Versa-Cheese on the Floor |
Today we interview an investment expert named Chris Versace, which prompted me to think about the Italian fashion house and of course cheese — because this is Cheddar. "Versace on the Floor," as we all know, is a Bruno Mars song. Did you know there is a Venn Diagram around these four things? That's right: it's the pun above, and they also serve cacio e pepe that looks rather tasty at the Versace Mansion. |
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Whatever it is? Cheese always comes into it. |
Today's Cheddlines You Need2Know |
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Because lactose intolerance means you just don't want it badly enough. |
—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor |
P.S. Watch those NASA astronauts splash down on our 'gram. |
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Quote of the Day |
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Should You Check Your 401(k) Today? |
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(nope) |
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Companies mentioned in today's newsletter |
$POKEMON.X ( ▼ 5.44% ) , $GOOG ( ▲ 2.22% ) , $DUOL ( ▲ 4.26% ) , $NVDA ( ▲ 1.81% ) , $BTCWF ( ▼ 1.14% ) |
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Gotta catch 'em all: Lego Pokémon to debut in 2026 |
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The LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company $POKEMON.X ( ▼ 5.44% ) will start bringing the enchanting world of Pokémon to life brick by brick in 2026. |
"We are thrilled to be working with a brand that has such a deep and passionate fanbase as Pokémon," said a LEGO spokesperson, evidently counting the money to be made from the collaboration as they talked. |
The announcement has the Pokémon community buzzing with anticipation. What Pokémon will be selected for the debut series? How will these iconic creatures be translated into LEGO form? |
Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, LEGO derives its name from the Danish words for "Play Well" (LEg GOdt). Pokémon, meanwhile, has become one of the most enduring and beloved entertainment franchises globally since its 1996 founding. |
Some fans can't wait another year and are already envisioning what the future could look like… |
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Google to acquire Wiz for $32 billion |
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Google $GOOGL ( ▲ 2.0% ) announced on Tuesday its decision to acquire the rapidly expanding cybersecurity company Wiz for an astonishing $32 billion. The deal marks the largest acquisition in Google's history, signifying the tech conglomerate's deep dive into the realms of cloud security and cybersecurity. |
The all-cash transaction to acquire privately-held Wiz underscores Google's strategic bet on strengthening its cybersecurity infrastructure. As digital transformation accelerates and cyber threats evolve in complexity, Google's investment in Wiz is a clear indication of the importance it places on securing cloud environments for its users. |
Wiz, a New York-based cybersecurity giant, has enjoyed a meteoric rise since its inception five years ago. It was founded by a team of experts with roots in Unit 8200, the cyber intelligence division of the Israeli Defense Forces. The acquisition easily overtakes Google's previous record, the $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility in 2012 — a deal that ultimately resulted in a significant loss for Google. The acquisition of Wiz, however, is poised to substantially bolster Google's position in the cybersecurity domain, especially against the backdrop of the company's keen interest in fortifying its cloud technologies. |
Interestingly, talks of Google acquiring Wiz for about $23 billion surfaced last summer but fell through, leading Wiz to consider an initial public offering (IPO). However, the enticement of a $32 billion deal has unmistakably sealed the fate of Wiz, integrating it into Google's expansive ecosystem. The Biden administration's antitrust regulators had previously adopted a tough stance on mega mergers. With these hurdles seemingly lowered, technology firms are likely gearing up for a resurgence in more strategic deals like this. |
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From @cheddar |
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Judge: Dismantling USAID is unconstitutional |
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A federal judge has found that Elon Musk's involvement in shuttering the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) likely violated the Constitution. |
The decision by Judge Theodore D. Chuang of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland marks the first significant judicial challenge to Musk's role in government affairs since he assumed a position of influence without a formal appointment by the president. |
The legal challenge emerged when a group of unnamed aid workers sought to halt the disbanding of USAID and its programs. The workers claimed that Musk's swift and forceful consolidation of power over executive agencies was unconstitutional. Judge Chuang's ruling appears to support their assertion, citing that Musk's actions have stripped Congress of its right to supervise the dissolution of an agency that it had established. |
The judge's order also mandated the partial restoration of USAID operations, including the reinstatement of email access for all employees, and instructed Musk's team to present a plan for staff to return to their federal offices after an eviction last month. In a clear warning, the order strictly prohibited Musk's team from pursuing any further activities related to the closure of USAID. |
Although the immediate consequences of the ruling are uncertain, as most of the agency's workforce and contracts have already been terminated, the judge's decision stands as a meaningful pushback against Musk's methods of handling government organizations. |
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had declared taking control of USAID and directing cuts independently, now faces constraints imposed by Judge Chuang's ruling. Despite Rubio's announcement on social media about canceling a majority of the agency's programs, the court's decision suggests his actions were intertwined with Musk's influence and therefore part of an unconstitutional process. |
While the government's lawyers had previously argued that Musk was merely operating in an advisory capacity, the judge found Musk's ownership of the decisions, as demonstrated through social media and other public statements, indicative of a direct and effective role in dismantling USAID. The ruling points to the legal boundaries that restrain even influential figures like Musk from overstepping their roles within the U.S. government framework. With this case serving as a precedent, the courts may continue to reaffirm the constitutional processes that govern agency restructuring and the critical oversight role that Congress plays in such matters. |
Did I mention Lego Pokémon are coming in 2026? |
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How FastCo chooses 50 most innovative co's |
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I'd like to start by mentioning that spelling "co's" with this apostrophe is grammatically incorrect, but I thought I could sneak it past my editor, Sydney. I was wrong (Yup, but we're keeping it here for clarity…because would anyone know what "cos" means other than the mathematical function that isn't tangent or sine? — Ed.) |
Fast Company's annual World's 50 Most Innovative Companies list is always a hot topic in the business world, spotlighting the companies that are truly pushing boundaries. Executive Editor Amy Farley sat down to discuss this year's list and the trends that define innovation in 2025.
