Yelp suspends reviews for PA McDonald’s after Trump campaign visit
Yelp has temporarily disabled reviews for a McDonald’s in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, following a campaign stop by former President Donald Trump. The restaurant’s Yelp page was flooded with politicized reviews, leading the platform to investigate whether the comments reflected actual customer experiences.
The event was closed to the public, and only customers screened by the Secret Service were served. Yelp users quickly posted a flurry of reviews, some poking fun at Trump.
One commenter quipped, “The fries were too salty, as if someone who lost a major election had been crying over them for an hour,” while another joked about “bronzer on my fries.”
Getty Images via Washington Post
Yelp issued a statement saying, “This business recently received increased public attention, which often means people come to this page to post their views on the news… we’ve temporarily disabled the posting of content to this page.”
The platform explained that it was working to determine whether the reviews reflected real consumer experiences.
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Some five-star reviews also appeared, with one user calling it the “best McDonald’s I’ve ever been to in 47 years,” praising Trump’s involvement as an “extremely nice older employee.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson responded to the controversy by blaming Vice President Kamala Harris and her supporters, accusing them of attempting to “terrorize a franchisee owner of a great American establishment.”
This is not the first time Trump has been targeted in Yelp review bombing campaigns. In 2018, his Washington hotel saw hundreds of one-star reviews after he made controversial remarks about immigration.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounders linked to deadly multi-state E. coli outbreak
The CDC has issued a safety alert over a McDonald’s staple: the fast-food chain’s iconic Quarter Pounder. Health officials said Tuesday, Oct. 22, McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have been linked to a deadly E. coli outbreak in at least ten states.
They said 49 people have become sick and one person has died in connection with the outbreak. Most of the illnesses have been reported in Nebraska and Colorado.
Nine cases of E. coli have been identified in Nebraska as part of a multi-state outbreak potentially linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers, including four each in Douglas and Sarpy-Cass public health districts. https://t.co/9GEnhC9q6f
The CDC said, so far, it appears the onions used as a topping on the burgers are the likeliest source of the outbreak. McDonald’s has now stopped using the onions and is not serving the Quarter Pounder in affected states.
“McDonald’s reported to CDC that it has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states. McDonald’s is proactively making these changes while investigators work to confirm the contaminated ingredient. Quarter pound beef patties are only used on Quarter Pounders. Fresh slivered onions are primarily used on Quarter Pounder hamburgers and not other menu items,” the CDC said.
In a statement, the company said it believes the onions came from a single supplier.
Harris, Trump speak on importance of election with 13 days to go
With less than two weeks until Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris got some help on the campaign trail from a former president and a famous rapper, while former President Donald Trump targeted a certain voting block. And one of McDonald’s famous burgers has been linked to a deadly E. coli outbreak. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
Harris, Trump speak on importance of election with 13 days to go
With less than two weeks to go until the next U.S. president is chosen, both candidates are highlighting the importance of this year’s election as they make their final pushes to sway undecided voters on the campaign trail.
During an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Vice President Kamala Harris once again addressed how her presidency would be different than that of President Joe Biden.
“Let me be very clear, mine will not be a continuation of the Biden administration,” she said. “I bring my own experiences, my own ideas to it, and it has informed a number of my areas of focus, most of which are on to your point, lowering costs. The voters know it, I know it.”
During the interview, Harris was asked about why she is reluctant to talk about the historic nature of her candidacy. If she were to win, she would become the first female U.S. president.
“Well, I’m clearly a woman, I don’t need to point that out to anyone. The point that most people really care about is, can you do the job, and do you have a plan to actually focus on them?” she said. “My challenge is the challenge of making sure I can talk with and listen to as many voters as possible and earn their vote. And I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race. Instead, that that leader needs to earn the vote based on substance and what they will do to address challenges.”
In Detroit, a rally was held in support of the vice president featuring rapper Eminem and former President Barack Obama.
“I also think that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution, or what people will do if you make your opinion known,” Eminem told rallygoers. “I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
“We’re not going to play games because we’re going to lose our country, our country is failing,” Trump said. “We don’t know what we’re doing. We’re laughed at all over the world. [Chinese] President Xi [Xinping] thinks we’re stupid. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin thinks we’re stupid. That would have never happened if I were president. Putin would have never ever got into Ukraine.”
