Disney on Tuesday tapped Josh D’Amaro to succeed veteran CEO Bob Iger, who will retire at the end of the year.

D’Amaro climbed the ranks at the entertainment giant after starting in finance at Disneyland Resort in the late 1990s under Iger. 

Iger announced Tuesday that he will retire from the company at the end of the year, with D’Amaro taking over as CEO effective March 2026. Iger, 74, will retire on Dec. 31, 2026, after having first joined the company in 1996.

D’Amaro will continue to serve in his role as chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products until he becomes CEO.

Josh D’Amaro, chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, speaks during Day 2 of the D23 Brazil: A Disney Experience at Transamerica Expo Center on Nov. 9, 2024, in São Paulo, Brazil. (Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images for Disney)

LONGTIME CEO BOB IGER TO RETIRE FROM DISNEY

As chairman, D’Amaro oversees 185,000 cast members, employees and “Imagineers” “who make up the creative engine and long-term growth driver” for Disney, according to his LinkedIn profile. In this role, he also oversees 12 theme parks and 57 resort hotels across six global destinations in the U.S., Europe and Asia, plus a future landmark Disney theme park coming to Abu Dhabi. 

Josh D’Amaro at the SXSW Conference & Festivals in the Austin Convention Center on March 8, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (Adam Kissick/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images)

In this role, he also leads Disney Signature Experiences, which encompasses family travel and leisure experiences beyond the theme parks and includes Disney Cruise Line, which consists of five ships and two island destinations as well as Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney and Storyliving by Disney. 

DISNEY ELEVATING THEME PARK DINING

He is also responsible for Disney Consumer Products, which includes its global licensing business and the company’s digital games and apps unit, which was highlighted by its partnership with Epic Games.

Bob Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Co., arrives for the Allen and Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 8, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

D’Amaro was tasked with spearheading the company’s strategy to “turbocharge” Disney Experiences, creating experiences for audiences through a 10-year, $60 billion investment in new attractions, lands, hotels, cruise ships and technology. His job also included working with the company’s film and TV studio creative leads, together with Walt Disney Imagineering, to bring Disney’s most popular creative assets to life.

Disney applauded D’Amaro for being an “instrumental” part in expanding Disney’s iconic franchises through the creation of immersive, story-driven experiences such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and World of Frozen, according to his bio page.

DISNEY UNVEILS NEW SHOW IN PARK UNDERGOING MASSIVE TRANSFORMATION

After graduating from Georgetown University with a business degree, D’Amaro began his career at Disneyland Resort in 1998, according to his bio page on Disney’s website. Since then, he has climbed the ranks and held leadership roles across the U.S. and internationally in finance, business strategy, marketing, creative development and operations. A longtime Disney executive, his previous roles include president of Disneyland Resort and president of Walt Disney World Resort.

A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse stands in a garden in front of Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World on April 3, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.  (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

D’Amaro’s work expands beyond Disney. He currently serves on the National Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish America. The non-profit has been a long-time Disney partner that has granted more than 170,000 wishes in the past 45 years.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

D’Amaro is also a member of the United States Travel Association Leadership Roundtable.

Disney shares are down more than 9% year to date.

California voters appear ready to drive the state’s remaining billionaires toward the exit signs — and many say they are fully aware of the potential consequences.

A new survey found that 60% of likely voters back a one-time wealth tax, even as a majority of those same respondents say the move would spark a business exodus and cost local jobs.

The February 2026 Nestpoint survey highlights what it describes as a contradiction, with 52% of respondents saying the tax would likely cost jobs and drive entrepreneurs out of California. Even when presented with a “full battery” of economic risks, support for the wealth tax remained at 54%, according to the survey.

The data also suggests that some Golden State voters prioritize perceived fairness over economic concerns, with 42% expressing worries about potential fallout in Silicon Valley and 48% concerned about long-term revenue instability.

ONE OF AMERICA’S LARGEST UNIONS BACKS MASSIVE CALIFORNIA WEALTH TAX AS BILLIONAIRES BOLT

Another recent survey by the Mellman Group found 48% voter support for the wealth tax, 38% opposition and 14% undecided. However, Nestpoint’s survey reports a larger sample size, which may explain the higher support levels.

Voters cast ballots at a polling station in Rickshaw Bagworks store in San Francisco, California, on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (Getty Images)

Though the initiative has not yet received the required 875,000 signatures to qualify for the November ballot, the proposal — backed by the Service Employees International Union–United Healthcare Workers West — would impose a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of California residents with assets exceeding $1 billion. 

The tax would be due in 2027, and taxpayers could spread payments over five years, with additional costs, according to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office.

If voters approve the measure, anyone who was a California resident on Jan. 1, 2026, would owe the tax, according to the proposal’s language.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom doubled down on his opposition to the tax last week, warning that the plan could reduce funding for schools, public safety and other core services rather than fix the state’s budget challenges.

“I fear the way this has been drafted,” Newsom said at a Bloomberg News event in San Francisco. “I was burdened by the facts. The fact is, it actually will reduce investments in education. It will reduce investment in teachers and librarians, childcare. It will reduce investments in firefighting and police,” he continued. “The impact of a one-time tax does not solve an ongoing structural challenge that has been exacerbated by the impacts of H.R. 1.”

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Trevor Foreman, an SEIU member and hospital security officer in Sacramento, told Fox News Digital in response: “California’s billionaires pay much lower tax rates than what working families pay out of every paycheck. And soon, massive federal healthcare funding cuts in 2026 will collapse key parts of the California healthcare system.”

“Local hospitals and emergency rooms will shut their doors forever because billionaires insist on paying less than the rest of us,” Foreman claimed. 

In addition, Foreman warned that millions of businesses could face higher health insurance premiums, which he said could lead to layoffs across multiple industries as employers absorb rising coverage costs.

READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

Alysia Steele did not build her career overnight.

It was shaped over decades of showing up, meeting deadlines, and doing the work when no one was watching. Her path moved through newsrooms, classrooms, archives, and communities. At each step, she focused on craft, responsibility, and people.

Today, Steele is recognized as a leader in photojournalism and oral history. Her work preserves stories that might otherwise be lost. It also reflects how long-term careers are built in media and academia.

Early Life and the Discipline That Shaped Her Career

Steele grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Raised primarily by her paternal grandparents, they taught her structure and accountability.

“School and grades came first,” she says. “Hard work was a must. Respecting elders was non-negotiable.”

She attended the now defunct Harrisburg Arts Magnet School and focused on photography and visual storytelling. Mornings were spent in college-prep classes at her high school, John Harris High School, and afternoons were dedicated to learning composition, light, and developing film. By her junior year of high school, Steele was already winning state photography awards and earning scholarships.

She also earned a spot at the prestigious Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, where she studied photography during the summer at Bucknell University as a teenager. Still, her path forward was not smooth.

Education Earned Through Persistence

Steele left college early after a difficult experience at a rural Pennsylvania campus. The environment was isolating, and the experience left a lasting mark.

“I was smart, but scared,” she says. “There was a lot of racial trauma. I wasn’t ready then. I wore a baseball cap that covered my face. Many times I was the only student of color in any given class I enrolled in.”

She had earned an associate degree in photography, where she learned studio, food, event, and portrait photography. Steele worked with formats from 35mm to large-format cameras and spent long hours in darkrooms developing film and printing her own photographs.

She later completed her bachelor’s degree in journalism, returning to the same school she once left. The turnaround was significant.

“I went back to face my fears,” Steele says. “I didn’t want that moment to define me.”

She completed competitive photography internships in several Michigan newsrooms, where speed and accuracy mattered. These roles prepared her for high-pressure environments in larger newsrooms.

Building Authority in Newsrooms

Steele spent years working in daily newspapers. She started as a staff photographer and later moved into picture editing and leadership roles. Her assignments ranged from local features to international reporting.

She was part of The Dallas Morning News photo team that earned the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for its coverage of Hurricane Katrina.

