Dez Reads. Michelangelo's Hidden Art, Instagram's Informative Influence, DraftKings' Daring Deal, Teen Traders Triumph, and more.
Welcome back to another edition of Dez Reads, where we delve into the stories that shape, shake, and stir the cultural, entertainment, finance, and political headlines. This week, we venture into a secret room in Florence that whispers of Michelangelo’s genius, navigate the shifting sands of news consumption on Instagram, marvel at the financial acumen of the TikTok generation, and go all in on DraftKings’ strategic leap into the lottery space.
Each piece we’ve selected offers a unique perspective on the changing tides of our times, inviting us to reflect on the past, engage with the present, and speculate on the future. So, let’s peel back the layers of these compelling narratives together, seeking to uncover insights and spark conversations on the issues that matter most.
Here we go.
Culture.
The Economist. A secret room in Florence boasts drawings by Michelangelo
In 1975, the director of the Medici Chapels in Florence, Italy, stumbled upon something truly awesome (as in, truly evoking awe). On the wall of a coal storage room in the mausoleum, he found many coal sketches allegedly made by the artist Michelangelo himself. Some believe the artist hid in this coal room from the ruling Medici family in 1530 and thus must have sketched on the walls to pass the time. Others believe this beautiful art is more likely to have come from some of his workmen, giving us a window into the talent the legendary Michelangelo surrounded himself with when designing and building the Chapels.
Traditionally, the museum in charge of the Chapels has not made this room open to the public but did a trial exhibition in which it allowed a set number of private visits per week. The author hits on something attractive about this very personal approach to art in an era of “explanatory placards” and “madding crowds.” This humble, quiet room needs no self-promotion or explanation; it is both a window into the world of a genius alone and a window into the more recent past when consumers of art and culture were left to their own interpretations rather than non-stop context and artsplaining coursing through their Instagram feeds.
- Josh Culling
NYT. Instagram’s Uneasy Rise as a News Site
This week, The New York Times reported on the continuing trend of political content being produced on Instagram, even as its parent company, Meta, is trying to de-emphasize politics on its platform. Politics are unavoidable in a Presidential election year, even more so in a year where we are set to have a Biden/Trump rematch.
Some points that stood out:
As of last year, 16 percent of U.S. adults regularly got news on Instagram, outpacing TikTok, X, and Reddit, up from 8 percent in 2018, according to Pew Research.
Instagram is a starting point for extending into newsletters and podcasts, where the accounts can make money from ads or subscriptions. This is a growing trend as newsrooms continue to go through large rounds of layoffs, and talented producers and reporters are looking for ways to continue doing journalism. With trust in mainstream publications declining, audiences continue to turn to these authentic influencers for quick news – and more importantly, they will share it with their friends and family. Time will tell what percentage of this audience will end up becoming paid subscribers.
According to the NYT, Instagram has been trying to de-emphasize this type of content by not recommending it until users opt into seeing it. This might be a challenge as these content creators are getting more creative about how they deliver this type of content (while cooking or baking or while performing other tasks that are regularly seen on Instagram that might otherwise make it past any filtering the platform is trying to do)
I expect to see a lot more innovation this election year, something that, as communicators, we will all be paying very close attention to.
– Mike Bova
Finance.
WSJ. These Teenagers Know More About Investing Than You Do
I’ve long been fascinated by the psychology of money, individuals’ money habits, and how and where they’re getting financial advice. The last few years have given rise to financial influencers and more approachable advice for those learning about investing, particularly women, and I’m here for it.
Interestingly, custodial investment accounts are rising because of a new generation of teenage investors. Whether earning money as creators on social media or from household chores, young people are increasingly turning to the stock market and building portfolios instead of spending or traditional savings accounts.
I love seeing banks create platforms and apps geared toward novice and savvy teenage investors. Here’s to putting young people in the driver’s seat for their own financial freedom.
– Anne Marie Malecha
Bloomberg. DraftKings Profit Misses, Buys Lottery App for $750 Million
DraftKings has boldly played into the U.S. lottery market, snagging Jackpocket for a cool $750 million. This isn’t just any business acquisition; it’s a calculated leap that brings DraftKings into new territory, with the deal sweetened by a mix of cash and stock.
But the plot thickens beyond the numbers. With this merger, DraftKings is expanding its domain and strengthening its foundation. The move extends DraftKings’ reach into lottery games while reinforcing its stronghold in sports betting and online gaming. This strategy is poised to significantly enhance how DraftKings engages and retains its players, potentially adding a hefty $260 to $340 million to its revenue by fiscal 2026.
And just when it seemed DraftKings had put it all on the table, Barstool Sports entered the partnership. Barstool is a marketing juggernaut bringing its A-game to fan engagement and sports culture. The combo sets the stage for DraftKings to widen its net and deepen its connection with sports enthusiasts.
In the current state of online sports betting, DraftKings is not just playing to win but to reshape the future of the U.S. lottery and online sports betting. With Jackpocket in its corner and Barstool’s raw, magnetic pull by its side, DraftKings is poised to lead the charge in the ever-evolving saga of online sports betting and the U.S. lottery.
– Mark Emerson
Politics.
WaPo. Documents reveal Abraham Lincoln pardoned Biden’s great-great-grandfather
The Washington Post reported this week that President Abraham Lincoln pardoned President Biden’s great-great-grandfather, Moses J. Robinette, after he was in a brawl with a fellow Union Army civilian employee on March 21, 1864. According to court-martial records in the National Archives, John J. Alexander rushed Robinette after he heard him say something about him to a cook. Robinette took out his pocketknife and left Alexander with several cuts before it was broken up. Despite self-defense claims, Robinette was sentenced to two years of hard labor. After appeals were made, President Lincoln pardoned President Biden’s relative a few months later — small world.
I wonder if the Biden campaign will try to turn this into an endorsement from Lincoln; at the very least, it could make for some entertaining social media fodder (maybe a more compelling follow-up from their lackluster TikTok page creation).
– Mike Bova
Dezenhall Resources is a leading consultancy specializing in high-stakes crisis management and strategic communication. With decades of experience, our firm is adept at navigating complex, controversial issues for a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, high-profile individuals, and non-profit organizations.
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