What's Happening

Politics

Mike Johnson Is Struggling To Hold Onto That Gavel

What's going on: The House is back in session today, and its first order of business is deciding whether or not Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) can keep his job. Despite earning President-elect Donald Trump's endorsement and the GOP holding a (razor-thin) majority, some far-right holdouts could derail Johnson's bid. Many are upset over his handling of last month’s short-term spending bill and the passage of Ukraine aid. Johnson can't afford to lose more than one Republican vote, and it looks like he's already facing at least one vote against him. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has committed to voting "nay." Others, including many members of the House Freedom Caucus, have said they are undecided.

What it means: The House won't be able to conduct any business until a speaker is elected, regardless of whether or not that's Johnson. That includes certifying Trump's presidential victory on Monday. Instead, the House will be forced to keep voting until it agrees on a speaker. (Anyone else getting 2023 flashbacks?) Still, the vote serves as a litmus test for Republicans, showing if they can overcome internal divisions to get things done. The GOP currently holds a trifecta, and any internal strife could undermine its legislative agenda during Trump's second term. Meanwhile, the Democrats appear to be aligned and plan to re-elect Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

Related: President-elect Donald Trump Has Plans to Pregame His Inauguration Day (USA Today)

Business

Are Retail Chains Dead?

What's going on: If you love birthday balloons and cheddar bay biscuits, we're sorry, because 2024 included some blows to your livelihood. US retail stores and restaurants faced a tough year, with more than 7,300 closures — a 57% jump from 2023, according to Coresight Research. To put that in perspective, it's the highest annual number of closures since the 2020 pandemic. Among the hardest hits? Party City liquidated. TGI Fridays and Red Lobster each filed for bankruptcy. Walgreens and CVS closed over 1,000 stores combined (late-night snacks and cold meds are just that much further away). The comedown from pandemic splurges and inflation were major factors in all this, but it's only part of the story.

What it means: So, are chains really doomed? Not exactly. Some, like Trader Joe's and TJ Maxx, have managed to thrive. The ones that shuttered, went bankrupt, or seriously downsized had some things in common. Competition from Amazon, Costco, and Home Depot seems to have squeezed out mid-sized chains like Big Lots and The Container Store. Others lagged behind after showing up late to the online shopping party. And, honestly, some companies just made poor business decisions. (Though Lord & Taylor's planned online-only relaunch shows it's never too late to try again). CNN reports chains could still face struggles in 2025, particularly if President-elect Donald Trump implements his tariffs plan. Rest assured, chains aren't going anywhere. Your mozzarella sticks might come from Chili's instead of TGI Fridays — but we promise, the cheese pull will be just as satisfying.

Related: From Tupperware to True Value, These Well-Known Companies Went Bankrupt in 2024 (CNN Business)

Technology

AI Enters the Snack Chat

What's going on: The snack giant behind Oreos, Ritz crackers, and Chips Ahoy is letting AI into its secret recipe vault to help shape your munchies. Instead of relying on old-school trial-and-error — think food scientists nibbling biscuits until their taste buds wave the white flag — Mondelēz uses a machine-learning wizard to streamline the process. The tool chews through the company's recipes and desired characteristics, like flavor ("buttery," "vanilla intensity"), aroma ("oily," "burnt"), and appearance ("amount of chips," "roundness") to spit out new concoctions in record time. It even considers cost, environmental impact, and nutrition. Human tasters will get the final say — so no "Sweet Creamed Corn Oreos" or "Glickled Ritz" sneak through unchallenged. The company says the technology will help it be more precise and get the best product faster and more efficiently.

What it means: All this AI innovation isn't happening just because Mondelēz wants to save you from boring snacks. The American foodscape is already so stuffed with options that brands need constant reinvention to keep people intrigued (you be the judge about that whole Oreo Diet Coke situation). Food scientists work closely with "brand stewards" to tweak the classics without losing their essence. New but familiar is the sweet spot — so expect more of a hint of spice in your Clif bar, not a Toblerone that tastes like sushi. (Though there have been some questionable human-led choices before.) While this might just be a clever way to get us hooked on more processed snacks, it's also a glimpse of how AI could improve things — like making plant-based food taste better. Here's hoping.

Related: Robot Chefs Aren't All They're Cracked Up To Be (NYT Gift Link)