Ted Sorandos on Prof G

The first 40 minutes of this podcast is an interview with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos.

Ed Elson: 1 in 10 on Ozempic. $1.6 billion on Wegovy and Ozempic more than the spending on state parks.

Scott Galloway: Ask anyone who is o GLP-1 and uses AI everyday which one impacts their lives more. The US spends $8000 more per capita on healthcare than Japan - $3 trillion. Why? 40% are obese, 72% are obese or overweight. Scott suggests: Give away GLP-1 for any household under $60k.

A discussion of the possible acquisition of Warner Brothers. It eventually went to David Ellison for $110 billion. 

Ted Sarandos: He sees AI as helping writers but not to replace because it gives you the most predictable outcome possible. Writers are 1% of cost so it doesn't make sense to target writers to save costs. AI helps with safety on sets. 

Scott floats the idea of Netflix acquiring Disney. Ted says the DNA of Netflix back in the day of DVD's was to be all things to all people so they are a general entertainment brand. Disney can't get into prestige and HBO can't get into family. Netflix is trying escape house and KPop Demon Hunters going on tour. He showed no enthusiasm for Disney.

Ted sees anyone who uses a remote control as a competitor, therefore, YouTube, who gets more minutes of usage than Netflix is a competitor. Ted talks about watching SNL on YouTube to make the point that is that considered NBC or is that considered YouTube. 

Ted sees more room to grow in current markets and very much overseas. 

Ted doesn't see much of a desire to go to short form content. 

He says back the day they had to be better than piracy. ME: It's not now? I have not had Netflix in two years and haven't missed it. Anything I really want to see on Netflix I have had no problem acquiring. 

The ad supported tier has been successful because young people are used to seeing ads on Youtube so ads on Netflix don't bother them. 

Ted is happy with podcasting and implied it is better move than Netflix hosting talk shows. I wonder if this where we will see Stephen Colbert pop back up.

Scott asks Ted why he chooses to live in LA. Ted has lived in LA for 30 years. California is not competitive with other states and other countires. Netflix has 30 productions in LA. He gave an example of how the system is difficult: He talks about how hard it is to shoot a scene that takes LA to Venice to Beverly Hills I need three different permits... New Jersey has created the best production incentives in the world. says his productions have hired 150k people. $400 million brought into LA by Lincoln Lawyer alone. 

Scott changed the topic to talk about family and being a father. Ted, "There is no such thing as work life balance because there are times you have dedicate yourself to your job." He says kids are always watching. He credits his ex-wife on her saying "Those are not are values" when kids use the why can't we do what other kids are doing?

Goodnight Iowa

Rob Sand, Iowa's next governor, posted this pic and said it is a favorite to read to his children. Perhaps I'm too dystopian because I took the title in an entirely different direction.

115 today... continued insane heat to close out the month of MAY. 

I don't usually cheer about someone getting a long prison sentence but seeing the Matthew Perry enablers get jail time warms my heart.

PCE is the Fed's preferred inflation measure. It came inline with expectations. That's not a good thing.

The subhuman Stephen with the last name Miller got butt hurt over this... meanwhile...

My non-American friends are sharing the trailer park trash meme's all over the place.

Meanwhile, the President has no good exit strategy yet the oil markets are acting like the deal is done.

Officially in Nixon territory. Well done, Mr. President!

The bottom line of this confusing chart? Dems are loyal. As Mark Twain said, "I don't belong to an organized party; I'm a Democrat."

The next day she went to a rally that chanted 4 more years. She allowed Joe to live with the delusion that he should remain on the ticket for another 25 days.

Hunter Biden Candace Owens love fest. 

hfgjgff

Ultimately, Iran has the power here. 

Consumer sentiment hits yet another record low.

Tulsi Gabbard has resigned to take care of her husband. Less than 4 hours later the White House let people know she was fired. 

Really? I mean really?

Trump keeps it classy.

Babylon Bee was to be the conservative alternative to the Onion. With friends like these, Trump needs no enemies.

MMM rated the most vulnerable Republican.

Kim Reynolds in front of empty bookshelves. 

"Send your gay son to conversion therapy. If I can't convert him I'll have sex with him. I hope that's ok."

Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, and his nepo baby David who is now the CEO of Paramount/Warner Brothers Disney.

Ken Martin must resign.

Truth and reconciliation commission will be needed when this is over.

Olympic Canoeist Klass Rozentals moved to Latvia to compete because last year Great Britain suspended his brother for having an only fans account. His brother made $21,000 stipend as an athlete and made $130,000 on Only Fans. Latvia will allow Klass to compete AND do Only Fans.

Booing at graduation when AI is mentioned.

Noon CEO is proud he hasn't hired new people and publicly says he will cut jobs in half.

My favorite Steve will not be booed.

The Deja Vu

So days have more memories than others. May 19 is a very memorable day for me so let's get into it.

Barney Frank on Meet the Press. He was simply the best. When Kennedy died Obama's team kept him from being a place keeper. No Idea why.

Professor Robert Frank was a pioneer in Behavioral Economics before the term even existed. Want to understand the book?

1. Largest payroll won't always attract all of the best talent. Why be fifth best in New York when you can be the best in St. Louis?
2. Hire the person who is competent and a good fit, not the most qualified.

Poll news: Platner beating Collins in Maine by 8

Disastrous Fox News poll: 

1. -52 on inflation
2. -42 on economy
3. -2 Border Security
4. Among non-college white men from +17 in March 2025 to -8 now

Trump phone customers had all of their personal data released per CoffeeZilla. 

Jess Bezos gave an interview with something for everyone to hate. He bashed rich people who don't pay enought taxes, insinuated school teachers have it easy, and said Trump has matured in office. 

Meanwhile, the Washington Post continues to implode.

Nvidia crushed in earnings so stock market should go up.

Too late? Meanwhile, SpaceX released it's financial data to go public. It is ugly.

HPV Vaccines now harder to get in Iowa. In 2007 Rick Perry signed a mandate for girls in 6th grade to be vacinated. Of course, he profited from this and the legislature overturned it. 

Congrats to Aubrey Rocco, Winner of Survivor 50.

Succession in real life. James Murdoch is the "liberal" Murdoch. Black sheep of the family buying up assets.

I have followed MKBHD since 2009 when his review of an HP Pavillion led me to buy one. The Verge, Pivot, etc...

8 years ago today Harry and Meghan got married. I wasn't interested to watch so Jamie and I went to a pub and stopped by his Elementary. 

A public boys school run by the Catholic Church.

Best boss in the world. 

Winner of the Debate contest.

You take the good you take the bad

Exemption from all rules plus a $1.7 billion slush fund.

A correction: 

This was for registered voters. Among likely voters it is 14 point lead.

Back on defense. Launch on the nuclear power plant came from Iraq. 

Massie defeat

Behold the power of AIPAC. Won this plus Republican nominee for senate... beating Mitch McConnell's guy. 

Bill Cassidy unchained.

In Iowa news.... This haul by Rob Sand is unprecedented. In 2010 Democrat incumbent Chet Culver faced off against returning player Terry Branstad.

Total Spending on both sides in 2010 was just over $10 Million.

Omaha Sunday storm.

Polymarket called the winner before the season started.

Denise with Lisa Welchel. Denise is a sex therapist from Cedar Rapids. I ran into her as she was walking out of the Blairsferry HyVee. She flashed her winning smile as I connected the dots. Why didn't I ask for a selfie?