Levi Strauss warns global anti-American sentiment could dent sales of iconic U.S. brands, and that risk is just the opening act. We unpack five big stories that matter to leaders, communicators, and business builders: Xi & Putin’s hot-mic musing on longevity, Waymo’s tough test in New York, the influencer-fuelled rise of propranolol, Florida’s move to scrap vaccine mandates, and our grab-bag headlines at the end. Practical takeaways for brand risk, media training, product rollout, healthcare comms, and public policy.

Key facts:

Levi’s warned that rising anti-American sentiment abroad could hurt its global sales.

Chinese state TV accidentally aired Xi and Putin chatting about living longer, a hot-mic moment underlining the leader's image and optics risks.

Waymo is testing driverless cars in NYC, a market far more transit-dependent than San Francisco, which raises concerns about mode shift and congestion.

Propranolol prescriptions are up ~28% since 2020, driven by influencers and telehealth, raising questions about oversight and off-label use.

Florida plans to end vaccine mandates for schoolchildren; the show cites WHO reporting that immunization has added ~20 years to global life expectancy over the past ~70 years.

Why watch: If you lead a brand, product or team, each of these stories contains a communications playbook, how to manage reputational risk, control narratives, design city rollouts, talk to customers about health, and stay credible in media environments where hot-mics and influencers can instantly swing public opinion.

What you’ll walk away with:

3 rapid framing moves to protect a brand against geopolitical sentiment

2 media-training shots leaders should practice (and what to absolutely avoid on a live mic)

A checklist for piloting new mobility tech in transit-dense cities

Risk signals to watch when consumer health tools move from clinics to influencers