The Profile: The sports arena surveilling you & the billionaire building the newsroom of the future
This edition of The Profile features Scott Kirby, Katie Couric, Robert Allbritton, and others.
Good morning, friends.
My husband Anthony went on The New York Times’ podcast, “Interesting Times” to talk about the future of Bitcoin.
What I found compelling is that the conversation sidesteps the usual “Is Bitcoin a fad?” debate. Instead, it gets at the much more fascinating question of, “How does the financial system actually work, and who does it work for?”
Anthony’s core argument is that the system is structurally designed to erode the value of cash, and that’s why he believes bitcoin is a long-term digital savings mechanism.
Having watched and learned about Bitcoin since I met Anthony in 2016, it feels like the debate has changed. For years, the question was whether it had value at all. Now, the argument is over what kind of asset it is — currency, commodity, tech bet, insurance policy, or some combination of the four.
Anyway, it’s a fascinating conversation, and I hope you give it a listen.
— Polina
PROFILES.
— The CEO buying struggling airlines [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The TV anchor who went independent
— The billionaire trying to build the newsroom of the future
— The sports stadium surveilling you
— The AI startup helping reverse denied health insurance claims
PEOPLE TO KNOW.
The CEO buying struggling airlines: Scott Kirby has reshaped United Airlines by aiming to build an ecosystem that keeps customers spending. Known for his sharp edges and outsize confidence, he’s paired bold strategic moves — like massive plane orders during Covid — with a push into higher-end travel and loyalty economics. This has resulted in a stronger, more competitive United, even as it chases Delta and flirts with industry-shaking mergers. (Bloomberg; alternate link)
The TV anchor who went independent: Katie Couric has embraced her post-network “no filter” era and built a thriving independent media business to match. Free from corporate constraints, she’s leveraging newsletters, social media, and podcasts to reach millions while speaking more bluntly about politics and the media than ever before. At the same time, she’s deeply skeptical of legacy news, arguing that corporate pressures, polarization, and the push for “both sides” coverage are eroding journalistic integrity. (Variety)
The billionaire trying to build the newsroom of the future: A billionaire media veteran is making a high-stakes bet on Washington journalism — again. After sensing an opening created by turmoil at The Washington Post, Robert Allbritton is aggressively hiring top reporters and rebranding his startup as “The Star,” aiming to build the capital’s next dominant newsroom. Backed by a $10 million investment and a plan to double staff, he’s betting that a focused, insider-driven publication can thrive in an already crowded market. (WSJ; complimentary link provided)
COMPANIES TO WATCH.
The sports stadium surveilling you: Madison Square Garden may be watching you. A new investigation reveals an expansive surveillance operation under owner James Dolan, using facial recognition, watchlists, and private security to track critics, employees, and even ordinary fans, sometimes in extraordinary detail. What’s framed as security often blurs into personal score-settling, with allegations of profiling, intimidation, and overreach extending beyond the arena itself. Dolan may be an early example of a broader shift toward corporate “private armies” powered by biometric surveillance. (WIRED; alternate link)
The AI startup helping reverse denied health insurance claims: When insurers deny care, most patients give up, but one startup is betting AI can change that. Claimable helps patients generate legal-grade appeals to fight coverage denials, flipping the script as algorithms increasingly drive those decisions in the first place. Early results are striking, with a majority of cases overturned, often by combining automation with public pressure and escalation tactics. (Bloomberg; alternate link)
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