“I was watching the news at the picture desk – I was one of two night photo editors that worked at night, and the storm seemed bigger and indicated it would hit land harder than anticipated on the night I was working, Steele explained. “I called my boss, William Snyder, the director of photography, and advised him I thought we needed to move to New Orleans earlier than we originally planned. He told me to make a decision. So, I did, and called staff to travel to New Orleans. As a result, we captured when the storm hit and its initial impact.”

“In newsrooms, decisions are made fast,” she says. “You learn to trust your judgment and your team.”

She later became deputy director of photography at another major metropolitan paper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In that role, she helped managed staff, hired interns and freelance photographers, and elevated visual standards for the paper.

Leadership, she says, came down to consistency. “You can’t cut corners and expect good results.”

From Journalism to Historical Record

In 2015, Steele published Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom. The book combined formal portraits with oral histories of elder Black church women across the Mississippi Delta. She traveled 6,000 miles to interview 54 elder women about their life experiences during Jim Crow in Mississippi. It is the only book that highlights a collective of Black women’s living experience in Mississippi, the epicenter for the Civil Rights Movement. Steele preserved stories that were rarely documented.

Activist Gloria Steinem endorsed the book. Best-selling author Roy Blount, Jr., endorsed the book. Civil rights activist Reena Evers, the daughter of Medgar and Myrlie Evers, endorsed the book. Steele went on to complete 96 speaking engagements over six years, including international, national, regional, and local academic conferences, churches, community centers, museums, and universities.

“The women trusted me with their stories,” Steele says. “That responsibility stays with you.”

The book earned a top Humanities award for cultural preservation in Mississippi. It also marked a shift in her career toward long-form historical work.

She later completed a Ph.D. in U.S. History, focusing on the Civil Rights Movement and Black women’s labor. Her dissertation became her second book, Traces of Elaine, which is under contract and scheduled for publication in 2028.

Teaching, Leadership, and Long-Term Impact

Alongside her writing, Steele spent more than a decade teaching journalism, multimedia production, podcasting, and layout and design. She became the first Black tenured professor in her The University of Mississippi’s School of Journalism and New Media’s history in 2020.

“I set my own standards,” she says. “I don’t believe in shortcuts for good work.” It was not the most welcoming environment but Steele focused on her work and setting her goals for excellence.

She also founded a national multimedia workshop, Lens Collective, that brought students from a dozen universities together with working, award-winning photojournalists who served as mentors by volunteering their vacation time for the workshop. Steele and the educator cohorts helped secure stories, while Steele managed funding, balanced budgets, and delivered measurable outcomes to the various deans who sponsored the workshop.

Beyond the classroom, Steele continues to teach community history courses and is co-authoring an oral history book with her husband, Bobby D. Steele, Jr. They have spent years interviewing some of the last generation to handpick cotton in Mississippi. Her husband decided to help co-author the book once Steele’s life was threatened for doing this critical work. Some in the state told her to leave the stories alone, but she is persisting because the work has never been done, and people want to talk to her. Their living experiences and memories deserve to be heard.

Work Ethic Over Recognition

Steele defines success in practical terms.

“Being happy with my career and making my family proud,” she says. “My family taught me to be humble and let my work speak for itself. I live by that example every day. I know who I am.”

She is known for finishing tasks early and managing priorities carefully. “I don’t procrastinate,” Steele adds. “I start a task and finish it.”

Time management, she says, was critical to completing her doctorate while working. “I had to stay organized because my study workload was heavy, as well as my normal professorial duties, and I didn’t want to drop the ball on my studies. Earning that doctorate was critically important for me,” she explained.

A Career Built to Last

Alysia Steele’s career reflects long-term thinking. She built credibility by doing the work, not by chasing attention. Her leadership comes from consistency, discipline, and respect for history.

“What we put into the world is what we get back,” she says. “I have more to share.”

For Steele, that approach has created a career with depth, durability, and impact.

Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. Diamond Hill Investment Group is a publicly traded company, and its shares trade on the NASDAQ (Ticker: DHIL). Note: This account is not managed or monitored by Diamond Hill Capital Management, and any messages sent via Seeking Alpha will not receive a response. For inquiries or communication, please use Diamond Hill Capital Management’s official channels.

Top officials from self-driving car companies Waymo and Tesla are headed to the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday as lawmakers consider the future of federal regulation in the growing industry. 

“We believe Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure American leadership in this industry by creating a national AV legislative framework that sets a high safety standard for this industry,” Waymo Chief Safety Officer Mauricio Peña will say in his written testimony at the hearing. “Greater certainty will unlock even more investment and prevent bad actors from undermining public trust in this novel, life-changing technology.”

The hearing comes at a time when a growing number of cities and states are allowing self-driving technology like Waymo. But skepticism of autonomous vehicles remains amid some highly publicized recent incidents involving Waymos. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Waymo late last year after at least 19 incidents of Waymos driving past stopped school buses in Austin.

WOULD YOU BUY THE WORLD’S FIRST PERSONAL ROBOCAR?

Self-driving car companies like Waymo are going to be in the spotlight before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

And last week, a Waymo struck a student in Santa Monica, California.

“We’re doing over 400,000 trips a week, which means that these are edge cases,” Justin Kintz, Waymo’s head of global public policy, told FOX News in an interview. On the Santa Monica incident specifically, Kintz said the result was likely better because a Waymo, instead of a car driven by a person, was involved.

“We immediately identified the pedestrian, began braking immediately. So traveling at 17 mph, the Waymo driver did a hard break and reduced our speed to under six mph before contact was made,” Kintz said. “By contrast, our model showed that an attentive human driver would have been going about 14 mph, which makes a big difference.”

TESLA’S SELF-DRIVING CARS UNDER FIRE AGAIN

Kintz added Waymo is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board and the NHTSA as they investigate that crash.

Waymo and Tesla are likely to have a sympathetic ear in Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas. He touted the potential for autonomous vehicles to reduce traffic, cut crashes and help people with disabilities gain independence in a statement ahead of Wednesday’s hearing. But, he said, “A confusing mix of federal and state laws makes it much more difficult to bring safer, more advanced autonomous vehicles to market.”

Cruz added: “This hearing will examine how outdated regulations are holding back lifesaving technology – and what Congress can do to fix it.”

Sen. Ted Cruz has praised self-driving vehicles in the past. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., also on the Commerce Committee, was more cautious in an interview with Fox News Monday night. 

“I hear from people back home and they want to understand safety. They want to understand, a lot of sort of the practical questions, understand the technology,” Schmitt said. “There’s privacy issues, of course, that are going to be involved. So we’ll see. It’s an emerging issue.”

Kintz said national safety standards could help Americans adopting self-driving tech feel more confident when they get in one of the cars. He said it would also prevent “a crazy patchwork of regulations, which could really slow the development of the technology.”

ELON MUSK TAKES DIG AT WAYMO AFTER SAN FRANCISCO BLACKOUT

Sen. Eric Schmitt, pictured when he was attorney general of Missouri, expressed caution in an interview with Fox News on Monday night. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg / Getty Images)

Peña, Waymo’s chief safety officer, will also warn that “Chinese competitors are scaling rapidly with heavy state support, and – second to Waymo – the largest AV fleets in the world are operated by Chinese AV companies.”

“In the absence of U.S. leadership on a national AV legislative framework, Chinese AV competitors will fill the gap and set the safety and technical standards for the rest of the world,” Peña will add in his prepared testimony. 

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Peña will be joined by Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy and Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association CEO Jeff Farrah at the witness stand Wednesday.

Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu contributed to this report.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GPN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AMD either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Finding common ground in fashion between parents and teenagers can feel like navigating a minefield. Teens are exploring their identities, often pushing boundaries, while parents strive to instill values of appropriateness, budget consciousness, and style that lasts beyond a single season.