Then the former president returned to North Carolina for a rally where he criticized the vice president for not having any campaign events so close to Election Day.
THANK YOU, NORTH CAROLINA! This election is a choice between whether we will have four more years of incompetence, failure, and disaster—or whether we will begin the FOUR GREATEST YEARS in the HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY! pic.twitter.com/JJhJsJcOHk
“You know what she did?” he said. “She took a day off. How do you take a day off 14 days — you don’t take days off, right? I’ve gone 52 days, now, I got 14 more. We don’t take days off we got to win this thing if we don’t win it our country is in big trouble.”
Next up on the campaign trail, Vice President Harris will visit Pennsylvania Wednesday and then on Thursday, Oct. 24, hold a rally in Atlanta alongside Bruce Springsteen. Former President Trump will visit Georgia Wednesday and will record an interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast on Friday, Oct. 25.
The Georgia Supreme Court said it will not step in to reinstate Republican-backed new election rules ahead of Election Day. Seven of the rules, put in place by the State Election Board after the 2020 election, were declared “illegal, unconstitutional, and void,” by a lower-level judge last week.
On Tuesday, Georgia’s supreme court rejected the Republican-led effort to put the rules, which include one requiring ballots be hand-counted and two related to certifying results, back in place and declined to consider an expedited appeal.
Israel says it killed man next in line to lead Hezbollah
Israel said it has killed the man who was next in line to take over as the leader of the militant group Hezbollah. Israeli officials say an air strike in Beiruit, Lebanon killed Hashem Safieddine a few weeks ago, along with other commanders of the Iran-backed militant group.
Hezbollah has not confirmed Israel’s claim that Safeiddine is dead.
🔴 Hashem Safieddine, Head of the Hezbollah Executive Council and Ali Hussein Hazima, Commander of Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters, were eliminated during a strike on Hezbollah’s main intelligence HQ in Dahieh approx. 3 weeks ago.
This comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East looking to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in the wake of the the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Israeli leaders told Blinken it’s not Israel’s policy to isolate northern Gaza, despite recent United Nations claims that Israeli authorities have denied efforts to bring more aid to the area, according to an NBC News report.
In a letter this month, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave Israel 30 days to increase basic humanitarian aid to Gaza or risk restrictions on U.S. military assistance, as required under U.S. law. Israeli officials said they have taken actions in response to the letter, and while Blinken acknowledged progress has been made, he said it is not sufficient.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounders linked to multi-state E. coli outbreak
The CDC has issued a safety alert over a McDonald’s staple: the fast-food chain’s iconic Quarter Pounder. Health officials say McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have been linked to E. coli outbreaks in at least ten states.
E. COLI OUTBREAK: CDC is investigating 49 illnesses in 10 states linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. If you ate a Quarter Pounder hamburger from McDonald’s and have severe symptoms of E. coli, contact your healthcare provider. https://t.co/g87itkupCQpic.twitter.com/gHzUKCnTi9
The CDC says, so far, it appears the onions used as a topping on the burgers are the likeliest source of the outbreak. McDonald’s has now stopped using the onions and is not serving the Quarter Pounder in affected states.
In a statement, the company said it believes the onions came from a single supplier.
Denny’s closing 150 restaurants, including 50 by end of 2024
It seems Denny’s hasn’t been such a grand slam for Americans lately. The diner chain, known for its Grand Slam breakfast, is closing 150 of its restaurants.
Denny’s, which has been in business for more than 70 years, says the focus is on closing locations that are too old to remodel, as well as some in unprofitable areas. It has not yet specified which locations are shutting down.
FAA finalizes rule for electric air taxis to enter service
We might soon be riding around in flying vehicles called electric air taxis after the Federal Aviation Administration released what its say is the “final piece of the puzzle.”
