<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11922739" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gervonta-davis" source="Orion">Gervonta Davis</keyword> and <keyword id="12470784" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="isaac-cruz" source="Orion">Isaac Cruz</keyword> fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on December 5.</li><li>Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe is expecting an explosive contest.</li></ul><p>Isaac Cruz became a future opponent for <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/gervonta-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gervonta Davis</a> when he threw punishing punches in bunches, scored multiple knockdowns, and returned a first-round knockout on a Mayweather Promotions show last year.</p><p>Watching with interest was Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, who spoke to Cruz's <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> manager Sean Gibbons.</p><p>"Yo, your boy did his thing," Ellerbe told Gibbons.</p><p>The Mexican southpaw's drilling of Diego Magdaleno at the Alamodome in San Antonio left a mark on Ellerbe. He was impressed. Cruz could one day box 'Tank' Davis, a budding superstar in the fight game.</p><p>Davis went out later that night and scored <a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-gervonta-davis-score-starbuilding-ko-over-leo-santa-cruz-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a thunderous uppercut on Leo Santa Cruz in the main event</a>, in what became a Knockout of the Year contender.</p><p>He then returned to the ring in June 2021 for <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-gervonta-davis-proves-hes-boxings-most-exciting-fighter-2021-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an 11th round knockout win over Mario Barrios</a> in front of a raucous Atlanta crowd, and was scheduled to box Rolly Romero before the end of the year.</p><p>Romero, though, was removed from the event because of a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault that took place in 2019, <a href="https://www.boxingscene.com/rolly-romero-removed-from-tank-davis-ppv-fight-sexual-assault-allegation--161677" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to a Boxing Scene report</a>.</p><p>But a seed was planted in Ellerbe's mind last year to one day match his fighter with Cruz.</p><p>Now, that day is fast approaching.</p><p>"These two guys are coming together for one big collision on December 5," Ellerbe told Insider last week.</p><h2>Cruz is a 'very dangerous fighter,' according to Ellerbe</h2><div type="image" title="Isaac Cruz flexes during a pre-fight event." height="1333" width="2000" msid="87875236" hostid="261"></div><p>As Davis is little more than five-feet, five-inches tall and competes between the super featherweight and super lightweight range of weight classes, he has frequently had to fight opponents taller than he is.</p><p>But against Cruz, he is presented with a different challenge. The 23-year-old, nicknamed "Pitbull," is stocky and five-feet, four-inches tall.</p><p>"He's a very dangerous fighter, and like I've told Tank, repeatedly, you really got to be on point with this guy, stay close to him. Because, again, styles make fights. They call him Pitbull for a reason," said Ellerbe.</p><p>"It's rare you see in Tank's case, most guys he's fought have been taller than he is. When you look at Pitbull, he's shorter than Tank, but he's a very aggressive young fighter.</p><p>"There's a reason why he's ranked in the top-10 for every organization and governing body that's out there. That tells you everything you need to know, being one of the top lightweights in the world."</p><p>Ellerbe continued: "His style of fighting, a pressure fighter who looks to get you out of there, is very similar to Tank. You can't have nothing but a big explosion in this fight. Isaac Cruz is coming to win the fight against Gervonta Davis."</p><h2>Ellerbe says Tank is one of the faces of world <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword></h2><div type="image" title="Leonard Ellerbe pictured alongside Gervonta Davis in 2021." height="1542" width="2000" msid="87875237" hostid="261"></div><p>If boxing's No.1 fighter Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez is a worldwide face of the fight game, and Anthony Joshua is a star for Britain, then Davis — alongside Errol Spence Jr — is the face of American boxing.</p><p>Davis is unique in the boxing industry. He is a monster ticket-seller regardless of where he's fighting, be it Baltimore, Atlanta, San Antonio, or Los Angeles.</p><p>"Tank has a tremendous following around the world," Ellerbe told us.</p><p>"He has just as many west coast fans as east coast fans, and they love Tank's fighting style because he's not looking to play around with these guys, he's looking to give the fans knockouts.</p><p>"We expect a tremendous turnout at the Staples Center on December 5. Again, he's going up against a guy who I know will be able to push Tank and vice versa.</p><p>"This is a tremendous fight between two young guys looking to go in there and give the fans exactly what they want and that's why this fight will end in a knockout."</p><p>With Cruz representing Mexico, Ellerbe and Tank are aware that he will be looking to continue riding the wave of energy that a Mexican audience brings to the sport, considering Canelo's status and ruthless winning run.</p><p>"Cruz has nothing to lose," Ellerbe said. "He's got Manny Pacquiao in his team, and they've been raving about this kid for a while now.</p><p>"Mexico is riding high especially after the historic victory Canelo Alvarez had just two weeks ago.</p><p>"With Cruz being from Mexico City, the entire country is riding high, and he's looking to give them some more to feel great about by coming in and knocking off one of the biggest stars in the sport in Gervonta Davis."</p><p>For Ellerbe, it's Tank's job to nullify that.</p><p>"He has to continue the great streak that he is on by showing people why he is the most exciting fighter in the entire world, and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world."</p><p>The Davis and Cruz fight will be broadcast on Showtime pay-per-view.</p>

One of the faces of American boxing, Gervonta Davis, returns to the ring December 5 for a high-octane thriller

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Gervonta 'Tank' Davis vs. <keyword id="12470785" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rolando-romero" source="Orion">Rolando Romero</keyword> fight has been axed.</li><li>This is because Romero is under police investigation regarding an alleged sexual assault.</li></ul><p>American puncher <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/gervonta-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gervonta Davis</a> will now fight <keyword id="12470784" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="isaac-cruz" source="Orion">Isaac Cruz</keyword> in his December dust-up at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, an official statement sent to Insider confirmed Wednesday.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> superstar was originally scheduled to fight Mayweather Promotions and Premier <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">Boxing</keyword> Champions stablemate Rolando Romero.</p><p>However, the 26-year-old lightweight was removed from the event because of an ongoing police investigation into an alleged sexual assault that took place in 2019, <a href="https://www.boxingscene.com/rolly-romero-removed-from-tank-davis-ppv-fight-sexual-assault-allegation--161677" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to a Boxing Scene report</a>.</p><p>The CBS-owned website reported that a 24-year-old woman named Izabel Zambrano, a "longtime acquaintance" of Romero's, gave a statement last week to the Henderson Police Department in Nevada.</p><p>Romero has not been charged with a crime.</p><p>He is under investigation for sexual assault, Boxing Scene said, and so event organizers sought a replacement opponent.</p><p>Cruz will now fight Davis instead.</p><p>"God willing, I'll be world champion on December 5," Cruz said in a statement sent to Insider. "This fight is a very big motivation for me as a professional and as a personal goal.</p><p>"I'm sure after December 5 everyone in boxing will know the name Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz.''</p><h2>'Kudos to Isaac Cruz'</h2><p>Davis, who is one of boxing's great knockout artists, said he'll be looking to inflict maximum damage next month. "I come in looking for the knockout and that's exactly what I'm going to do in this fight," he said.</p><p>The CEO of Mayweather Promotions, Leonard Ellerbe, called Davis - his star fighter - a "generational talent who's only getting better."</p><p>Tom Green of TGB Promotions added: "Kudos to Isaac Cruz for stepping in as a replacement opponent in a high-pressure, pay-per-view fight against one of the brightest stars in boxing in <keyword id="11922739" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gervonta-davis" source="Orion">Gervonta Davis</keyword>.</p><p>"Cruz presents a different, and some would argue a more difficult challenge to Tank Davis. Cruz won't back down and he'll bring the fight to Davis from the opening bell.</p><p>"We've all seen Gervonta's blend of superb boxing skills and explosive power, and we know what he's capable of.</p><p>"It will be the irresistible force versus the immovable object, which means fireworks." </p><p>The fight will be broadcast on pay-per-view on Showtime.</p>

American puncher Gervonta Davis will now fight Isaac Cruz in a December dust-up

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"Madres Paralelas," starring <keyword id="12004795" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="penelope-cruz" source="Orion">Penelope Cruz</keyword>," opened the <keyword id="12004796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="venice-film-festival" source="Orion">Venice Film Festival</keyword> Wednesday.</li><li>"It was an honor to be part of something so important," Cruz told Insider along with other journalists. </li><li>"Madres Paralelas," along with other films this week, could be big awards season contenders.</li></ul><p>The 78th Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday with a new film from one of European cinema's stalwarts: Pedro Almodóvar. "Madres Paralelas," starring Oscar-winner Penelope Cruz, debuted on the lido following the opening ceremony.</p><p>The Spanish master's 23rd feature film follows the story of two women whose lives become fiercely connected after a chance meeting at a hospital where they are both due to give birth. </p><p>"I think this is one of the most difficult characters I've ever played but it has allowed me to learn a lot about myself," Cruz told journalists during a press conference before the film's premiere. </p><p>"'Madres Paralelas' was an overwhelming journey, and a gift," she added. "It was an honor to be part of something so important."</p><div type="image" title="A picture of the cast of &quot;Madres Paralelas&quot; at Venice Film Festival." height="2688" width="4032" msid="85850269" hostid="261"></div><p>Almodóvar - who made his debut at Venice in 1983 with "The Indiscreet Charm of Sin" - will compete for the festival's prestigious Golden Lion against a mix of old and new Hollywood talent.</p><p>The veteran US writer-director Paul Schrader debuts his new film "The Card Counter," starring Oscar Isaac and Tiffany Haddish, on the Lido later this week and New Zealand director Jane Campion has brought "The Power of the Dog," starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst, her first film in over a decade, to the festival.</p><p>Chilean director Pablo Larrain's new film "Spencer," starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana will premiere alongside actor-turned-director Maggie Gyllenhaal's star-studded adaption of Elena Ferrante's "The Lost Daughter," featuring Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson.</p><p>Many of these films will likely feature heavily in the upcoming awards season since three of the last four best picture Oscar winners won the top prize at Venice.</p><p>Although the festival has become Hollywood's unofficial European launchpad, these films will also face a film industry in deep flux due to the effects of COVID-19. Denis Villeneuve's highly anticipated "Dune" remake, starring Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, which debuts out of competition in Venice on Friday, will be given a controversial simultaneous release on HBO and in theaters later this year. </p><h2><div type="image" title="A picture of Bong Joon Ho and Chloe Zhao." height="2262" width="3010" msid="85850272" hostid="261"></div>Venice Film Festival proved that cinema is still being largely impacted by COVID-19</h2><p>"Parasite" filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, who is this year's jury president in charge of awarding the Golden Lion, said the lingering pandemic be hard on creatives.</p><p>"Filmmakers had a tough year because of the pandemic, but looking back it was a test for cinema," he told journalists at the festival's launch. "As a filmmaker, I don't think cinema can be stopped so easily: cinema will always survive."</p><p>While the festival has largely launched without much COVID-19 related disruption, there were signs of a changing festival circuit throughout the first day on the Lido.</p><p>Early on the first day of festival-going, <a href="https://deadline.com/2021/09/venice-film-festival-covid-security-checks-1234825377/">Deadline reported that a screening</a> of "Madres Paralelas" began without its full complement of ticket holders, who were stuck in long lines due to COVID-19 and security checks.</p><div type="image" title="A picture of queues at the Venice Film Festival." height="3024" width="4032" msid="85850274" hostid="261"></div>The festival requires all attendees to display either a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours prior to their visit or a European Green Card (Vaccine passport) or its international equivalent.<p>When Insider arrived on the Lido hours later, lines to enter the festival were still long with very little social distancing in practice although mask-wearing in festival venues is mandatory.</p><p><em>Insider will be on the ground at Venice Film Festival all week. Have a tip? Email zntim@insider.com.</em></p>

Penelope Cruz says her new film features one of the most 'difficult characters I've ever played'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A fighter, who shares an uncanny resemblance to Muhammad Ali, continues to rack up wins in boxing.</li><li>Michel Rivera, 24, returned to the ring Saturday to comfortably outpoint Jerry Perez in Brooklyn.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/michel-rivera" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michel Rivera</a>, a fighter who calls himself "the reincarnation of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/muhammad-ali" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muhammad Ali</a>," is on the cusp of big things in <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a>.</p><p>The 24-year-old lightweight returned to the ring Saturday for an eight-round decision win over Jerry Perez at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.</p><p>Though he did not get the stoppage, Rivera scored a knockdown moments before the bell in the final round.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1581442752805752833">October 16, 2022</a></blockquote><p>The Dominican fighter landed 185 punches from 513 shots attempted which included 66 body shots, according to Compubox data sent to Insider.</p><p>Rivera's victory advances his undefeated pro record to 24 wins, and the boxer continues his climb toward the highest echelon of the 135-pound division.</p><h2>Rivera continues to play on his likeness to Ali</h2><div type="image" title="Michel Rivera, boxing." height="1477" width="2000" msid="94927507" hostid="261" sizebytes="220244"></div><p>Insider said in 2021 that <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-muhammad-ali-lookalike-michel-rivera-adds-ko-to-reel-2021-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rivera was shaking up the combat sports world because of his flashy finishes, iconic hairstyle, and the shorts he wears</a> that are designed to bear comparison to Ali's outfits.</p><p>Rivera again wore white shorts with black trim for his win over Perez, and it's something he'll likely continue to do as the bigger and more lucrative fights draw nearer.</p><p><a href="https://www.boxingscene.com/michel-rivera-i-take-care-perez-give-me-tank-haney--169723" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boxing Scene reported</a> that prior to his latest win, Rivera said he was targeting a big lightweight bout against <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/gervonta-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gervonta Davis</a> or Devin Haney.</p><p>"After this, give me Tank or Devin Haney," Rivera told the CBS-owned sports site. "I am better than both of them, and it will be proven when we fight."</p><p>A match against Davis may take a while to book because <a href="https://www.insider.com/ryan-garcia-gervonta-davis-in-deep-talks-for-boxing-fight-2022-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four sources recently told Insider that organizers are "fairly close" to agreeing to a super fight</a> involving the knockout puncher against <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ryan-garcia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Garcia</a>.</p><p>Haney, meanwhile, just beat George Kambosos Jr. to retain possession of the undisputed lightweight championship.</p><p>It is likelier Premier Boxing Champions will look to match Rivera, who is currently ranked ninth by The Ring magazine, against a fellow PBC-affiliated fighter like Isaac Cruz or Rolando Romero.</p>

A fighter who calls himself 'the reincarnation of Muhammad Ali' is on the cusp of big things in boxing

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Obama turned his congenial nature on its head and slammed Trump behind the scenes, a new book says.</li><li>It reportedly says Obama called Trump a "corrupt motherf---er," a "madman," and a "f---ing lunatic."</li><li>Obama and Trump have long had a testy relationship.</li></ul><p>After leaving office in 2017, President <keyword id="15962" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Barack-Obama">Barack Obama</keyword>, known for his affable nature, largely didn't speak out against his successor, President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword>.</p><p>But by the time the 2020 presidential campaign came around, the gloves were off.</p><p>With Joe Biden in the throes of a campaign to unseat an incumbent president, Obama made several high-profile campaign appearances for his former vice president <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-biden-campaign-event-live-stream-today-2020-10-21/">where he slammed Trump</a>.</p><p>He also voiced plenty of R-rated criticism of Trump behind the scenes, according to "<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/19/edward-isaac-dovere-2020-campaign-book-excerpt-joe-biden-kamala-harris-489347">Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Donald Trump</a>," a new book by Edward-Isaac Dovere, a staff writer at The Atlantic. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/19/barack-obama-donald-trump-book">The Guardian</a> on Wednesday reported on excerpts from the book, set to be released next week.</p><p>According to The Guardian, the book says that in conversations with donors and political advisors, Obama called Trump a "corrupt motherf---er," a "madman," a "racist, sexist pig," and a "f---ing lunatic."</p><p>The reports about Obama's comments on Trump are likely to elicit a strong reaction from Trump.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-press-corps-biden-reporting-covid-masks-2021-05">We joined the White House press corps the day masks came off. Here's what a 'hard pass' and fewer restrictions mean for us - and our reporting.</a></em></p><p>Trump has long had an antagonistic relationship with Obama, from Trump's promotion of the birther conspiracy theory that sought to question the first Black president's citizenship to his repeated efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature domestic-policy legislation.</p><p>While Obama and Trump would likely never play golf together, the details of Obama's contempt toward Trump have not been widely reported.</p><p>Dovere reported that Obama was keener on Trump becoming president than GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, mostly because he thought Trump wasn't as clever as the Princeton- and Harvard Law-educated Cruz, according to The Guardian.</p><p>As Trump's presidency went on, Obama became less charitable toward his successor.</p><p>According to The Guardian, Dovere reported that Obama had told "big donors looking to squeeze a reaction out of him in exchange for the big checks they were writing to his foundation" that Trump was "a madman."</p><p>"More often: 'I didn't think it would be this bad.' Sometimes: 'I didn't think we'd have a racist, sexist pig,'" Dovere wrote, according to The Guardian.</p><p>The Guardian said Dovere described Obama as highly displeased by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/30/politics/trump-call-putin-readout-terror-attack">reports</a> that Trump had been talking with foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, without aides on the calls.</p><p>"That corrupt motherf---er," Obama reportedly said.</p>

Obama called Trump a 'corrupt motherf---er,' a 'racist, sexist pig,' and a 'f---ing lunatic,' a new book reportedly says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Bari Weiss, Matt Taibbi, and others were given access to the so-called "Twitter Files" by Elon Musk.</li><li>Weiss and Taibbi are controversial figures who struck out alone after working for major media outlets.</li></ul><p>When the "Twitter Files" were released in lengthy threads by independent journalists Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss last week, the findings caused much debate among media experts and commentators.</p><p>While some heralded the documents as proof of big tech censorship, others described them as a"nothingburger" which did not significantly add to the public understanding of how Twitter handled some of its most controversial problems.</p><p>Musk handpicked the reporters to give access to internal material, and his choices were telling — all are writers who have gone against the tide on salient issues like trans rights and COVID-19, and are openly hostile to mainstream US media.</p><p>Weiss and Taibbi both abandoned high-profile roles to pursue their own reporting, and are scathing critics of established outlets in their Substack newsletters.</p><p>That view is broadly shared by Musk, who spends time arguing and mocking the media online (Insider had been among his targets in the past).</p><p>Here is some more about the figures Musk chose to be his messengers:</p><h2>Matt Taibbi — the "red-pilled culture warrior"</h2><div type="image" title="Matt Taibbi" height="1500" width="2000" msid="96177516" hostid="261"></div><p>In his <a href="https://twitter.com/mtaibbi/status/1601352083617505281" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter Files thread</a> on December 9, Matt Taibbi detailed how former president Donald Trump was banned from the platform.</p><p>Taibbi's tone in describing an "erosion of standards" where Twitter execs "violate their own policies" mirrored his own disillusionment with the people who hold the power to tell the world's stories.</p><p>Taibbi is a journalist and author who has been active since the 1990s, most notably working as a contributing editor at Rolling Stone.</p><p>There, he focused on politics and finance, famously writing <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/the-great-american-bubble-machine-195229/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 2010 article</a> describing Goldman Sachs as a" great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity."</p><p>From around 2015, Taibbi started weighing in on the debate around cancel culture, and became more hostile to the mainstream media where he earlier earned a living.</p><p>Taibbi left Rolling Stone and <a href="https://taibbi.substack.com/">moved to Substack in April 2020</a>, often writing posts detailing how mainstream media was "destroying itself," and taking contrarian positions like <a href="https://taibbi.substack.com/p/why-has-ivermectin-become-a-dirty-7bd">writing in defense of vaccine skeptics</a> at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>He also interviewed Tucker Carlson in a post that Ben Cohen of <a href="https://thebanter.substack.com/p/matt-taibbis-puff-piece-on-tucker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Banter Newsletter</a> described as a "puff piece" that "paints Carlson as a victim of liberal hysteria" and "a brave truth teller railing against the establishment."</p><p>Taibbi was also sympathetic to <a href="https://taibbi.substack.com/p/spying-and-smearing-is-un-american-6d5">Carlson's claim that he was being spied on by the National Security Agency</a>, for which he never produced any evidence.</p><p>In October 2021, <a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/10/what-happened-to-matt-taibbi.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Magazine called Taibbi</a> "one of the most celebrated investigative journalists of his generation" due to his fierce reporting on Wall Street and the financial crisis, but who had become a "red-pilled culture warrior" in the same bracket as Glenn Greenwald.</p><h2>Bari Weiss — contrarian who quit the NYT with a bang</h2><h2><div type="image" title="New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss" height="720" width="960" msid="96177518" hostid="261"></div></h2><p>Bari Weiss focused her <a href="https://twitter.com/bariweiss/status/1601007575633305600" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter Files thread</a> on "shadowbanning" — a practice where some content is quietly suppressed. She discussed screenshots of how Twitter employees making "blacklists" and limiting certain trending topics and accounts.</p><p>Some saw a smoking gun, proof of longstanding claims by conservatives of censorship. Others argued that what Weiss described was simply what all content moderation looks like.</p><p>Weiss also spent years in the heart of US media, in her case writing op-eds for The Wall Street Journal and later The New York Times, where she was one of the paper's few conservative writers.</p><p>She particularly focused on issues of gender and was criticized for arguing against trans activists and in favor of traditional understandings of gender.</p><p>She resigned from The Times with a scathing attack on her then-employer, saying she had been bullied by her colleagues at the paper because of her views.</p><p><a href="https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In her resignation letter</a>, Weiss said The New York Times was "caving to the whims of critics on Twitter." She was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-jr-republicans-new-york-times-editor-bari-weiss-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praised by Republicans</a>, including Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump Jr.</p><p>Weiss set up a Substack in January 2021, and later an outlet now called The Free Press. She has a podcast called "Honestly" which has frequently hosted guests with gender-critical views including Julie Bindel, Katie Herzog, and Jesse Singal.</p><p>Like Taibbi, Weiss has described herself as a liberal who believes the left have gone too far.</p><h2>Michael Shellenberger — environmental writer who defies consensus</h2><div type="image" title="Michael Shellenberger" height="1500" width="2000" msid="96177519" hostid="261"></div><p>Author of "Apocalypse Never" and "San Fransicko," Michael Shellenberger, is a controversial figure among environmentalists.</p><p>In his <a href="https://twitter.com/ShellenbergerMD/status/1601720455005511680" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter Files thread</a> published on December 11, Shellenberger shared Weiss and Taibbi's findings, as well as adding context about the complexities of Twitter suppressing certain search terms such as "kraken" — a word associated with QAnon, but also the name of a company.</p><p>Musk may have seen in Shellenberger a similar tendency to go against the grain.</p><p>While his writing has focused on the environment and climate change, Shellenberger believes global warming is "not the end of the world," according to <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/06/california-governor-race-shellenberger-homelessness-san-francisco/661164/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an interview in The Atlantic</a>. His views have brought him backlash from the scientists where the general consensus among environmental experts is that climate change is a real and very serious problem.</p><p>Shellenberger has advocated for homelessness reform by providing mandatory treatment for people with mental illness and drug addictions.</p><p>Shellenberger also ran for governor of California in 2018, coming 9th of 27 candidates.</p><h2>Supporting cast, cut from the same cloth</h2><p>Taibbi, Weiss, and Shellenberger have been the main writers of "Twitter Files" post since Musk began the project, but they also credited a host of supporting writers, seeming to share a similar anti-establishment tone.</p><p>Journalist and documentary filmmaker Leighton Woodhouse has written for publications including The Intercept, Gawker, Newsweek, The New Republic, and Vice, and was credited by Shellenberg as a collaborator.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@lwoodhouse/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On his YouTube channel</a>, Woodhouse has posted two videos about homelessness in California, in collaboration with Shellenberger. He also has a Substack titled "Social Studies" where he writes about "the two opposite extremes of American society" — the "elite," and the homeless.</p><p>On his Substack, Woodhouse said he too became disappointed with the mainstream media since Trump's election, saying he "watched the journalism profession abandon its curiosity about the world and slide into lazy political activism and boring party line orthodoxy."</p><p>Weiss also credited a host of other writers for helping her assemble her reporting.</p><div type="image" title="Abigail Shrier" height="773" width="1031" msid="96177520" hostid="261"></div><p>Abigail Shrier is a journalist who has focused her reporting on criticisms of transgender people, including trans women's involvement in women's sports.</p><p>She is the author of "Irreversible Damage," a book that argues there has been a "sudden, severe spike in transgender identification among adolescent girls" since the 2010s, and blames gender dysphoria on mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and anorexia. However, there is no scientific evidence that so-called "rapid-onset gender dysphoria" is a real phenomenon.</p><p>The book received criticism from trans activists for being alarmist and misgendering trans and non-binary children.</p><p>Dr. A.J. Eckert described the title alone <a href="https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/irreversible-damage-to-the-trans-community-a-critical-review-of-abigail-shriers-book-irreversible-damage-part-one/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in an article for Science-Based Medicine</a> as "inflammatory and misleading, and clearly intended to alarm concerned parents," and said the research and evidence in the book was "minimal."</p><p>Nellie Bowles and Isaac Grafstein are two reporters who write for the independent news website The Free Press, which is edited by Weiss. Bowles used to write for The New York Times, where she covered gender equality in the tech world. Her <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/style/jordan-peterson-12-rules-for-life.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent work included a controversial interview with Jordan Peterson</a>.</p><p>On <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/welcome-to-the-free-press" target="_blank" rel="noopener">its welcome page</a>, The Free Press describes itself as "a new media company built on the ideals that were once the bedrock of American journalism."</p><p>It cites apparent media bias and lack of objectivity by mainstream journalists as the need for an independent publication.</p><p><em><strong>Correction: December 12, 2022 —</strong> An earlier version of this story misstated details of Weiss's media activity. She hosted the writers Julie Bindel, Katie Herzog, and Jesse Singal on her podcast, they have not all contributed to her website. Helen Lewis was erroneously listed as a contributor.</em></p>

