Strategic Shifts | Make Digital Strategy Feel Personal Again
WELCOME From micro influencers and messenger ads to X’s new NBA portal – audience engagement is the name of the…
Read ItThe Weekender includes big reads and big ideas shaping public policy, consumer trends, and cultural innovation. Sign-up below to receive curation and commentary from the team at Strategic Elements. We’ll see you there.
The Weekender: The New 6:00 AM
DATA POINTS 4th – The rank of California’s economy on the global stage, surpassing Japan last week 5.9% – The…
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The Weekender: Batting Eyelashes at the Economy
DATA POINTS 3 – The number of genetically modified dire wolves created by Colossal Biosciences to bring them out of…
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The Weekender: Women in Space, Women in Sports
DATA POINTS 11 Minutes – The length of the Blue Origins all-female suborbital space flight 17 – The number of…
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The Weekender: The Economy Imitates Fashion
DATA POINTS 0.00038% – The chance of filling out a perfect NCAA bracket — lower than getting struck by lightning…
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The Weekender: Too Many Cooks in the Soup
DATA POINTS May 7 – The day every U.S. air traveler must have a REAL-ID-compliant state-issued driver’s license 2008 –…
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Strategic Shifts | Bright Ideas and Blooming Results: Spring’s Digital Ad Shift
WELCOME Unlocking search everywhere, Meta’s AI boost, Gen Z’s X take, and LinkedIn’s must-have skills. Cover All Your Bases with…
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The Weekender: Have you done your taxes?
DATA POINTS 0 – The number of perfect brackets remaining in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament after the second round …
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The Weekender: Space, AI, and Chickens
DATA POINTS 20.5% – The percentage U.S. law school applications have increased this year over last year 24 – The…
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The Weekender: America’s Cinematic Mirror
DATA POINTS 4,000 – The number of 3-pointers Steph Curry has made in his career so far, an NBA record …
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The Weekender: Trudeau’s Surprising Saving Grace
DATA POINTS 20 – The percent of independent voters who tuned into President Trump’s joint address 25 – The number…
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Strategic Shifts | Lock Down Your Inbox, Meta’s AI-Powered Ad Targeting Revamp, The Appeal of LinkedIn Newsletters, and Grok Now Manages Ad Campaigns
WELCOME Discover how to secure your inbox, optimize ad campaigns with Meta’s AI, leverage LinkedIn Newsletters, and see how Grok…
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The Weekender: Review the Reviews
DATA POINTS 13 – The number of drinks being cut from Starbucks’ menu 49.7% – The percentage of current consumer…
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The Weekender: E.U. Stuck in the Middle
DATA POINTS 3.1% – The chance asteroid 2024 YR4 will hit Earth in 2032, the highest odds yet of collision…
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The Weekender: Will you be my AI Valentine?
DATA POINTS 25% – The percentage at which all steel and aluminum imports will be taxed effective March 12 65,000…
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The Weekender: Cold Ice, Hot Politics
DATA POINTS 35% – The accuracy rate of Punxsutawney Phil’s ability to predict an early spring 99 – the number of Beyonce’s…
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Strategic Shifts | Unpacking the TikTok Ban, Meta’s Fact-Check Flip, The Future of X Money, and Debunking LinkedIn Myths
WELCOME Let’s breakdown exactly what is happening with TikTok, Meta politics, and how X money can change the game – plus,…
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The Weekender: All as the Doomsday Clock Ticks . . .
