The Navigator, Saturday, January 4, 2024

Czech dumplings, the 'de-bossification' drive, the high price of America's climate disasters, an Inauguration Day primer, sensory fashion experiences—and more

We hope your 2025 is off to a great start!

We’re looking forward to meeting with many more of you this new year. We’ve got some expanded engagement opportunities in the works to do just that—and to connect more of you with each other, too.

This coming week, we return to our regular publishing schedule.

Look for two great stories. One gives us a peek at how artificial intelligence is now being used to learn even more about us—so as to further customize and hyper-personalize the experiences we’re buying for ourselves and our kids. Will this make us happier, or make human interaction a luxury option? The other expands our coverage of how Italy is working to save its aging and depopulating towns, a challenge facing more nations, including our own.

As always, thank you for including us in your regular readings. Please keep the conversation going by clicking the button below. And keep reaching out to share your feedback, ideas on current trends and the transformative leaders you’d like to hear more about—and meet.

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The US Has Deported Immigrants En Masse Before. Here’s What Happened. (Politico)

Donald Trump has promised to deport millions on “Day One.” He wouldn’t be the first president to round up undocumented immigrants en masse.

2024’s most costly climate disasters killed 2,000 people and caused $229 billion in damages, data shows (The Guardian)

An analysis of insurance payouts says three-fourths of the incidents causing financial loss occurred in the United States.

How Gen Z and Sensory Marketing are Transforming Fashion (Ad Age)

Luxury might be less about what you wear and more about the multi-sensory experience that comes with it.

The Prague-Berlin train loses its old-world dining cars (The Economist)

The looming end of the Knodelexpress, famous for serving site-cooked Czech meals on board in old-world dining cars, reminds us how some tech-driven change-makers simply have no taste.

Inauguration History (The Smithsonian Magazine)

A special report in advance of Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, which includes some fascinating stories and little-known anecdotes about the most memorable Inaugural Balls, ceremonies and speeches delivered during our 248-year history as a nation.

Where Have All the Managers Gone? (The Wall Street Journal)

Companies’ quest to purge bosses is seizing up job and promotion opportunities. Workers have had to adjust.

Builders are ‘a bit desperate’ to move Florida inventory, says housing market analyst (FastCompany)

Nick Gerli of Reventure App expects national home prices to remain flat in 2025, but projects price declines in Texas, the Southeast, and Mountain states.

Novovirus Outbreaks Are Rising Nationwide, CDC Says (The New York Times)

Advice on what to know about symptoms and treatment, as well as how to reduce your risk of infection.

What Happens When a Whole Generation Never Grows Up? (The Wall Street Journal)

As American 30-somethings increasingly bypass the traditional milestones of adulthood, economists are warning that what seemed like a lag may in fact be a permanent state of arrested development.

Tech is coming to Washington. Prepare for a clash of cultures (The Economist)

Out of Trumpian chaos and contradiction, something good might just emerge.

Five Reasons the Golden Globes is the most unhinged entertainment awards show out there (Radio New Zealand)

Airing this Sunday, the Golden Globes not only kick off the entertainment industry’s buzzy awards season —the annual event is the wackiest awards show of them all.