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Welcome back to our Sunday edition, a roundup of some of our top stories. It's been a tumultuous eight days. Last week, this newsletter delivered the latest news from the aftermath of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Since then:
You can get the latest on what the political turmoil might mean for businesses, the economy, and markets right here or by downloading the Business Insider app.
On the agenda today:
But first: A single IT update gone wrong sparked chaos around the world.
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Computers at Australian retailer Woolworths froze with the blue screen of death. Cash register issues closed scores of McDonald's branches in Japan. Tesla halted some production lines. 911 call centers in Alaska couldn't operate. Airline passengers around the world faced chaos and uncertainty.
All because of a single IT update.
The update, delivered by cybersecurity company Crowdstrike to Microsoft Windows desktop and laptop computers, tipped the digital world into delays and closures. There were no remote or automatic fixes: Instead, each computer required a manual reboot, in some cases more than 15 times.
Crowdstrike saw its stock price finish down more than 11% on Friday, a clear sign of the damage done to its business.
For those impacted, Crowdstrike's terms and conditions limit liability to "fees paid," leaving customers eligible for a refund and nothing more. Those with cyber insurance will likely be checking the fine print of their policies to see what's covered.
The chaos is a stark illustration of the vulnerability of global IT systems. An update gone wrong from a single company many hadn't heard of before Friday morning brought retailers, banks, hospitals, production lines, and airlines to a halt. It's a pressing reminder of how reliant we are on just a few companies.
Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BI
Amazon's return-to-office mandate is getting serious. In recent months, the company has told several teams they must stay a minimum of two to six hours per office visit.
The new rule is meant to crack down on "coffee badging," or employees who badge in, get coffee, and leave shortly after to satisfy their RTO requirements. Workers aren't taking the new rule well — many took to Slack to air their complaints about the policy.
Inside Amazon's RTO crackdown.
Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BI
Men, are you worried about your receding hairline? Your fertility? What about your weight? Direct-to-consumer health companies, like Hims & Hers Health, can help you skip the doctor's office and deliver a "healthy, handsome you" right to your door.
The DTC health industry has exploded in recent years, with investor dollars flowing in. Offering an array of products, their business proposition is targeted specifically at young men — and more specifically, their insecurities.
Edmon de Haro for BI
The tech sector enjoyed a near-monopoly on the brightest young talent for more than a decade. But in the wake of brutal layoffs and high-exposure issues, tech's allure is fading for the younger members of Gen Z.
Today's high-achieving high schoolers are turned off by the ethical issues associated with Big Tech, like spreading misinformation and worsening the youth mental health crisis. And with tech on the outs, bright Gen Zers are turning to one surprising sector instead.
iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI
If a show airs on Disney Channel but there are no kids to watch it, did it really air at all?
Kids used to grow up watching Mickey Mouse (or Lizzie McGuire or Hannah Montana, depending on the age group). But now, they're all on YouTube. That's a huge problem for Disney, which is losing its once-iron grip on the kids-entertainment market.
This week's quote:
"Our D&I commitments remain unchanged."
— Microsoft spokesperson after the company laid off a diversity, equity, and inclusion team, citing "changing business needs."
More of this week's top reads:
Netflix had another blowout quarter.
The Insider Today team: Matt Turner, deputy editor-in-chief, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.