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There was a time when corporate America was not very online. Most companies used social media for promoting products and services or engaging with consumers in a friendly fashion. Political posts on a company Twitter account were rare. That all changed between 2012-2022, when the volume of partisan speech on Twitter (now called X) from large corporations surged, more than doubling beginning in 2017, according to a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. Researchers said the spike was driven disproportionately by companies using language associated with Democratic politicians. The moves frequently had negative effects on company stock prices. In this edited conversation, the paper’s coauthor Elisabeth Kempf, Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Associate Professor of Business Administration, explains corporate Twitter’s abrupt shift. It seems ubiquitous now, but corporations putting out partisan-sounding tweets is only a recent development. What did you find? Partisan speech was very rare for companies. Less than 1 percent of all the tweets they sent between 2012 and 2017 would constitute what was, according to our measures, very partisan speech. Wading into partisan, polarized issues can be tricky for companies. We saw the first big change in 2017 where both Democratic and Republican partisan speech picks

A sense of celebration filled the air at the Pike County Jail as a group of women walked across a classroom space not usually known for applause. But on this day, they were recognized — not as inmates, but as aspiring business owners. The event marked the culmination of “New Start Up,” a five-session entrepreneurship program led by Troy University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in partnership with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office and the Sorrell College of Business. Each participant received a certificate of completion signed by Dean Judson Edwards and SBDC Director Juliana Bolivar, symbolizing the work they put into learning business fundamentals, building financial awareness, and — perhaps most importantly — believing in possibility again. “We started this program with a simple idea: that with the right tools and support, a person can start over,” Bolivar said. “This space became more than a classroom. It became a place for dreams, second chances, and the kind of learning that sticks because it’s tied to real hope.” The series covered topics ranging from business modeling and budgeting to professionalism, branding, and communication. Participants learned how to create business plans using what they already had, explored AI tools to enhance their skills, and discussed practical strategies for repairing credit and

Tennis powerhouse sibs Venus and Serena Williams are launching a new video podcast — and they’re turning to X, the social platform controlled by Elon Musk. The Williams sisters’ show will debut this August on X. The podcast, featuring the duo as co-hosts, will center around guest interviews with “visionaries, creators and rulebreakers passionate about shattering the status quo” to give fans “a front-row seat into their playful banter and undeniable bond,” according to their press announcement. “We’re so excited to be launching our new podcast, a place where we will share our personal stories, have authentic conversations, spotlight important topics, and laugh a lot,” the Williams sisters said in a joint statement provided to Variety. “This platform gives us the chance to engage directly with our fans who have supported us throughout our careers, and we’re excited to connect with audiences, old and new, in a way we’ve never done before.” Popular on Variety Their podcast will premiere on X before becoming available on other audio platforms. Venus and Serena are among the most popular sports personalities on X — cutting across generational and geographic lines, according to the social media company. Serena currently has 10.2 million followers, and

Vice President JD Vance is threatening to deport the fashion guru who went viral for criticizing his suits as “too small” and his ties for not matching the occasion. Derek Guy, known as the “Menswear Guy,” said Sunday he is in the U.S. illegally—a revelation that right-wing accounts and Vance quickly seized on. “The menswear guy just openly admitted on here that he’s here illegally,” one X account posted. A second user quote-tweeted that initial post and added, “JD Vance I know you’re reading this and you have the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.” This caught the vice president’s attention. Vance replied at 11:30 a.m. Monday with a GIF of Jack Nicholson slowly nodding his head, raising his eyebrows, and flashing his menacing, signature grin. Vance, 40, did not elaborate further on his veiled threat. His office did not respond to an email from the Daily Beast asking for clarification on whether he is serious or not. Guy responded to the threat with a joke about how tight Vance’s clothes can be on occasion. “I think I can outrun you in these clothes,” he tweeted at Vance. Guy said he was inspired to tell his story because of

Monday afternoon, it was reported that the Cincinnati Bengals would release long-time starting linebacker Germaine Pratt. Fans reacted the way they normally do — all over the place. Pratt isn’t coming off of a great 2024 season, but he also corralled the game-winning interception to end the Bengals' 31-year playoff drought, so there will always be a lot of love for him in the Queen City. With that, the Bengals will rely on new additions Oren Burks, Demetrius Knight, and Barrett Carter to pick up the slack. Here’s how Twitter reacted to the news. Cheers to Germaine Pratt. 6 seasons. 665 tackles. 8 INTs. 7 forced fumbles. Starting LB for 5 playoff wins. Incredible #Bengals career. When the dust settles on his time in the NFL, I hope he gets to have a moment with a Cincinnati fanbase that treasures his contributions. — Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) June 9, 2025 We had good times with Germaine Pratt. Sure, he wasn't perfect, but he developed into a pretty good player with a knack for creating plays when the Bengals needed it the most. When they needed it, it was Pratt.I wish him nothing but the best. Those moments will live in our…