Musk's media renegades: The anti-establishment writers including Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss chosen for the 'Twitter Files'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A super welterweight <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword> match got nasty Saturday night and delivered in impeccable fashion.</li><li><keyword id="13569989" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sebastian-fundora" source="Orion">Sebastian Fundora</keyword> and <keyword id="13569988" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="erickson-lubin" source="Orion">Erickson Lubin</keyword> topped a seven-fight PBC on Showtime card in Las Vegas.</li></ul><p>LAS VEGAS — <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boxing</a>'s thriving super welterweight division took center stage Saturday during a Premier Boxing Champions event broadcast on Showtime from the theater inside Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas.</p><p>Sebastian Fundora and Erickson Lubin topped the seven-bout card with good reason, as they produced a David vs. Goliath firefight so electric it will go down as an instant boxing classic.</p><p>Lubin lost by first-round knockout to Jermell Charlo five years ago but <a href="https://www.insider.com/erickson-lubin-deliveres-boxing-masterclass-in-rebounding-from-ko-loss-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has, in the years since, been delivering a masterclass in how to rebound from a humiliating defeat</a>.</p><p>Though Fundora halted his winning run on the night, Lubin's stock will no doubt rise for the heart he showed to fight despite a disfigured face. That's what you get when you share the ring with rising star Fundora.</p><p>In a bout in which Lubin surrendered a significant height advantage, he wobbled the taller man with his solid punching early in the first round.</p><p>Fundora, a freak of nature, refused to box tall. Rather than rely on his 6-foot-6 frame at super welterweight, he fought with authority from close range, whipping left hands into Lubin's midsection, uppercuts to the jaw, and generally had the edge when he put his punches into bunches.</p><p>Sensing how to fight Fundora, Lubin pushed him away and hit the fighter from mid-range, even wobbling him once again.</p><p>But all this did was rally Fundora, who showed great recuperative ability, fought fire with fire, and scored a knockdown of his own mere seconds from the end of the second round after a barrage of uppercuts.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Premier Boxing Champions  (@premierboxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1513011602605297672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote><div type="image" title="Sebastian Fundora scored a first-round knockdown." height="1334" width="2000" msid="90757788" hostid="261"></div><p>Lubin was lucky the round was almost over because if the knockdown had happened midway through, he'd likely never have recovered.</p><p>But he had 60 seconds on his stool and that was enough to throw with bad intentions in the third round in a fight that had everything required to be a 'Fight of the Year' contender.</p><p>It was hell for those involved but heaven for fans watching in the crowd, for media on press row, and those watching at home.</p><p>Fundora dominated when fighting inside while Lubin scored well with singular power shots mid-range and further afield.</p><p>From the fourth round onwards the pace started to lag behind the badass slobberknocker that unfolded in the opening quarter.</p><p>But Bodyshots were still landing all over the place, jaws were cracked for good measure, and Lubin's facial bruising became horrific to look at.</p><p>Despite a rearranged face and likely broken nose, Lubin still had the eye-hand coordination, power, and accuracy to put Fundora on the floor in the seventh with shot after shot.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Premier Boxing Champions  (@premierboxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1513017987808174087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Lubin's desire to throw had been beaten out of him in rounds eight and nine, though. And upon completion of the ninth, Lubin's trainer Kevin Cunningham stopped the fight, thus awarding Fundora the technical knockout win.</p><p>With victory, Fundora advanced his pro boxing record 19 wins (13 knockouts) against one draw.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"I think this was probably my best performance ever," Fundora said post-fight. "It was a back-and-forth fight. He really brought his hammer, but I decided to bring my drill. The uppercut was landing like no other.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"The uppercut is my lucky punch," he added. "I'm here in Vegas, so I feel a little lucky, and that's my lucky punch. It lands most of the time with everybody. Southpaw. Right hand. It doesn't matter. Once I find that, I feel like the job's done."</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">On the stoppage, Fundora said: "I think it was a good decision for Kevin Cunningham to stop the fight. His face shifted from round one to round nine.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"It completely morphed and there was a lot of blood coming out. He's a tough fighter. He was in the game the whole time but there's no need to get hurt that much."</p><h2>Harrison and Garcia brought great energy to their 154-pound ruck</h2><div type="image" title="Tony Harrison boxed to a tee against Sergio Garcia." height="1334" width="2000" msid="90757789" hostid="261"></div><p>A crossroads fight between <keyword id="13570608" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tony-harrison" source="Orion">Tony Harrison</keyword> and Sergio Garcia delivered great energy Saturday as both boxers performed like their careers near the top of the sport were on the line.</p><p>Harrison landed eye-catching flurries, pinging off well-placed shots in quick succession, and made Garcia miss big shots of his own.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Premier Boxing Champions  (@premierboxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1512996900370202627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Garcia, though, was unrelenting, and constantly moved his feet forward so he rarely let Harrison take a moment to breathe.</p><p>He landed sharp counters and only occasionally seemed perturbed by Harrison's attacks, but by the fight's midway point the American dominated the action and put a considerable number of rounds in the bank.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—SHOWTIME Boxing  (@ShowtimeBoxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1512999094121287681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote><p>One of the things that won Harrison the fight was his expert appreciation of space.</p><p>It seemed like he knew where Garcia wanted to throw punches from — short range — and exploited that by moving in and out of his opponent's danger zone while landing solid shots of his own.</p><p>Harrison's majestic footwork, his intuitive head movement, and his dazzling shot selection were all on display against Garcia.</p><p>It was a much-needed reminder to the boxing industry that he is still that dude, and capable of scoring big wins after a knockout loss to Jermell Charlo and a draw to <keyword id="13585580" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bryant-perrella" source="Orion">Bryant Perrella</keyword> in back-to-back fights in the last three years.</p><div type="image" title="Tony Harrison dominated Sergio Garcia at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas." height="1334" width="2000" msid="90757790" hostid="261"></div><p>By the fight's end, Harrison landed a considerable amount of shots according to Compubox data sent to Insider.</p><p>He tallied 197 of his 491 punches for a 40% accuracy, landing half of his more powerful strikes (88 from 173). He also limited Garcia to 103 shots landed from his 592 attempts (17%).</p><p>True to how Insider saw the fight, the three ringside judges awarded Harrison with a unanimous decision win with two scores of 100-90 and another of 98-92.</p><p>"Muscles is the way of the streets, but skills pay the bills," Harrison said post-fight, in a statement sent to Insider.</p><p>"He was swinging for the fences. When he was missing shots, all I heard was 'whoosh!' [as the shots fizzed away from his head]. I felt it. I was trying to throw a few more counter shots in between. My composure was everything."</p><p>Victory advanced Harrison's pro boxing record to 29 wins (21 knockouts) against three losses and a draw.</p><h2>Fifth round sole highlight in Salgado's draw with Perrella</h2><div type="image" title="Bryant Perrella lands a punch on Kevin Salgado." height="1334" width="2000" msid="90757791" hostid="261"></div><p>A nasty left hook launched in the fifth round that sent Salgado off-balance was the sole highlight in a relatively uneventful 10-round bout that introduced Showtime's televised card from the theater inside the Virgin Hotels.</p><p>Competing for the first time on an American canvas, Salgado had a chance to add his name to Mexico's rich contribution to boxing, but fell short because of Bryant Perrella's trickery.</p><p>With boxing great Roy Jones Jr. in his corner, Perrella said through fight week that they had been preparing for Salgado by drilling an assertive jab.</p><p>But as the rounds wore on, he showed more than that as he landed the punch of the night midway through the match.</p><p><strong>Watch it right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—SHOWTIME Boxing  (@ShowtimeBoxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1512983312800915461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Perrella found a home for his uppercut in the sixth, kept working his southpaw jab from a wide stance, and was looking more comfortable in the ring the longer the fight wore on.</p><p>Though Insider regarded Perrella's work to have been superior on the night, the three judges disagreed and could not split the two boxers, awarding a split draw with scores of 97-93 for Perrella, 96-94 for Salgado, and an even card of 95-95.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—SHOWTIME Boxing  (@ShowtimeBoxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1512989769520799744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Neither fighter was happy with the result.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"I was shocked by the decision," said Perrella in a statement sent to Insider. "I put my all into this and I get robbed at the end of the day. It's a tough pill to swallow. You know I easily outboxed him. He barely landed any punches."</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Compubox data sent to Insider supports Perrella's claim as the computerized punches scoring system counted 98 shots landed from 503 thrown for Perrella (20%), compared to 68 from 375 (18%) for Salgado.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"I thought my gameplan and execution was great," Perrella continued. "I boxed smart. I broke him down.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"He was just winging big shots any time I would step in just trying to knock me out with one punch. I kept the jab in his face. Jabs to the body. Left hands. I hurt him. Everything was going great and it looked like I was sweeping all the rounds."</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Salgado disagreed. "I felt like I won," he said. "All Perrella did was run around and away from me … Perrella kept throwing his jab but almost never connected."</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">He added: "I think that tonight was definitely a positive step in the right direction towards becoming the next Mexican star in the United States, and I look forward to pleasing the fans with more Mexican-style fights in the future."</p><div type="image" title="Kevin Salgado returns fire on Bryant Perrella." height="1334" width="2000" msid="90757792" hostid="261"></div><p>Premier Boxing Champions on Showtime returns April 16 for a pay-per-view offering at the AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.</p><p>Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas top an 11-bout card in a bout that has three welterweight world championships on the line.</p><p>Radzhab Butaev fights Eimantis Stadionis, Cody Crawley boxes Josesito Lopez, and Isaac Cruz fights Yuriorkis Gamboa earlier in the show.</p>

