When you live in a George Orwell novel...

 Massive broadcasting conglomerate forces local anchors to pass off scripted political commentary as personal opinion. [The Hustle]( Wed, Apr 4 Brought to you by [monday.com](... reclaim context. National broadcaster Sinclair puts words in its local anchors’ mouths… literally Over the weekend, Deadspin released a [spooky video]( of dozens of local news anchors reading identical scripts denouncing “the sharing of biased and false news,” as “dangerous to our democracy.” The [puppetmaster behind the blast]( The US’s largest broadcaster, Sinclair Broadcast Group -- owner of 193 TV stations across the country. Now, critics are calling into question the controlling tactics of the group and its use of local public figures’ influence to secretly push their agenda. The national biz of local buzz [Sinclair owns local stations]( in 89 markets ranging from large cities like Washington, DC, to Kirksville, Missouri, including affiliates of major networks like ABC, and its own network, Comet TV. They’re also in the process of getting approval from the Justice Department and the FCC for a [$3.9B takeover]( of Tribune Media, which would add 42 stations to their repertoire and make Sinclair far and away the largest TV operator in America. Aren’t there rules against this kind of thing? Well, there were. But, last fall, the FCC [eliminated an 80-plus-year-old rule]( designed to limit the national influence over local broadcasts. Known as the “main studio rule,” it required broadcasters to have a physical studio in or near the area that they transmit from. The FCC argues that social media gives communities new channels to give feedback to their local broadcasters remotely. But some fear it could open the door for large media companies to continue to eat up local stations, while centralizing jobs in a few metropolitan areas, and limit the diversity of opinions on the air. How do the news anchors feel about all this? Unsurprisingly, not so great. Past producers and anchors at Sinclair-owned stations complain of the company’s practice of “must-run” segments coming down from the top, which made them uncomfortable. Unfortunately, Sinclair-employed anchors have their own anchors to deal with: their contracts. According to Bloomberg, some employees are required to [pay “liquidated damages”]( for leaving before their contract is up, which can run as high as 40% of their annual salaries. In other words, they’re not giving up the remote control anytime soon. Or should we say ‘clicker’?  High times for CBD: The next big thing in weed could become a billion-dollar market… Whether the government likes it or not. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the part of the weed plant that gives you the health benefits, without having the “stop looking at me swan” effect on your mind (unique to THC). You know what we’re talking about you friggin’ potheads -- now, according to the Hemp Business Journal, the CBD market is estimated to explode into a [$2.1B]( industry by 2020; a 700% increase from 2016. For your health CBD isn’t psychotropic, meaning it won’t alter your grip on reality, but it still continues to work on the brain and nervous system. It [targets]( a wide haul of proteins that balance cell movement all over the human body, relieving the physiological itchies looking to take down the human spirit -- AKA pain, anxiety, and nausea. But, even though CBD doesn’t get you high, the stigma surrounding it’s stoney counterpart continues to box hemp into the murky waters of yesteryear. Now, the market is finally growing (outside of your uncle’s basement) Recent legal proceedings have [ruled]( in favor of those looking to chillax, and the [Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2018]( seeks to strike hemp-based CBD from the controlled substances list, making it easier for companies to market their stash. Companies like Phivida Holdings -- who [signed]( a Global Digital Reseller-Supply Agreement to sell their CBD-infused beverages this year -- along with many others, are starting to further pave the way to make “green” the official chill color of the masses. [Dope. Tight. Dank.](  Apple Watch heart rate data could help solve a murder Australia woman Caroline Nilsson has been charged with the murder of her mother-in-law, Myrna Nilsson, at their home in 2016, after data [collected]( from the victim’s Apple Watch proved Caroline’s depiction of the events to be a bunch of BS. The watch outlined a bone-chilling timeline of the victim’s demise, giving prosecutors a look into the woman’s last moments. Murder on the 21st century express After the incident, Caroline told authorities a group of men invaded her home, tied her up, and killed her mother-in-law -- an act she claimed took a total of 20 minutes -- but authorities didn’t buy it. Using the watch’s heart rate data, investigators saw a spike in activity followed by an abrupt slowdown in movement on the day-of, whittling the events to a 7-minute window, meaning Caroline is either lying, or terrible at telling time. The trial is set to continue in June, when it will be decided if the Apple Watch data will be accepted as evidence -- in the meantime, ol’ Carol continues to deny the allegations. A new hurdle for bad guys? Or massive privacy invasion? This is actually the second instance this year where Apple Health data was used as evidence in a murder trial. In Germany, a third-party