An extraordinary moment for aviation! Our rule for training and certificating pilots to fly powered lift is the final piece of the puzzle to get these revolutionary aircraft flying safely in our skies. https://t.co/96Q7TQZfkMpic.twitter.com/7RvSqbdGT8
The FAA issued its new rules Tuesday regarding the planes — 880 pages of special regulations including training protocols for pilots and operational requirements for the half-airplane, half-helicopter air taxis. The planes act like a helicopter during takeoff then change modes to be more like an airplane during flight, before switching back for the landing.
The FAA calls it the introduction to “a new category of aircraft.” The first electric air taxi could be operational by sometime next year.
Israel has launched a new set of attacks on Hezbollah’s financial operations in Lebanon. And we’re learning more about a catastrophic failure on a dock at what was supposed to be an evening to celebrate culture. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
Israeli officials said the organization held funds used to directly finance Hezbollah’s activities.
The National News Agency in Lebanon reported at least 11 strikes in southern Beirut targeting al-Qard al-Hassan. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
⭕Overnight, the IAF conducted a series of targeted, intelligence-based strikes against dozens of facilities and sites used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to finance its terrorist activities against the State of Israel. The strikes were conducted in the areas of Beirut,…
Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the THAAD missile defense system the U.S. recently sent to Israel is now in place and ready for use when needed. This comes as Israel prepares its response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this month. U.S. officials are investigating the apparent leak of two top-secret documents that show American spy agencies tracking possible Israeli preparations for that attack.
Trump works at PA McDonald’s; Harris spends birthday at GA churches
With just 15 days to go until Election Day, the campaign trail involved stops over the weekend at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s and Georgia churches.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump donned an apron Sunday, Oct. 20, joining McDonald’s workers at a location in suburban Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. Trump chose McDonald’s as a campaign stop as he questions Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ account of working at a McDonald’s as a summer job during her college years.
Trump was on the fry station before heading over to the drive-thru window where he ended up holding an impromptu press conference with reporters.
Later, Trump held a town hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he spoke about his plans for the economy and called out Vice President Harris’ changing stances on fracking — but took time to wish her a happy birthday.
“By the way, it’s her 60th birthday, so I want to wish her a happy 60th birthday,” Trump said. “Happy birthday and many more. Happy birthday. I mean it. And I do mean it, actually.”
Trump then headed to Pittsburgh to attend the Steelers football game.
As for the vice president, Kamala Harris spent her 60th birthday visiting two churches in the Atlanta, Georgia area where she was joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Stevie Wonder. Harris called on churchgoers to get out to vote.
Vice President Harris: Faith is a verb. It is something that manifests itself in our actions, our deeds, and our service. Our strength is not based on who we beat down. It is based on who we lift up. That's not what we see from the other side in this election pic.twitter.com/zM3yjXpJ1r
“I say as we move forward, let us look at where we are and understand the lesson of the gospel of Luke,” Harris said. “Because right now, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference. In this moment, our country is at a crossroads, and where we go from here is up to us as Americans and as people of faith. And now we ask a question, we face this question: what kind of country do we want to live in?”
On Monday, former President Trump will tour Hurricane Helene damage in North Carolina and Vice President Harris will hold a rally in Pennsylvania.
Navy confirms deaths of 2 crew members after jet crashes in Washington
U.S. Navy officials have confirmed searchers found the remains of two crew members of a jet that crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington last week. They said the crew members will not be identified until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
The jet carrying the two crew members went down during what the Navy said was a routine training flight last Tuesday, Oct. 15. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
7 people killed in gangway collapse on Georgia barrier island
Authorities in Georgia are investigating after seven people were killed when a gangway collapsed on one of the state’s barrier islands Saturday, Oct. 19. They were among hundreds of people on Sapelo Island for a celebration of Gullah Geechee history and its unique blend of African culture and American life.
The aluminum gangway suffered structural failure as historic Sapelo Island hosted an event celebrating its Gullah Geechee history and culture. https://t.co/4CW2GRYcvH
The coroner said the victims were all in their 70s, except for one woman in her 90s. Authorities said as many as 40 people were on the gangway and about 20 people fell into the water when it collapsed shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.
A team of engineers and construction specialists is now investigating why it failed.
