Headlines Today in Finance, Technology & Politics — Microsoft eclipses Apple, now the world’s…

Microsoft Surpasses Apple in Market Value: Microsoft briefly became the largest company by market value, showing the market’s confidence in their AI developments, while Apple is launching the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. Renewable Energy Growth: The International Energy Agency notes a 50% growth in renewable energy capacity, which may help achieve the COP28 climate goal, with China leading in solar energy. Tesla Wage Increase: Tesla increased wages for its U.S. workers amid unionization movements, reflecting industry trends as it continues to lead in electric vehicle sales. Inflation Concerns: U.S. inflation rose by 3.4% due to housing costs, potentially affecting Federal Reserve rate decisions, with the U.S. showing stable inflation rates overall. Hertz’s EV Strategy Change: Hertz plans to sell off 20,000 EVs due to decreased demand and switch back to gasoline vehicles. High Noon’s Market Success: High Noon becomes the top-selling spirit in the U.S., highlighting shifts in consumer preferences. Stocks showed minimal change amid confusion over tepid inflation data, while spot bitcoin ETFs had a successful trading debut and Netflix’s stock rose due to its new ad-supported tier’s popularity.Incogni’s Privacy Service: Incogni offers a service to remove sensitive personal data, like SSNs, from the internet. OpenAI’s GPT Store: OpenAI’s new GPT Store allows the creation and use of ChatGPT-powered bots, advancing its monetization strategy. Substack’s Policy Shift: Substack begins to remove extremist content, showing a change in its content moderation policies. Tech Industry Layoffs: Google reduces its workforce, focusing more on AI, following a trend of job cuts in the tech sector. Apple’s Spatial Computing: Apple introduces the Vision Pro as a “spatial computing” device, avoiding traditional virtual reality terminology.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination shortly before the Iowa caucuses, amid pressures to consolidate efforts against Donald Trump’s candidacy. Christie has yet to endorse a fellow candidate and was caught on a live microphone making disparaging remarks about Nikki Haley’s campaign capabilities and mentioning a call from a concerned Ron DeSantis.

Left’s Opinion:

The left commends Christie for his condemnation of Trump.

Christie’s presidential campaign, which positioned him against Trump, failed to resonate, possibly due to the transformation of the GOP into a party that embraces Trump’s ethos or Christie’s inability to directly confront Trump. Christie was viewed as disloyal by Trump’s supporters and as an enabler of the MAGA movement by those seeking an alternative, leading to his lack of a solid voter base. Polls indicate a majority of Republican voters are accepting of Trump’s behavior, suggesting Christie’s departure signifies a surrender in the battle for the GOP’s identity. Christie expressed skepticism about endorsing Nikki Haley due to the possibility she might align with Trump later, revealing the complexities of strategizing against Trump within the party.

Right’s Opinion:

Opinions on the right are split regarding Christie.

Chris Christie’s campaign struggled nationally, he focused on attacking Trump without success, and he’s perceived as arrogant by Republicans, which contributed to his lack of popularity. Christie’s exit could potentially benefit Nikki Haley’s campaign in New Hampshire, where she’s trailing Trump by a single-digit margin, despite Christie’s negative remarks about her prospects. Christie’s hot mic comments cast doubt on his intentions, with speculation that he may have deliberately undermined Haley rather than endorsing her. Despite his unsuccessful campaign, Christie is acknowledged for candidly criticizing Trump and ultimately exiting the race, seen as a move for the greater good of the GOP and the country.