The Daily Valet. - 9/27/23, Wednesday
✔️ 148 Days Later ...
Wednesday, September 27th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
What music are we all listing to this morning?
Presented by
Today’s Big Story
Hollywood Writers Return to Work
Leadership Votes to Conclude Historic Work Stoppage—the second longest in the union's history
Hollywood's historic labor battle will soon be over. On the 148th day of the work stoppage, the board of the Writers Guild of America voted unanimously to lift the strike order as of this morning. They now have a tentative agreement on a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). That means writers can go back to work—even before the final ratification vote.According to the Hollywood Reporter, that means that tasks that were prohibited by strike rules— everything from pitching and selling scripts, to taking meetings and responding to notes—will now be sanctioned, while writers' rooms can reconvene. But they also pointed out that the end of the strike doesn't mean that the agreement that the union reached with studios and streamers on Sunday night is a sure thing: Union members still need to vote to ratify the contract, a referendum that union leadership announced Tuesday will take place between Oct. 2nd and Oct. 9th.But members are expected to approve the three-year deal, after a bitter standoff that contributed to a near-complete shutdown of film and television production. Guild leaders have repeatedly called the terms of the accord “exceptional.” Studios have declined to comment.For the first time, the Writers Guild made those terms public on Tuesday. While not receiving everything it asked for, Variety says the “union achieved major gains.” For example, writers will now receive a bonus from streaming services that is based on a percentage of active subscribers. And residual payments (a form of royalty) for overseas viewing of streaming would increase 76%. They also made inroads on minimum staffing requirements and protections for the use of artificial intelligence in the writing process.However, even though writers' rooms can begin running again, much of Hollywood will stay at a standstill. Tens of thousands of actors remain on strike, and no talks between the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, and the studios have been scheduled. The only productions that could quickly restart are ones without actors, like late-night shows and those daytime talk shows hosted by Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Hudson, which I'm sure are glad to have this strike now in the rearview.
By the Numbers:
The WGA said the tentative contract includes enhancements worth an estimated $233 million annually. The guild originally proposed $429 million in enhancements, while studios countered with $86 million.
Is a Government Shutdown Inevitable?
and how might it impact you and your travel plans?
Senate Democrats and Republicans announced a short-term funding deal Tuesday night in a show of force against House Republicans, who have largely abandoned passing a stopgap measure ahead of a possible government shutdown in four days. It would keep government funding flowing through Nov. 17th to allow more time for negotiations, but the measure faced resistance in the Republican-led House.If lawmakers don't agree on a budget before Saturday, we've got a real mess on our hands (again). The IRS may keep some essential employees around—unpaid—but only to search for payments to the government. Veterans will receive their monthly pension payments and retain access to health care, and military funerals will continue uninterrupted, but current servicemembers won't receive paychecks. Programs such as food stamps and supplemental assistance for new mothers (which serves nearly half of the babies born in the U.S.) will go unfunded.National parks might remain open, but restrooms there would not. You'll still be able to fly, but most Federal Aviation Administration employees won't be getting paid. According to the Washington Post, during the last shutdown, the stress led to mistakes which ultimately resulted in a reduction in overall flights. And TSA wait times could balloon. Meanwhile, the State Department could suspend passport services administered in buildings run by temporarily shuttered agencies. So let's all keep those fingers crossed.
Partner
The team at MR PORTER shares the key pieces you need to refresh your wardrobe.