DATA POINTS 3.9 years – The average job tenure of the American worker 10% – The percentage of federal workers who…
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The Weekender: Tariffs, Crypto, and an Inauguration
DATA POINTS 9: The number of presidential pardons granted by President Biden on his last day in office 12 hours:…
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The Weekender: Congress Runs on Celsius
DATA POINTS 1 in 5: The number of job postings last quarter that were fake “ghost jobs” 5%: The percentage…
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The Weekender: Trouble with our Upstairs Neighbors
DATA POINTS $9.00: The cost of a new “congestion tax” to be paid by most drivers entering Manhattan’s Congestion Relief…
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Strategic Shifts | 2025’s Online Clicks, Tips, and Listening Fix
WELCOME This year, it’s all about perfecting your ‘sound strategy.’ Dive into the art of social listening and discover the…
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The Weekender: The Best of 2024
Welcome back to The Weekender! As 2024 comes to a close, we’re excited to share our Best of 2024 edition…
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Strategic Shifts | Dust Off, Shine On, and Own Your Digital Domain
WELCOME Get ready to enhance your 2025 digital presence with our comprehensive 8-point checklist, platform updates, and expert insights. …
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The Weekender: Fluoride, Legumes, and Dark Matter
DATA POINTS 3: The number of “Doomsday Fish” to wash up on California‘s shoreline this year; said to be a…
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The Weekender: Filling the Cabinet
DATA POINTS 3: The number of seats currently flipped by Republicans in the U.S. Senate 7: The number of seats…
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Strategic Shifts | Digital Advertising’s Year in Rewind, Supercharge Your Ad Content, and X’s Holiday Game Plan
Welcome Stay ahead of the game when it comes to digital advertising, learn how to maximize your Meta performance, and…
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The Weekender Special Edition: Energy & Elections
DATA POINTS Nov. 7: The day Starbucks rolled out their 2024 Holiday Menu 7: The number of swing states in…
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The Election Weekender
DATA POINTS 13: The number of states who have been affected by the McDonald’s E.coli outbreak 26%: The percentage of…
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The Weekender: Vote Early!
DATA POINTS 10: The number of days until the 2024 General Election 15: The number of years since the Yankees…
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The Weekender: Everyone Can Serve in Congress
DATA POINTS 2%: The percentage of Americans who live to 100 years old 10%: The percentage of staff Boeing plans…
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The Weekender: The iRobot Economy
DATA POINTS 94: The percentage of Americans expected to participate in Halloween activities this year 200: The maximum miles per hour…
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The Weekender: Pumpkin Spice and VP Nice
DATA POINTS 11: The total number of astronauts aboard the International Space Station after two SpaceX astronauts arrived to rescue…
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Strategic Shifts | Meta Introduces Monster Advertising Tools for the Holidays, LinkedIn AI Model Magic and the Spine-Chilling Strategy of Video Storytelling
Welcome Learn about Meta’s fresh tools for your holiday campaigns, LinkedIn’s updated user agreement and the importance of video storytelling…
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The Weekender: The Evolution of Campaign T-Shirts
DATA POINTS Oct. 1 – The date of the first Vice Presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance Oct.…
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The Weekender: Borrow, Baby, Borrow!
DATA POINTS 10.4%: The share of Fortune 500 companies with female CEOs (unchanged from last year) 12: The number of…
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The Weekender: The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Click Me DATA POINTS 18 The number of days until the vice-presidential debate (October 1 on CBS in New York…
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The Weekender: Biden, Backpacks, and the Big Leagues
DATA POINTS 3: The number of days until the first presidential debate between Trump and Harris 9: The number of…
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Strategic Shifts | Was MySpace Social Media’s Peak? Tips from the Top, Buzzy Event Recipes, and More Big Shifts
Welcome Learn to master IG from the company head, win in-person event promotion, and reflect on the days of…
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The Weekender: The Cost of Happiness
DATA POINTS 14.3: The average number of sick days Gen Z workers take per year, compared to baby boomers’ 8.9…
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The Weekender: The Tunes of the News
DATA POINTS 14.2%: The projected growth of employment for computer occupations in the next decade $15.93: The amount Starbucks’ stock…
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The Weekender: Minnesota Nice (For Now)
DATA POINTS 9.784 Seconds – U.S. Olympian Noah Lyles’ 100m race time, making him the fastest man in the world…
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Strategic Shifts | Harnessing Olympic Dreams, LinkedIn Growth, and AI-Powered Holiday Marketing Campaigns
Welcome Discover how to leverage the Paris 2024 Olympics, boost LinkedIn engagement, and optimize holiday marketing with Meta’s latest AI…
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The Weekender: Do You Drive a Small Car?
