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S11 E06: Food Delivery Apps, Murrieta Police & Trump: 3/31/24: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

LastWeekTonight・36 minutes read

Trump is facing legal issues with large legal bills and selling various products to fundraise, including his own social media site, Truth Social. The rise of delivery apps has brought convenience but also criticism due to high fees and challenges faced by delivery workers without labor protections.

Insights

  • Trump's post-presidency activities focus on monetizing his image, with ventures like Truth Social and product sales aimed at raising funds, despite potential financial risks and inflated company valuations.
  • Delivery apps have revolutionized the food industry by introducing convenience but face criticism for high fees, impacting restaurants' profits, while delivery workers, classified as independent contractors, suffer from financial burdens, algorithmic control, and lack of labor protections, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to safeguard worker rights.

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Recent questions

  • What legal troubles has Donald Trump faced?

    Trump accumulated over $100 million in legal bills since leaving office, funded by supporters through donations.

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Summary

00:00

Trump's Post-Presidency Financial Ventures and Troubles

  • Last Week Tonight discussed a busy week, including a bridge collapse in Baltimore and Sam Bankman-Fried's sentencing to 25 years in prison.
  • The Marotta Police Department agreed to stop altering mug shot photos with Lego heads after a request from The Lego Company.
  • The use of Lego heads was due to a 2021 state law prohibiting the display of mug shots for non-violent crimes.
  • Donald Trump faced legal troubles, accumulating over $100 million in legal bills since leaving office, funded by supporters through donations.
  • Trump has been selling various products, including a Trump Bible, Trump cologne, and Trump sneakers, to raise funds.
  • Trump's social media site, Truth Social, mimics Twitter and is publicly traded under the ticker DJT, valued at around $8 billion.
  • Truth Social's value is inflated, with Trump owning 60% of the company, despite financial losses and low user numbers.
  • Trump supporters are buying shares of Truth Social as a way to support him financially, leading to a meme stock situation.
  • The financial success of Truth Social is questionable, with potential for collapse, but Trump may benefit personally.
  • Trump's actions post-presidency indicate a focus on monetizing his image and bad behavior, exemplified by selling a "not guilty" t-shirt.

14:57

Delivery Apps: Convenience for Customers, Struggles for Restaurants

  • The rise of delivery apps has led to criticism of their business models, with a New York City council member likening them to leeches.
  • Delivery apps have shifted the traditional food delivery model, with orders now being placed through apps that contact independent delivery drivers.
  • Restaurants benefit from the convenience of delivery apps, but they face significant costs due to the high commissions and fees charged by these apps.
  • Apps charge restaurants 15 to 30% of an order in commissions, with additional fees for special promotions and boosting placement.
  • During the pandemic, restaurants were left with minimal profits after apps took their cut, leading to financial struggles.
  • Some restaurants have increased prices on apps to offset fees, resulting in higher costs for customers.
  • Apps like GrubHub have been accused of listing restaurants without permission, leading to unexpected orders and financial losses for restaurants.
  • Delivery workers face expenses like bike upgrades and gear, with some spending up to $2,500 on equipment.
  • Delivery workers are classified as independent contractors, bearing all expenses and facing algorithmic control over their wages and work conditions.
  • The algorithmic control and pressure on delivery workers can lead to risky behaviors, compromised safety, and negative impacts on their income and well-being.

29:18

Delivery workers face challenges in gig economy.

  • Delivery workers face challenges due to lack of labor protections and health insurance, leading to risky situations where they must work despite severe injuries to avoid medical bills.
  • Service jobs heavily rely on tips, which can make up a significant portion of workers' earnings, but these tips are not guaranteed.
  • Companies like Uber Eats are not profitable yet, with significant losses collectively, as they struggle to find a sustainable business model.
  • Delivery apps have disrupted traditional delivery models, introducing new costs like marketing and website maintenance, aiming to dominate the market and raise prices eventually.
  • Despite the struggles of restaurants, delivery workers, and companies, customers benefit from convenient services at lower costs due to the current business model.
  • Some areas, like New York, have implemented laws to protect delivery workers, guaranteeing minimum pay rates, but apps have found ways to offset these costs by increasing fees and reducing consumer prices.
  • Big delivery apps spent millions on campaigns like prop 22 in California to exempt themselves from labor protections, highlighting the importance of addressing worker rights at various levels of government.
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