Randy Pitchford is at it again with some expert analysis of some of Gearbox's previous games. The magician-in-chief has sifted through data, so now he knows which game is better between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3. It turns out it's not the good one. "Borderlands 3 seems to engender a meaningful degree more average playtime than Borderlands," Pitchford says in a social media post. "Earlier, the folks responding to a poll seemed to believe that actual play time is a better correlation to quality than user reviews." RE: The data from the post below… Times are hours and minutes, not minutes and seconds. Also, I wouldn’t focus on the time - it’s the relativity that matters. Averages are not good because they include people who launch, but don’t play and some that don’t launch. Also averaged… https://t.co/q41OkdHYGVJune 8, 2025 The poll in question found that Borderlands 2 had an average playtime of 13 hours 42 minutes while Borderlands 3 clocked in at 18 hours and 48 minutes. "It suggests that Borderlands 3 is 'better' than Borderlands 2 by the standard the people who responded to my poll have favored," Pitchford says. "Obviously individual tastes vary and entertainment is subjective," He

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the deadline for Elon Musk to respond to its civil lawsuit concerning his delayed disclosure of a significant Twitter stake in 2022, according to Reuters. The new deadline for Musk’s response has been moved to July 18, up from the original date of June 6, as agreed upon by both parties in a recent federal court filing in Washington, D.C. Per Reuters, the SEC and Musk jointly described the extension as “reasonable and in the interest of conserving judicial resources.” The agency’s complaint centers on Musk’s failure to promptly reveal his initial 5% ownership in Twitter, which the SEC claims gave him an unfair advantage. According to the regulator, Musk’s 11-day delay allowed him to acquire over $500 million worth of Twitter shares at prices lower than they should have been, potentially harming other investors who were unaware of his growing stake. Read more: OpenAI Pushes to Keep Countersuit Against Elon Musk in Expedited Trial The SEC is pursuing a civil penalty against Musk and aims to recover profits that the agency alleges Musk obtained through this delayed disclosure. Musk later went on to purchase the social media platform and rebrand

The penultimate stage of the Socca EuroCup 2025 delivered two gripping Semi-Final encounters today, solidifying the lineup for tomorrow’s grand finale. The tension was palpable as four elite nations battled for the ultimate prize: a place in the championship match. In the first Semi-Final, Poland secured their place in the final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Croatia. This momentous win sees Poland, after a remarkable tournament journey, finally reach the EuroCup final. The second Semi-Final witnessed a dominant display from France. They effectively crushed Spain with a decisive 2-0 triumph, showcasing formidable attacking power and clinical finishing. France’s commanding performance propels them into the championship match, marking them as a truly formidable contender. The stage is now set for an epic conclusion to the EuroCup 2025, promising a captivating showdown between two deserving finalists. Be ready for history to be made!

This is the moment far-right activist Tommy Robinson was apparently asked to leave a high-end London steakhouse because staff "felt uncomfortable serving him". Footage posted online shows Robinson—real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon—dining with a group at the Hawksmoor restaurant on Air Street, near Regent Street, before staff intervened halfway through their meal. Former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai, who was with Robinson, claimed they were thrown out "for no reason". He tweeted: "Just been kicked out of Hawksmoor steak house for no reason. Literally just had our starters." A video accompanying his post showed Robinson’s group in conversation with a restaurant manager who explained: "Members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you." Mr Kalirai replied: "Is it because of the colour of my skin?" The supervisor responded: "No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I'm sure you can understand." The manager then handed Robinson the business card of Hawksmoor’s CEO, advising him to make contact by email "if he has any questions," and told the group "don’t worry about the drinks," indicating the restaurant would cover the cost. He concluded: "I'm very sorry. I hope it

The drought is over. 28 seasons. 24 NCAA tournament appearances. 8 Women’s College World Series appearances. 3 appearances in the Championship Series. Longhorns fans, the seemingly impossible quest for the first title in program history has officially concluded. Underneath the lights of Devon Park, a phenomenal season that resulted in 56 total wins culminated in the 2025 Texas Longhorn softball team being crowned as National Champions, the first time in program history. For the Longhorns, this trophy is more than just a moment in time. The championship represents the determination needed to overcome years of heartbreak and countless chances to secure the title that fell short. From the performances of previous legends such as Cat Osterman and Blaire Luna to more recent gut-wrenching struggles to break through against the Oklahoma Sooners, the 2025 team soared to a previously unattainable level of success. The summit of college softball, once unreachable, has been climbed. To hoist the championship trophy, the No. 6 Texas Longhorns were required to overcome the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders in a winner-take-all Game 3 in the Championship Series of the 2025 Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Texas emerged victorious 10-4 in the final battle