📈 Google Trends Morning Brief

July 31, 2026

🇣🇪 WestJet Flights Strike Update

📈 10,000+ searches

The big story today in Canadian aviation. WestJet flight attendants are approaching a critical contract deadline, and a strike threat has sent ripples through the travel industry. Multiple flights were affected as American customs activities at Montreal-Trudeau resumed, compounding operational disruptions. The looming walkout could ground hundreds of flights across the country, especially affecting summer travelers. WestJet and the Union are negotiating a new collective agreement, but deadlines keep slipping. What to watch: The final negotiated deadline — if no deal is reached, expect widespread cancellations across the Western Flyer network starting next week.

🇣🇪 Telus Stock

📈 500+ searches

Telus is making a dramatic pivot. The telecom giant announced a significant dividend slash, redirecting cash toward debt repayment under its new CEO's restructuring plan. The company also plans asset sales as part of a broader strategy to deleverage. Telus stock has been sliding amid investor concerns about its capital allocation. This move signals a "belt-tightening" era for Canada's third-largest telecom — think of it as the company choosing long-term stability over short-term shareholder returns. Deeper analysis: Telus' aggressive debt reduction mirrors patterns seen at other telecoms post-5G buildout. If the restructuring succeeds, the stock could find a floor. If not, more dividend cuts may follow.

🇣🇪 Chat enragé / Raccoon Rabies Outbreak

📈 200+ searches

A raccoon rabies scare in Montérégie, Quebec. A cat infected with raccoon variant rabies attacked three people, prompting health authorities to issue warnings. The Journal de Montréal calls it "preoccupying" as rabies gains ground across Quebec. Public health officials are urging residents to avoid contact with wildlife and seek immediate medical attention if bitten. Why it matters: Rabies cases in urban and suburban Quebec have been rising. The raccoon variant is particularly concerning because it circulates in wildlife populations that live close to residential areas — think backyards, parks, and suburban greenways. Post-exposure prophylaxis is nearly 100% effective if administered quickly.

🇣🇪 Omnium Banque Nationale — Félix Auger-Aliassime

📈 100+ searches

Canadian tennis hope Félix Auger-Aliassime at the Montreal Open. Draws seem to finally align in Félix's favor at the Omnium Banque Nationale. Canadian tennis fans are hopeful as the home favorite navigates a favorable path through the Montreal tournament. Context: Auger-Aliassime has been climbing the rankings and performing strongly on home soil. A deep run here would boost his ATP ranking significantly and set up a strong lead-in to the US Open series.

🇣🇪 Sony PlayStation Disc Format Changes

📈 100+ searches

The "Great PlayStation Blackout." Sony is moving forward with plans to end physical disc production for PlayStation, despite growing backlash from gamers and developers. The Guardian reported that kids may "actually have to leave their bedrooms " without disc-based gaming. Developer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 expressed sadness at the end of physical releases but acknowledged they pushed for disc despite drawbacks. Why it's trending: This is a major shift in console gaming culture. Physical discs represent ownership — no internet required, resale value, longevity. Sony's move toward digital-only mirrors PC gaming but faces stronger pushback on a console platform where games are often shared, resold, or collected. Watch for indie developers and publishers to rally around physical preservation efforts.

🇺🇸 Spider-Man: Brand New Day — Opening Day

📈 Top search worldwide

Spider-Man: Brand New Day opened wide across ~4,300 North American theaters today. Thursday previews brought in $50M to $75M, with opening-day forecasts spanning $195M to $345M. The film opened internationally on July 29-30. Deeper analysis: Whatever the opening weekend total, this is a cultural moment. The Tom Holland franchise continues to dominate summer box office. Opening-day cast reveals — including Sadie Sink playing Jean Grey — drove additional search spikes. The Spider-Man brand remains the most reliable box office draw in Hollywood.

