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Good afternoon. Here's what you should know today, Nov. 19: | |
- Musk conjures a tidal wave of negative attention
- Biden's nostalgic tales might not be helping him
- Black Friday deals will be for real this year
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| Thanks for reading What's News! Look for the 🔐 to enjoy a free article on us—and share the link with a friend (or forward the whole newsletter!). | |
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 | | Under Sam Altman, OpenAI went from a small nonprofit to a multibillion-dollar company.
PHOTO: CLARA MOKRI FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL | | |
1. Sam Altman is thinking about returning as OpenAI CEO after his sudden firing. | |
| Altman has told investors that if he does return, he wants a new board (🔐read for free) and governance structure, people familiar with the matter said. He has separately discussed starting a company that would bring on former OpenAI employees, including several who quit in protest over his ouster. He is expected to decide between the two options as soon as this weekend, the people said, in what would be the latest development in a fast-moving chain of events at the artificial-intelligence company behind ChatGPT. Microsoft, OpenAI's primary backer, and venture firm Thrive Capital, its second-largest shareholder, are among those helping to orchestrate the efforts to reinstate Altman. | |
| Here's What I Know About Mira Murati, the Interim CEO of OpenAI (Read) | |
2. For many, Elon Musk has gone too far. | |
| Elon Musk insists he isn't an antisemite. But this past week, the billionaire entrepreneur left many wondering. At the very least, a string of inflammatory tweets he sent showed how gratuitous Musk can be and how easily tweets on his own social-media platform can be misleading and trigger him. It was another example of how his self-generated drama is hindering his pursuits, writes WSJ's Tim Higgins. Apple, Disney and other major advertisers suspended advertising on X following the episode, opening a serious new risk for the company. | |
| SpaceX Rocket Test Reaches Milestone—and Ends With Explosion (Read) | |
3. Biden is turning 81. Can he connect with young voters? | |
| The president loves to tell sepia-toned stories, from his 1973 meeting with Golda Meir to his work in 1987 to keep conservative Judge Robert Bork off the Supreme Court. While Biden's team says his folksy style is an authentic asset, there are more than 60 years separating him from voters who will cast their first ballots in 2024, an acute age gap that presents a challenge for the oldest president in U.S. history. | |
| Israel, Ukraine, China: Foreign Challenges Hinder Biden's Re-Election Bid (Read) Wall Street Eyes Nikki Haley as Trump Spoiler (Read) | |
4. Argentinians are deciding on a new president to prop up the country's troubled economy. | |
| Today's hotly contested runoff election pits against each other two candidates with starkly different views on how to tackle a collapsing currency, growing poverty and rocketing inflation: Javier Milei, a TV pundit and free-markets libertarian who pledges to slash spending, and Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who has overseen money printing and slashed taxes. Numerous polls have shown the candidates in a statistical tie with high rates of rejection among voters, meaning the rate of abstention or null votes might prove decisive. | |
| How the Architect of Argentina's Grim Economy Is Boosting His Presidential Bid (Read) | |
5. Shoppers are in for a pleasant surprise this Black Friday. | |
| Many popular gifts are cheaper now, as prices for TVs, smartphones, toys and sofas have all dropped since last year's holiday season. There are several reasons. Consumers are spending more on experiences such as travel and concerts, which is reducing demand for goods. Store shelves also are amply stocked—thanks to a lessening of the pandemic-era supply disruptions. | |
| This Isn't the Thanksgiving to Cut It Close at the Airport (Read) 🎧 Take on the Week: Why Consumers Are Buying Flights Instead of Gifts This Holiday Season (Listen) The Cheapskate's Guide to Really Great Gifts (Read) | |
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🗨 Follow coverage of detained WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich | |
| The WSJ's Evan Gershkovich is being wrongfully detained in Russia after he was arrested while on a reporting trip and accused of espionage—a charge the Journal and the U.S. government vehemently deny. Follow the latest coverage, sign up for an email alert, and learn how you can use social media to support Evan. | |
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