"What we're looking for are companies that have done something really innovative and interesting in terms of product, business strategy in the past year or so," Farley said. "We're looking for the impact of that. It has to be successful. And hopefully also it's moved the needle, not just for their business, but for their industry, and hopefully ideally in a positive way for society as well." |
Hopefully!
One of the biggest surprises this year? The absence of major US large language AI model makers in the top 50. "We sort of struggled to decide which one might make the top 50 list this year. And we'd sort of decided, okay, none of them are really the dominant player. So we're not going to put any of them on the top 50 list," she said. However, China's DeepSeek made the cut, showing that innovation in AI is happening globally. Eat that, America! |
"It has shown that you can make great AI and a great chat bot much more efficiently than we previously thought possible," Farley said.
This year's cover story features Waymo, the company bringing robo-taxis to the mainstream. "Waymo has been really interesting because it's obviously pioneering cutting-edge technology and working really hard at that, but it's also working very closely with regulators in each of the cities that it goes to," Farley said. "So it's a Silicon Valley disruptor, but also working closely with regulators so that it can get that trust and safety piece right so it can move into these cities."
Another company highlighted is Duolingo. $DUOL ( ▲ 4.26% ) "They have been killing it this year," Farley remarked, perhaps inadvertently referring to the company's decision to kill its mascot, Duo, on social media. Or not. "I mean, in the past year, or last year, they grew revenue 40 percent, the year before that, 44 percent." |
Duolingo's innovative approach extends beyond language learning, competing with other apps for user attention. "Any app on your phone that sucks away your time and attention, that is Duolingo's competition," she said. Their use of animated characters in video chats has also proven successful. "They discovered that if somebody saw a person on the other end of the line, they clam up, they don't want to talk, they feel very self-conscious. But if they see an animated character, something that lives in the Duolingo mascot universe, they actually loosen up and start talking." |
#Innovative!
NVIDIA $NVDA ( ▲ 1.81% ) also made the list, not just for its chip-making but for its platforms. "It has the platforms that allow different industries to build their AI on top of it," Farley explained. "So it has been worming its way into all these different sectors like automotive and creating a platform in which companies and industries can build AI."
Interestingly, none of Elon Musk's companies were featured this year. |
"We didn't do this intentionally, but after the list sort of came together, we took a look at it and realized that none of Elon Musk's companies were represented anywhere on the top 50," Farley said. She also mentioned Blue Sky $BTCWF ( ▼ 1.14% ) as a rival social media platform with "a very compelling new idea in social media."
For companies aspiring to be on future lists, Farley advised, "I'd say step one, read this issue." She knows which side of the bread is buttered, eh?
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How to ease your stock market anxieties |
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Chris "No Way We're Calling Him Chris With This Last Name" Versace, CIO at Tematica Research spoke with us at the New York Stock Exchange on Fed Day, as chair Jay Powell held interest rates steady and indicated two more cuts coming this year. |
For investors concerned about market volatility, Versace offered practical advice: buy designer jeans "So, I would say this, odds are you're probably not buying the market, right? So pick your spots, right? Understand what you own, what you might want to own, what's driving their businesses," he said.
When discussing the recent market correction, Versace provided a big-picture perspective. "Well, I mean, we see these, right? You know, these are not, you know, unforeseen events, right? I think the way it tends to go is we see one 10% pullback, you know, roughly once a year, something like that. Takes the froth out of the market, and it can be, can be a nice buying opportunity," he said. |
However, he cautioned, "Now, this time around, we do have some greater considerations, uncertainties, like we're talking about tariffs, that sort of thing. So I think you need to be a little more careful, kind of let things play out a little bit." |
Of course, that's #NotFinancialAdvice. Is it? |
His core message remained clear: Stay informed, follow the data, and make strategic investment decisions. As he put it, "No need to be a hero. Take your time. Do the homework." Or…just stick all your money in an Index tracker and come back in 30 years. That's #NotFinancialAdvice either, for what it's worth. |
Versace! |
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