🇺🇸 MSFT Stock — Microsoft Surge

📈 200+ searches, #13 on national board

Microsoft shares surged ~16-17% on July 30 after fiscal Q4 results showed Azure revenue growth near 43% and Azure crossing $100B for the fiscal year — adding roughly $480B in market value overnight. Why this matters: Azure at $100B revenue is a historic milestone for cloud computing. This is the fastest path to $100B in a cloud platform's history. The stock surge reflects AI-driven enterprise adoption — Azure OpenAI services are generating massive new revenue streams. Microsoft's market cap implications are enormous. Watch whether this momentum continues or if profit-taking sets in.

🇺🇸 Glen Hansard Dies at 56

📈 #4 on national board, rising from #6

Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash in Dublin on July 29 at age 56. Best known as frontman of The Frames and for the Academy Award-winning song "Fallen" from Once, Hansard was one of Ireland's most respected musicians. Tributes are pouring in as the news breaks. Legacy: Hansard's music blended folk, rock, and storytelling in a way that defined a generation of Irish music. "Fallen" remains one of the most iconic songs of the 2000s.

🇺🇸 Kavinsky Found Dead at 50

📈 #10 on national board, new entry

French electro musician Vincent Belorgey (Kavinsky) was found dead at his Paris home on July 28 at age 50. Best known for "Nightcall," the iconic track from the movie Drive, Kavinsky was a pioneer of the synthwave and retrowave movement. Tribute searches surge into July 31. Cultural impact: "Nightcall" defined the 2010s aesthetic of neon-lit nostalgia — the song was essentially the unofficial soundtrack of the entire synthwave genre. Kavinsky's death marks the loss of a pioneer at the intersection of electronic music and cinema.

🇺🇸 Anthony Fauci Senate Hearing — Fifth Amendment

📈 #5 on national board, rising from #7

Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a July 29 Senate hearing. NPR reports chilling-effect fallout from the testimony. The hearing continues to generate follow-up coverage and debate. Why it's trending: A former chief medical advisor to three presidents invoking the Fifth Amendment over 100 times is unprecedented in modern congressional history. The hearing touches on politicization of public health — a topic that has divided America since 2020. Watch for this to become a campaign trail issue heading into the 2026 midterms.

🇺🇸 US-Iran War Expands

📈 500+ searches, ongoing major story

The US-Iran conflict continues to expand across the Middle East. ABC News analysis reports diplomacy faltering and new fronts opening. AP News and the NYT report a growing list of Mideast nations being entangled. Pete Hegseth faces mounting pressure — GOP senators warn confidence is eroding, and Democrats have made him a campaign trail foil. Strategic analysis: Each new front (Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) complicates the diplomatic landscape further. The expansion from bilateral conflict to regional conflict raises stakes significantly. Defense contractors and oil markets will be closely watching this week's developments.

🇺🇸 Seattle Shooting at Bite of Seattle Festival

📈 #8 on national board, residual coverage

A July 26 gunfight at the Bite of Seattle festival killed three people. The Seattle Times is now reporting on which firearm fired the fatal rounds. The tragedy continues to resonate in Pacific Northwest news. What to watch: The investigation into the weapons involved and the circumstances around the shooting will likely shape local gun policy debates in Washington state.

🇺🇸 T-Mobile Nationwide Outage

📈 64,000+ Downdetector reports, #3 on national board

A massive T-Mobile outage peaked near 64,000 Downdetector reports on July 27. The query remains #3 on the national board for a second day as customers still dealing with service disruptions search for updates. Why it matters: T-Mobile is one of the three major US carriers. A nation-wide outage of this scale affects millions of consumers and businesses. This is the kind of outage that triggers FCC scrutiny and congressional inquiries into network reliability.

🇺🇸 Senate Republican Conference

📈 5,000+ searches

Internal GOP fractures deepen. Trump questions Thune's leadership as the SAVE America Act stalls. The Hill reports Trump's legislative demands falling flat with Senate GOP, while Semafor reports the rift is "driving a wedge into the Republican Party." Political analysis: The Trump-Thune dynamic is playing out along familiar fault lines — the tension between the Trump loyalist wing and the Senate GOP institutional leadership. The SAVE America Act stalling suggests Thune may be resisting pressure to advance legislation that the base wants but the institutional wing considers premature.