?? Outrage over the $16 McDonald’s meal
It’s Wednesday, November 29 — people are talking about Merriam-Webster’s word of the year “authentic”, the $16 McDonald’s meal, and more.
As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.
- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)
???Meriam-Webster’s word of the year: “authentic”
“Authentic” is the word on everyone's lips, but can we tell what's real anymore?
???The Conversation: Merriam-Webster crowned “authentic” as the 2023 word of the year, citing the rise of AI and “a kind of crisis of authenticity”.
?? MSNBC was a fan of the decision: Authenticity plays a big role in politics, too. Our obsession with “authentic” candidates undermines the importance of legitimate policy stances.
?? But The Inquirer is sick of these “word of the year” announcements: It's time to end this clickbaity tradition. Oxford's 2022 winner, “goblin mode”, wasn't even in their own dictionary!
?? The Onion (a satirical news site) poked fun at Merriam-Webster's choice.
???Outrage over the $16 McDonald’s meal
A viral $16 McDonald's meal got people talking: Is Bidenomics to blame, or something else?
?? @topherolive on TikTok posted a video expressing his frustration over a McDonald’s meal that cost him $16.10. He shook his fist at the state of the US economy.
?? The video sparked outrage across the internet. CNN says people unfairly saw the meal as a snapshot of our economy. In Biden's defense, though, the guy ordered a premium-priced burger.
?? But The Federalist thinks the outrage is valid. Biden is trying to trick Americans into thinking the economy's doing better than it really is!
?? The New Republic disagreed, though: Quit blaming Biden for the consequences of free-market economics. This fiasco is ridiculous.
Shades poll: What do you think about the $16 McDonald's meal outrage?
Quick hits
? A Virgin Airlines commercial airplane flew across the Atlantic using a fuel made from tallow and waste fats. It's been dubbed "jet zero". (AP News)
?? France plans to ban smoking from beaches, public parks, and other public spaces as part of its initiative to reduce tobacco-related deaths . (CNN)
? A US military plane crashed near the coast of Japan, killing at least 1 of the 6 passengers onboard. (The Guardian)
?? After a landslide trapped 41 construction workers in a tunnel for two weeks, rescue teams were able to save all of them. (BBC)