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The Daily Carnage

may 14, 2026

The AInbox đź“§

Deliverability in 2026.

Be in The Know

đź›’ Amazon ditches Rufus chatbot, launches Alexa shopping agent.

🤖 TikTok opens its ad platform to third-party AI agents.

🇺🇸 Plus, TikTok expands its TikTok Go program in the US.

đź“… You can now book consulting business directly from your LinkedIn profile.

Inbox Placement in 2026

Inbox placement is increasingly determined by trust and engagement, not traditional spam-check tactics.

Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft now rely heavily on AI-driven filtering systems that evaluate sender reputation, user behavior, and content relevance.

As a result, we have to demonstrate long-term credibility rather than focus on short-term deliverability hacks.

Here’s what you should know:

  • Inbox placement depends heavily on user engagement signals.
    • Opens, replies, clicks, saves, and deletions all influence reputation.
    • Low engagement can reduce inbox visibility over time.
  • Authentication is now a baseline requirement.
    • SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for sender trust.
    • Improper authentication increases spam-folder risk.
  • AI is reshaping inbox filtering.
    • Providers analyze behavior patterns and content quality at scale.
    • Attempts to manipulate filters are increasingly ineffective.
  • List quality matters more than list size.
    • Inactive subscribers damage sender reputation.
    • Consistent list cleaning improves long-term performance.
  • Reputation is built gradually
    • Sudden spikes in email volume can trigger filtering concerns.
    • Warm-up strategies remain important for new domains and IPs.
  • Subscriber experience is becoming the core metric.
    • Relevant, expected, and timely content performs best.
    • Brands must align messaging with subscriber intent and preferences.

Head to Litmus for the full scoop.

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Twilio’s Conversation Layer

Twilio announced a new “Conversation Layer” at SIGNAL 2026, designed to preserve customer context across chat, voice, SMS, and email.

Instead of forcing customers to repeat information every time they switch channels or agents, an identity-based conversation history will follow the interaction across touchpoints.

The system also enables real-time orchestration between AI and human agents, allowing businesses to automate portions of conversations while escalating more complex moments.

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On the latest episode of The Daily Carnage Show, we break down a little Spirit Airlines history, what led to the shutdown, how the Green Bay Packers serve as a model structure, and what the “Spirit 2.0” movement means for brands and consumers alike.

Plus, catch up on Season 2 of The Daily Carnage Show:

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Hot Dog!

Kraft Heinz’s is celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. with “The United Tastes of America,” a love letter to the summer cookout.

The campaign brings together the whole portfolio (Heinz, Kraft, Oscar Mayer, and Velveeta) to position backyard grilling as a universal emotional thread through generations and regions.

And while we’re at it, here’s an overview of all the brands on the America 250 bandwagon so far.

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Weigh in on The Daily Carnage Subreddit:

  • The Daily Carnage Show Ep 2.7 Discussion: “What are your thoughts about Spirit 2.0, the crowdfunded effort to purchase Spirit Airlines? Can the Green Bay Packers model be applied to a brand like Spirit? Will Spirit 2.0 change how we think about the end of brands we love?”
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