‘Moana 2’ shatters Thanksgiving, animated box office records
“Moana 2” made waves as not only Disney’s biggest domestic animation debut of all time but also the biggest animated debut globally. The film, released on Thanksgiving Day, brought in a record-breaking $389 million during the holiday weekend.
Disney continues to dominate Thanksgiving releases
The sequel to the 2016 hit takes audiences on another thrilling journey across the seas. It didn’t just surpass pre-holiday box office expectations by $100 million –– it also claimed the title for the highest five-day Thanksgiving box office ever.
“Moana 2” surpassed 2019’s “Frozen 2,” which previously held the record. But Disney’s dominance goes even further back. The original “Frozen” posted the studio’s biggest Thanksgiving debut in 2013.
Disney now holds the record for the top seven Thanksgiving weekend openings of all time, with “Moana 2” adding to the studio’s legacy.
Animated films drive 2024 box office growth
Animated films have been a major force in 2024’s box office success. According to Forbes, the year’s top five animated releases have brought in nearly $4 billion alone.
Here’s how the top animated films of the year stack up so far:
“Inside Out 2”: $1.698 billion.
“Despicable Me 4”: $969 million.
“Kung Fu Panda 4”: $547 million.
“Moana 2”: $389 million.
“The Wild Robot”: $321 million.
With “Moana 2” expected to continue its success, the animated box office total could surpass $5 billion before the year ends.
Expect to see more “Moana” soon
The “Moana” franchise has been a cultural phenomenon since its 2016 debut. Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the original film has been streamed over 1 billion hours on Disney+, making it the most-streamed movie on any platform in the U.S., according to a press release.
Fans will be seeing even more from the franchise. Disney is currently developing a live-action “Moana” movie alongside its animated counterparts, which is set to release on July 10, 2026. The original story follows Moana as she embarks on an ocean voyage to save her people.
Johnson will reprise his role as Maui in the live-action adaptation, while 17-year-old newcomer Catherine Laga’aia takes on the starring role of Moana.
Sunday after Thanksgiving sees record number of flyers
The Transportation Security Administration reports Sunday, Dec. 1, was the busiest flying day ever in the United States. The record-breaker occurred as Americans tried to get home from the long Thanksgiving holiday week.
TSA agents screened 3.09 million flyers on Sunday, breaking the previous record set earlier this year. 3.01 million Americans flew on July 7, the Sunday after the Fourth of July.
Before that, 2.95 million people flew on May 24, the Friday before Memorial Day, when many people celebrate the unofficial start of summer.
Officials said air travel was relatively smooth compared to past years.
FlightAware reports airlines canceled less than 1% of all flights over the long holiday week. 83% were on time. The biggest difficulty on Sunday was lake effect snow in the east. FlightAware says 120 flights were canceled.
In addition, an air traffic controller shortage throughout the holiday week was a bit of a travel nuisance, especially at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The FAA had to slow some departures, resulting in flight delays.
Overall, the TSA reports 12.6 million travelers flew this week between the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Sunday, Dec. 1. That topped last year’s total of 12 million.
Trump cabinet picks, Connecticut lawmakers targeted in bomb threats
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, multiple Cabinet picks for President-elect Donald Trump and several Democratic members of Congress were targeted with bomb threats and “swatting” incidents. Swatting involves falsely reporting emergencies to police in an attempt to get a SWAT team to respond to a location where no emergency exists.
Among those targeted was Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who has been nominated by Trump to serve as ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik, who was driving home to New York from Washington on Thanksgiving, learned of a bomb threat at her residence.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, tapped by Trump to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said in a social media post that a pipe bomb threat targeting him and his family was sent with a pro-Palestinian-themed message. Zeldin added that he and his family were not at home at the time and were safe.
A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message. My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops. We are thankful for the swift…
Pete Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and Fox News host selected by Trump for secretary of defense, posted on X Thanksgiving morning, saying a police officer arrived at his home, where his seven children were still sleeping. Hegseth said the officer notified him and his wife of a credible pipe bomb threat targeting their family.
This morning, a police officer arrived at our home—where our seven children were still sleeping. The officer notified my wife and I that they had received a credible pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family. We are all safe and the threat has been cleared. We want to thank law…
The FBI launched an investigation into these threats, and a spokesperson said the agency is working with multiple law enforcement agencies across the country to track down those responsible.
While law enforcement investigates, a series of other incidents unfolded in Connecticut. Bomb threats were reported against several Democratic members of Congress on Thursday, Nov. 29. Reps. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., Jim Himes, D-Conn., and John Larson, D-Conn., all reported bomb threats at their homes in Connecticut.
