’t contain key marketed ingredients like acai, mango and passionfruit.
EXCLUSIVE: Responding to Critics, Malcolm Gladwell Says Freelance Work Taught Him “Benefits—and Drawbacks—of Being on Your Own All Day”
In 2005 writer Malcolm Gladwell proclaimed “desks are now banished.” Today, he’s pushing to bring workers back into the office.
The Repatriation Wave Continues, as a London Museum Returns 72 Artifacts to Nigeria
Days after a set of guidelines outlining how English museums should approach restitution and repatriation cases was released, London’s Horniman Museum announced it will return more than 70 looted antiquities to Nigeria.
Entertainment
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Why Is This Trending? The Dave Matthews Band Chicago River Incident
The Dave Matthews Band trends every year for reasons they and 120 passengers on a Chicago tour boat would prefer to forget.
Mary Rodgers, Jesse Green and the Making of a No-Holds-Barred Memoir
“I spent hundreds of hours with her, laughing, and I wanted to duplicate that,” Jesse Green says of the no-holds-barred Mary Rodgers memoir ‘Shy.’
Olivia Newton-John, Beloved Singer and “Grease” Actress, Dead At 73
Actress and singer Olivia Newton-John has passed away after years of battling breast cancer.
Power Lists
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The DeFi Dozen: Here Are the Hottest DeFi Companies of 2022
Observer and CoinDesk studied market capitalization, valuation based on venture investment and more to identify the hottest DeFi companies of 2022. Here they are.
PR Rising Stars 2022
Public relations and marketing is a constantly evolving field, even during a pandemic. For that reason, it’s long been a
The Best PR Firms in America 2022
Here is the Observer’s annual list of the 50 best PR firms in America.
Latest
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Jet Set: How to Pack for Easeful Travel
From a polished leather tote and printed duffle to a chic jewelry organizer and the softest joggers, here are the travel pieces we’re loving and coveting right now.
Jack Dorsey’s Square/Block Has Become Too Confusing of a Company for its Own Good
Square/Block now has so many moving parts that even professional stock analysts are a little lost.
Why Is This Trending? The Dave Matthews Band Chicago River Incident
The Dave Matthews Band trends every year for reasons they and 120 passengers on a Chicago tour boat would prefer to forget.
Biden’s Climate Bill Could Be a Boon for Electric Carmakers—But It Doesn’t Include Tesla
Most Tesla cars won’t be eligible for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act due to multiple price hikes.
Mary Rodgers, Jesse Green and the Making of a No-Holds-Barred Memoir
“I spent hundreds of hours with her, laughing, and I wanted to duplicate that,” Jesse Green says of the no-holds-barred Mary Rodgers memoir ‘Shy.’
Here Is Every Powerful Friend of Elon Musk’s Subpoenaed in the Twitter Lawsuit So Far
Some of the individuals subpoenaed in the Twitter case have no known involvement in Musk’s proposal to buy the social media company.
Olivia Newton-John, Beloved Singer and “Grease” Actress, Dead At 73
Actress and singer Olivia Newton-John has passed away after years of battling breast cancer.
Smart Brevity Pays: Axios Founders Allen, Schwartz, and VandeHei Sell Company to Investor Cox
Cox Enterprises, having invested in Axios, is now buying the digital media company for $525 million.
Observer’s Slambook: Cartoonist Gizem Vural Always Responds to Emails
Cartoonist Gizem Vural answered the Observer’s Slambook series, answering a series of randomized questions that have little to do with art.
Lawsuit Claims Starbucks’ Fruit-Based Drinks Are Missing Key Fruits
A woman from Queens has sued Starbucks over its ‘Refresher’ line, claiming the beverages don’t contain key marketed ingredients like acai, mango and passionfruit.
EXCLUSIVE: Responding to Critics, Malcolm Gladwell Says Freelance Work Taught Him “Benefits—and Drawbacks—of Being on Your Own All Day”
In 2005 writer Malcolm Gladwell proclaimed “desks are now banished.” Today, he’s pushing to bring workers back into the office.
The Sophisticated Shorts to Elevate Your Summer Wardrobe
These chic shorts are polished yet effortless.
The Repatriation Wave Continues, as a London Museum Returns 72 Artifacts to Nigeria
Days after a set of guidelines outlining how English museums should approach restitution and repatriation cases was released, London’s Horniman Museum announced it will return more than 70 looted antiquities to Nigeria.