Millions of Cubans in the dark amid power grid collapse
As Cuba deals with major issues with its power grid, Hurricane Oscar made landfall Sunday before being downgraded to a tropical storm. Oscar is expected to bring heavy rain and damaging storm surge to parts of the country as millions are still without access to power and attempts to restore much of the nation’s electric grid have failed.
On Sunday afternoon, the Cuban electrical union said power had been restored to neighborhoods where more than 216,000 people live in the capital city of Havana, which is home to about 2 million people. However, by Sunday night, the power grid had collapsed again — the fourth time since Friday, Oct. 18.
Some Cubans have taken to the streets to protest the ongoing blackouts, many banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic.
Officials had initially said power would be restored by Monday or Tuesday, Oct. 22, but it’s likely the latest setback will delay that timeline.
It took five games and a 67-62 overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx for the Liberty to walk away with the title. Jonquel Jones was named the Finals MVP.
The Liberty had been only the original WNBA franchise without a championship, until now.
The big win also came on the same night we found out it would be the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the New York Yankees in the World Series to decide the best in baseball. Game 1 is set for Friday, Oct. 25.
On Thursday, Oct. 10, the fast-food chain is releasing its Chicken Big Mac nationwide, giving its flagship menu item a poultry version for all U.S. customers for the first time since the Big Mac’s debut in the late 1960s. The Chicken Big Mac is following a trend in the industry that puts more emphasis on chicken options.
Fast food sales slowdown forces major McDonald’s french fry supplier to cut jobs
Americans are starting to turn away from fast food, and that’s sending shockwaves in the industry, from the locations themselves all the way down the supply chain. One of the biggest suppliers in the nation, Lamb Weston, is feeling the pinch big-time.
The company is the largest producer of french fries in North America, supplying fast food chains, restaurants and grocery stores. Now, it is closing a production plant in Washington state, laying off nearly 400 employees and scaling back production.
In a press release, Lamb Weston CEO Tom Werner says they expect the slump in restaurant traffic and frozen potato demand to continue through 2025, which is why the company is cutting jobs and adjusting production. With inflation pushing up prices, customers are spending less at chains like McDonald’s.
About 80% of all fries consumed in the U.S. are from fast-food chains. McDonald’s has been trying to win back customers with value deals, like its $5 meal deal, which comes with a small fry, a burger, nuggets and a drink.
However, according to recently released numbers, it’s not helping. McDonald’s saw its U.S. sales drop by 0.7% last quarter compared to a year ago, and customer traffic across fast-food chains fell by 2% in the same period.
Lamb Weston’s stock has dropped by nearly 35% this year, and net income has plunged by 46%. With customers cutting back on eating out and opting to cook at home, the future look uncertain for both fast-food chains and the chain suppliers.
Mets and McDonald’s team up: Grimace takes over the 7 train
In an unexpected partnership, the New York Mets and McDonald’s beloved character Grimace have taken their relationship to the next level. Since throwing an opening pitch back in June, the purple mascot has become an icon for the team.
Now that the Mets are in the playoffs, the city is celebrating Grimace with a spot on the 7 train. Starting Tuesday, Oct. 8, the ride to Citi Field will sport a “Grimace wrap” across all 11 cars.
Word has it that Grimace himself might make a surprise appearance for fans headed to game three of the National League Division Series.
McDonalds Director Amanda Mulligan said they saw a lot of conversation about Grimace online, which helped them decide that it was a perfect time to bring Grimace to the commute for Mets fans.
It all started on June 12, when the McDonald’s character was celebrating his birthday. Grimace was invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field. At that point of the season, the Mets weren’t doing too well, with a losing record of 28-37.
The mascot seems to have given the team a boost, with the Mets turning things around to go 61-38, on their way to a postseason berth. As a permanent tribute, the Mets have gone so far as to install a special purple seat at Citi Field in section 302.
Now fans can sit in the seat and feel connected to the character who became a part of the Mets playoff journey. Fans have fully embraced what they now call the “Grimace era.” Even players have gotten in on the fun, with first baseman Pete Alonso joking that keeping Grimace around means “good things will happen.”
