📺 Axios PM: Debate's big ratings

Plus: Robot massages | Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Sep 11, 2024 Good afternoon. Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 464 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Carlos Cunha for copy editing.     1 big thing: Nearly 60 million watched debate   Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris debating last night. Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters At least 58 million people watched last night's presidential debate, according to preliminary Nielsen figures released today. That's about 6.5 million more than watched the debate between former President Trump and President Biden. And the numbers will probably rise once Nielsen finishes a more comprehensive tally. 👀 Context: The highest-rated game in the NFL's opening week averaged 29 million viewers. The debate roughly doubled that. 🗳️ Why it matters: Americans are tuned in to this election, especially now that Harris has replaced Biden atop the Democratic ticket. Her well-received performance — and Trump's diversions into personal grievances and conspiracy theories — had a large audience even without accounting for coverage of the debate, or clips shared on social media. Those are likely to reach millions more people. The debate gave voters a rare chance to see Harris answer questions, and may end up being the only opportunity to see the two candidates face off directly. 🎤 Trump told "Fox and Friends" this morning that he is "less inclined" to participate in another debate before the election.     2. 💸 Men's pay rises faster than women's   Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Chart: Axios Visuals Men's median earnings rose twice as much as women's last year — the first time in 20 years that the gender pay gap has widened significantly. The median woman working full time in 2023 earned 83% of what the median man earned, Axios' Emily Peck reports. 💼 Between the lines: The wage gap doesn't mean women earn less than men for the same types of jobs — though that does happen. Instead, it is a useful indicator of broad inequality between men and women in the labor market. More women than men hold low-wage jobs, and women are also more likely to take time out of the labor force to care for children. Go deeper.     3. 🇺🇸 America remembers   Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Vice President Kamala Harris, President Biden, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former President Trump and Sen. JD Vance were at Ground Zero today commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Photo: Adam Gray/AFP via Getty Images Relatives and friends of the victims laid flowers, American flags and other mementos at the memorial where the World Trade Center once stood.     4. 🦾 Meet your robot masseuse   An aerial view of a customer using an Aescape massage robot table. Photo: Aescape Miami's newest massage therapist won't judge your physique or bother you with any small talk — because it's a robot. 😌 The robot simulates the touch techniques of a massage therapist, imitating a human thumb, a cupped hand, an elbow and other methods, Axios Miami's Martin Vassolo reports. Customers wear a special full-body compression suit to enable the robot arms — which are heated to 95 degrees — to more easily glide over their bodies. A touchscreen can adjust the table, the pressure of the massage, even the music. Read Martin's review ... Get Axios Miami   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. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Advertise with us. Axios, PO Box 101060, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: