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Soda Cheese |
Soda cheese is a kind of niche cottage cheese made by one guy and his mom in California using baking soda. Meanwhile soda, as we all know, is big business these days, which brings me to… |
Today's Cheddlines You Need2Know |
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Hereby getting on the soda bandwagon! |
—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor |
P.S. A starship carrying a Tesla robot is set for Mars in 2026, on our 'gram! |
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Quote of the Day |
| ❝ | | | This milestone proves that those who truly understand crypto and finance recognize what we're building. | | | | — Zach Witkoff |
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Should You Check Your 401(k) Today? |
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(nope) |
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Stocks mentioned in today's newsletter |
$BYDDF ( ▲ 2.47% ) $TSLA ( ▼ 5.34% ) $PEP ( ▼ 1.55% ) $JPM ( ▲ 0.45% ) |
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New BYD technology charges EVs in minutes |
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The electric vehicle (EV) landscape is witnessing a titanic shift, with China's BYD $BYDDF ( ▲ 2.47% ) at the helm, challenging the prowess of what once seemed an unshakable titan — Tesla $TSLA ( ▼ 5.34% ) . At the core of BYD's revelatory announcement is an EV platform that boasts the ability to recharge almost as swiftly as one might refuel a traditional gasoline vehicle. This is a significant breakthrough because it addresses one of the most persistent consumer concerns with electric vehicles: The time it takes to charge. |
The new battery and charging system enables nearly 300 miles of driving range within a mere five minutes. The move could be a game-changer, making the electric options more appealing and accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable mobility solutions. BYD's new "1000-Volt Super e-Platform" — set to underpin their next-generation vehicles including the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV — represents a leap beyond the current industry benchmarks. In anticipation of the new platform's needs, BYD also plans to construct over 4,000 ultra-fast chargers across China. |
Until now, industry leaders like Hyundai, Kia, and Porsche have edged closer to the frontier with 800V charging systems. BYD's 1000V proposition is a step closer to solving the problem of speed and convenience in EV charging. The question remains: How will Tesla and other EV manufacturers respond to this high voltage challenge? |
It's certainly a charged issue. Am I right? |
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Crypto curious? Look for Grayscale. |
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Grayscale has been managing cryptocurrency investment funds for over a decade. That's right, you can get exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more in your brokerage account and select IRAs. Explore our product suite at Grayscale.com, or search Grayscale in your investment account today. Think crypto, invest Grayscale. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal. |
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Conan O'Brien to return as Oscars host in '26 |
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Conan's back for the Oscars next year, in one of the earliest renewals for an Oscar host in recent memory. However, considering Conan's triumphant debut as the emcee of the 97th Oscar telecast — a show that soared to a five-year ratings high for its broadcaster, ABC — the Academy's choice is unsurprising. |
O'Brien commented on his return, stating, "The only reason I'm hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech," referencing Brody's lengthy acceptance oration for his role in "The Brutalist" at this year's ceremony. |
Taking on the role of Oscars host is notoriously challenging. Chevy Chase once described it as "the most thankless job in the world," a sentiment echoed by many of his peers about working with Chevy Chase. The position demands a delicate balance of entertaining millions worldwide. The host must respect the achievements of the nominees and winners while navigating the inevitable unpredictabilities of live television — and occasionally get slapped by Will Smith. |
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From @cheddar |
 | cheddar761K followers | |
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Trump's crypto project sold $550M in tokens |
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World Liberty Financial (WLFI), an Ethereum-based project, has seen an astounding financial surge. The rise not only marks a significant moment in the crypto landscape but also hands a colossal payday to President Donald Trump and his business partners at the terribly-named "DT Marks DEFI LLC." |
With about $390 million earned from their involvement in WLFI, the dynamics surrounding this project intertwine politics, personal branding, and the volatile world of cryptocurrency. Initially, WLFI faced considerable skepticism from potential investors. The project, which launched its token sales in October 2024, struggled to meet its financial targets early on. With only $15 million in WLFI tokens sold, it fell drastically short of its ambitious $300 million goal. However, the tides turned — just as President Trump won the election — and growing interest in the project propelled it to exceed an impressive half a billion dollars in sales. |
Completing its second round of token sales on March 17, WLFI's governance token revenue reached a remarkable $550 million. According to WLFI's financial documents, President Trump and his DT Marks DEFI LLC partners are entitled to 75% of the net revenue after expenses, a hefty sum predominantly generated from token sales. After setting aside $30 million for operational costs and other obligations, the lion's share of the remaining amount goes to President Trump's consortium. |
"This milestone proves that those who truly understand crypto and finance recognize what we're building—and that WLFI is on track to supercharge DeFi as it transforms global finance in the coming years," Zach Witkoff, co-founder of World Liberty Financial, said in a statement earlier this week. |
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Zach Witkoff's father Steve is currently in Russia negotiating peace in Ukraine. |
The specifics of the other beneficiaries of this lucrative deal remain obscured, raising questions about the transparency and distribution of earnings within such high-stake agreements. DT Marks DEFI LLC shares its Florida-based address with Trump's company offices. |
How's your 401(k) doing, by the way? Just kidding. Don't check it! #NotFinancialAdvice |
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Starliner astronauts returning to Earth |
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The return of the NASA astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) had their return expedited yesterday. Prompted by favorable weather conditions off the Florida coast, the spacecraft landed smoothly and safely. The craft landed off the coast of Florida just before 6pm and was livestreamed by NASA: |
 | Watch live! NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 with Starliner astronauts return to Earth |
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A related question, of course, is what the name of the body of water is that the craft splashed into. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order renaming the body of water the Gulf of America. The Associated Press, meanwhile, insists on calling it the Gulf of Mexico. So, you choose! |
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Olipop CEO on competing on prebiotic sodas |
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Ben Goodwin, the CEO, co-founder, and "formulator" of Olipop, talked with us the day after rival brand Poppi's sale to Pepsico $PEP ( ▼ 1.55% ) for $2 billion. |
Goodwin, a self-described "college dropout" with 20 years of beverage industry experience, emphasized his unique role. "I get to take 100% responsibility for what's in our products," he said. "If I need to tweak something, it's really easy for me to do it directly because I know everything that's in there." He likened formulating the products to "creating a piece of music."
Discussing Olipop's recent $15 million funding, Goodwin highlighted the partnership with JP Morgan's $JPM ( ▲ 0.45% ) growth fund. "We don't want to be going for these unicorn-style evaluations without there being some sentiment in the market," he said. "We are firmly in black territory. We were full-year profitable last year." |
The new funds will be used for marketing, headcount, innovation, and partnerships. Goodwin also spoke about the evolving market for functional beverages. "I think you are going to continue to see a drive towards health and wellness," he said. He emphasized the importance of "adequate empirical validity" for health and wellness brands, mentioning Olipop's partnerships and clinical trials. "Let's make sure that the customers are actually getting taken care of," he said, "and they're not just getting sold the same old overpriced fairy dust, but they're actually getting sold something real that will transform their health." |
Let's hope he sells Olipop for more than $2 billion in just a matter of months from now, eh? |
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