Make Happy, Secret Influence, and New Travel 🤐

Have you heard of the Telegram app? Chances are you have, but only in fleeting conversations. 

Well, the largely overlooked social media startup, founded in 2013, is on the brink of reaching a billion users. This, despite the fact that only one in four Americans are even acquainted with the app. 

Yet, the platform has amassed a staggering 900 million monthly active users worldwide. CEO Pavel Durov is now eyeing a potential IPO for the company.

Since its inception, Telegram has been gaining significant traction in various countries, largely due to its steadfast commitment to privacy and security, resulting in hundreds of millions of downloads.

But this privacy has a cost. 

The Problem: 

Telegram is versatility. And that has come with its share of controversies. 

It obviously serves as a platform for casual socializing, a tool for activists to organize and fuel global protests, and a vital conduit for disseminating uncensored news — as all other social media platforms do. BUT, it has also become a marketplace for illicit goods such as firearms, drugs, and counterfeit bank cards. Moreover, it has been, or possibly still is, a primary channel for far-right extremists to coordinate and propagate their ideologies.

Despite facing scrutiny and backlash from governments worldwide, achieving nearly a billion users within a decade places it among the elite ranks of social media startups.  

Side note: The startup has reportedly a modest staff of only 50 part-time workers. This small team now wields a considerable amount of global influence.

This week, Senator Bernie Sanders, renowned for his advocacy of democratic socialism and his affinity for mittens, unveiled a new legislation. The bill that would make everybody happy, aimed at transforming weekends into three-day respites without diminishing workers' pay. 

The idea behind the bill is that AI developments and gains should translate to workers as well — in terms of work-hours and pay.

The "Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act," co-sponsored by Senator Laphonza Butler, proposes several key measures:

• Gradually reducing the federally recognized standard workweek and overtime threshold from 40 hours to 32 hours over a span of four years
• Safeguarding against employers slashing full-time workers' pay by eight hours' worth of wages.
• Mandating overtime compensation at 1.5 times the regular rate for workdays exceeding eight hours and double pay for hours exceeding 12.

But don’t get too happy yet. 

Prospects for the bill's passage remain uncertain. This marks the third attempt in as many years to codify the four-day workweek into federal law. 

Republicans have expressed reservations, fearing potential adverse effects on retail and small businesses. One senator from Louisiana even equated the proposal to "napalm upon the fire of inflation.”

Over the past three years, the resurgence of business travel has been a topic of much debate. Economic concerns such as looming recessions, layoffs, and escalating travel expenses have made companies wary of sending employees on distant journeys unless absolutely necessary.

However, things might be primed for change with "bleisure travel" sporadically appearing in certain online communities and social circles. Google Trends data reflects a significant uptick in searches for the portmanteau of "business" and "travel" during the spring of 2023.

This term includes both: employer-sponsored trips for work-related purposes and trips where remote workers or freelancers incorporate travel to desired destinations while continuing their professional duties.

Some Stats:

• A survey conducted by Expedia revealed that 81% of business travelers indulge in leisure activities during their trips, with "bleisure travelers" averaging 6.4 plane journeys annually. 
• According to Allied Market Research, the "bleisure" segment of the travel industry was valued at $315.3 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $731.4 billion by 2032.

Recognizing this expanding market, airlines and hotels are adapting their business strategies to accommodate the needs and preferences of this growing cohort of travelers.

🤑 Big Value - Reddit's IPO is almost 5x oversubscribed, according to sources familiar with the matter

☣️ Toxic Creation - Pentagon invented a toxic firefighting foam. Now it's trying to dodge lawsuits over it. 

🌿 Weight-loss at the Door - Amazon is now delivering the in-demand weight-loss drug - Zepbound - to people’s homes. You'll still need a prescription though. 

🇪🇸 Spain & Worldcoin - Spain temporarily banned Sam Altman’s crypto Worldcoin over privacy concerns.

🌝 Jobs in Climate - The American Climate Corps is opening a job board next month, with an expected $8 billion funding from Congress. 

❌ 99 Reasons Why - As TikTok faces a government reckoning, here are 99 reasons why the US should not ban TikTok.