Himes said in a statement that police found no evidence of a bomb during their search of his home.
Hayes released a statement saying that police had been notified of a threat involving a pipe bomb in her mailbox, but no bomb was found.
“There is no place in our country for political violence,” she added.
Local and federal authorities continue to investigate these incidents. As of now, the FBI has not confirmed whether the threats targeting Trump’s Cabinet nominees are connected to those aimed at the Connecticut lawmakers.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
President-elect Donald Trump said Mexico has agreed to stem the tide of migrants flowing into the United States, but Mexico’s president is now saying that’s not quite accurate. And Amazon workers are using Black Friday to make a statement about their labor situation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
As President-elect Donald Trump gets ready to return to office, he’s already making moves to follow through on some of his biggest campaign promises. After announcing this week his plans to impose tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, he turned his attention to another hot-button issue: immigration.
It’s a bit of a case of “he said, she said” after Trump had a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday, Nov. 27. President-elect Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the call saying Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration into the U.S. through Mexico, “effectively closing our southern border.”
Sheinbaum appeared to contradict Trump in a post of her own on X, saying in part, “Mexico’s position is not to close borders…”
She did, however, lay out Mexico’s “comprehensive strategy” for addressing the migration issue. In a separate post on X, Sheinbaum said during the call, she told President-elect Trump, “No caravans are arriving at the border because they are being attended to in Mexico.”
En nuestra conversación con el presidente Trump, le expuse la estrategia integral que ha seguido México para atender el fenómeno migratorio, respetando los derechos humanos. Gracias a ello se atiende a las personas migrantes y a las caravanas previo a que lleguen a la frontera.…
The two leaders also talked about how they’re addressing the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
The call was scheduled after Trump unveiled plans to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico to the U.S. as part of the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through Mexico.
Not only would that impact the prices of avocados and agave — both very popular in the U.S. — Mexico’s economy secretary said Wednesday 88% of all North American pickup trucks come from Mexico. Sheinbaum then suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own.
“I hope he rethinks it,” Biden said. “I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do. You know, one of the things you’ve heard me say before is that we are – we have an unusual situation in America. We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships.”
Economists forecast Trump’s planned tariffs would increase prices for American shoppers, costing the average U.S. household about $2,600 per year, according to an estimate from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Israel and Hezbollah both claim ceasefire violations
Barely three days into a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, both sides are claiming violations.
Yesterday, Hezbollah had a precision-guided missile manufacturing site—today, they don’t.
Hezbollah’s largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site, 1.4km wide and 70m underground, was struck and dismantled by IAF fighter jets yesterday.
Lebanese authorities also said two people, who were trying to return to southern Lebanon, were shot and wounded by Israeli forces. Lebanon’s health ministry said they were civilians, but the IDF claimed they were suspected of violating terms of the truce.
The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire during which Hezbollah militants will withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border.
Thousands of Amazon workers to strike from Black Friday to Cyber Monday
Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., are on strike on some of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days across the world. It started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, a day for bargain hunters to score some of the biggest discounts from stores across the country as holiday shopping kicks into high gear.
Organizers told the United Nations the so-called “days of resistance” are to hold Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, as well as “environmental degradation and threats to democracy.” According to ABC News, the strike could delay holiday deliveries.
The organizers said this is their fifth year of labor action against Amazon during the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
In a statement, Amazon said the group that organized the strikes is being “intentionally misleading” and promoting a “false narrative.” Management said the company offers great pay and benefits.
Canada sues Google over control of online ads
Canada’s antitrust watchdog said it is suing Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in the company’s online advertising business. They’re calling for Google to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty.
The Competition Bureau said it’s necessary because an investigation into Google found the company “unlawfully” tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. Google insists the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector and is fighting the allegations.
This comes just a week after the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, saying it continues to crush the competition through its dominant search engine.
America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again
As millions of Americans get ready to begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree, growers are having historic challenges getting them to sale lots, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The day after Thanksgiving is usually the biggest day for live tree sales, but since Thanksgiving came so late this year, it’s a very short selling season. On top of that, a nationwide shortage is expected thanks to severe weather across the country this year, such as a northeastern drought and North Carolina floods caused by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is the second-biggest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Shoppers bought roughly 21.6 million real Christmas trees in the U.S. last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Department of Agriculture said the number of trees harvested in the U.S. has declined 30% since 2002, while the American population has grown 16% over the same period.
