Jen Psaki

Podcast Summary

• Reddit's Collective Action Affects Financial Markets: The Reddit community's ability to manipulate stock prices showcases the power of collective action, but the complexity of financial markets can make it difficult for individuals to fully understand the implications.

  The power of collective action, as demonstrated by the Reddit community, can significantly impact financial markets. In this instance, they managed to manipulate the stock price of GameStop, causing hedge funds to suffer substantial losses. However, the listener, Margarita, expressed her lack of understanding regarding financial concepts such as shorting a stock and the value of GameStop. This incident highlights the complexity and sometimes inaccessibility of financial markets to the average person. Yet, it also underscores the potential consequences of engaging in such markets, even for those with limited knowledge.

• Understanding Short Selling and the Super Bowl: Short selling involves making a profit from price differences between borrowing and returning an asset, while the Super Bowl conversation included Coca-Cola's absence, Tampa Bay Bucs' historic first, changing Tom Brady perception, and no Super Bowl parties due to the pandemic. Biden's dogs' 'nom nom' button was also mentioned.

  The concept of selling short, explained through the analogy of borrowing and returning a dress, involves making a profit from the difference in price between the time of borrowing and returning an asset. During the Super Bowl discussion, it was mentioned that Coca-Cola won't be advertising this year, and the historic first for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing in their own stadium. The conversation also touched upon the public's changing perception of Tom Brady and the absence of Super Bowl parties due to the pandemic. Lastly, a humorous take on the Biden's dogs settling into the White House was shared, with the addition of a "nom nom" button replacing the traditional Diet Coke button.

• Shifting priorities on dating apps: Vaccination status takes the lead: People are using their COVID-19 vaccination status as a priority in their dating app profiles, leading to more matches due to safety concerns during the pandemic.

  People's behaviors on dating apps have shifted, with more individuals leading with their COVID-19 vaccination status instead of traditional bragging points. This trend is resulting in more matches due to the desire for safety amid the pandemic. However, the authenticity of these profiles should be carefully considered, as misrepresentations can still occur. In other news, the Brexit situation in the UK is causing uncertainty, with signs that it may not have been the best decision after all. This was explored in a game on NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, where listeners were challenged to distinguish truth from fiction. One listener, Alex Palmer, showcased expertise in international election integrity and played the game, attempting to discern which panelist was telling the truth about the challenges facing Brexit.

• British Authorities Advise Ignoring Use by Dates for Food Items to Prevent Waste: British authorities suggest consuming past expiration dates for certain foods like potatoes, stale bread, and curdled milk to reduce waste and tackle potential food shortages, but ensure these items are still safe to eat by checking their appearance, smell, and taste.

  The British authorities have advised citizens to disregard use by dates on food items, as many of these foods can still be safe to consume past their expiration dates. This is being done to prevent food waste and address potential food shortages. Potatoes with vine growth, stale bread, and curdled milk are examples of food items that can still be consumed after their best before dates. However, it's important to ensure these items look, smell, and taste fine before consumption. This advice has been met with mixed reactions, with some expressing concern over the potential health risks, while others see it as a practical solution to food scarcity issues. This is just one of the many challenges the UK is facing as a result of Brexit.

• Jen Psaki's Calm and Professional Approach to Press Conferences: Jen Psaki has made a strong first impression as White House press secretary with her calm, factual responses and professionalism. She avoids insults and stays composed, even when faced with aggressive questions. Her goal is not to seek media attention and she has set a high bar for future press secretaries.

  Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, has made a strong first impression with her calm and factual responses during press conferences. She has redefined the role by avoiding insults and staying professional, even when faced with challenging questions. Psaki shared that she has been tempted to snap back but instead chooses to slow down and speak quietly when reporters become aggressive. She also revealed that her goal is not to end up on Dancing with the Stars, and she was amused by the question about which Peloton instructor President Biden rides with the most. Despite some initial expectations, Psaki admitted that she had not asked Biden this question yet. Overall, Psaki's approach to her role has been a refreshing change, and she has set a high bar for future press secretaries.

• Effective Communication in Public Role: Transparency, honesty, and follow-up are crucial in public communication. Keep lines open, acknowledge mistakes, and commit to providing updates.

  Communication, especially in a public role, requires transparency, honesty, and follow-up. Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, shared her experiences with handling press inquiries and admitted to her habit of "circling back" to reporters with updates. She acknowledged that sometimes she doesn't have immediate answers but ensures to follow up and keep the communication lines open. Additionally, she shared an anecdote about explaining her job to her young children and the importance of being truthful and transparent, even when it's difficult. The conversation also touched on the importance of acknowledging mistakes and addressing them promptly. In essence, effective communication involves being open, honest, and committed to following up, even when the answers aren't immediately available.

