Good morning. It's Thursday, Jan. 22, and welcome to this week's Business & Finance newsletter. This week, in light of the recent nurses' strike in New York City, we're covering labor unions. We're also diving into the life of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and the advertising industry.
—Phoebe Bain, 1440 Business & Finance Section Editor
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Who is Jeff Bezos?
Jeff Bezos is an American businessman best known for founding tech giant Amazon, one of the world’s highest-valued companies. He also owns The Washington Post and aerospace company Blue Origin. With a net worth of more than $200B as of this writing, he is among the world’s wealthiest individuals (and was the wealthiest at one point in 2018).
Born to a 17-year-old mother in New Mexico in 1964, Bezos worked at McDonald’s in high school before graduating as valedictorian and heading off to Princeton University. While Bezos began his postgraduate career at a hedge fund, he soon conceptualized “Amazon.com” to capitalize on the internet’s rapid growth.
While Amazon started as an online bookstore, Bezos always envisioned Amazon as the “everything store” and retail industry disruptor that it is today. From the company’s founding in 1994, he guided Amazon through the launch of Amazon Web Services, the Kindle, Alexa, and more as CEO before stepping down from the role in 2021. Today, Bezos serves as Amazon’s executive chairman of the board.
Also, check out ...
> Jeff Bezos’ biological parents married as teenagers—and had Jeff a year later. (Watch)
> Jeff Bezos’ grandfather made needles by hand for the cattle on his ranch. (Watch)
> See the richest person in every US state. (View)
> The "regret minimization framework" Bezos uses for decision-making. (Read)
Explore everything else we've found on Jeff Bezos. |
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In partnership with Northwestern Mutual |
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How To Unlock Your Financial Potential in 2026 |
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We’re less than a month into the new year, which means there’s still plenty of time to get (and keep) yourself on track to hit your goals in 2026—and beyond. But forget the same old weight loss and gym time resolutions, because this year is all about one
thing: Unlocking your financial Potential.
Whether you want to get a head start on some small tasks that can make a big
difference (like beginning to sock a little money away to pay off debt) or you’re ready to take the plunge and talk big picture (like retirement, college funds and more), there’s one thing you’ll need… and that’s a good financial plan. Lucky for you, a Northwestern Mutual financial advisor can help you build your own. Plus, check out their helpful free resources, like New Year’s-specific financial checklists, so you can start 2026 on a high note.
Ready to win 2026? Learn more about Northwestern Mutual’s financial planning. |
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Labor unions, explained
Although they’re most famous for bringing us the weekend, broadly speaking, labor unions help workers organize their labor efforts so they can negotiate as a single entity rather than as individuals. Workers in a particular industry, trade, or company form labor unions to improve aspects of their working conditions, such as pay or benefits. As of 2023, roughly 10% of US wage and salary workers were union members—down from roughly 20% in 1983.
In the US, labor unions are popular among transportation employees (such as the Teamsters), government employees, and other tradespeople like electrical workers. The history of labor unions can be traced back to the 18th century in Europe, when the Industrial Revolution brought a surge of newly managed workers into workplaces.
Critics of labor unions argue that unions not only make it more difficult to discipline low performers, but also drive up the cost of labor. Union advocates, however, believe unions are a great tool for increasing workers' pay and benefits.
Also, check out ...
> How photography helped eradicate US child labor. (Watch)
> The National Labor Relations Act gave workers the right to unionize. (Watch)
> The inside story of the 1969 murder of coal union leader Jock Yablonski. (Listen)
> What is crossing a picket line? (Watch)
Explore everything else we've found on Labor Unions. |
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Advertising 101
Advertising is a global industry centered around the paid promotion of products or services. It’s also a significant contributor to US GDP, with some estimates claiming it powers roughly 20% of the US annual economic output—the average American is exposed to roughly 5,000 ads per day.
Early advertisements date back to ancient Egyptian papyrus scrolls from about 5,000 years ago. Historically, marketers have run ads on the popular channels and platforms of their era. For instance, marketers began running TV ads in 1941, not long after household televisions became available.
From local newspapers to social media apps, advertisements are a major reason certain forms of media are free or inexpensive. However, the industry often employs psychological tactics designed to create a desire for products, leading to scrutiny over manipulative techniques.
As of 2025, roughly two-thirds of all US ad spend went to just five platforms: Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and TikTok. In recent years, the advertising industry—which is made up of a complex ecosystem of ad agencies, platforms, and other companies—has faced challenges surrounding data privacy, consumer trust, and the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity.
Also, check out ...
> The most expensive ad of all time was for Chanel No. 5 perfume. (Watch)
> Ads follow you around the internet through cookies. (Watch)
> Some ads help create "symbolic value" for products. (Read)
> What's the difference between marketing and advertising? (Read)
Explore everything else we've found on Advertising. |
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One Story We're Taking Stock In |
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Will 2026 be the year of the prediction market? That's more or less what some experts are predicting (no pun intended) as the amount of money traded on popular prediction markets—online platforms that let users bet on almost anything you can imagine—Kalshi and Polymarket ballooned to a total of nearly $12B in December, up more than 400% from a year earlier.
The article below (one of the most fascinating pieces I read this week) explores what could happen if that growth continues, such as the potential impact on financially struggling media companies, users' wallets, and even democracy at large. |
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> America is slow-walking into a Polymarket disaster. (Read) |
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> Why prediction markets aren't regulated by the SEC. (1440 Topics) |
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In partnership with Northwestern Mutual |
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The Key To A Successful 2026? |
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