Despite these differing priorities, there are spaces where both generations can meet in the middle—where style, practicality, and personality converge. The key is understanding the motivations behind clothing choices and creating opportunities for collaboration rather than conflict.

Understanding the Teen Fashion Mindset

Teen fashion is as much about self-expression as it is about trends. Adolescents are experimenting with colors, textures, and silhouettes to communicate identity, social belonging, and mood. Peer influence is particularly strong; clothing choices often reflect what friends and influencers deem stylish. While this can lead to clashes with parental sensibilities, it also opens opportunities for guidance rather than outright restriction.

Parents, meanwhile, can benefit from recognizing that fashion for teens is not superficial. Wearing certain brands or adopting particular styles is part of a social language. Approaching wardrobe decisions with curiosity rather than judgment allows parents to guide teens toward quality choices that align with both personal style and practicality.

Practical Strategies for Bridging the Style Gap

Collaboration is the most effective strategy when navigating fashion disagreements. One approach is to create a shared “style mission,” where both parents and teens articulate what they value in clothing. Parents may prioritize durability, versatility, or modesty, while teens may emphasize individuality, trendiness, or comfort. By identifying overlapping priorities, both parties can focus on pieces that satisfy multiple criteria.

Shopping together can also foster compromise. When both generations engage in selecting clothes, it becomes an educational experience. Parents can introduce teens to classic staples that form the backbone of a versatile wardrobe, while teens can demonstrate how to modernize these pieces with accessories, layering, or creative styling. This method not only reduces conflict but also builds essential decision-making and budgeting skills in adolescents.

The Role of Brands and Retailers

Brands play a critical role in facilitating this middle ground. Retailers offering a wide range of styles, quality, and price points can appeal to both parents and teens. Stores that emphasize clean designs, versatile collections, and trend-conscious lines help families discover pieces that satisfy both parties.

One example is Zara https://traffordcentre.co.uk/shop/zara, known for offering contemporary, well-made clothing at accessible price points. Zara’s collections often feature neutral staples, seasonal statement pieces, and items that adapt easily to different styles. This versatility allows parents to feel confident in the durability and appropriateness of a purchase, while teens can enjoy the fashionable edge that makes them feel socially aligned and self-expressive.

Embracing Comfort and Sustainability

Another area of convergence is comfort. Teenagers value clothing that allows them to move freely, engage in sports, or simply relax without restriction. Parents, increasingly aware of long-term health and well-being, appreciate garments that provide comfort and support proper posture. Prioritizing comfort does not mean sacrificing style; well-designed clothing can satisfy both criteria.

Sustainability is emerging as a shared concern across generations. Many retailers, including Zara, are incorporating sustainable materials and responsible production practices. This focus resonates with parents who prioritize ethical consumption and teens who often view eco-conscious choices as part of a progressive identity. Selecting items that align with sustainability values becomes a unifying factor, making the shopping experience collaborative rather than combative.

Encouraging Personal Expression Within Boundaries

Teens thrive when they have a sense of ownership over their wardrobe choices. Parents can encourage individuality by offering structured flexibility—clear boundaries on appropriateness, cost, or functionality combined with freedom to personalize. This method respects the teen’s developing autonomy while ensuring that purchases are practical and sustainable.

A practical technique is to allow teens to create outfit combinations from a core wardrobe of approved basics. By introducing a range of mix-and-match staples, such as neutral jeans, classic jackets, and versatile tops, parents provide a framework for style that meets household expectations. Teens can then express creativity through layering, accessories, or selective trend-driven pieces, achieving balance and reducing conflict over every shopping trip.

Building Confidence Through Fashion

Clothing is more than fabric; it shapes how individuals are perceived and how they perceive themselves. For teens, mastering personal style boosts confidence, social competence, and self-awareness. Parents benefit when their children feel secure and competent in their choices, fostering positive parent-child interactions around shared activities like shopping, outfit planning, and event preparation.

By approaching fashion as a collaborative journey rather than a series of disagreements, families reinforce mutual respect. Open communication, shared experiences, and thoughtful selection of retailers help both generations develop an appreciation for aesthetics, quality, and social nuance. Parents learn about current trends and youth culture, while teens gain insights into longevity, budgeting, and versatile wardrobe building.

