Today’s Big Story

America’s Fast Food Diplomacy

How U.S. fast food took over the world, then went local

Like China’s “panda diplomacy”, America’s version of sending out good will is wrapped up in a Happy Meal box. Travel almost anywhere, and chances are you’ll never be too far from McDonald’s Golden Arches, a Pizza Hut pizza box or KFC’s iconic Original Recipe chicken.

Other than Coca-Cola, McDonald’s must be the most-recognized American brand around the globe. And despite health fads and changing tastes, the mother of all fast-food appears to be unstoppable: It opens an average of 20 new stores every month, and about 60% of its locations are international. The Economist still uses its Big Mac Index, launched back in 1986, to measure if currencies are under or overvalued.

Of course, it hasn’t always been an easy relationship. According to The Dial, the same year that the Big Mac Index launched, McDonald’s opened its first Italian branch, in Rome. Valentino, the fashion designer, was appalled. He complained about the “significant and constant noise and an unbearable smell of fried food fouling the air,” and took legal action against the chain. He wasn’t the only one to be upset. Thousands of Italians gathered in protest, furious at what they perceived to be the Americanization of their beloved capital. Some passed around perfectly cooked plates of pasta to fellow protestors just to make a point.

But that outrage didn’t last. When we started exporting fast food, America was the world’s reigning superpower and a cultural powerhouse and people just wanted a taste. The U.S. might not be seen in quite the same way today, but the appetite for American fast food has not diminished. Of course, if “Americana” is the entry marketing hook, what keeps people coming back to these places is the food. And the food isn’t really all that American anymore.

There are now more than 40,000 McDonald’s spread across 100 countries, servicing nearly 69 million customers daily—a figure surpassing the population of France or the United Kingdom. Subway and Starbucks have almost as many branches—with 37,000 and 35,000 locations, respectively. But the local franchises infuse regional flavors, textures and trends into their menus to appeal to their customers. These aren’t gimmicks; they are strategic choices. And frankly, as someone who just recently enjoyed a very tasty (and affordable) lunch at a Tokyo McDonald’s, these international locations often have better food.

Gary He, a photojournalist and the author of McAtlas: A Global Guide to the Golden Arches, says in the U.S., “fast-food chains are utilitarian spaces, a means to an end. A place to pick up a quick fix on the way home without getting out of one’s car. Yet abroad, many are proper sit-down restaurants and have become destinations — places of leisure, pleasure and even joy.” It’s a shame we can’t find the same pleasure in fast food’s home country.

After the Storm

Hurricane Milton tore a path of destruction across Florida

Hurricane Milton's destruction came into focus Thursday, with barrier islands battered, a growing death toll and more than 2.6 million left without power throughout Florida. The storm tore roofs off homes and buildings while flooding whole neighborhoods. However, the Coast Guard said the authorities had reopened several commercial ports in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina after assessing each for safety following the hurricane’s landfall.

As the New York Times points out, Florida has clearly learned to prepare for much of the damage that hurricanes can inflict. The state’s strong building code, which has made newer construction remarkably resistant to even fierce storms, most likely had a mitigating effect as Milton swept through. The state is working to restore power and replenish fuel supply quickly, with 50,000 pre-staged linemen, who “are going to work,” Governor Ron DeSantis said.

President Biden said from the White House Thursday that there are “still very dangerous conditions” in Florida. People "should wait to be given an all-clear by their leaders before they go out," the president said, noting that in past hurricanes, more lives have been lost in the days after the initial landfall than during the storm itself.

Rafael Nadal Retires

He gave his all until he simply couldn’t anymore and had to hang up his racket

Tennis great Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 38. In a statement posted to social media, one of the greatest tennis players of all time—who has won 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles—said that “in this life everything has a beginning and an end.”

Nadal’s unrelenting, physical style of play—every point pursued as though it were his last, sprinting and sliding into place for that high-bouncing bullwhip of a lefty forehand—made him one of the greats of the game and the unquestioned King of Clay, the slow, red surface on which he dominated. He is one of only three men to complete the Career Golden Slam in singles and has won 92 ATP-level singles titles—63 of these coming on clay courts—including 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal.

According to sports writer, Howard Fendrich, Nadal’s style of play was so rigorous and unforgiving that it contributed to a series of injuries over the years (even his Roland Garros debut as a teen was delayed 12 months, and his last triumph there came thanks only to painkilling injections). His exit follows that of Roger Federer, who left the game at age 41 in 2022 after 20 Grand Slam titles and plenty of remarkable on-court contests against Nadal, none more noteworthy than their 2008 Wimbledon final. So let that be a reminder to us all to give it our all for as long as we can.

Tesla Reveals Driverless Robotaxi

The fully autonomous taxi will feature inductive charging and start production in 2026

After years of promises, Tesla on Thursday unveiled a car that Elon Musk said will be able to drive itself without human supervision. The “robotaxi,” which Musk also referred to as a “cybercab,” will cost less than $30,000 and be available before 2027, he said. Though he acknowledged, “I tend to be a little optimistic.” We all remember how long the Cybertruck took, right?

The car has no steering wheel, no pedals and just two seats. There's no rear window, either. The interior features a dash similar to a Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, with a singular screen sprouting from the center. It also has a pair of exotic dihedral doors, and its wheels have giant disc-like covers. Surprisingly, Musk said the Robotaxi doesn't have a traditional charging port, as it relies on inductive (i.e. wireless) charging.

The company also teased a “Robovan”. As its name suggests, it's a van-like autonomous taxi that looks like an enormous toaster on wheels. It can carry up to 20 people and also transport goods. It has glass windows on either side of the roof as well as sliding side doors. Of course, before any of these hit the road, Tesla plans to deploy a fully autonomous version of its so-called “Full Self-Driving” software, a feature that now needs driver supervision, in Texas and California next year. This would run on two of its existing vehicles, the Model 3 and Model Y, though it wasn’t clear whether customers would be able to download it or ride in those cars.

A Weekend Pairing

‘Abbott Elementary’ + an Apple Jack Cocktail

ABC’s funniest sitcom returns for it's highly-anticipated fourth season with a giddy premiere, now streaming on Hulu. And in an era of streaming, a 22-episode run is a gift—because the world needs a wholesome, hilarious show right about now.

And critics seem to agree that the show is better than ever. If you'll remember, Janine and Gregory ended last season with a satisfying, swoon-worthy kiss. And they don’t even wait three minutes into this episode to confirm their relationship status. And the season, we're told only gets better: "The focus is entirely within Abbott, allowing the cast's chemistry to shine."

Trust the process.