Podcast Advertising: Podscribe says visitor retargeting in podcast campaigns is outperforming standard buys, with 7.4x higher visitor rates and 5.5x higher purchase rates, pushing advertisers toward smarter audience targeting. Social Commerce & AI Discovery: NIQ reports nearly one in three Western consumers now buy products first discovered on social platforms, as AI accelerates discovery-led shopping. CTV & Platform Monetisation: Instagram is testing “Instagram for TV” formats—casting Reels, big-screen Stories, and horizontal video—signaling a push into lean-back viewing and new ad opportunities. Retail Media & In-Store Tech: UK supermarket trials of smart trolleys (Bayes Business School) link the tech to higher spend and more items, while raising questions about how prompts shape buying. Regulation & Procurement: South Dakota AG says school districts must follow competitive bidding for construction and can’t dodge rules via cooperative purchasing. UK Ad Compliance: UK watchdog bans Adidas, Uniqlo and Calvin Klein ads over misleading “recycled” claims, tightening scrutiny on green marketing. Space/Tech Deals: SpaceX-linked chatter grows as Quantum Cyber approves work to acquire an equity stake in SpaceX, reflecting continued marcom-adjacent interest in aerospace narratives. Health Policy: KFF highlights the real-world friction of getting weight-loss drugs covered by insurance, as coverage changes hit patients.