Duet, as we all know, is a white mold cheese from South Australia. Duet for Home, meanwhile, is a 2022 young adult novel by Karina Yan Glaser, about a pair of sixth graders living in a homeless shelter. It's not exactly uplifting but does give a healthy sense of perspective on modern life, and there are some moments of joy and triumph in it. Speaking of complexity, there's no easy way to put this, I'm afraid, but yesterday the CEO of United Healthcare, Brian Thompson, was tragically shot dead in Manhattan outside an investor conference at 6:45 a.m. Oof. Bizarrely, the company's share price also subsequently rose a little over the course of yesterday. Perhaps we should pause to figure out whether we're all comfortable with that? I know I'm not. May he rest in peace and my sincere condolences to his family. Pivoting, today's cheddlines you Need2Know are as follows: Best of luck to you, this Thursday. —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. Tesla's Optimus robot can catch a tennis ball now. |
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"Are you really going to waste another bottle of wine?" — Dana Spaulding |
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1. Will DOGE 'Investigate' Tesla's Competition? |
Vivek Ramaswamy has said the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is set to scrutinize federal loans offered to competitors of his new colleague Elon Musk's flagship company, Tesla.
The Biden administration's announcement of a $7.5 billion federal loan to StarPlus Energy LLC for an electric vehicle battery plant in Indiana (it will collaborate with EV maker Stellantis and car battery manufacturer Samsung SDI) is likely to be a focal point for any such scrutiny. Ramaswamy also criticized a separate $6.6 billion loan to Rivian, another of Tesla's competitors in the EV space, labeling the Biden administration's last-minute financial commitments as reckless and calling for a retraction.
While presented under the guise of reducing government expenditure, such movements could undeniably benefit Tesla, further entrenching its dominance in the U.S.'s electric vehicle industry. About an hour ago, such a porous line between private industry and public agencies was known as "blatant corruption," but I have no idea what it's referred to as now. What do YOU call it? Email me. Read More |
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2. Cameo CEO on the Evolution of Fame |
Cameo, the popular platform that allows fans to purchase personalized video messages from celebrities, has witnessed a surge in popularity in recent years. From Kenny G to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and celebrity chef Matty Matheson, Brian Cox from "Succession," Ice T and Ric Flair, there's a pretty good range, ready to send your aunt Trudie a totally inappropriate holiday message in exchange for a few hundred bucks. Most recently, disgraced politicos like Matt Gaetz and George Santos have even taken to recording paid messages on Cameo, sometimes just hours after their careers took irreversible nosedives for reasons I'm too tired to go into further.
The idea for Cameo stemmed from the notion that "the selfie is the new autograph," said CEO Steven Galanis. The pandemic significantly accelerated Cameo's growth. Galanis described this period as a "perfect storm" for the company, potentially neglecting his media advisers' presumed counsel to use more understated language about the deadly virus which killed millions of people around the world. Still, many celebrities found themselves out of work due to lockdowns and restrictions during COVID, leading them to seek alternative income streams. On the demand side, people turned to Cameo to send "digital love" to friends and family members they couldn't see in person because. Well, you know.
Galanis also discussed Cameo's recent decision to open the platform to a wider range of "talent." Previously, Cameo took a more selective approach. But the company realized that it was missing out on many potential contributors on the C-list and lower. As a result, Cameo now allows anyone to apply to join the platform, provided they can verify their identity, which makes me wonder how George "That's Not My Real Name" Santos even got on there in the first place, let alone into Congress, however briefly. Read More |
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| Tesla's Optimus humanoid just got a hand upgrade that lets it catch high-speed tennis balls. Tesla plans to roll out pre-production prototypes in its factories by late 2025, with full production available to other companies by 2026, and the inevitable robot war on humankind in 2027. Optimus is designed to handle unsafe, repetitive, or boring tasks, which it will never rebel against, we're pretty sure. |
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3. Manhattan Realtor's Bullish Outlook on the 2025 Real Estate Market |
You might not be hugely optimistic about next year's real estate market, but guess who is? Real estate mogul Ryan Serhant, star of Netflix reality show "Owning Manhattan" and CEO of his own brokerage firm. I couldn't be more surprised. No, really. I couldn't be.
"I think we're going into the second biggest real estate boom we've ever seen, and I've never been more excited," he said.
Hold your breath because Serhant disagrees with predictions that mortgage rates will hover near 7% through 2025. "I think mortgage rates and those who control those rates are incentivized to create transactions," he said. "I think everyone makes money with transactions, and mortgage rates are not directly tied to the Fed benchmark rate."
He also pointed to the possibility of the new administration creating supply through releasing federally owned land to developers or creating national tax incentives. Serhant acknowledged the concerns about supply but believes that a combination of factors will lead to a more fluid market. He's also a strong proponent of using technology to empower real estate agents. His company, S.MPLE by Serhant, uses AI to automate administrative tasks, allowing agents to focus on selling.
"My goal is to say, okay, if you're spending 80% of your day doing administrative update tasks and 20% of your day actually selling, we should have something that flips that," he said, believing that AI will be a game-changer for salespeople, allowing them to be more efficient and effective. My sense is that if mortgage rates stay where they are, you could have a thousand replicants selling houses and fail to stimulate the market, but hey: Ryan's the expert. Read More |
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4. Do You Like Wine, But Lack Conviction? We've Got a Single-Serve Solution! |
"It really was inspired by my conversation with my husband," said Dana Spaulding, CEO of wine company Wander + Ivy. "I wanted to celebrate this little win that I had, and I made this big dinner, went to open up a bottle of wine, and he leaned over and said to me in a very frustrated way, 'Are you really going to waste another bottle of wine?'"
Spaulding saw an opportunity to create a product that would allow consumers to enjoy a high-quality glass of wine without the "waste" and "guilt" associated with opening a full bottle, assuming they're too, uh, health-conscious to chug the whole thing like some Skid Row stumblebum.
"People are drinking less, and when they drink, they are demanding that it's a premium, better-for-you experience," she said, evidently unacquainted with many all of my friends.
With a background in private banking and a passion for the food and beverage industry, Spaulding enrolled in sommelier classes to deepen her knowledge of wine and spent months developing a business plan. The brand's patented 6.3-ounce glass bottle is not only "stylish" but also environmentally friendly. The wine itself is made with certified organic grapes, and each varietal is sourced from award-winning, family-owned vineyards around the world.
"There are so many differentiators of the brand, there's truly nothing like Wander + Ivy on the shelf," Spaulding said. "We have an innovative patented product made with certified organic grapes." Read More |
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5. FBI Investigating Big Strange Drones Over New Jersey |
In the quiet skies over central New Jersey, an unusual activity has caught the attention of locals and authorities alike. Over the last couple of weeks, large drones and even a possible fixed-wing aircraft have been observed flying along the Raritan River.
The sightings have not only sparked curiosity but led to an official investigation by the FBI. These aren't your average hobbyist drones—they're considerably larger, and their presence near sensitive areas has raised eyebrows and security concerns. The drones have been spotted in proximity to a military installation and notably near President-elect Donald Trump's Bedminster golf course.
Given these details (let's hope the drones weren't out to target any New Jersey golfers!) the Federal Aviation Administration didn't hesitate to impose drone flight restrictions in the area while the investigation is underway. Despite the strange occurrences, local police have made it clear that there is no known threat to public safety "at the moment," using the world's least reassuring words ever.
What are these drones doing? Who's flying them, and for what purpose? These are the questions that hover, drone-like, in the minds of many, mine included. Read More |
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