A David vs. Goliath boxing match delivered an instant Fight of the Year contender in Las Vegas

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e70e8cfc485402b3e32df72-2400/audree shot.jpg" alt="Audree Kate Lopez" /><p>Welcome to this week's Influencer Dashboard newsletter!</p><p>This is Amanda Perelli, writing to you from my desk at home, and here's an update on what's new in the business of influencers and creators.</p><p>First off, I'm lucky enough to be able to work from home, and I hope all of you are healthy and staying safe! </p><p>This week, my colleague Dan Whateley and I caught up with several creators across YouTube and Instagram, along with industry experts, on how they are adjusting their businesses to continue to make a living during the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic turmoil. </p><p>As many brand deals stall, influencers are starting to switch up their strategies, focusing on long-term bets like direct-to-consumer businesses or alternative revenue streams like consulting, teaching, and coaching.</p><p>"Our entire company is at a standstill at the moment and I don't really know when jobs or campaigns will happen again in the next month," said Audree Kate Lopez, a fashion stylist, consultant, and influencer with nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram. </p><p>Lopez said during this downtime she is focusing on getting organized internally and creating content at home that she normally doesn't have time to do.</p><p>And the influencer-marketing firm Sapphire Apps told Dan that it's no longer conducting photo shoots with influencers for brand campaigns, instead turning to animation and user-generated content filmed by influencers at home that's then edited by the Sapphire team afterwards. (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/instagram-youtube-influencers-are-adapting-business-to-coronavirus-2020-3">Read the full post here</a>.)</p><p>You can read most of the articles here <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/prime-discount?r=birefer-aperelli">by subscribing to BI Prime</a>. And if this is your first time reading Influencer Dashboard, <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/influencerdashboard">subscribe to the newsletter here</a>.</p><h2>More industry updates on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic:</h2><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/engagement-on-instagram-sponsored-posts-rises-as-coronavirus-spreads-2020-3">Influencer marketers say sponsored Instagram posts have had views, likes, and comments sharply increase the past 2 weeks</a>: Dan spoke to the influencer-marketing agency Obviously, which said it had seen a 76% boost in the number of "likes" on sponsored posts on Instagram in the past two weeks despite some advertisers cutting budgets.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coronavirus-is-affecting-instagram-influencers-brand-sponsorships-2020-3">Coronavirus is 'impacting all talent' on Instagram as brands cancel influencer-marketing deals and paid events get put on hold</a>: I spoke to several bloggers, travel influencers, and industry experts about the impact of the coronavirus on the influencer industry and their brand deals.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-of-influencer-marketing-sponsored-instagram-post-expected-drop-coronavirus-2020-3">The price of sponsored posts on platforms like Instagram could fall by up to 25% in the near term, according to an influencer-marketing agency</a>: Dan covered a new report from the influencer-marketing platform Izea, which said the company expected the average price for a sponsored post on social media to drop between 15% and 25% in the near term.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/influencer-marketing-how-coronavirus-could-impact-sponsorships-posts-2020-3">An influencer-marketing agency made a 68-page deck on how the coronavirus pandemic could change the industry. Here are the 5 key takeaways</a>: Also from Izea, I wrote about the main points of its recent report on the impact the coronavirus could have on the influencer industry.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/esports-broadcasts-adapt-as-sports-leagues-shut-down-coronavirus-impact-2020-3">Esports broadcasts have quickly adapted as sports leagues have shut down, but online-only competitions present challenges for pro gaming:</a> My colleague Kevin Webb wrote about the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on esports, from the challenges to the opportunities.</p></li></ul><h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-join-faze-clan-recruiters-explain-choosing-team-members-2020-3">FaZe Clan's top recruiters explain how to join the red-hot gaming organization and what they look for in new members</a></h2><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e71578ac4854037e778f5d2-2400/dvphotovideo202002212148155330dvp.jpg" alt="FaZe Clan offset Charity" /><p>FaZe Clan is a multimillion-dollar gaming organization focused on esports and video content creation.</p><p>Kevin spoke to Vera Salamone, FaZe Clan's director of talent, and Erik Anderson, FaZe Clan's head of esports, on what FaZe Clan looks for in new recruits.</p><p>Anderson said FaZe is constantly recruiting on a global scale to find the best players to represent the team.</p><p>"I don't want to have to call a guy to wake him up to get him to and play video games as his career," Anderson said. "I want someone that's hungry to go and compete at a high level and understands that they're in a really amazing place to do that."</p><p><strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-join-faze-clan-recruiters-explain-choosing-team-members-2020-3">Read the full post on how to join FaZe Clan, here</a>. </em></strong></p><h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-creators-explain-details-google-preferred-how-to-get-in-2020-3">Inside YouTube's secretive Google Preferred program, which can boost a creator's income and signal they've 'made it'</a></h2><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e728727c4854039327d4564-2400/gettyimages-1187934010.jpg" alt="Remi Cruz" /><p>For a YouTube creator, joining "Google Preferred" - the company's top-tier monetization category - means you've made it.</p><p>Dan spoke to creators like Remi Cruz, a YouTube star who posts DIYs, cooking tutorials, and makeup and fashion videos for her 2.5 million subscribers, and other individuals familiar with how Google Preferred works to learn more about the company's secretive program.</p><p>Google Preferred videos tend to make more money because they command higher CPMs (cost per thousand views) than YouTube's standard AdSense (biddable pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll) monetization, according to multiple sources who spoke to Business Insider.</p><p>"In the beginning with Google Preferred, it definitely boosted [revenue]," Cruz noted. "But since then I think it's been climbing depending on the quarter that I'm in."</p><p>But how do you get into the program? Dan has the inside details.</p><p><em><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-creators-explain-details-google-preferred-how-to-get-in-2020-3">Read the full post to learn more about the Google Preferred program, here</a>. </strong></em></p><h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-metrics-brands-use-for-influencer-marketing-campaigns-sponsorships-2020-3">The TikTok metrics that matter for a successful sponsorship deal between an influencer and a brand, according to industry insiders</a></h2><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e68f6e784159f3cbd30c606-1911/img1524.jpg" alt="James Henry" /><p>TikTok has become one of the most popular apps among Gen Zers and brands are looking to leverage the massive reach its creators have.</p><p>I spoke with an influencer talent manager and a digital agent about some of the metrics they see brands paying attention to in 2020 on TikTok.</p><p>"On TikTok, it doesn't matter how many followers you have, that's not the main metric of success," said David White, head of influencer management at Whalar Stars. "It's all about how many views you're getting."</p><p>From a branding perspective, TikTok is good for its volume of impressions and reach, and Instagram is the place to drive sales, said Alex Devlin from WME. </p><p><strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-metrics-brands-use-for-influencer-marketing-campaigns-sponsorships-2020-3">Read the full post on the TikTok metrics brands are paying attention to, here</a>. </em></strong></p><h2>What else happened on BI Prime this week: </h2><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/call-of-duty-league-esports-team-owners-investors-breakdown-cdl-2020-3">The 12 investors betting millions on the Call of Duty League - from the LA Rams owners to a group including Gary Vaynerchuk</a>: Kevin created a list of everyone who's invested millions to be part of the Call of Duty League's first season.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-influencers-should-disclose-paid-brand-sponsorships-ftc-rules-2020-3">The FTC provided specific guidelines on what influencers should and shouldn't do for sponsored posts in its recent $1 million settlement with a marketer</a>: Dan highlighted some key takeaways for influencers looking to avoid the ire of the FTC based on the agency's settlement with Teami.</p></li></ul><h2>Here's what else we're reading: </h2><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/style/zoom-parties-coronavirus-memes.html">We Live in Zoom Now: Zoom is where we work, go to school and party these days</a>: Taylor Lorenz, Erin Griffith, and Mike Isaac from The New York Times wrote that overnight, the video conferencing platform, Zoom, has become a primary social platform for many high school and college students, as those institutions move to online learning.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/big-gram-campus-usc-students-train-become-influencers-n1156881">Big 'gram on campus: At USC, students train to become influencers</a>: Kalhan Rosenblatt from NBC wrote about USC's social media influencing curriculum and clubs, where content creation is more than just a hobby.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/11/21174212/youtube-coronavirus-monetization-ads-susan-wojcicki-sensitive-subject-phil-defranco">YouTube will slowly start monetizing coronavirus videos following creator anger</a>: Julia Alexander from The Verge reported that YouTube was reassessing its policies in an effort to let some creators monetize videos they make about the coronavirus.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/icm-signs-digital-management-firm-talentx-1284516">ICM Signs Digital Management Firm TalentX (Exclusive)</a>: Natalie Jarvey from The Hollywood Reporter wrote that talent management firm TalentX has signed with ICM Partners, bringing its 32 clients under the agency's fold.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/loren-gray-tiktok-popular-music-the-man-taylor-swift-2020-3">The most popular TikToker is on track to lose her throne, and she's looking to Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendes for the next leg of her career</a>: Kat Tenbarge from Insider spoke to 17-year-old Loren Gray, who is the most followed person on TikTok.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/david-dobrik-interview-youtube-liza-fallon-vlog-11584028115?tesla=y">Meet David Dobrik, Gen Z's Jimmy Fallon</a>: Myles Tanzer from The Wall Street Journal wrote about YouTube star David Dobrik and his big dream to be a late-night host.</p></li></ul><p><em>Thanks for reading! 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How YouTube and Instagram stars are adapting their businesses as the coronavirus impacts the influencer-marketing industry

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5822368f691e881c008b5842-1500/oil pump workers venezuela.jpg" alt="Oil Pump Workers Venezuela" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Isaac Urrutia" data-mce-caption="Men work at an oil pump in Lagunillas, Ciudad Ojeda, in the state of Zulia, Venezuela, March 20, 2015." /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Isaac Urrutia</span></p><p class="caption">Workers at an oil pump in Lagunillas, Ciudad Ojeda, in Zulia, Venezuela, March 20, 2015.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Venezuela is increasingly reliant on its faltering oil industry for revenue.</strong></li><li><strong>But the deteriorating economy is undermining the oil sector.</strong></li><li><strong>And other countries in the region want to roll back Venezuela's oil diplomacy to further isolate its embattled government.</strong></li></ul><hr /><p>Venezuela's embattled government has relied on oil - which provides about 95% of the country's export revenue - to help keep it afloat as it fends off international pressure and deals with unrest over a rapidly unwinding economy and rampant shortages.</p><p>But turmoil in Venezuela and external efforts to isolate President Nicolas Maduro are increasingly straining the country's oil industry, managed by state oil company PDVSA.</p><p>On the ground, years of mismanagement and underinvestment have left much of PDVSA's infrastructure unable to function at full capacity - and, in some cases, unable to function at all.</p><h2>'This is unheard of, a catastrophe'</h2><p>PDVSA's production <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-02-22/hungry-venezuelan-workers-are-collapsing-so-is-the-oil-industry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has halved</a> over the last 16 years. Daily output in January was 1.77 million barrels - down from a peak of 3.34 million barrels a day in 2001. Energy Intelligence <a href="http://www.energyintel.com/pages/trending.aspx?docid=990784" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> this month that oil output may in fact be lower - about 1.4 million barrels a day.</p><p>PDVSA's refineries will operate at 43% of their capacity in March because of a lack of spare parts, feedstock, and light crude, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/venezuela-pdvsa-refineries/update-1-venezuelan-pdvsas-refineries-to-run-at-43-pct-capacity-in-march-document-idUSL2N1QI1LF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Reuters, which cited company internal documents. The 701,000 barrels a day it plans to process this month are slightly more than in March 2017 but well below total capacity of 1.62 million barrels a day.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5580c3145afbd3c0038b4567-800/venezuela-to-get-5-billion-in-funding-from-china-in-next-few-months-pdvsa-official.jpg" alt="The flow of crude oil is seen in a container while an oilfield worker works on a drilling rig at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, in the oil rich Orinoco belt, near Cabrutica at the state of Anzoategui April 16, 2015.  REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins " data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="The flow of crude oil is seen in a container while an oilfield worker works on a drilling rig at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, in the oil rich Orinoco belt, near Cabrutica at the state of Anzoategui" /><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">An oilfield worker on a drilling rig at a well run by PDVSA, in the oil-rich Orinoco belt, near Cabrutica in Anzoategui, Venezuela, April 16, 2015.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>"With production going down and down, there is a spiral of less cash and less investment and less production," Francisco Monaldi, a Venezuelan oil expert at Rice University, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/world/americas/venezuela-oil-pdvsa.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The New York Times</a> in December. "I don't think there has ever been such a collapse in cash flow of any national oil company."</p><p>Jobs at PDVSA - with generous pensions and ample meals in company cafeterias -were once highly sought. But spiraling inflation has made the pay increasingly worthless, and shortages have left the cafeterias bare.</p><p>Underfed workers are less able to do their jobs. Some have passed out at their work stations. Others, too weak for demanding labor, are sent home. Workers who stay on the job have to do more, sending them deeper into calorie deficit. They are less able to quickly respond to the technical and mechanical problems.</p><p><span>Jose Bodas, the general secretary of United Federation of Venezuelan Oil Workers, estimated 500 employees have resigned at the Puerto La Cruz refinery and nearby processing facilities - which produced almost all of Venezuela's oil exports - in the past year.</span></p><p><span>Bodas said PDVSA - which <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-02-22/hungry-venezuelan-workers-are-collapsing-so-is-the-oil-industry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brands</a> some departing employees "traitors to the homeland" - is trying to stop its brain drain.</span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56d186795124c9380c8b4567-800/deepening-default-fears-cast-shadow-over-venezuelas-oil-flows.jpg" alt="Oil workers weld a new pipeline at PDVSA's Jose Antonio Anzoategui industrial complex in the state of Anzoategui April 15, 2015.  REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="Oil workers weld a new pipeline at PDVSA's Jose Antonio Anzoategui industrial complex in the state of Anzoategui" /><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Oil workers weld a new pipeline at PDVSA's Jose Antonio Anzoategui industrial complex in Anzoategui, April 15, 2015.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Skilled workers like those from the oil sector <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/latin-america-professional-worker-brain-drain-2015-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have been sought</a> by foreign headhunting firms, and an influx of Venezuelan oil workers <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/venezuela-migration-economic-political-crisis-2016-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has been credited</a> with boosting Colombia's oil industry.</p><p>Hundreds of workers from Venezuela's Caribbean refineries left at the end of 2017 for <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/world/americas/venezuela-oil-pdvsa.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$10-an-hour</a> construction jobs on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, which is rebuilding after hurricanes late last year.</p><p><span>"They're giving up because of hunger," Bodas <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-02-22/hungry-venezuelan-workers-are-collapsing-so-is-the-oil-industry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Bloomberg</a>. "They're leaving because they get paid better abroad. This is unheard of, a catastrophe."</span></p><p>Maduro carried out what many saw as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nicolas-maduro-may-harm-venezuela-oil-industry-targeting-pdvsa-2017-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a purge of PDVSA last year</a>, replacing rivals with political allies, mainly military officials. While their inexperience may only undercut the firm, Maduro doesn't appear to have suffered for it.</p><p><span>"Surprisingly, despite plummeting production and total mismanagement of PDVSA, Maduro has so far avoided any significant cracks within his inner circle," Geoff Ramsey, assistant director for Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America, told Business Insider. </span></p><p>Venezuela's military is vital to Maduro's hold on power, Ramsey said, and "while it's clear that the oil sector has been key to ensuring the support of security forces ... Maduro has given them plenty of other perks to ensure their loyalty," including control of the borders and access to kickbacks from imports and food distribution.</p><p><span>Even if Venezuela's oil industry were to grind to a halt, whether from mismanagement or because of US sanctions, Maduro seems likely to retain power, Ramsey added.</span></p><h2>'A fairly strong shock'</h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a9826eaaae6058c018b4645-1400/ap598518473760.jpg" alt="Venezuela PDVSA Puerto La Cruz oil refinery" data-mce-source="AP Photo/Carlos Landaeta" data-mce-caption="A firefighter walks near a refinery fire in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. Lightning set fire to a storage tank at Venezuela's Puerto La Cruz oil refinery and residents were moved out of the immediate area, August 11, 2013." /><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Carlos Landaeta</span></p><p class="caption">A firefighter near a refinery fire sparked by lightning in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, August 11, 2013.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>Other countries, led by the US, want to erode Maduro's influence abroad by rolling back Caracas' oil agreements.</span></p><p><span>Last summer, Mexico began looking at ways it could replace Petrocaribe, the Venezuelan oil program that has provided cheap fuel to Caribbean and Central American countries since 2005.</span></p><p><span>Mexican officials <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-mexico/exclusive-mexico-studies-supplying-petrocaribe-oil-if-venezuela-govt-falls-sources-idUSKCN1B31X3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> replacing Petrocaribe was a way to win allies and break up a bloc that has largely resisted international efforts to censure Maduro.</span></p><p><span>"If you look at the most recent [Organization of American States] vote, for instance, you see that most of the countries that continue to stand alongside Venezuela are still those that have historically benefited from PetroCaribe or other Venezuela-led economic initiatives," Tim Gill, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, told Business Insider.</span></p><p><span>But cracks have appeared in the alliance, as Venezuela's faltering oil industry reduces its ability to supply fuel, said Gill, whose research has focused on US-Venezuela relations.</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/591ddca2639147970b8b498c-2400/rts101hp.jpg" alt="Luis Videgaray Rex Tillerson Mexico Secretary of State" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Carlos Barria" data-mce-caption="US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, shakes hands with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray after delivering statements at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City, Mexico, February 23, 2017." /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Carlos Barria</span></p><p class="caption">US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray in Mexico City, February 23, 2017.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>Gill pointed to Jamaica, a Petrocaribe beneficiary that has voted against Venezuela and whose foreign minister <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-usa-caribbean/venezuela-oil-likely-to-feature-on-mexican-ministers-visit-jamaica-idUSKCN1G3215" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Venezuela's political situation and Mexican oil supplies may be discussed when Mexico's foreign minister visits this month.</span></p><p><span>The privatized American oil industry has limited the US government's ability to supply oil to Petrocaribe countries, Gill said, but it's possible Mexico, through its state oil firm, Pemex, "could work with other countries to wean some remaining Central American and Caribbean countries off Venezuelan oil and urge them to favor resolutions against the Venezuelan government in the OAS or elsewhere."</span></p><p><span>Mexico denies its recent moves against Venezuela are efforts to court favor with US amid NAFTA talks. (Mexico and others in the region have invoked Venezuela's internal turmoil for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/latin-american-governments-political-benefit-from-venezuelas-crisis-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">domestic political gain</a>.) And Mexico is part of a growing group of countries trying to reprove Maduro over his anti-democratic actions.</span></p><p><span>"The United States and Latin America are trying to broaden the coalition working to resolve Venezuela's humanitarian crisis and advance a democratic transition there, as Caribbean votes are needed to suspend Venezuela from the Organization of American States," said Mark Feierstein, senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs on the National Security Council during the Obama administration.</span></p><p><span>"Given the Caribbean's long democratic tradition, those countries should be especially receptive to efforts that will not only support their economies but position them to help advance the struggle for democracy in Venezuela," Feierstein, currently a senior adviser at Albright Stonebridge Group, told Business Insider.</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a85ce295124c9774f6540f9-800/do-you-fear-me-venezuelas-maduro-threatens-to-gatecrash-regional-summit.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends a ceremony to mark the opening of the judicial year at the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) in Caracas, Venezuela February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Marco Bello" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends a ceremony to mark the opening of the judicial year at the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) in Caracas" /><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Supreme Court of Justice in Caracas, February 14, 2018.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>The US has <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-more-us-sanctions-on-venezuela-could-backfire-2017-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sanctioned</a> dozens of Venezuelan officials and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-more-us-sanctions-on-venezuela-could-backfire-2017-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">targeted</a> the government's financial dealings, and is weighing additional measures against Maduro</span><span>, particularly in the run-up to the April 22 presidential election that many expect to be a sham.</span><span></span></p><p><span>The Trump administration is now reportedly <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-exclusive-us-mulls-sanctions-on-venezuela-to-put-pressure-on-maduro---source-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considering sanctions</a> against a Venezuelan military-run oil services company, restricting insurance coverage for Venezuelan oil shipments, and blocking the sale of US light crude to Venezuela, which it needs to mix with its own heavy crude to make refined products like gasoline.</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a982abdaae6051f008b46ac-943/ap17318722854952.jpg" alt="Venezuela Donald Trump graffiti Nazi swastika" data-mce-source="AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos" data-mce-caption="A mural of US President Donald Trump depicting him wearing a Nazi swastika on a wall along a sidewalk in Caracas, Venezuela, next to the Spanish message: &amp;quotWe are those of peace,&quot; November 14, 2017." /><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos</span></p><p class="caption">A mural of US President Donald Trump wearing a Nazi swastika on a wall in Caracas, Venezuela, November 14, 2017.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>A US official told Reuters an eventual full ban on Venezuela oil shipments to the US - Caracas was the US's fourth-largest supplier in 2017 - has not been ruled out.</span></p><p><span>Broader <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/humanitarian-economic-political-effect-of-us-sanction-on-venezuela-oil-2017-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oil sanctions are considered unwise</a> by many, in part because of the impact they would have on ordinary Venezuelans and their potential to disrupt the oil market.</span></p><p><span>The US official <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-exclusive-us-mulls-sanctions-on-venezuela-to-put-pressure-on-maduro---source-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Reuters</a> that a full oil ban would cause "a fairly strong shock to the oil market in the short term" but stressed that no decisions have been made. </span></p><p><span>"Oil sanctions are not taken lightly," the official said.</span></p><p><span>There is also the risk that Maduro and his allies would be insulated from the effects of an oil ban by the diversity of their assets and the range of industries to which they have access.</span></p><p>"That's why oil sanctions are such a risky move: They wouldn't necessarily force Maduro from power, but they would certainly provide him with plenty of ammunition to [blame] his country's economic crisis on the United States," Ramsey said. "Ultimately, those who will be most affected by such sanctions would be everyday Venezuelans, already suffering from widespread shortages of food and medicine."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/venezuela-was-latin-americas-richest-country-heres-how-it-fell-apart-2017-7">Venezuela was Latin America's richest country and now it is in complete crisis - here's how it fell apart</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/OYA3woRt-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