• Pools in Diplomacy and History: Pools have unexpectedly impacted diplomacy and history through strategic meetings, animal encounters, and technological advancements

  Pools have played significant roles in international diplomacy and historical events. From Mao Zedong's strategic meeting with Khrushchev in a swimming pool to Barbara Bush's encounter with a swimming rat in the White House pool, and even the Soviets' belief that a top spy went by the code name "Marco Polo" due to bugging the US Embassy swimming pool in Moscow – pools have left their mark on history. Additionally, during the Cold War, the Soviets demonstrated their technological superiority by building a nuclear submarine with a swimming pool on board. These anecdotes showcase the unexpected ways pools have influenced diplomacy and history.

• Unexpected sources of value and worth: Value and worth can come from unexpected places and experiences, such as a stolen painting linked to Leonardo da Vinci or additional income leading to happiness.

  Value and worth can come from unexpected sources. In the news, a museum discovered a stolen painting believed to be a copy from Leonardo da Vinci's studio, and while it may not be the original, it still holds significant value due to its connection to the renowned artist. Similarly, a study showed that acquiring more money can lead to increased happiness, even if the gains diminish as wealth increases. These findings remind us that value and worth can be found in unexpected places and experiences, whether it's a priceless painting or an additional income.

• Crying in front of others: A unique way to release tension: Expressing emotions, particularly crying, can lead to tension release, mental health improvement, but individual circumstances should be considered.

  Expressing emotions, particularly crying, can have numerous benefits when done in front of others. A skateboard that goes backwards might deserve a second look, but during the pandemic, dealing with stress can be more complex. The Washington Post suggests that crying in front of others can lead to a release of tension and toxins, and even improve mental health. However, this might not be feasible for everyone, especially those with dependents at home. The speaker shares a personal experience of growing up with a father who cried frequently, which helped him become a strong woman. He recommends trying to cry in a car wash as a unique and effective way to let emotions out. Overall, expressing emotions, especially in front of others, can have unexpected benefits, but it's essential to consider individual circumstances.

• Exploring unique topics from food to space and education: We discussed Coca-Cola's ice cream ad, space wine, Capella University's flexible learning format, and played a game of Lightning Fill in the Blank.

  We explored some unique and intriguing topics during this conversation. From Coca-Cola's almost-Super Bowl ad featuring a new ice cream flavor with an everything bagel twist, to a discussion about wine aged in space, we covered a lot of ground. The ice cream, while initially sounding unappetizing with its garlic and sesame seeds, was surprisingly delicious when topped with hot fudge and lox. As for the space wine, it's an exciting development for connoisseurs, but may lead to sticker shock when ordering at restaurants. In the realm of education, Capella University offers a flexible learning format for those looking to earn a degree on their terms. Lastly, we tested our knowledge with a game of Lightning Fill in the Blank, where players answered as many fill-in-the-blank questions as they could in 60 seconds. The topics ranged from lawsuits to impeachment trials, and the competition was fierce. Overall, this conversation showcased a variety of interesting and diverse topics, from food and space to education and current events.

• Unexpected twists and turns in news stories: From elderly people waiting for vaccines to unexpected Super Bowl ads, life's unpredictability was on display in this week's news stories. Adaptability is key.

  The world continues to be an unpredictable place, as shown in various news stories this week. For instance, instead of an illegal rave, elderly people were found waiting in line for vaccines. In politics, the Senate began working on a power-sharing deal without the filibuster. In entertainment, HBO is reportedly developing a show based on J.K. Rowling's new series. Meanwhile, in sports, no player was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. GM announced it would stop producing gas-powered cars by 2035. In education, a student successfully avoided answering class questions by changing his screen name. In advertising, panelists predicted potential surprises for the upcoming Super Bowl ads, including Taco Bell's Dalmatian chimichanga and Tom Cruise as the new spokesman for the Calm app. These stories demonstrate the importance of adaptability and the unexpected twists and turns that life can bring.

• Beyond Surface-Level Perceptions: Seek out diverse perspectives and thorough research to gain a more accurate and nuanced understanding of complex issues.

  It's essential to look beyond surface-level perceptions and seek out diverse perspectives. As demonstrated in the discussion about protests on college campuses, what may appear violent from an outsider's view can be quite different from the reality experienced by those directly involved. Similarly, real estate websites like Homes.com provide extensive reports on local schools to help potential buyers make informed decisions, showing the importance of thorough research and understanding. Overall, this conversation underscores the value of listening to firsthand accounts and seeking out comprehensive information to gain a more accurate and nuanced understanding of complex issues.