Alaska native air drops Thanksgiving turkeys to families in remote areas
In the most remote parts of Alaska a Thanksgiving turkey is hard to come by. So, one woman made sure families in roadless parts of the state had their holiday feast.
Pilot Esther Keim calls it “Alaska Turkey Bomb.” She flies in a small plane to off-the-grid homes and air drops frozen turkeys for families to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
Keim said it’s a tribute to a family friend who did the same thing for her family when she was growing up.
She started the tradition in 2022 after somebody that she knew told her they did not have much of a holiday dinner — and no turkey at all. Since then, she has delivered 30 to 40 turkeys every year to families living in remote areas of Alaska.
1 in 4 Americans still carrying last year’s holiday weight
With Thanksgiving this week and the holiday season upon us, that tends to mean lots of family, friends, fun and food. That might have people dreading packing on the holiday pounds, unless they’re among the nearly 1 in 4 Americans who never lost last year’s holiday weight.
Half said they’re less healthy than usual at the end of the year and 43% said they even use the holidays as an excuse to put off eating healthy. Why? More than half said it’s because the end of the year is more enjoyable if you don’t worry about healthy habits or your weight.
But once 2025 hits, things should change. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they plan to start or pick back up healthy eating habits in the new year.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the multimillion dollar deal with NBC
For millions of Americans, it’s tradition. They gather in front of the TV on Thanksgiving morning and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For more than 70 years, NBC has broadcast the family event.
This year, about 30 million Americans are expected to tune in to see the marching bands, floats and balloons, including Snoopy, Minnie Mouse and Spiderman. Companies pay Macy’s for a place in the parade in exchange for advertising and publicity.
The parade also means big bucks when it comes to broadcasting. The Wall Street Journal reports that NBC and Macy’s are now negotiating a new contract that will take effect next year and keep the parade on NBC and its streaming service, Peacock, for the next decade. NBC is on track to pay $60 million a year for those rights. That’s a big jump from the $20 million it pays now.
Many people have heard about the high costs associated with airing a commercial during the Super Bowl each year. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is similar.
According to advertising and research data firm Guideline, a TV spot’s price is about $900,000 this year. Last year, NBC pulled in $52 million in advertising. NBC pays out roughly $7 million in costs to broadcast the parade.
Analysts say all that money is indicative of the value of live programming to media companies in an era when many viewers are flocking to streaming.
A Macy’s spokesperson told the New York Post the parade will proceed regardless of wet weather — good news for the expected 3.5 million people who will be along the parade route and the estimated 30 million watching at home. However, wind could pose a problem.
The spokesperson told the Post, “Based on the city’s guidelines, no giant character balloon will be operated when there are sustained wind conditions exceeding 23 miles per hour and wind gusts greater than 34 miles per hour on the parade route.”
So far, according to weather reports, the winds should not be an issue, and all 32 balloons should be able to fly. New ones this year include Minnie Mouse and Spider-Man, which is marking its return to the parade for the first time in a decade.
Cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holding so far
The cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah marks a step toward peace in the Middle East, but what happens now in Gaza where Israel is still at war with Hamas? And rain or shine — but not wind — revelers get ready to celebrate in New York City at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.
Cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holding so far
A cease-fire deal between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon is holding, so far.
President Joe Biden announced the deal — which the United States and France helped broker — on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Israel and Hezbollah have agreed on an initial 60-day cease-fire, which sets the stage for a lasting truce.
Already, long-displaced residents of parts of Lebanon have started returning to their homes, hopeful the tenuous agreement will be extended beyond two months. That’s despite the Israeli military warning people to stay away from previously evacuated areas.
Israel has said if Hezbollah breaks the cease-fire agreement, it will attack.
Following the directive of the political echelon, the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon took effect at 04:00 today, and the IDF has been operating accordingly. IDF troops are stationed at their positions in southern Lebanon.
Over the past hour, the IDF identified a vehicle with…
During the 60-day truce, Hezbollah fighters are to retreat at least 25 miles from the border with Israel and Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The agreement does not address the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, another Iran-backed militant group, in Gaza. However, Hamas has said it is ready for a truce.
“So, now Hamas has a choice to make,” President Biden said on Tuesday. “Their only way out is to release the hostages, including American citizens, which they hold. In the process, bring an end to the fighting, which would make possible a surge of humanitarian relief. Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Biden told reporters he’s hopeful he’ll help achieve a cease-fire in Gaza before the end of his term in January. If not, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, though he has not yet said how.