Carlyle CEO Kewsong Lee Steps Down Unexpectedly
In a turbulent time for large investors like Carlyle, the company makes a dramatic change in leadership.
TikTok Has Changed Everything, Especially Book Publishing
TikTok’s algorithms take us deeper into ourselves, yet the viral app has profoundly shifted how books get publicity and find new audiences.
Jack Dorsey’s Block Feels the Pain of Bitcoin’s Price Drop
Jack Dorsey is an evangelist for Bitcoin, but the cryptocurrency’s price drop is slowing down Block.
Gov Report Shows NYC is Disastrously Unprepared for Heat Waves: Cooling Centers Closed on Weekends, Not Open to Families
The city’s Office of the Comptroller found that around 50% of New York City’s cooling centers were closed on Saturdays and many only accepted people over the age of 60. In addition, the report showed the cooling centers were distributed in an inequitable manner across the city.
Sara Bareilles Makes a Home on Broadway With ‘Into the Woods’
“I grew up a theater kid,” says Sara Bareilles, now on Broadway in ‘Into the Woods.’ “That was where I found my footing as a performer.”
What to Watch on Streaming
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What to Watch on Streaming This Week: August 5-11
This week offers the story of a real-life rescue, an action-packed alien movie, and multiple ’70s throwbacks.
What’s Leaving Streaming This August
From franchises to indie films, catch these movies before they leave streaming at the end of the month.
What to Watch on Streaming This Week: July 29-August 4
Between indie films and social media satire, this week’s streaming options are overflowing with high-quality content.
Reviews
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‘Bullet Train’ Might Be the Worst Movie Ever Made
‘Bullet Train’ features the worst assemblage of bad acting ever collected in a single film. There is also a poisonous snake.
Review: Robert Icke’s ‘Oresteia’ Skillfully Brings Greek Tragedy to Today’s Crises
At Park Avenue Armory, writer-director Robert Icke transforms Greek tragedy ‘Oresteia’ for a more postmodern audience.
Review: ‘The Haunting of Hajji Hotak’ Is a Surreal Gamified Tale of the Occupation of Afghanistan
Author Jamil Jan Kochai explores the Logar province of Afghanistan through the short story collection ‘The Haunting of Hajji Hotak.’
Arts
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Author Elle Nash Talks Early Internet, Obsession, and New Book ‘Gag Reflex’
Author Elle Nash has a new book ‘Gag Reflex’ out through Clash Books. She sat down with Observer to discuss fiction and much more.
The Never-Ending Art Fraud Battle Between Billionaires Yves Bouvier and Dmitry Rybolovlev Will, of Course, Continue
Since 2015, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev has been advocating for charges against Swiss businessman Yves Bouvier, accusing him of art fraud totaling $1 billion. A case against Bouvier dismissed late last year has now been appealed, with a criminal investigation to resume in Geneva.
Events Happening in New York City the First Two Weeks of August
August is a fun month in New York City, full of festivals, music, food, art, and people coming together. Here is a list to stay in the know.
Pinterest Once Again is a Casualty of Other Social Media Companies’ Crises
Pinterest has consistently exceeded Wall Street analysts’ earnings expectations in recent quarters. But its stock price barely reflects it.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Acquired a Collection of Indian Works Previously Rejected Over Questionable Provenance
The Met has just purchased a number of Indian artworks from late artist Howard Hodgkin’s collection, which was previously offered to the Ashmolean museum and rejected over concerns of provenance.
Mel Magazine Lays off Its Staff, Again
Mel Magazine lays off its entire staff, bringing into question the future of the publication yet again.
Lifestyle
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The Best Athleisure to Shop From the Outdoor Voices Summer Sale
The brand’s 30 percent off sale is now live, including their cult-favorite exercise dress.
Manhattan’s Getting a “WeWork For the .01 Percent”
A members-only co-working space is coming to Manhattan, with starting fees priced at $125,000 a head.
The Elegant and Effortless Caftans You’ll Turn to Every Summer
These sophisticated dresses prove style and comfort go hand in hand.
Home Set: Summer Hostess Gifts
From an exclusive tequila and cypress wax palette to a new votive and Diptyque’s latest collection, here’s what we’re loving and coveting at the moment.
The Stylish Smocked Dresses Your Wardrobe Needs Right Now
These frocks are fashionable, comfortable and perfect for summer.