TikTok Finalizes US Restructuring Deal with Oracle, Avoids Ban

TikTok Finalizes US Restructuring Deal with Oracle, Avoids Ban

TikTok has finalized a deal to restructure its U.S. operations into a new entity majority-owned by American and allied investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, with ByteDance retaining a 20% stake. This hybrid model addresses data security concerns, avoids a nationwide ban, and sets a precedent for global tech sovereignty.

Posted on: by Roman Grant
AI Answers Demand New Rules: Why Google SEO Fails ChatGPT Citations

AI Answers Demand New Rules: Why Google SEO Fails ChatGPT Citations

Mike King reveals why Google SEO tactics fail AI engines like ChatGPT, from query fan-out to HTTP 499 timeouts and chunking boosts. Case studies show 661% visibility gains via GEO.

Posted on: by Chloe Ortiz
Oracle Data Center Failure Exposes Critical Vulnerabilities in TikTok’s Newly American Infrastructure

Oracle Data Center Failure Exposes Critical Vulnerabilities in TikTok’s Newly American Infrastructure

TikTok's first major technical crisis under American ownership exposed critical vulnerabilities in Oracle's data center infrastructure, disrupting posting capabilities and analytics for millions of users. The week-long outage raises urgent questions about the resilience of the platform's newly restructured operations.

Posted on: by Chloe Ortiz
CLICKFORCE’s AI Leap: Bedrock Agents Slash Ad Analysis from Weeks to Hours

CLICKFORCE’s AI Leap: Bedrock Agents Slash Ad Analysis from Weeks to Hours

CLICKFORCE harnesses Amazon Bedrock Agents in Lumos to automate ad market analysis, cutting weeks of work to one hour. Powered by AWS services, it delivers precise insights, setting a new benchmark for data-driven advertising efficiency.

Posted on: by Aria Brooks
TikTok’s Data Center Blackout: Power Failure Exposes Vulnerabilities in New U.S. Era

TikTok’s Data Center Blackout: Power Failure Exposes Vulnerabilities in New U.S. Era

A power outage at a U.S. data center crippled TikTok's services over the weekend, disrupting algorithms and feeds just after its U.S. ownership shift. The new joint venture blames technical failure, not censorship, as users face login woes and old videos.

Posted on: by Elena Brooks
AI’s Email Revolution: Leaders’ Guide to Smarter Campaigns in 2026

AI’s Email Revolution: Leaders’ Guide to Smarter Campaigns in 2026

This deep dive explores AI's transformative role in 2026 email marketing, offering executives strategies for content generation, integration, and measurement while navigating pitfalls and future trends for superior ROI.

Posted on: by Roman Grant
Boss Wallah’s UGC Pivot: Capturing the $8.4 Billion Creator Gold Rush

Boss Wallah’s UGC Pivot: Capturing the $8.4 Billion Creator Gold Rush

Boss Wallah Media launches a creator-first UGC platform targeting the $8.4 billion market, leveraging 400 million monthly views and AI tools to fix fragmented production. Backed by real client wins like 200% engagement boosts, it empowers creators amid booming demand.

Posted on: by Stella Evans
The Search Revolution: How AI Overviews Are Forcing Marketers to Rewrite Digital Strategy

The Search Revolution: How AI Overviews Are Forcing Marketers to Rewrite Digital Strategy

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming search marketing as AI Overviews replace traditional blue links. By 2026, over 60% of queries will generate AI-powered responses, forcing marketers to abandon decades-old SEO strategies and adopt new approaches for visibility in an AI-mediated discovery environment.

Posted on: by Elena Brooks
RealHomes Breach: How a File-Upload Flaw Put 30,000 WordPress Sites at RCE Risk

RealHomes Breach: How a File-Upload Flaw Put 30,000 WordPress Sites at RCE Risk

A critical file-upload flaw in RealHomes CRM plugin exposed 30,000+ WordPress sites to remote code execution. Patches are out, but slow updates leave many vulnerable amid active scans.

Posted on: by Layla Reed
OnlyFans’ $5.5 Billion Gamble: How a Sex-Work Platform Plans Its Path to Wall Street

OnlyFans’ $5.5 Billion Gamble: How a Sex-Work Platform Plans Its Path to Wall Street

OnlyFans is negotiating a $5.5 billion sale to Architect Capital, which plans to build financial infrastructure for adult content creators and pursue a 2028 IPO, challenging traditional finance's reluctance to service the sex work industry.

Posted on: by Maya Grant

Meghan’s PR Time Machine: Rewinding to Suits Glory Amid Staff Exodus

Roman Grant | 2026-01-09
Meghan’s PR Time Machine: Rewinding to Suits Glory Amid Staff Exodus

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has circled back to her pre-royal roots by rehiring the New York-based public relations firm Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (SSML), the same agency that guided her career during her years starring on the USA Network drama Suits . This strategic pivot comes after a turbulent period marked by the departure of her eleventh communications staffer in five years, chief communications officer Meredith Maines, who left at the end of 2025 after less than a year on the job. A source familiar with the arrangement told The Telegraph , “SSML has been working on intermittent projects with the Duke and Duchess since 2017,” and is now collaborating with their in-house team on the lifestyle brand As Ever and U.S.-specific initiatives.

SSML’s expertise in crisis communications for A-list celebrities—handling cases like Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction and Ben Affleck’s divorce from Jennifer Garner—positions it well for the Sussexes’ challenges. The firm’s client roster includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Natalie Portman, Barbra Streisand, and Jennifer Lopez, as noted by Vanity Fair . Partner Keleigh Thomas Morgan, who attended Meghan and Prince Harry’s 2018 wedding, played key roles in Meghan’s actress-to-duchess transition and the couple’s post-royal pivot to Archewell. This reunion signals a full embrace of external expertise over the unstable in-house model adopted after their 2020 move to California.

Maines’ exit followed closely by Archewell executive director James Holt’s resignation in late December 2025, leaving the couple without a core PR structure heading into 2026. Maines, who joined in March 2025 overseeing external communications for Archewell Productions, the Archewell Foundation, and As Ever, stated, “After a year of inspiring work with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Archewell, I will be pursuing a new opportunity in 2026. I have the utmost gratitude and respect for the couple and the team, and the good they are doing in the world,” according to People .

Chronic Turnover Plagues Sussex Communications

The Sussexes’ PR woes trace back to their departure from royal duties, with 11 press officers cycling through in five years. In 2024, global press secretary Ashley Hansen left after two years to launch her consultancy. 2025 saw a flurry: U.K.-based Charlie Gipson, California-based Kyle Boulia, Emily Robinson (director of communications, out after four months in June-October), and others like Toya Holness and Christine Weil Schirmer from earlier years, as detailed by Daily Mail . The couple also parted ways with Method Communications after seven months, a firm Maines had brought in to expand from two staffers to eight across time zones for faster media responses, per PR Week .

Speculation about workplace dynamics persists, though departing staff consistently cite positive experiences. Emily Robinson, a former Netflix executive, exited quietly after her brief stint. Liam Maguire, the U.K. and Europe communications director with a military background who helped launch the Invictus Games, remains and will oversee Harry’s efforts alongside SSML, according to Daily Mail . This hybrid internal-external setup contrasts with the traditional royal model of long-serving secretaries, which the Sussexes initially emulated in Montecito before abandoning it.

The in-house experiment mirrored Kensington Palace’s structure but faltered amid rapid changes. A Sussex spokesperson confirmed Maines and Method’s departure, stating, “The Duke and Duchess are grateful for their contributions and wish them well,” as reported by People . SSML’s return revives a proven Hollywood playbook, potentially stabilizing messaging for high-stakes ventures.

Suits-Era Playbook Meets Modern Ventures

During her 2011-2017 Suits tenure as Rachel Zane, SSML managed Meghan’s rising profile, including her lifestyle blog The Tig. This era predated her 2016 romance with Harry, captured in a nostalgic photo she posted amid the viral “2026 is the New 2016” trend, fueling perceptions of a deliberate rewind, per Vanity Fair . Post-royal, SSML aided Archewell’s launch and intermittent projects, making the rehiring a natural evolution rather than a cold restart.

Now, SSML supports As Ever—launched in April 2025 with jams, candles (one evoking her wedding scent), and sold-out drops—plus Netflix deals like the holiday special With Love, Meghan and Archewell Productions. The agency works alongside U.K. staff like Maguire, focusing on U.S. efforts where Meghan’s brand emphasizes lifestyle and philanthropy. Prince William’s recent hire of crisis specialist Liza Ravenscroft for himself and the Princess of Wales underscores a broader royal trend toward fortified PR, as noted by The Mirror .

Meghan halted searches for a new in-house spokesperson post-Maines, opting for SSML’s infrastructure. This shift abandons the bespoke team that struggled with loyalty, echoing criticisms of a “scattered brand and convoluted PT strategy,” from Geo.tv . On X, users like @storiesbyjemay linked Maines’ exit to Meghan’s social media clashes, such as a Kardashian photo spat, suggesting PR friction with Hollywood power players.

Crisis Expertise for Reputational Headwinds

SSML’s crisis chops are tailor-made for the Sussexes’ narrative battles, from tabloid lawsuits to project scrutiny. Harry’s U.K. legal fights continue, while Meghan’s As Ever faces questions despite inventory expansions. The firm’s track record with divorces and scandals offers tools to reshape perceptions amid 2026’s high-visibility plans, including potential acting cameos like in Close Personal Friends , per CEO Today Magazine .

This move parallels past drops, like Sunshine Sachs in 2022 amid popularity dips, promoting internal figures like Christine Weil Schirmer before her exit, as covered by Vanity Fair . Rehiring signals confidence in SSML’s celebrity machinery to propel As Ever and Netflix outputs. X discussions, including @KaiseratCB, highlight the rehiring as a bid for momentum in a tough media environment.

As Prince Harry heads to London for legal matters—without Meghan—the SSML partnership aims to unify messaging across ventures. Whether jams sell better or Archewell regains traction, the bet is on Hollywood pros to navigate 2026’s opportunities and pitfalls, outpacing the revolving door of aides.

Subscribe Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date with the latest news, updates, and exclusive offers. Join our community today!

Comments

Join the discussion and share your thoughts.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Join Us

Share your perspective with confidence. Your experience could inform, inspire, and help someone live better.

Archives

Authors

More ...

Search NexaPress