The industry keeping Venezuela afloat is under pressure from both inside and outside the country

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/571a7b05dd08950a218b490f-4200-2800/rtx1yd4f.jpg" alt="Paris climate change agreement" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Mal Langsdon" data-mce-caption="Environmentalists hold a banner which reads, &amp;quotCrank up the Action&quot; at a protest demonstration near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues near the French capital in Le Bourget, December 12, 2015."><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Mal Langsdon</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>Take note: For better or worse, Earth Day 2016 is going down in history.</p><p>On April 22, at least 170 heads of state and&#xa0;diplomats from around the globe signed the world's first international climate change accords, known as <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2646274-Updated-l09r01.html">the Paris Agreement</a>.</p><p>The pact was agreed upon by 195 countries (that's almost all of them) in December 2015, after <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-climate-pact-un-signing-ceremony-paris-agreement-cop21/">two weeks of tough negotiations</a>.&#xa0;</p><p>According to Reuters,&#xa0;the agreement will have the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-pact-idUSKCN0XJ0B1">highest number of signatories</a> in history for any treaty's opening day.</p><p>The 31-page accord&#xa0;marked the&#xa0;first successful international effort to fight&#xa0;climate change, which <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/04/15/research-shows-yet-again-that-theres-no-scientific-debate-about-climate-change/">97% of climate scientists agree</a>&#xa0;is driven by human activity.</p><p>After today, it&#xa0;will be open for signing until April 21, 2017. And even after that, additional states can still decide to adopt the agreement through accession, which is more or less United Nations code for "coming late to the party."</p><p>The list of countries who <a href="http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2016/04/parisagreementsingatures/">agreed to the treaty but might not be signing</a>&#xa0;today&#xa0;includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other large-scale oil producers.</p><p>Think tank Third World Network has also <a href="http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/03/29/developing-nations-urged-to-boycott-paris-agreement-signing/">urged developing nations to hold off</a> joining until they see concrete plans&#xa0;from wealthy nations, pointing to a history of empty promises to combat climate change.</p><p>Signatories have pledged to create climate plans aiming to limit global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, with the more realistic (but <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-2-degree-warming-limit-is-arbitrary-and-beside-the-point/">perhaps arbitrary</a>) goal&#xa0;of keeping global temperatures no more than&#xa0;3.6 degrees above pre-industrial levels. (The pact is big on goals, but short on the details of how to achieve them.)</p><p><div><iframe width="800" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gGOzHVUQCw0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></p><p>The agreement requires countries to <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/12/12/9981020/paris-climate-deal">meet every five years</a> with new emissions-reductions targets, though it allows them&#xa0;to <a href="http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/INDC/Submission%20Pages/submissions.aspx">set their own benchmarks</a>.</p><p>The US, for example, has pledged to reduce emissions 26% below 2005 levels by 2015; the European Union is aiming for 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. China hopes to <a href="http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/INDC/Published%20Documents/China/1/China's%20INDC%20-%20on%2030%20June%202015.pdf">reach the same target</a> by 2020.&#xa0;</p><p>It also includes provisions designed to protect the global poor, who are almost certainly going to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/sep/27/climate-change-poor-countries-ipcc">bear the brunt</a> of the warming sparked by the rapid industrialization of other, richer countries.</p><p>This includes allocating&#xa0;<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-are-the-winners-and-losers-of-the-cop21-climate-change-deal/">funding from wealthy states&#xa0;to developing ones</a>&#xa0;as well as&#xa0;committees tasked with&#xa0;exploring solutions to issues like <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/world/europe/paris-accord-considers-climate-change-as-a-factor-in-mass-migration.html?_r=1">the inevitability of climate refugees</a>.</p><p>It's worth remembering that December's victory was the first after a long string of mostly ineffective climate conventions and talks <a href="http://www.bmub.bund.de/en/topics/climate-energy/climate/international-climate-policy/climate-conferences/chronicle-of-climate-change-conferences/">spanning two&#xa0;decades</a>, starting with&#xa0;the first <a href="http://unfccc.int/2860.php">United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNPCCC)</a> in 1992&#xa0;that&#xa0;gave rise to the <a href="https://morningconsult.com/2016/04/paris-climate-agreement-kyoto-2-0/">failed 1997 Kyoto Protocol</a>.</p><p>These past failures should guide world leaders as they pursue the Paris Agreement, which like its predecessors is <a href="http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/6031.php">not legally binding</a>&#xa0;- yet.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/571a7b05dd08950a218b4910-2788-2091/modi-obama-cop21-paris.jpg" alt="modi obama cop21 paris" data-mce-source="Kevin Lamarque/Reuters" data-mce-caption="U.S. President Obama meets with Indian Prime Minister Modi at the climate change summit in Paris" data-link="http://pictures.reuters.com/Download/Order/39kS3RVE.15Bw9dypJd7PbmxYiF48I5vRvhBvVQs@0vXt6d1RXm0b0Yl1hwA1JJG425ad9d4d484"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://pictures.reuters.com/Download/Order/39kS3RVE.15Bw9dypJd7PbmxYiF48I5vRvhBvVQs@0vXt6d1RXm0b0Yl1hwA1JJG425ad9d4d484">Kevin Lamarque/Reuters</a></span></p><p class="caption">President Obama meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the climate change summit in Paris.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>The multi-step process is long and complicated, and&#xa0;there are lots of junctures where it could be derailed.<p>In Paris, 195 states agreed that they would sign the accord on&#xa0;Earth Day 2016&#xa0;- but even then,&#xa0;<a href="https://psmag.com/how-soon-will-the-paris-climate-agreement-become-law-d1016dae990d#.1pei5deuc">individual countries&#xa0;have to&#xa0;approve or ratify the agreement</a> at the national level before they've officially "joined."</p><p>Once&#xa0;55 countries, whose collective emissions must add up to at least 55% of the global total, have reached that step, the accord <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/14/opinions/sutter-cop21-climate-5-things/">becomes legally binding</a>&#xa0;and members states will be expected to fulfill their commitments.</p><p>The US and China, both of which have announced their intent to become official member states, account for 40% of global emissions. Both will likely ratify their country's participation <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/04/not-doomed-yet-will-the-paris-agreement-activate-before-obama-leaves/479511/">through executive action</a>.</p><p>This could fast-track the agreement's formal start date&#xa0;by four years:&#xa0;Instead of 2020, the pact <a href="http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/04/01/uns-paris-climate-deal-could-enter-into-force-this-year/">could go into effect by the end of 2016</a>.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/571a7b05dd08950a218b4911-909-681/smokestack-2.jpg" alt="smokestack" data-mce-source="Carmen Shields" data-link="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sonicimac/13978507500/in/photolist-9mBdfC-a2auWV-5TP7ZU-4qYkyT-iseeSK-7D16u9-eTdRBk-4LdVfv-a2do73-7se2pH-vGFyv-grnuUr-iyNVi-m5CYtv-8jVXS7-7shZbq-aN3iJZ-4QgF1w-s2hVy-bD5n6f-7bmh3X-7bmi5n-7bmm9z-nievh1-7bqi7E-mS3gZf-7PRh7M-8LpcoX-8LsPeA-7bmvaT-djXm5G-5srrqp-DWHQT-4LMHHM-922oPj-5mvfti-ETGWf-79AYTj-37fFVc-2BtbHY-4QFzXN-gzpwPq-5XoEdA-7bmrXH-aygjtM-7mL1No-ETDFD-6dT49a-7bmkNg-apKvsA"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sonicimac/13978507500/in/photolist-9mBdfC-a2auWV-5TP7ZU-4qYkyT-iseeSK-7D16u9-eTdRBk-4LdVfv-a2do73-7se2pH-vGFyv-grnuUr-iyNVi-m5CYtv-8jVXS7-7shZbq-aN3iJZ-4QgF1w-s2hVy-bD5n6f-7bmh3X-7bmi5n-7bmm9z-nievh1-7bqi7E-mS3gZf-7PRh7M-8LpcoX-8LsPeA-7bmvaT-djXm5G-5srrqp-DWHQT-4LMHHM-922oPj-5mvfti-ETGWf-79AYTj-37fFVc-2BtbHY-4QFzXN-gzpwPq-5XoEdA-7bmrXH-aygjtM-7mL1No-ETDFD-6dT49a-7bmkNg-apKvsA">Carmen Shields</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>Progress could be delayed if not enough countries ratify the agreement. Some states, mostly island nations&#xa0;already being affected by rising sea levels, <a href="http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/04/01/uns-paris-climate-deal-could-enter-into-force-this-year/">came to the signing ceremony with domestic approval</a> in hand.</p><p>And then there's the US presidential election.&#xa0;While President Barack Obama&#xa0;has pledged to follow through on US commitments, the next president could, in theory,&#xa0;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/12/01/could-a-gop-president-scuttle-a-global-climate-deal-yes-but-it-would-be-anything-but-easy/">pull out of the deal</a>, effectively halting progress on reducing emissions.</p><p>Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both&#xa0;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/climate-change.html">support continued action on climate change</a>.</p><p>John Kasich is the only Republican candidate willing to entertain the notion that climate change is established fact, but he shies away from committing to a path to mitigation.</p><p>The two Republican front-runners, <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/01/ted-cruz-satellite-date-climate-change">Ted Cruz</a> and <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/bill-nye-response-trumps-statements-about-climate-change-2016-3">Donald Trump</a>, (incorrectly) contend that <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/bill-nye-response-trumps-statements-about-climate-change-2016-3">climate change itself is still a matter of debate</a>.</p><p>In February, the BBC reported that Obama's current climate envoy, Todd Stern, has warned that the US leaving the climate deal&#xa0;could lead to "<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35605916">diplomatic consequences</a>" on the international stage.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/561823c9dd0895e12e8b472a-2439-1829/gettyimages-491868080.jpg" alt="Donald Trump" data-mce-source="Isaac Brekken/Getty Images" data-mce-caption="Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Treasure Island Hotel &amp; Casino on October 8, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the rally, Trump said people were giving him credit for helping force Kevin McCarthy to bow out of the race for Speaker of the House."><p class="source"><span>Isaac Brekken/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Not a scientist.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>No matter who the next president is, however, the&#xa0;sad fact is that the Paris Agreement may have come too late.<p>This year, 2016, is <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/17/2016-set-to-be-hottest-year-on-record-globally">set to be the hottest on record</a>. Earth's climate is already&#xa0;<a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/5/15/8612113/truth-climate-change">on track to blow past</a>&#xa0;the 2.7-degree target - the agreement's more hopeful goal&#xa0;- and perhaps even the more arbitrary 3.6 degree mark.</p><p>But hope springs eternal this&#xa0;Earth Day: Peabody Energy, the largest publicly held coal company in the US, became the&#xa0;most recent of an <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/04/13/peabody-energy-coal-chapter-11-bankruptcy/82971246/">estimated 50 coal companies</a> to file for bankruptcy in the last few years; and renewable energy sources are <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/developing-countries-outpacing-developed-renewable-energy-2016-3">quickly eclipsing fossil fuels</a> in several countries. Coal accounts for <a href="http://www.c2es.org/energy/source/coal">44% of global CO2 emissions</a>, so this kind of progress is significant - and a sign that real change may be ahead.</p><p>While <a href="http://www.telesurtv.net/english/analysis/5-Ways-the-COP21-Deal-Dooms-the-Planet-to-Climate-Change-Chaos-20151214-0015.html">far from perfect</a>, the Paris Agreement remains a promising development&#xa0;for world action on climate change,&#xa0;and the April 22 signing ceremony has world leaders promising to pursue climate-change solutions at home and abroad.</p><p>Despite decades of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/25/fossil-fuel-firms-are-still-bankrolling-climate-denial-lobby-groups">fossil fuel industry-funded denial</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/02/26/jim-inhofes-snowball-has-disproven-climate-change-once-and-for-all/">snowball-throwing senators</a> here in the US,&#xa0;world leaders have managed&#xa0;to put aside their differences to solve humanity's greatest challenge to date.</p><p>And that's worth celebrating.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-nye-climate-change-deniers-2016-2">Bill Nye offers up one scientific fact to shut down climate-change deniers</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="1rNDgzMTE6DyM7x_OLBbDQUY78-pXUgK" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', '1rNDgzMTE6DyM7x_OLBbDQUY78-pXUgK',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "isaac cruz" and got 10 results

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