Making Fashion a Shared Experience

Ultimately, successful intergenerational fashion collaboration relies on empathy, communication, and strategic compromise. Selecting clothing together, exploring versatile brands, and emphasizing comfort, sustainability, and personal expression ensure that both parents and teens feel heard and respected. Fashion becomes a tool for connection rather than conflict.

In practice, families might designate specific shopping trips as joint excursions, using stores like Zara as destinations where everyone can find items that meet shared criteria. Teens can explore trends without overstepping parental comfort zones, and parents can guide choices toward quality, sustainability, and practicality. Over time, these shared experiences build a foundation of trust, understanding, and fun.

Conclusion

Fashion does not have to be a battleground between parents and teens. By understanding each generation’s motivations, embracing flexibility, and prioritizing collaborative shopping experiences, families can cultivate a wardrobe that satisfies style, comfort, and practicality. Retailers like Zara offer the versatility needed to bridge generational divides, providing pieces that both parents and teens can appreciate.

Through open dialogue, structured choice, and mutual respect, fashion becomes more than clothing—it evolves into a shared journey of self-expression, confidence, and connection. Parents and teens may not always agree on every detail, but by focusing on common ground, they can create wardrobes and memories that reflect both individuality and harmony. In the end, fashion for everyone is not only possible but a rewarding way to strengthen family bonds.

The Welsh first minister has sparked controversy after urging the public to stop watching Netflix and instead go to the pub in order to support struggling hospitality businesses.

Speaking in the Senedd, Eluned Morgan said consumers needed to “get out of their homes” and use pubs, restaurants and cafés if they wanted them to survive, following the Welsh Government’s announcement of a one-year business rates discount for the sector.

Her comments came after ministers confirmed a 15 per cent business rate discount for pubs, restaurants, cafés and live music venues in Wales for the 2026–27 financial year. The measure is intended to help around 4,400 businesses facing rising costs, but the scheme will last for just one year.

England, by contrast, has introduced a longer package of support. Under plans announced by the UK Government, pubs and live music venues in England will receive a 15 per cent discount from April, with business rates frozen for a further two years.

During a heated exchange in the Senedd, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth warned that the hospitality sector in Wales was facing an “existential crisis” and called for urgent reform of the business rates system.

In response, Morgan said government support alone could not save the sector.

“If people want to see those businesses succeed, they need to use them,” she said. “They need to stop buying things online. They need to get out of their homes and stop watching Netflix.

“They need to stop buying that bottle of wine at home and go out to the pub. You can’t expect the state to step in and do the work that the public should be doing.”

Opposition parties reacted angrily, accusing the first minister of blaming the public rather than addressing structural pressures on hospitality.

Ap Iorwerth later said Morgan was “completely out of touch” and had a habit of “blaming others instead of taking responsibility for the government’s own failures”.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar said the first minister had previously blamed Brexit and Donald Trump for economic difficulties in Wales and was now “blaming Welsh citizens and Netflix”.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds added: “People are not willingly choosing Netflix over the high street. They are being forced indoors because prices keep rising and wages are not.”

The Welsh Government defended the one-year duration of the scheme, saying decisions for 2027-28 and beyond would be for the next Senedd, with Welsh elections due in three months.

Finance secretary Mark Drakeford said ministers recognised hospitality and music venues were “facing real pressures, from rising costs to changing consumer habits”, and argued the rate cut would provide meaningful short-term relief.

Trade body UKHospitality Cymru welcomed the inclusion of restaurants and cafés but said it was “notable” that the relief only runs for a single year. It also warned that hotels, which face some of the largest increases, have been excluded entirely.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) in Wales also welcomed the discount but cautioned that rising property valuations could still force pubs to close.

Business rates in Wales are set by the Welsh Government and collected by local authorities, with some firms facing sharp increases following revaluations.

Amy Ingham

Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.