Rachel, as we all know, is a British cheese made from raw goat's milk and vegetarian rennet by White Lake Cheese in Somerset, England. Aged for several months and washed in brine, it forms an orange rind with yellow mottling. "The Rachel Papers," meanwhile, is Martin Amis's first novel from 1973, in which a 19-year-old English boy full of bitter loathing and sarcasm accidentally falls in love with a girl after meticulously planning her seduction. It captures the essence of my surprisingly delicate feelings about this newsletter, in fact. Today's cheddlines: I love you! —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. We've got buoy-cam footage of the latest SpaceX splashdown in the Indian ocean. |
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"We want to have a deeper connection with fans and bring back a brand deposit."— Zack Malet |
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1. The Founder of Gambling Dot Com Knows a Thing or Two About Gambling (Dot Com) |
Few domain names can be more lucrative than gambling dot com, and its founder and CEO, Charles Gillespie, chatted with us about the rapid growth of online sports betting in the U.S., which has expanded from zero to over 30 states in just a few years.
"The future is very bright for us...We make a lot of money," he said, endearingly.
And there's even more money ahead, he thinks.
"When we look for the next six months, there's going to be a lot of activity at the state legislator level... We expect to see quite a bit of activity in terms of contemplating the expansion of sports betting and iGaming in more U.S. states," he said.
The recent presidential election saw billions of dollars wagered on the outcome, indicating a strong demand for political betting. Gillespie compared the situation to the UK, where political betting has been regulated for years. He believes that the U.S. market is still in its early stages and has significant growth potential. Gillespie acknowledged the challenges of regulation in the U.S., particularly regarding issues like consumer protection and geolocation. He emphasized the importance of proper regulation to reduce gambling-related harm and ensure tax revenue for states.
"It's not a question of whether gambling exists or not. So I think a lot of politicians are starting to realize that. And, you know, if it's happening already, you might as well regulate it," he said. Read More |
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2. Smashburger Is 'Bringing Back Its Swagger,' Says Smashburger CEO |
I have an idea for a great new show called "Burger CEO Death Match," where we sit down all the burger CEOs we've interviewed at Cheddar over the last five years, and get them to fight to the death, or at least dismemberment. In the meantime, you'll have to be sated by this interview with Smashburger CEO Denise Nelsen.
The company is refreshing its brand, innovating its menu, and standing out in the highly competitive fast-casual burger scene. She emphasized that Smashburger is "bringing back its swagger" with a focus on quality, experience, and value. The company is leaning into innovation with its menu, particularly with twice-as-spicy options like the Double Spicy Holiday Smash, which sounds less like a meal and more like a TikTok tween trend.
"We know [millennials and Gen Z] are looking for things that are hot and things that are innovative," Nelsen said. "We want to bring back the experience people are having in our restaurants," she added. That includes bringing back elements like serving shakes in glasses with real silverware and focusing on table service to create a more engaging dining atmosphere. Smashburger is also working with a new design and architecture firm to refresh the in-store experience.
Smashburger aims to strike a balance between fast casual and casual dining, offering both convenience and an elevated experience. Nelsen emphasized the importance of value, stating, "Value isn't just about price. Value is about do I feel good about how I'm being treated? Do I feel good that this was, like, the right investment for me?"
Sounds like a good way to judge a marriage, too, come to think of it. Sorry, did I type that out loud? I meant to just think it. I should probably up my medications over Thanksgiving, and by medications I mean Scotch. Read More |
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| A camera set up on a buoy in the Indian Ocean captured Starship's controlled splashdown after its sixth test flight.
The suborbital flight launched from SpaceX's Texas base on Nov. 19, sending the spacecraft to a landing site near Australia. |
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3. Amid Thanksgiving Bustle, Charlotte Airport Workers Demand Fairness |
In a week where gratitude and family reunions take center stage, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport — a bustling hub for American Airlines — became the scene of a reminder that not everyone has reason to celebrate. Yesterday marked the beginning of a 24-hour strike by workers who play crucial roles behind the scenes of our air travel, from cleaning airplanes to assisting passengers in wheelchairs.
