📉 Advertisers expect ad spend slowdown amid tariff uncertainty.

🚨 Musk blames X outages on “massive cyberattack.”

⚖️ New DOJ proposal still calls for Google to divest Chrome, but allows for AI investments.

❓ Trump will “probably” extend TikTok’s sale deadline.

🧠 SXSW 2025: AI in the real world, TikTok in limbo, and streaming platforms everywhere.

🛄 Southwest just killed its ‘bags fly free’ policy—and its brand too.

▶️ Creators and influencers are on edge about Meta’s reported Reels spin-off.

• 💡 According to our poll, 62% of marketers expect Instagram to fail if Reels is phased out into its own platform.

📝 Pinterest addresses “AI trash” with new content labels.

🔧 Google to change how Tag Manager works with Google Ads in April.

📅 Google Marketing Live is set for May 21 at 9 a.m.

👋 Meta adds “Chat with leads” feature to help you follow up.

💬 Instagram is experimenting with a Discord-like community chat feature.

👴 Brands hire Gen X and boomer influencers as the “power of the silver influencer” rises.

• 💡 According to our poll, 42% of our subscribers have worked with a “silver influencer.”

📹 You can now upload up to 3 minutes of video to Bluesky.

❌ Google drops the controversial Page Annotations feature.

🧀 This Canadian cheese brand celebrates being “0% American.”

🍟 Heinz believes all potatoes deserve some love. Introducing Heinz Tomato Chip Dip.

💄 Rare Beauty CMO talks winning Gen Z through community-oriented marketing.

🏡 Can brands save the “American Dream?”

Shannon breaks down the current challenges facing marketers, including the impact of tariffs on advertising budgets and the evolving landscape of DEI efforts. Plus, the rise of the silver influencer, Southwest’s policy backlash, and more.

🎙️ Stream it now:

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Monday: Influencer marketing this, influencer marketing that. But what are the specific content formats, influencer types, and platforms that consistently generate real results? Here’s what the latest data tells us.

Tuesday: As diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI) face increased political scrutiny, brands are adjusting their messaging while continuing internal efforts. So, how do we protect DEI efforts moving forward?

Wednesday: According to new data from Hootsuite, the best overall time to post on social media in 2025 is 8:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. But, as we know, each platform has its own unwritten rules.

Thursday: If your advertising budget drains too fast, you might be overlooking conversion rate optimization (CRO). Instead of throwing more money at ads, optimizing your conversion rate can dramatically impact your profitability.

Here’s what’s hot in The Daily Carnage Facebook community this week…

🔥 Danielle posted: “Has anyone had success with display ads within healthtech or LinkedIn ads?”

🔥 Carla posted: “What’s the going hourly rate for Marketing Associate level, 5 years out?”

🔥 Marissa posted: “Has anyone figured out how to use AI to generate highlights and insight reporting looking at ad platform data?”

Answer: The Shamrock Shake was sent to the moon in 2024.

Moon or not, everyone’s favorite minty-chocolate shake has quite the unlikely history.