Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, November 30, 2020:

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Anyone who traveled over Thanksgiving should “assume that you were exposed” to the coronavirus and get tested this week while avoiding contact with people who are elderly or have underlying conditions. That plea came from Dr. Deborah Birx on Sunday, and followed Dr. Fauci’s warning of a “surge upon a surge” that will hit in the next few weeks. In an abrupt change, NYC will reopen public elementary schools a week from today and abandon the controversial 3 percent test-positivity threshold. Middle and high schools in the country’s largest public-school system remain online-only for now. NY TIMES

BIDEN TRANSITION

President-elect Biden has announced an all-female communications team to be led by Jen Psaki, a former Obama adviser, as White House press secretary. He is also said to have also chosen Neera Tanden, a divisive figure in Democratic circles, to lead the budget office. Arizona and Wisconsin are set to certify their election results today (a recount in Wisconsin is over and reaffirmed Biden’s win there). The president-elect will likely have to wear a boot for a while after he fractured his foot while playing with his dog over the weekend. NPR

IRAN VOWS REVENGE

The supreme leader of Iran is calling for “definitive punishment” over the killing of the country’s top nuclear scientist. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated by a 12-person hit squad near Tehran on Friday in a sophisticated plot that had all the hallmarks of being conducted by Israel’s Mossad. Iran’s hardline state media has been casting Fakhrizadeh, who will be buried with full honors, as a martyr. There is growing concern that the brazen killing could destabilize the region just as a new U.S. administration is coming in. One Iranian newspaper called in an op-ed for a strike on the Israeli port city of Haifa. Israel’s embassies around the world have been put on high alert. REUTERS

TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE

The European Union is reportedly working on a proposal for a new transatlantic alliance with the U.S. in the post-Trump era. The draft plan proposes rebuilding ties on issues from trade to digital regulation as a way to counter the rise of China. Relations between the U.S. and many EU member states have been strained under the Trump administration. FT

IN MEMORIAM: TONY HSIEH

Tributes continue to pour in across the business world for Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos.com who died on Friday from injuries he sustained in a house fire. Hsieh was known as a visionary entrepreneur who was among the first to understand how to get customers to buy things on the internet -- namely, through a fanatical devotion to customer service. He pioneered a famous employment policy in which Zappos would pay new employees $1,000 to quit. The idea being: if they took up the offer, they didn’t have the sense of commitment the company was looking for. Hsieh was 46 years old. INC

CYBER MONDAY

In a Covid world, is there even a difference between a Black Friday that primarily happened online and the typical Cyber Monday online sales event that takes place today? Who knows. But the deals are still aplenty. The hottest big-ticket items this year are arguably the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, but good luck finding them in stock, virtually or physically. CBS NEWS

FOOTBALL: HIGHS & LOWS

NFL IN DISARRAY: The NFL’s marquee regular-season weekend did not go smoothly. The Broncos played their Sunday game against the Saints with a practice wide receiver at QB after all of the team’s quarterbacks were all sidelined under the COVID-19 protocol. It did not go well. Meanwhile, the Steelers-Ravens matchup that was supposed to be the big Thanksgiving night game was postponed to Sunday and then postponed again until tomorrow. In the NFC East, the N.Y. Giants are in first place with a record of ... 4-7. SBNATION

HISTORY MADE: Meanwhile, history was made in college football on Saturday when Sarah Fuller became the first woman to play for a Power 5 team. Fuller, who is normally a goalkeeper for Vanderbilt’s soccer team, kicked off to open the second half in the Vandy-Mizzou game: WATCH THE KICK

'CROODS' CRUSHES

The box office just had its biggest opening of any movie since before the pandemic. The Croods: A New Age took in $9.7 million domestically, or $14.2 million over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend, beating out Tenet for the best opening haul since Disney’s Onward in March. Box office analysts were shocked by the opening and say it shows that the movie theater experience is resilient and could be set for a huge rebound post-vaccine. VARIETY

SPOTTED...

...the actress Rebel Wilson, who has been chronicling her weight loss on social media, announcing that she has hit her goal weight for her “Year of Health” journey a month early: SEE PICS

LEFTOVERS: MISSING MONOLITH

A large, silvery metal monolith that mysteriously appeared in the Utah desert has just as mysteriously vanished. The Bureau of Land Management says the monolith was removed sometime on Friday. No one knows what it was or who put it there, though the art world has been speculating that it was the work of the late sculptor John McCracken, who reportedly wanted his art to be left in remote places to be discovered after his death. AP

Listen to the N2K Podcast! Looking for more context and analysis on the big stories of the day? Check out our podcast! Hosts Jill and Carlo break down the headlines, every weekday morning Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Business
What Happens if Russia Leaves the International Space Station?
Tensions from the Russia-Ukraine war have spilled into space. The head of Russia's space agency has threatened to pull the country out of the International Space Station if sanctions aren't lifted on the country — but that doesn't seem to be happening any time soon. What would it mean if Russia really did leave the ISS, who would it harm the most, and what would the consequences be both for the other ISS partners, and private space travel? Casey Dreier, Chief Advocate & Senior Space Policy Adviser at The Planetary Society, joins Closing Bell to discuss.
Brand Loyalty Begins to Fade as Inflation Takes its Toll on Consumers
If you've purchased groceries or ordered at a restaurant, you know that prices are going up across the board. You've probably made the switch to cheaper versions of the same products you'd normally buy in an effort to save a few dollars — but did you know that a consumer shift away from brand loyalty is closely followed by grocery chains and big brands? Both need to know where consumers are looking so they can stock shelves, lower prices, and market their products. Brian Mandelbaum, CEO of Klover, joins Closing Bell to discuss how inflation seems to be making brand loyalty disappear, why consumers aren't inclined to be loyal to certain brands or products, how this pattern impacts stores, and more.
Stocks Close Near Session Lows on Renewed Recession Fears
Stocks closed near session lows Tuesday as investors digest potentially aggressive rate hikes, and a potential recession. Both consumers and big banks are starting to think similarly on one topic: both groups think a recession is on the horizon. What does this mean for an American economy still struggling to gain its footing, and for the Federal Reserve which is just starting to implement rate hikes in an attempt to cool inflation? Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Strategist at CFRA, joined Closing Bell to discuss today's close, earnings season, whether a recession is on the horizon, and more.
Mattel COO on Hot Wheels 2022 Legend Tour and NFTs
Mattel’s Hot Wheels 2022 Legend Tour will be coming to New York City after a tour of 14 countries and five continents. The company is also launching Hot Wheels into the NFT space with the Hot Wheels Garage allowing users to customize digital cars. Richard Dickson, president and COO of Mattel, joined Cheddar News to talk about the tour and the efforts the iconic brand is taking to stay relevant in the digital age. "I think as you look at what's successful brands and toy brands in particular in this particular chapter are going to be about nostalgic brands that have longevity," he said. "We're generational in the context of our portfolio."
This CEO Says He’s Reaching Out to Travis Kalanick Today for an Investment
Ghost Financial emerged from stealth to raise $2.5M from investors to provide financial tools to the growing ghost kitchens space. CEO and founder John Meyer joined Cheddar News to discuss the company's future plans as well as potentially getting former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick on board. "The one thing I can say about my time spent with Travis Kalanick is that he definitely believes in the future of Ghost kitchens, given that, he's gone all-in on Cloud Kitchens as a company," Meyer said. "So he's not an investor in us yet. We welcome it, and I'll probably reach out to him today and ask."
Pandemic Sparks Big Shift In Brand Loyalty
The pandemic has seen a historic shift in brand loyalty. Since the beginning of COVID-19, more than 75% of shoppers have changed their buying habits, and 39% have switched brands or retailers entirely, as inflation and supply shortages have forced them to rethink their purchases, according to McKinsey. Barbara Connors, VP of Commercial Insights at 84.51°, breaks down this shift in brand loyalty and how brands are adapting to it.
Load More