You Can Really Get Everything at Costco
The warehouse store joins retail push into primary care with $29 telehealth visits
There are all sorts of reasons why people love to shop at Costco—from the low prices and bulk-sized quantities to the roomy aisles and free samples. And now, everyone's favorite warehouse retailer is offering medical services at wholesale prices. (Is this what American healthcare has come to?)Costco is teaming up with the online platform Sesame to offer same-day $29 virtual primary care visits with no wait times. Sesame said it targets the uninsured and those with high deductibles who need to pay cash. It doesn't accept health insurance to help keep prices low. According to Axios, the partnership is part of a broad effort to use digital tools to create more customizable patient experiences that's also drawn the likes of Amazon, Walmart, CVS and Dollar General.Costco will also be offering lab testing and virtual mental health services via Sesame with a member's discount. A standard lab panel and consult will cost $72, while a virtual therapy visit will be $79. Costco members could start booking services on Monday in every state. No insurance, no referrals and no billing down the road. Customers who opt for Sesame's services will pay the health provider directly after seeing a medical professional. Honestly, it seems like an easy and fuss-free solution to a very real problem.
Dig Deeper:
A majority of Americans with health insurance said they had encountered obstacles to coverage, including denied medical care, higher bills and a lack of doctors in their plans.
Spotify’s Got a New ‘Jam’ Feature
it lets you listen to shared playlists with friends in real time
Spotify launched a new feature on Tuesday, which lets multiple users in different locations enjoy the same collaborative playlist in real time. Like a custom radio station for your group chat, without all the talk breaks.Designed for real-time listening, Spotify Jam allows up to 32 Spotify users to participate in listening sessions together, add songs to the shared playlist queue, and receive recommendations that bridge the gaps between group members' tastes in music. According to The Verge, the feature is available to both free and Premium Spotify account holders, but only Spotify Premium subscribers (which starts at $5.99) can start and invite others to a Jam session. While Jam was designed as a collaborative experience, Engadget says that hosts will have the power to change the order of the tracks and remove songs they believe don't fit a theme or vibe. Those who'd rather stream music alone but still be able to discover new songs and artists would probably enjoy Spotify's daylist more. The new playlist launched earlier this month keeps changing throughout the day, based on the kind of music the user typically listens to.
FYI:
Spotify currently has more than 515 million active users on its app.
In Other News
The government and 17 states allege the retailer’s monopolistic practices led to higher prices.
Judge Rules Donald Trump Defrauded Banks, Insurers As He Built Real Estate Empire, in a Major Victory for NY Attorney General
Have you heard about ...
Partner
Your Fall Wardrobe Updates
THE TEAM AT MR PORTER SHARES THE KEY PIECES YOU NEED TO REFRESH YOUR WARDROBE
Are you ready for fall weather to arrive so you can (say it with us) really start dressing? We asked the buying team at MR PORTER what they're most excited about after stocking some of the coolest pieces from Autumn/Winter '23 collections. While there are definitely some trends they're excited about (think eye-catching sweaters and relaxed wide-leg trousers), they said that it's always a good idea to invest in “carefully and intentionally crafted clothing that vibes with your lifestyle.” Put another way, they pulled out the best, most wearable, most exciting trends of the season from the world's top designer brands. Here's what they're recommending.
This cardigan fits like a jacket and has been knitted in Italy from the finest virgin wool blended with cashmere for a soft, insulating handle.
$3,595 by Brunello Cucincelli
A soft, relaxed shirt jacket has an understated elegance to it.
$470 by Mr P.
Think workwear pants, but a whole lot more luxe thanks to leather accents.
$1,100 by Loewe
The season calls for a good pair of boots. And these are inspired by vintage military styles, with a smart yet supple suede upper grounded by thick Vibram rubber soles for traction.
$470 by Mr P.
This all-season staple takes new form for fall with a waved knit pattern adding depth and texture to any look.
$410 by Mr P.
Tom Ford updates the endlessly versatile trucker jacket with upsized pockets and Italian tailoring.
$2,350 by Tom Ford
Update your wardrobe:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A ceramic coffee mug
CB2's terra cotta mug is fired with a matte black reactive glaze, which makes each ceramic a one-of-one. It's a steal for under $10 and is dishwasher and microwave-safe.
Get It:
Sculpt coffee mug, $14.95 / $6.97 by CB2
Morning Motto
It’s all about balance.
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