company [examined]( the data to re-create the murderous activities the accused man had participated in through his movements. That man pleaded guilty, but as more of these events (or ones like it) occur, the debate over ethical surveillance data will likely heat up. [Follow the data](  Crypto cool-kid Seoul announces plans for a citywide cryptocurrency called ‘S-Coin’ Residents of the South Korean capital will soon use a city-funded cryptocurrency called S-Coin for everything from subway rides to kids’ [allowances]( -- part of a master plan to create a comprehensive blockchain bureaucracy in Seoul. “As Seoul is the world's leading city in the field of information and communications… I think we should study new technologies such as blockchains,” Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon recently humble-bragged to CoinDesk. If you can’t beat ’em, coin ’em As recently as 4 months ago, South Korea vocally opposed blockchain for fear that North Korea would keep using it to pick their pockets -- and they went as as far as considering [taxing]( crypto-speculation and banning crypto accounts for minors. But South Koreans are the biggest crypto-consumers after Japanese and Americans, and Korean crypto-startups [raise]( $89m a month. So as coin-trading hysteria subsided, Seoul hired Samsung’s enterprise IT consultancy in November 2017 to coin their crypto dreams a reality. A classic case of keeping up with the Won-soons As soon as crypto cool-kid Korea put on blockchain pants, other governments wanted a pair. But some are ditching their cash-padded diapers for big-kid crypto-khakis too quickly -- Venezuela’s state cryptocurrency, the Petro, has been [laughed off]( as a scam. As the efficiency and security [benefits]( of “Centralized Digital Currencies” like S-Coin become increasingly obvious, governments [from]( Estonia to the [US]( are exploring their options -- just more slowly than Venezuela. After all, they put their crypto pants on just like us -- one leg at a time. [I’m still Seoul from the block(chain)](  IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: We’re doing something special this Sunday. Stay tuned to your inbox and don’t touch that dial, folks…  startup dictionary Dogfooding (noun) 1. When a company uses its own product to prove how well it works. 2. A marketing layup for a product that isn’t good enough to be released to the public. 3. A euphemism for the more appropriate term: ‘sh*t eating.’ Example: Male founder 1: If we don’t get enough funding, you and I will dogfood our product for publicity. Male founder 2: But Mike, we make a pregnancy-tracking app. Male founder 1: Exactly, the press will love it. Pro tip: Hire a social media consultant to document your dogfooding process before you’ve made a prototype -- you can hire an engineer to make the product later. deals deals deals “Spring sales is in the air, and these deals is making my eyes water with tears of joy. This week, I cut you’s a screaming deal on lux couches delivered to your door and Hustle Con tickets. Yeah, I hustled The Hustle.” - Will Barggin from Duckwater, Nevada SPONSORED - [Up to $1,200 off]( at Burrow, the Casper of luxury sofas. - [$50 off a Hustle Con ticket]( at The Hustle for the next 24hrs. Use code HUSTLERLIFE - [Canon PIXMA wireless printer]( at BuyDig for $64.99 (was $149.99) - [Up to 60% off New Balance shoes]( at Joe's New Balance Outlet - [NutriBullet blender]( at Macy's for $47.99 (originally $89.99) - [Up to 70% off desk chair Spring Sale]( at Madison Seating - [Chrome Industries Hightower backpack]( at Sierra Trading Post for $99.99 (was $180) This edition of The Hustle was brought to you by Context (HUH!) what is it good for? Absolutely everything You know that feeling when an ex texts you a picture of cat food? Or when your Aunt Susan mails you the instructions for a light fixture that you don’t own? Sometimes all you want is… a little context. Well, life doesn’t always supply context, but [monday.com]( does. [monday.com]( is the project management platform that over 20,000 teams use to reclaim the context surrounding their most ambitious projects. All those tiny project details orbiting one central hub [monday.com’s easy-to-use tools]( keep everything in one place, eliminating the need for pointless meetings and never-ending email threads because of misplaced or forgotten specifics. It’s all there in HD-visual glory. Features like mentioning teammates or teams, real-time notifications, public comments and reactions, and drag-and-drop document organization keep [every team member in the know]( It’s your team’s work living in harmony with your team. So the next time your mom sends you a picture of an air conditioner, think to yourself, “at least I’ve got [monday.com]( Readers of The Hustle can sign up for a [free 2-week trial](.  0 [SHARE THE HUSTLE]( REFERRALS [ YOUR UNIQUE URL Zack Crockett NEWS WRITER Wes Schlagenhauf NEWS WRITER Conor Grant NEWS WRITER Kolby Hatch AD WRITER [Lindsey “S-Coin Seven in Miami” Quinn]( MANAGING EDITOR Hugh Wake Audience Counter [SUBSCRIBE]( [JOBS]( [ADVERTISE]( [EVENTS]( [SHOP]( [Join our Facebook community →]( You opted in by signing up, attending an event, or through divine intervention. [771 CLEMENTINA STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103, UNITED STATES]( • [415.506.7210](tel:+1-415-506-7210) Never wanna hear from us again? 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