Friday, July 10th Edition |
Have you heard of the Baltimore-style hot dog? I might see if I can try it this weekend.
Let’s dive in today …
Today’s Big Story
What’s Next for Netflix?
Streamer is rethinking some of its core strategies to compete with rivals

I was recently at a dinner party and when the topic of “what are you watching” inevitably was brought up, I was surprised at how few people were watching Netflix. Some said they even dropped the streamer after the last round of price hikes.
But the company already knew this. Subscriber engagement has been showing signs of decline, according to executives. This past spring, it was a small part of a conversation about the company’s goals, but it has since become a frequent topic of discussion at meetings, inside sources tell the Wall Street Journal.
While Netflix remains the industry leader among subscription-streaming services, shares in the company are down more than 40% over the past 12 months. Do people not have faith? Then again, its share of TV viewership fell to 7.8% in April, according to Nielsen, the lowest level in the past year.
Now, Netflix is thinking about adding always-on channels that would stream specific shows and movies. The move sounds like a Netflix version of always-on services like Pluto TV and Tubi, except the big hook for those is that they’re free—because of the ads you have to watch. According to The Verge, Netflix has seen success with its ad-supported tier, which is increasingly popular, but it costs $8.99 per month after a recent price hike.
The news follows Bloomberg’s recent report that Netflix has been trying to figure out why second seasons of its shows are experiencing significant viewership drops. Some critics have said that cancellations and long breaks between seasons make it all too easy to jump ship to the free alternatives in your pocket. Netflix has been bringing on new types of content as of late, including video podcasts and videos from digital media brands like BuzzFeed and Condé Nast, that are easy to turn on and leave running in the background and don’t require the dedicated focus of a prestige series. So … what are you watching these days?
FYI:
The average American household spends between $52 and $69 per month specifically on video streaming services.
U.S. Intensifies Strikes on Iran’s Coast
The ceasefire crumbles as fresh strikes rock Middle East
U.S. forces hit 90 targets overnight, mostly along Iran’s coastline with the Strait of Hormuz, stepping up renewed strikes after President Donald Trump said he thought a tentative truce was “over.” Iran, in turn, launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Jordan and countries in the Persian Gulf.
The intensifying tit-for-tat strikes, now entering their third day, came after huge crowds in Tehran vowed revenge against the United States during elaborate funeral rites this week for their assassinated supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and after Trump called Iran’s leaders “scum.”
However, American forces have been implementing strategic pauses to avoid escalation as negotiators meet behind the scenes, several officials told CNN. Earlier, USS Abraham Lincoln crews were preparing for potential strikes, according to the team aboard the aircraft carrier.
FYI:
Israel shared intelligence with the U.S. that Tehran has devised a new plan to assassinate President Trump.

Nothing Needs This Turntable
The stylish concept brings vinyl beyond nostalgia
I really wish this was real. But maybe it will be one day soon. Industrial design student Sungwoo Choi imagines what a turntable by Nothing could look like with Turntable (1), a personal concept project with no official connection to the stylish technology brand. But it’s been so prevalent on social media, I really thought the brand was launching it.
Designboom was impressed. “Rather than following the usual retro references of many turntables, Choi proposes a cleaner and more technological object. A white rectangular body, silver-toned details, transparent acrylic elements, and rounded control modules give the player the feel of a contemporary consumer device.”
If you’ve spent any time in the vinyl revival conversation, you know most turntables fall into two camps: the warm, retro-wood-and-brass kind that lean hard into nostalgia, or the cold, purely utilitarian kind that audiophiles swear by but would never put on display. Very few designs ask the question that good industrial design should always ask. Can this be both beautiful and functional, without being precious about either? Choi’s concept does exactly that.
Meanwhile:
The Atlantic writes about how digital devices from a less connected era are getting a second life.

Tech, Gear & AI Debriefing
The Trends You Need to Know About Right Now
Is America blowing the AI race? And let’s dig into those iPhone rumors.
A Weekend Pairing
‘Little House on the Prairie’ + a Smoked Bourbon Old Fashioned
Did you hear about Netflix reimagining the legendary Little House on the Prairie? It pairs perfectly with a smoked bourbon cocktail.

Today on
Heatwave dressing doesn't have to mean oversized tees and flip-flops. This week's outfit combines airy linen, technical basics and modern sandals into a look that's cool in every sense of the word.