These workers, represented by the Service Employees International Union, are not just asking for a wage increase; they are demanding an end to what they term as "poverty wages" and calling for respect on the job. Their strike during one of the busiest travel weeks in the nation underscores their smart strategizing to get the most attention possible.
Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services, companies contracted by American Airlines for various services, voted last Friday to authorize this work stoppage. Despite their essential role in keeping flights on schedule — and ensuring clean cabins and assisting passengers — these workers find themselves struggling to make ends meet. Many report living paycheck to paycheck, unable to afford necessities such as food, housing, and car repairs.
The stark contrast between the critical services these workers provide and their remuneration is jarring. They're paid between $12.50 and $19 an hour and are asking for between $22 to $25 an hour. Most of the striking workers are Black. Read More |
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4. ESPN Has Been Showing You Sports on TV. Now They Want to Show You Sports in Reality-V. |
ESPN, the so-called "Worldwide Leader in Sports," is stepping off the screen and onto the field – or, more accurately, into the stadium. The network is launching ESPN Experiences, a new venture into sports travel and tourism. We sat down with Zack Malet, senior sirector of business development and innovation at ESPN, to discuss it.
"We're always in the business of serving fans anytime, anywhere," Malet said. "That led us into wanting to be in the sports travel business."
The decision was driven by a desire to deepen fan engagement and capitalize on the booming travel industry. In an increasingly crowded sports travel market, ESPN aims to differentiate itself by offering a unique "ESPN touch." That includes incorporating ESPN talent and behind-the-scenes access into their travel experiences. "We want to have a deeper connection with fans and bring back a brand deposit so that we can intimately interact with our fans," he said.
The first ESPN Experience tour provided a glimpse into this vision. Participants were treated to a comprehensive behind-the-scenes tour of ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, and had the opportunity to interact with ESPN personalities and former athletes. ESPN is already gearing up for their next "adventure": an ESPN Experience centered around the Rose Bowl. The package will include premium access to a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game, a visit to the Rose Bowl stadium, and exclusive interactions with ESPN talent, which I think is another word for "presenters."
"We're in the business of crawl, walk, run," Malet said, emphasizing the company's iterative approach. "We're still in the crawl stage of figuring out what hits, what works. And then we really want to broaden the addressable market."
ESPN's foray into sports travel aligns with the broader trend towards the "experience economy." Consumers, particularly younger generations, are increasingly seeking out unique and immersive experiences. Older generations, meanwhile, just want to sit on the couch and get enough sleep each night. Read More |
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5. Which Struggling Chip Company Is Getting $8 Billion in Taxpayer Money? |
The Biden administration is set to pare down Intel's federal grant under the CHIPS Act by about half a billion dollars, to a lowly $8 billion. Still, Intel is getting $8 billion in government subsidies, even as its performance hits the skids.
The recalibration stems from a cocktail of investment delays and a pronounced quarterly loss announced by Intel, which has prompted a reevaluation of the company's ability to deliver. The CHIPS Act, a legislative cornerstone for reclaiming American semiconductor sovereignty, earmarked $39 billion to ignite the construction of chip fabrication facilities across the country.
Meanwhile, Intel's plans to unfurl its Ohio chip facilities have been stretched thin, with completion dates volleying to the end of the decade—a.k.a. never—contrary to the originally projected 2025. Already saddled with mounting expenses that resulted in its biggest loss in 56 years, the company now grapples with the task of rightsizing itself despite receiving a substantial government lifeline to spur technological advancement and domestic production. In other words? The grant isn't going to do much, and the company will probably be bought by a bigger company from abroad before then. Intel's market value has fallen from $500 billion in 2000 to a $106 billion today. It now stands in the crosshairs as an acquisition target. San Diego–based Qualcomm was rumored to be interested in as recently as September but wanted to wait and see how the election turned out — a move so smart it was probably calculated by AI on a chip made by Nvidia.
Joe Biden, meanwhile, announced that his retirement plan is to eat $8 billion worth of chips and guacamole. "Those are the only chips that matter to me now," he didn't say. Read More |
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