DATA POINTS 41 – The USA’s current Olympic medal count; the most medals of any country thus far 58 –…
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Strategic Elements Announces Summer Promotions
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — Strategic Elements, a nationwide public affairs firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Elizabeth…
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The Weekender: Sports, Politics, and Protein
DATA POINTS 44 – The number of years since a Biden, Bush, or Clinton hasn’t been on a presidential ticket …
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Special Edition Weekender: Everything is Politics
DATA POINTS 2x: The growth of Trump’s average national polling lead since the June 27th debate 13: The number of…
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The Weekender: Attention on Convention Suspension
DATA POINTS 18: The number of congressional Democrats who are demanding Biden withdraw from the race (17 Members of Congress…
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Strategic Shifts | Measuring Metrics Across Platforms
CANNES LIONS 2024 RECAP During the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Meta announced products to help drive creativity and…
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Special Edition Weekender: Rematch of the Political Centurions
DATA POINTS 6.7: Biden’s golf handicap according to the United States Golf Association; 4.2 points more than Trump’s recorded handicap…
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Strategic Elements Welcomes Public Affairs Veteran Bruce Carroll
West Des Moines, IA – Strategic Elements, an award-winning nationwide Public Affairs and Communications firm, is pleased to announce public…
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The Weekender: Heated Debates in Heat Domes
DATA POINTS 16: The number of Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contests won by Joey Chestnut; who is…
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The Weekender: Could Pickleball Pick POTUS?
DATA POINTS 2: Dr. Pepper’s ranking in the USA; overtaking Pepsi for the second-place spot it’s held since 1985 3:…
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The Weekender: A Homerun to Space
DATA POINTS 46%: The percentage of Gen Z who believe college isn’t worth the cost 86: The number of people…
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Strategic Shifts | AI All Around Us
WELCOME As AI continues to evolve, social media platforms must evolve with it. Whether it’s AI features in apps, disclosures…
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The Weekender: For the Greater Grid
DATA POINTS 2 Years: The age of the two pandas from China making their way to the Smithsonian National Zoo…
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Strategic Elements Promotes Public Affairs Experts
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA—Strategic Elements, a public affairs firm known for activating results, is proud to announce that Mak Heddens…
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The Weekender: Who’s Feeling Young?
DATA POINTS 78%: The percentage of U.S. workers that don’t use all their PTO days $167 B: The total amount…
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The Weekender: Want to Retire Early?
DATA POINTS 34.5%: The percentage of home purchases in the U.S. that are made with cash 62: The average age…
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The Weekender: Planes, Trains, and Brand New Names
DATA POINTS 1 in 24: Your chances of running into a millionaire in NYC 30%: The portion of the world’s…
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Strategic Shifts | Meta thrives with platform competition
Welcome This month, we highlight some of the latest social media platform competitions. Everyone wants to maximize short-form video, but…
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The Weekender: A New Generation of FDR’s Fireside Chats
DATA POINTS 51: The number of Walmart Health Centers set to close (all of them) 83: The number of tornadoes…
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The Weekender: Workplace Politics has a Whole New Meaning
DATA POINTS 14 Years: The time it took for Reggie Bush to have the NCAA reinstate his Heisman Trophy 99%:…
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The Weekender: 1 State went 100% Renewable
DATA POINTS 10 Hours: The length of Google employees’ sit-in protest surrounding the company’s work with Israel, ending in arrests…
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The Weekender: A Surge in Women’s Sports🏀
DATA POINTS 3.5%: The consumer price index in March – an increase from February’s 3.2% 8%: The percentage internet traffic…
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The Weekender: See it Monday or in 2044
DATA POINTS 3.6%: The percentage of chicken flock the country’s largest egg producer had to cull due to a bird…
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Political Content on Social Media
Meta’s shift from political content Across platforms, Meta is officially limiting political content from accounts users do not already follow.…
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The Weekender: Is the Economy Stop or Go? Maybe Both
DATA POINTS 7: The number of states considering or enacting social media regulations for minors 2,000: The number of migrants…
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The Weekender: Tick Tock on TikTok
DATA POINTS 4%: Vanguard’s prediction for the U.S.’ year-end unemployment rate (down from 4.8%) 23rd: The United States’ happiness ranking…
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The Weekender: The Skinny on Super Tuesday
DATA POINTS 10 a.m. ET: The time on March 6 Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign 11: The total number…
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Social Media’s Evolution from 2009 to Today
This year Strategic Elements is celebrating its 15th year as a company! As you read this month’s Strategic Shifts, think…
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The Weekender: The End of an Era: McConnell Stepping Aside
DATA POINTS 4: The number of days until Super Tuesday $5.84: The tooth fairy’s average gift value, down from $6.23…
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The Weekender: Gadgets of the Modern James Bond
DATA POINTS 15 Years: The anniversary Strategic Elements celebrated this week 22%: The percentage of Americans who have asked their…
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The Weekender: For Cupid or Capital?
DATA POINTS $2.64: The amount of return on the City of New Orleans’ investment in Mardi Gras for every $1.00…
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Strategic Elements Collaboration with Muscular Dystrophy Association Leads to Top Industry Award
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – Strategic Elements (SE) celebrates the achievements of its client, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), for…
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The Weekender: The Long Negotiation; The Quick Nay
DATA POINTS 63.3%: The percentage of voters who voted for “none of these candidates” in Nevada’s Republican Primary 156.4 Seconds:…
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Algorithms, Legislators, and Ads, OH MY
“Engaged View” Attribution for Video Ads — A new video ad performance measurement will track conversions for up to 24…
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The Weekender: A Meteorologist’s Economic Forecast
DATA POINTS 25: The number of Republican Governors who signed a letter supporting Texas in the border control fight 39%:…
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The Weekender Special Edition: A Local’s Take on the New Hampshire GOP Primary
DATA POINTS 1: The number of minutes after the polls closed before the media called the race 9: The number…
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The Weekender: An Iowa Perspective on the Iowa Caucuses
DATA POINTS 29.8%: The margin of victory in Donald Trump’s Iowa Caucuses win 31: The number of minutes after the…
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The Weekender: A Case for the Caucus
DATA POINTS 3: The number of days until the Iowa Caucus 65: The percentage of in-bound movers who moved to…
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The Weekender: 2024, In A Nutshell
DATA POINTS 10: The number of days until the Iowa caucuses 20 Years Old: The age Facebook will be this…
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The Weekender: Your Favorite Stories of 2023 (and Ours!)
From Twitter drama, to fighting depression with science, to the War of the Wardrobes, 2023 has been a hectic year.…
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Strategic Elements Gains Policy & Advocacy Expert
Strategic Elements welcomes Rachel Eason, Communications and Public Affairs Director, to the team. Rachel is a powerhouse in the public…
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The Weekender: CosMc’s, Wikipedia, & Rizz
DATA POINTS 118: The number of days the Hollywood SAG-AFTRA strike lasted 12,000+: The record-setting number of migrants that crossed…
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The Weekender: Taylor Tops Spotify
DATA POINTS 20%: The percentage of children under 14 years of age who regularly take melatonin supplements 32%: The percentage…
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The Weekender: An Ultra-Problem with the Ultra-Processed
DATA POINTS 0.1%: The percentage retail sales dropped in October; the first decline since March 3.9%: The current unemployment rates…
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The Weekender: The Rise of Home School
DATA POINTS 1: The number of World Series the Texas Rangers have won 22%: The support Robert Kennedy has in…
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The Weekender: Congress Less Bleaker with New Speaker
1.2%: The Arizona Diamondbacks’ chance at making the World Series at the beginning of their season $7.32: The average retail…
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Top-tier Trio Joins the Strategic Elements Team
Strategic Elements is proud to expand its award-winning team by welcoming Gustavo (Gus) Portela as Communications and Public Affairs Director,…
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The Weekender: New Hampshire, New Technology, and a New Governor
DATA POINTS $1: The amount Elon Musk is charging new X users as a test in the Philippines and New…
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The Weekender: A Bad Day for Beer Drinkers
DATA POINTS 3.7%: The percentage consumer prices rose in September 4: The number of months the Coast Guard has recovered…
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The Weekender: The McCarthy Era: 270 Days
DATA POINTS 7.5%: The average U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate – the highest it’s been since 2000 26: The number…
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The Weekender Special Edition: Our Debate Take
DATA POINTS 5:50: The number of minutes border security was discussed, making it the lengthiest issue of the night 38: The…
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The Weekender: Would You Pay for Social Media?
DATA POINTS 6: The number of GOP candidates expected to be on stage at the second Republican debate 65%: The…
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The Special Edition Weekender: The Race for #47
DATA POINTS 3: The number of years “El Chapo’s” wife served in prison for helping him run his criminal empire…
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The Weekender: Cheap flights, less aid, and butter on a stick
DATA POINTS 7%: The projected increase of median health care costs for corporate employers in 2024 12%: The percentage of…
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The Weekender: Working 9 to 5(ish)
DATA POINTS 7.49%: The current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate 12th: The day in September the iPhone 15 is set…
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The Weekender: Give Saturn a Ring
DATA POINTS 3.3%: The percent the price of goods and services were up in July compared to this time last…
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The Weekender: The Women Running Entertainment
DATA POINTS 3: The number of deaths recorded from an infection with rare flesh-eating bacteria in Connecticut and New York…
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