Business

Ad Age reports: Outdoor retailer Patagonia has been vocal about its efforts to keep protected federal land protected. That effort reached a new level on Monday following President Trump’s announcement that his administration will shrink the size of the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah by 85 percent. In response, Ventura, California-based Patagonia says it plans to sue the Trump …

The Washington Post reports: Pharmacy giant CVS Health has agreed to buy Aetna in a $69 billion blockbuster acquisition that could rein in health care costs and transform its 9,700 pharmacy storefronts into community medical hubs for primary care and basic procedures, people familiar with the deal said Sunday. The pharmacy chain agreed to buy Aetna for about $207 per …

CNBC reports: A scheduling glitch that allowed American Airlines pilots to take vacation at the same time has left thousands of flights during the busy holiday travel period next month without pilots assigned to them. American Airlines, the largest U.S. airline, is now offering pilots 150 percent of hourly pay to work those dates, an airline spokesman said. The scheduling …

Far-right Christian blog LifeSiteNews is ever so pissed: The Barbie children’s doll is being used to further LGBT issues. “Proud to wear this “Love Wins” shirt,” states a Barbie-associated Instagram account, along with a photo of two dolls wearing the LGBT-themed t-shirt. The “Love Wins” slogan is associated with support for legalization of gay marriage. An iconic blond Barbie doll …

The Guardian reports: Meredith Corporation has announced that it is buying the Time Inc publishing group in a “transformative” $1.8bn deal that joins two huge magazine companies. Meredith, which owns a portfolio including Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, allrecipes and Shape, will fund the deal with the help of the rightwing billionaire Koch brothers, who have contributed $650m of …

The Las Vegas Sun reports: American shoppers will take to malls, warehouses and brick-and-mortar outlets today for what has long been one of the most lucrative days for retail companies across the country. In Nevada, for the first time, Black Friday will include legal recreational marijuana. And just like big-box retailers, pot stores are rolling out the deals in hopes …

The New York Times reports: The announcement came on his television show, “The Apprentice.” Donald J. Trump would open his second luxury hotel in New York, a “work of art” in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan that would become “an awe-inspiring masterpiece.” That was 11 years ago. The 46-story skyscraper, it turned out, was actually an albatross for Mr. Trump …

Bloomberg reports: Hackers stole the personal data of 57 million customers and drivers from Uber Technologies Inc., a massive breach that the company concealed for more than a year. This week, the ride-hailing company ousted Joe Sullivan, chief security officer, and one of his deputies for their roles in keeping the hack under wraps. Compromised data from the October 2016 …

The Associated Press reports: Justice Department intends to sue AT&T to stop its $85 billion purchase of Time Warner, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the matter ahead of the suit’s official filing. That sets the stage for an epic legal battle with AT&T. The telecom giant’s CEO Randall Stephenson said earlier …

We thought the RWNJs already were boycotting. The New York Daily News reports: Another year, another stink over Starbucks holiday cups. This time the controversy comes from the festive containers’ “gay agenda.” The brew-ha-ha stems from the fact that the cup might show two clasped same-sex hands. The video promoting the coffee giant’s holiday cups features characters of various ages, …

The New York Daily News reports: Apparently Papa John’s doesn’t believe two weeks is too late to say sorry. The popular pizza chain apologized in a string of tweets Tuesday night for comments made on a Nov. 1 conference call with shareholders where CEO and TV pitchman John Schnatter insinuated the ongoing anthem protests have hurt his business. Schnatter previously …

Bloomberg reports: The first thing you’ll see when you walk into Eaton Workshop, a hotel opening in late spring 2018 in Washington, is a custom-commissioned video art installation by AJ Schnack, shown on a series of vintage-style television screens. All day long, it’ll broadcast a montage of footage from the presidential elections of 2012 and 2016 that’s built around one …

A couple of weeks ago we got the trailer and first episode for a British honey brand’s new ad campaign starring three jovial, bearded burlies. Since then there have been two follow-up clips in which the bears josh about porridge, yoga, and which of three created a dish that’s “just right.” Watch below.

The BBC reports: A giant snoring monster called Moz has split critics online, after it was revealed as the star of this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert. The eagerly anticipated ad from the high street store tells the story of a little boy and his friendship with an imaginary monster living under his bed. It features a cover of The …

The New York Daily News reports: Breakfast at Tiffany’s turned into lunch for hundreds of hungry diners Friday as the famed boutique’s new café struggled to meet demand on its opening day. A crush of well-heeled customers greeted the opening of the 40-seat Blue Box Café, the first restaurant for the 180-year-old luxury jeweler on Fifth Ave. At 10 a.m., …

Bloomberg reports: The Human Rights Campaign has taken the rare step of suspending Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s perfect score for LGBT corporate equality after two federal complaints alleged the world’s largest retailer hadn’t protected transgender employees from discrimination. Wal-Mart received its first-ever perfect score last year after it agreed to add new policies favorable to transgender workers. The suspension of the …

The Guardian reports:  The three richest people in the US – Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett – own as much wealth as the bottom half of the US population, or 160 million people. Analysis of the wealth of America’s richest people found that Gates, Bezos and Buffett were sitting on a combined $248.5bn (£190bn) fortune. The Institute for …

Back in May, Agriculture Sec. Sonny Purdue issued a letter allowing the posting of anti-LGBT materials at USDA-inspected plants. This week that policy went into effect. Tony Perkins, of course, is thrilled: The Family Research Council praised policy guidance released today by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service that makes clear the agency will protect religious freedom and will not …

The New York Times reports: The Justice Department has called on AT&T and Time Warner to sell Turner Broadcasting, the group of cable channels that includes CNN, as a potential requirement for approving the companies’ pending $85.4 billion deal, people briefed on the matter said on Wednesday. The demands set up a potential battle over the fate of the long-in-the-works …

Mashable reports: Blink and you might just miss this easter egg, but it’s a gem. Samsung’s latest ad follows an avid iPhone user who eventually decides to switch sides after ten years. The minute-long ad manages to majorly throw shade at the iPhone, highlighting all the criticisms it’s faced over the years: its lack of stylus, non-waterproof phones, and of …