Trump picks nominations for NIH, trade
President-elect Trump has kept busy this holiday week. On Tuesday night, he announced new picks to join his administration.
Among them, Trump nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to serve as the director of the National Institutes of Health. As head of the NIH, the Stanford University professor would work alongside Trump’s pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bhattacharya, who also has a doctorate in economics, became known for opposing lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 27, 2024
Trump also selected Jamieson Greer to lead the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Greer is no stranger to the department, having served as chief of staff to the trade representative during Trump’s first term — which saw tariffs imposed on Chinese goods and the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement.
Greer served as a lawyer in the Air Force and is currently a partner in international trade at the law firm King and Spalding.
Both of these nominations will need Senate confirmation.
Australia’s House passes bill to ban kids under 16 from social media
The bill would make platforms such as Tiktok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to $50 million ($33 million USD) for failing to prevent young children from holding accounts.
Australia’s communications minister Michelle Rowland introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges. pic.twitter.com/K0zui1wHLv
The legislation passed 102-13 in Australia’s House of Representatives and now moves on to the Senate. If the bill becomes law, social media companies would have one year to figure out how to implement the age restrictions before they are enforced.
More than 3,000 fake name-brand electric guitars seized in California
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it seized more than 3,000 fake electric guitars in Southern California. CBP said the knockoffs were destined for the e-commerce market, just in time for holiday gift shopping.
CBP said if the guitars were real, they would be worth about $18 million. Most of the fakes look like Gibson brand guitars, but some were supposedly from other well-known companies such as Fender.
Federal authorities would not release any details about suspects in the investigation or where the counterfeit guitars came from.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to go on, rain or shine
A Macy’s spokesperson told the New York Post the parade will proceed regardless of wet weather — good news for the expected 3.5 million people who will be along the parade route and the estimated 30 million watching at home. However, wind could pose a problem.
The spokesperson told the Post, “Based on the city’s guidelines, no giant character balloon will be operated when there are sustained wind conditions exceeding 23 miles per hour and wind gusts greater than 34 miles per hour on the parade route.”
So far, according to weather reports, the winds should not be a problem, and all 32 balloons should be able to fly. New ones this year include Minnie Mouse and Spider-Man, which is marking its return to the parade for the first time in a decade.
Happy Thanksgiving from Straight Arrow News
With Thursday being Thanksgiving, as you get ready to gather around the table with your family, we wanted to take this time for you to get to know ours a little better. In the video above, members of our Straight Arrow News team have special messages about what they’re thankful for this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
Thanksgiving dinner will cost less for the second year despite bird flu
Inflation has been a major topic of discussion in recent years. While the rise in grocery prices has slowed down to a 1% increase over the last 12 months, the price of Thanksgiving dinner fell for the second straight year.
A Thanksgiving meal for 10 people will cost $58.08 in 2024, or $5.81 per person, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 39th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey.
The price of Thanksgiving fell more than 9% since reaching a record high of $64.05 in 2022. That said, the price of a feast for 10 is still 19% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, it cost $48.91 to feed a group of 10 for the holiday.
Turkey remains the center of any Thanksgiving dinner. The average price of a 16-pound turkey is $25.67, a savings of 6% from last year. Despite the savings, the American Farm Bureau Federation says avian influenza is at play in 2024.
“The American turkey flock is the smallest it’s been since 1985 because of avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen, resulting in lower prices at the grocery store for families planning a holiday meal,” AFBF economist Bernt Nelson said in a statement.
For those who aren’t fans of turkey, a 4-pound boneless ham will set consumers back $14.79, down $3.23 compared with last year.
Mashed potatoes are the second most popular Thanksgiving side. The price of russet potatoes, which gives the desired fluffy texture, fell nearly $1 to $2.63 per five-pound bag. The third most popular side is sweet potatoes and three pounds will cost $2.93 this year, saving buyers more than $1 over last year.
Campbell’s says green bean casserole is the fourth most popular holiday side. A pound of green beans is down $0.16 in 2024, but cooks will still need to add cream of mushroom soup and crispy fried onions to complete a casserole.
Pumpkin pie is the most popular Thanksgiving dessert, according to readers at The Pioneer Woman. Pumpkin pie mix is $4.15 for a 30-ounce package. That’s down $0.29 compared with last year.
Meanwhile, two pie shells are $3.40, only falling $0.10 since 2023. Pecan pie is the second most popular, followed by apple pie and then chocolate pie. Sweet potato pie did not make the list.