White Castle becomes latest restaurant to join value meal wars
White Castle is latest chain to join the value meal wars as restaurants try to attract inflation-worried customers who might be thinking of dining at other places or just staying at home. The company has cut the cost of its burgers by more than 30%.
For a limited time, the Ohio-based chain is selling shareable sacks of 10 cheese sliders for $7.99 — that’s less than 80 cents per burger. The last time White Castle burgers were available for that price was in 2011.
“Customers are making leftovers last longer as food prices have gone up,” White Castle Vice President Jamie Richardson told The New York Post. “We are known for value. We are leaning into it more now.”
White Castle is flipping prices at its 335 stores to compete with the competition, including its larger rivals like McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell who each have unveiled a value meal of their own.
As McDonald’s fought back against what it called “inaccurate” reporting about its pricing earlier this year, the fast-food giant introduced its $5 value meal. The meal includes a choice of a McChicken or McDouble, and four-piece Chicken McNugget, small fries and a small drink.
The deal is staying around through August, which is longer than originally planned. In an internal memo obtained by multiple news outlets, McDonald’s executives wrote, “When our customers are ordering the $5 Meal Deal, they aren’t visiting the competition, and early performance shows this deal is meeting the objective of driving guests back to our restaurants.”
The competition is also bringing on the value. Burger King’s $5 Your Way meal offers three different sandwich options, Taco Bell’s Luxe Cravings Box includes two different types of tacos, a burrito and more for $7. Starbucks’ Pairing Menu gives customers the option of buying a drink and a breakfast item for $5 or $6.
Other chains like Wendy’s, Popeyes, Jack in the Box and Sonic have all launched new deals. But these companies now not only have to compete with each other but also with restaurants from outside the fast-food space.
Fast casual chains like Applebee’s and Chili’s have called out their fast-food rivals, even in their commercials. These restaurants, no matter the category, are all trying to hold onto their place in the dinner conversation of cost-conscious Americans.
Taco Bell expands AI tech at drive-thru lanes as competition grows
Yum Brands announced on Wednesday, July 31, that it is expanding its AI-voiced drive-thru experiment to hundreds of Taco Bells by the end of 2024. The company said that it will decrease wait times for customers and improve order accuracy, citing two years of research involved in the implementation of the technology.
Yum Brands said that the AI will also allow the company to reduce labor costs and boost sales, while leadership said that it will decrease the workload on employees.
If this move sounds familiar, it’s because it is.
McDonald’s recently experimented with AI drive-thru technology. However, many customers were “not loving it,” as some took to social media to air their grievances or at least get a good laugh out of the situation.
One TikTok user and her friend documented McDonald’s bot adding seemingly endless amounts of chicken nuggets to their order. Others noted experiencing the bot getting a simple ice cream order wrong, adding butter and ketchup to their order, when they never ordered the items.
In June, McDonald’s announced it would be ending its AI experiment by July 26. McDonald’s had partnered with IBM to put the tech in more than 100 restaurants. The company promised 95% order accuracy but failed to deliver as the new system reportedly only scored around 80% accuracy. However, the burger joint has not ruled out using AI in future efforts.
Yum Brands hopes for a different outcome than McDonald’s as it joins fast food rivals Wendy’s and White Castle in using AI.
Taco Bell currently has more than 100 locations with AI-voiced drive-thru lanes among its approximately 7,700 stores. Yum Brands plans to add AI to five KFC locations as well.
McDonald’s is reconsidering its pricing strategy after the fast-food giant reported its first sales slump since 2020 in the second quarter. Experts said budget-conscious Americans are eating at home more often due to higher prices at fast food chains.
“This shortfall was driven by sluggish traffic, with consumers shifting a larger share of meal occasions toward grocery stores,” Morningstar equity analyst Sean Dunlop said in a research note.
This summer, McDonald’s released a $5 meal promotion to drive more foot traffic, though competitors have also launched similar deals.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski expressed confidence in the company’s strategy, “Accelerating the Arches.” Kempczinski emphasized the focus on reliable, everyday value and strategic growth areas, such as chicken and loyalty programs, especially as consumers become more selective with their spending.
He also said customers can expect more discounts in an effort to bring more people in and stop the sales decline.
