On The Record / July 24, 2015

Meta’s app claims 175 million monthly active users, but it’s still far from clear whether the app—or any other—will be the next X. When Meta launched Threads last July, it saw an immediate tidal wave of interest: 100 million people signed up for the social network within days, prompting many to wonder if CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s new gadget would unseat Elon and Twitter once and for all.

A Biden administration would boost clean energy stocks while a Trump presidency could benefit prison operators. The first U. S. presidential debate saw President Joe Biden turning in a fitful performance, especially at the beginning, as he exchanged barbs with former President Trump on abortion, immigration, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and even their golf games.

Panda Express’s Beyond orange chicken was a limited menu item—but then customer demand and a 7,000-signature petition helped bring it back for a second round. After nearly two years, lots of public outcry, and a petition that garnered more than 7,000 signatures, Panda Express has heard its vegetarian and vegan customers: It’s bringing back Beyond orange chicken.

Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target will be open on Independence Day, while some pharmacies may be closed, as will banks and most delivery services. July 4th is one of the most widely celebrated federal holidays, full of food and fireworks. And Independence Day 2024 is set to be one of the busiest.

The dynamic between Hollywood and Silicon Valley is a “sci-fi feedback loop.” In May 2024, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sparked a firestorm by referencing the 2013 movie “Her” to highlight the novelty of the latest iteration of ChatGPT.

The National Black Farmers Association called for the resignation of Tractor Supply’s CEO. The National Black Farmers Association called on Tractor Supply’s president and CEO Tuesday to step down after the rural retailer announced that it would drop most of its corporate diversity and climate advocacy efforts.