April 14, 2026
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Michael's Daily Notes
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Remember the conversation in “Pulp Fiction” between Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) about how a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese became a Royale with Cheese in France? Or Jerry and George scheming at Monk’s Café in Season 4 of “Seinfeld” about a new show pitch to NBC – a show about “nothing”? Both came to mind as I read my favorite story in today’s newsletter. It’s got nothing to do with Trump’s blasphemy, the war in Iran or the resignations of Reps. Swalwell and Gonzales – good riddance to both.
Instead, it’s an NBC report on the power of small talk. The findings come from a study just published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology by researchers from Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and INSEAD, a business school in France. They did nine experiments involving 1,800 participants, each of whom engaged in five-minute conversations on various topics. It didn’t matter if they knew their partner or even if one of the participants found the topic boring. They spoke anyway. They mingled. And found the engagement to be valuable – because, as the researchers put it, “conversations about seemingly boring topics can be surprisingly enjoyable for those involved.”
As Jules and Vincent, and Jerry and George showed us, ordinary topics can often become captivating once the conversation gets underway. So today, strike up a conversation you otherwise wouldn’t have had. The researchers’ advice: just start. And ask open-ended questions that invite storytelling.
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DAILY POLL
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Which is a greater existential threat: runaway AI or nuclear weapons?
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TOP STORY
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U.S. and Iranian negotiators are weighing a proposed 20-year suspension of Tehran’s nuclear program—far short of a permanent ban—as both sides seek a deal that would delay, rather than eliminate, Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.
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TODAY'S YOUTUBE
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SPONSORED BY PARX CASINO
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IN OTHER NEWS
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President Trump’s escalating attacks on Pope Leo XIV, inflammatory rhetoric, and controversial social media posts—including an AI portrait depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure—risk eroding his support among Catholic swing voters, a crucial bloc that helped secure his 2024 victory.
Eric Swalwell’s abrupt exit from California’s governor’s race amid misconduct allegations has scrambled an already crowded Democratic field, with candidates like Katie Porter and Tom Steyer poised to gain but overall voter confusion deepening.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, announced plans to retire as Congress returns Tuesday amid mounting pressure and a House Ethics investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
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A MESSAGE FROM COMCAST
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco home was targeted in a second attack involving a suspected shooting, leading to two arrests, just days after an earlier Molotov cocktail incident heightened security concerns, according to the San Francisco Police Department.
A federal judge dismissed President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal’s publisher, ruling he failed to show the article—about a bawdy birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein bearing Trump’s name—was published with “actual malice” and giving him until April 27 to amend his complaint.
Messages sent by Lynette Hooker to a friend before her disappearance reveal she feared being alone with her husband during their sailing trip, raising new questions about the circumstances surrounding her vanishing in the Bahamas.
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CARTOONS
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by Jack Ohman
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MORE NEWS
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A new study finds that people consistently underestimate how enjoyable small talk will be, with even seemingly boring conversations often leading to meaningful connections that boost well-being and reduce loneliness.
Tom Rothman, chairperson of Sony Pictures, criticized theaters at CinemaCon for excessive pre-show ads and trailers, urging exhibitors to shorten them to improve the moviegoing experience and boost audience engagement.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 inductees, led by Phil Collins, Oasis, Billy Idol, Wu-Tang Clan, Luther Vandross, Sade, Joy Division/New Order and Iron Maiden, a diverse class spanning rock, hip-hop, and soul set to be honored at a November ceremony in Los Angeles.
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For the Left
Secretary Marco Rubio is hosting Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington to advance U.S.-mediated ceasefire talks, testing fragile diplomatic efforts amid ongoing tensions involving Hezbollah.
For the Right
Whoopi Goldberg has launched WhoopInk, a new imprint with Blackstone Publishing, where she will play a hands-on role in developing and promoting books aimed at amplifying diverse and influential voices.
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