The Daily Valet. - 1/27/22, Thursday
✔️ A Change Is Coming
Thursday, January 27th Edition
What’s your go-to order at McDonald’s?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
A Supreme Court Change
Justice Stephen Breyer to retire, preventing another gridlocked crisis between a president and congress
Longtime liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is planning to retire at the end of the Supreme Court’s current term, the Washington Post reports. At 83, he is the court’s oldest justice—nominated in 1994 by President Bill Clinton.
This will give President Joe Biden his first opening on the nation’s highest court, which he has pledged to fill with the historic naming of the court’s first Black woman. Biden and Justice Breyer are expected to hold an event at the White House today to formally announce the retirement.
Democrats everywhere were undoubtedly relieved. According to Intelligencer, this prevents a repeat of what happened when revered liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg opted not to step down when a Democratic president was in office, only to pass away in time for Donald Trump to rush a favorite of ideological conservatives, Amy Coney Barrett, through a Republican-controlled Senate as her replacement.
That gamble cost more than a liberal seat on the court. Legal scholars argue that Barrett’s eleventh-hour confirmation hurt the legitimacy of the court itself. That legitimacy crisis hasn’t gone away: Gallup polls show that only 40% of Americans currently approve of the Supreme Court—a record low.
The replacement will undoubtedly be confirmed by a Senate where Democrats have the slimmest majority. Since Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell pushed through a change in filibuster rules in 2017 to confirm Neil Gorsuch, it just requires a party-line, simple majority vote to advance a Supreme Court nominee.
Of course, Breyer’s departure won’t change the 6-3 conservative advantage on the court. But a female will further shift the balance of genders to five men and four women—a first for the court. Axios says it will also shift the nation’s political conversation in a way that will likely help Democrats in the midterm elections.
↦ The Short List: Who might Biden nominate? Early discussions are focusing on these three judges.
Opting Out of Valentine’s Day
Brands now let you skip the triggers
A lot of ads are annoying. But some are downright triggering. So more and more brands these days are giving customers a heads up and the chance to opt out of marketing emails ahead of holidays like Valentine's Day.
The evolution comes as businesses realize all the messaging about relationships can cause anxiety and depression for a lot of people. It's a more thoughtful and inclusive approach to marketing—after all, you don't want to beat customers over the heads with ads that don't apply to them. (Or worse, could hurt them.)
British florist Bloom & Wild started the trend in 2019, when they gave their customers the ability to opt out of Mother's Day emails and invited other businesses to follow suit. Since then, more than 150 brands have joined their “Thoughtful Marketing Movement.”
Ariel Kaye, founder of Parachute, told Forbes, that “empathy marketing and thinking about how to be more thoughtful as a brand” will “pay off in terms of people’s loyalty and connection with the brand.”
↦ FYI: We've gone from being exposed to around 500 ads a day in the 1970s to around 5,000 a day now.
Nutrition Labels for Internet Service
How healthy is your ISP for you?
Consumers face a real lack of transparency when it comes to purchasing broadband services. Bills are confusing and feature complex pricing schemes. Roughly seven in 10 U.S. adults surveyed by Consumer Reports [PDF] who have used a cable/internet provider in the past two years said they experienced unexpected or hidden fees.
Recently, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency would consider moving ahead with a proposal to establish “broadband labels” that would help customers easily see information about internet-service provider's prices, data allowances and speeds.
They'll vote on the proposal today and if the measure is approved, the agency will seek comments on its plans, including where the information should be displayed and how the commission should enforce accuracy on the labels, before finalizing the regulations.
In 2016, the FCC introduced voluntary labels that were modeled after nutrition labels. President Biden urged the FCC to move forward with the labels in his July executive order regarding competition. The goal is more competition at lower prices.
↦ Dig Deeper: The Daily Dot points out that an estimated 88.3 million Americans don't have the luxury of having more than one option for their ISP. So these labels won't be that helpful for them.
McDonald’s Rolls Out McPlant Burger
But will customers really want the novelty?
McDonald's is rolling out the McPlant, a plant-based burger, to two more markets in the U.S. after initially offering the burger in eight restaurants late last year.
On Feb. 14, the chain will expand the test to about 600 restaurants in the San Francisco Bay and Dallas-Fort Worth areas to learn more about consumer demand. If it continues to sell, it may be coming to your local golden arches soon.
The McPlant is made from plant-based ingredients like peas, rice and potatoes. It was co-developed with Beyond Meat and is exclusive to McDonald's. According to CNBC, early interest and willingness to try the product has been greater than expected.
TheStreet says McPlant might be different, but the fast-food giant has gone down this road before and the ending has always been the same. They point out that while the majority of people say they want healthier options, they rarely, if ever, order them. Salads only accounted for 3% of the chain's sales before they were discontinued during the pandemic.
↦ Meanwhile: McDonald's is now selling select fan-made menu hacks in stores and from their app.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
+
Go Inward to Move Forward
How one man found a way to change his life
Lee Evans writes about living a life propped up by seeking external validation for today's installment of 31 Days.
“I had spent a lifetime up until this point honing my social skills and building a life of interests that looked good on the outside. Being liked, being accepted, being seen as successful—these were the things that were important to me. They seem to be important to most of us, right? But in truth, I was anxious, hyper judgmental and sad.”
It wasn't until the pandemic hit and work was shut down, hangs were on hiatus, and income dried up, that he was body-slammed by reality. “My kingdom of validation was closed too,” he writes. “I didn't have work to scratch the itch of being needed and wanted. I didn't have money to buy expensive clothes and stroke my cool-guy ego. I didn't have casual run-ins with people at the coffee shop who would for sure tell me what I'm doing with my life was interesting and important. Once I was cut off from the external, my entire world felt like it was crumbling, and the house of cards began to fall.”
This is when he decided to work on himself. And by looking inward and working with a coach, he was able to find his way out of where he didn't want to be and into a life that now works for him.
↦ Read: Go inward to move forward
The New Shoes on Our Radar
↑ There's something so elevated about a navy-colored sneaker ($90). Nike stays true to their timeless track style with the retro swoosh and the original waffle sole. Pair these with some worn-in denim for a relaxed workday or your old collegiate sweats for weekend coffee runs.
↦ Want more? 5 new shoes we can’t stop talking about
Today’s Deals
Expires 1/28
Expires 1/30
Expires 1/31
↦ Want More? See all 49 sales
Morning Motto
Not into it? Put it off until tomorrow.
↦ Follow: @realfunwow
That’s all for today...
Valet Media LLC535 S. Curson Ave. #8GLos Angeles, CA 90036[email protected]