🐀 Axios PM: Rat czar

Plus: Football bonanza | Thursday, December 01, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Instagram   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Dec 01, 2022 Good afternoon: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 492 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: Bama fans, take notice Image: College Football Playoff 🏈 Two-loss college football teams will soon have their chance at glory, thanks to the college football playoff expansion moving two years ahead of schedule, Axios' Herb Scribner reports. Why it matters: Just ask an Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson or Penn State fan what they'd rather be doing this holiday season. 🏆 The field will widen from four to 12 in 2024. The top six conference champions qualify, along with the other six highest-ranked teams. Zoom out: Conference leaders have been negotiating details for more than a year, AP reports. The new format could bring the conferences a projected $450 million over the last two years of the current TV deal with ESPN. CFP doesn't yet have a TV contract beyond 2025. But the TV rights for the 12-team format could be worth as much as $1.9 billion. The bottom line: The home games are probably the biggest game changer, Axios Sports author Kendall Baker tells me. Higher seeds will have the choice to play first-round games at home, bringing college pageantry back into the playoffs.     2. Balenciaga disaster Data: Memo; Chart: Alice Feng/Axios Balenciaga's messy, delayed and inadequate response to disturbing editorial decisions could cause long-term damage to its reputation, Axios Communicators author Eleanor Hawkins reports. The luxury fashion designer released two unsettling ad campaigns in November: A holiday ad with children holding teddy bear-shaped purses covered in bondage. A spring collection ad that was staged in an office space and featured a document pertaining to child pornography laws. The bottom line: Had its initial Nov. 23 response included an explanation, accountability and next steps, the issue likely would've fizzled in the holiday news cycle, Hawkins reports. But multiple tone-deaf apologies and finger-pointing only fanned the flames. Go deeper.     A message from Instagram Explore 30+ Instagram tools helping teens have positive experiences     Instagram's tools can help parents keep their teens safe on social media, help teens see less sensitive content and help them spend less time on our platform. Because teens' experiences on Instagram should be positive and supportive. Explore our tools and set them up today.     3. Catch up quick Photo: Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images Ahead of tonight's State Dinner, President Biden met with French President Macron in the Oval Office (above). At a joint news conference afterward, Biden vowed that the U.S. and France will work alongside allies to hold Russia accountable for the war in Ukraine. Go deeper. A key gauge of inflation showed price gains slowed in October, the Commerce Department said today. Go deeper. The average cost of a gallon of gas in the U.S. ($3.47) has dropped below the price it was before Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, according to AAA. The British royal family is facing backlash this week over another racism controversy after a longtime royal aide was accused of repeatedly questioning a Black charity head about their origins. Go deeper.     🐀 4. Hot new job: Rat czar Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   New York City is ready to shell out six figures for a rat czar. Ideal candidates will be "somewhat bloodthirsty" and have a "virulent vehemence for vermin," the job posting says. Zoom out: New Yorkers don't have the worst of it. Boston and Philadelphia have a higher share of rodent sightings, according to a 2021 survey, Axios Boston reports. Go deeper: Rat expert shares tips for D.C.'s rodent issues Via Twitter     A message from Instagram Set up supervision on Instagram to help keep your teen safe online     Parents have support when it comes to keeping their teens safe on Instagram. They can see who their teen follows, who follows them and any reports their teen shares once supervision on Family Center is set up. Explore Family Center and set it up today.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   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: