Hirsch Leatherwood
Hello!
Welcome to OUT OF SCOPE, the C-Suite cheat sheet for the week ahead.
We’ve got a short week ahead. Four glorious days to watch clips from SNL50 in between calls, including Tina Fey and Amy Poeheler’s Q&A session, the In Memoriam for sketchy past sketches, and Meryl Streep’s first-ever appearance on the show for an anniversary Alien Abduction moment.
**THE CHEAT SHEET
Three things to bring up in your meetings this week:
Duo is Dead: According to a company statement, Duolingo’s mascot is no longer with us. Duo the Owl, known for his “unhinged persistence,” purportedly passed away after being struck by a cybertruck. The owl's demise sparked an outpouring of tongue-in-cheek grief from brands and celebrities alike. In an official eulogy from the company’s CEO, he urges followers to “do what [Duo] would have wanted – open up the app, do a lesson, and share your fondest memories.”
Fashion Week Temp Check: As another NYFW came and went, fashion designers showed NYC “what they think the world should look like.” Fashion weeks are always great cultural barometers, and themes this year ranged from “keeping [things] simple” to bringing back a taste of the 1970s. While no two shows are the same, bundling up was another clear message being sent by designers; considering the average temperature was 34º in NYC during fashion week, this theme may be easy to explain.
NYC’s Great Wealth Transfer: NYC is the nation's priciest rental market, with average one-bedroom rents at $4,280. Yet, in a city where a $100,000 salary is considered "middle class," many in this group still rely heavily on parental financial support. This reliance is often hidden due to "privileged shame," fueling a deceptive double standard among Millennials and Gen Z, who constantly compare themselves to seemingly wealthier peers.
**OUT OF OFFICE
one weekend news story in-depth: ADAMS OUT OF MOVES?
ICYMI: Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove filed a motion on Friday to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Bove, a Trump-appointed official, argued that the charges interfere with the mayoral race and Adams’ ability to lead NYC. However, the move sparked an immediate backlash, with at least seven federal prosecutors resigning in protest of what’s been identified as a political deal.
Judge Dale E. Ho, overseeing the case, has yet to rule on the request. Adams, who pled not guilty in September 2024 to bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, has denied any wrongdoing. However, his recent public alignment with Trump— including a visit to Trump’s Florida golf club in January— has fueled accusations of a backroom deal.
Here at home, four top Adams deputies have quit in protest. The resignations, including First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, signal a mutiny at City Hall, leaving Adams isolated and exposed. Even New York Governor Kathy Hochul is weighing whether to boot him from office— a move so rare it’s basically the political equivalent of snagging a table at Adams’ favorite, Zero Bond.
Adams insists he’s innocent and refuses to resign, claiming he’s “not stepping down, [he’s] stepping up.” But with allies jumping ship, Democrats calling for his head, and the DOJ’s credibility in tatters, his defiance is starting to look like denial. It’s yet to be seen if the mayor can wriggle his way out of this jam, as he has with past political crises. But this time around, it seems the nightclub loving mayor may have run out of dance moves.
**POWER LUNCH
five quick consumption recs for the time between meetings:
Mike White’s vision for “The White Lotus” The man behind the globe-trotting series sheds light on the new season in Thailand and his unconventional career.
BF Island Makes a Splash BuzzFeed’s new AI-powered social media platform is part of its pivot towards digital assets following a streamlining of its publishing business.
Gates on “SmartLess” Windows puns flow freely as Silicon Valley's original coding kid joins Hollywood's podcast trio for an hour of tech nostalgia and peanut brittle warnings.
Drake Moves On Drake’s long-anticipated joint album with PartyNextDoor received mixed reviews, broke a first-day streaming record for an R&B/Soul album on Apple Music, and sought to minimize his “beef” with Kendrick Lamar.
Grimes the thought leader Musician/Elon Musk’s ex has stepped out with an op-ed in The Atlantic on LA’s housing crisis, co-authored with the fine folks at California YIMBY and Texans for Reasonable Solutions.
We’ll see you online and on LinkedIn. Thanks for reading!
HL