🐦 Axios PM: Musk purge

Plus: Good to be Taylor | Tuesday, November 01, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By BlackRock   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Nov 01, 2022 Good afternoon: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 480 words, a 2-minute read. 🌎 Bulletin: Scientists discovered a "planet killer" asteroid — named 2022 AP7 — within the orbits of Earth and Venus. It poses no immediate threat to Earth. Go deeper.     1 big thing: Musk purge Via Twitter Elon Musk's Twitter C-suite purge is nearly complete, just five days after assuming control. Twitter's chief customer officer Sarah Personette is leaving the company, joining the former CEO, CFO, general counsel and policy chief, Axios Media Trends author Sara Fischer reports. Between the lines: Musk tweeted an open letter after meeting with Personette last week, assuring advertisers that Twitter wouldn't become a "free-for-all hellscape." Personette tried to reassure ad partners today while announcing her exit, saying Musk is committed to brand safety. "While uncertain how many there would be, I spent my last few days at the company continuing that commitment," Personette tweeted. Musk's latest Twitter bio: "Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator"     2. Rap giant shot dead at 28 Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images Takeoff, the rapper who was one-third of the Grammy-nominated group Migos, was shot and killed in Houston early this morning. He was 28, Axios' Madalyn Mendoza reports. The big picture: Takeoff — whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball — was the youngest member of the rap group formed in 2008 in Georgia, their home state. The group is responsible for hits like "Stir Fry," "Bad and Boujee" and "Walk It Talk It." Go deeper ... Get Axios Houston.     A message from BlackRock Invested in the future of first responders     We're proud to manage the pensions of those who serve others. All across the country, we're helping Americans invest for their future. Meet Joshua, one of the hundreds of thousands of first responders whose retirement plan assets are managed by BlackRock. Learn more.     3. Catch up quick Photo: Evaristo SA via Getty Images Above: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro broke his silence today after losing Sunday's runoff elections. He didn't concede the loss in his own words, but his administration agreed to begin the presidential transition. Go deeper. Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc is projected to win a narrow majority in today's Israeli elections, according to early exit polls. If he wins and can form a coalition, they can take steps to stop his corruption trial, Axios from Tel Aviv author Barak Ravid reports. Scoop: The U.S. should take action to ban TikTok, Brendan Carr, one of five commissioners at the FCC, told Axios China author Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian. Go deeper. Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily blocked a House committee from obtaining former President Trump's tax returns. Go deeper. Gaming industry recovery: "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II" earned $800 million in sales in its first three days of full release. Go deeper.     4. Parting shot: T-Swift's huge week Data: Billboard, Axios research; Note: Sales since Luminate Data (formerly Nielsen SoundScan) began tracking records; Chart: Axios Visuals It's been a very big week for Taylor Swift, Axios' Shane Savitsky reports. She notched her 11th No. 1 album with "Midnights," the 13th-biggest first week of the modern tracking era. She swept the entirety of the Billboard Hot 100's top 10 for the first time in history. Her streaming numbers were so strong that she could have pulled off that feat without any sales or airplay. Album cover: Republic Records via AP What's next: This morning, she announced a 27-date U.S. stadium tour leg for next year. The money at stake is massive: The 38 domestic shows in her 2018 Reputation Tour grossed a record $266.1 million, per Billboard.     A message from BlackRock Invested in the future of education     Americans everywhere are working hard to build a better future. So at BlackRock, we're hard at work to help them achieve financial freedom. We're proud to help families invest to save for education by managing their 529 College Savings Plans. Learn more.   Are you a fan of this email format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: