Podcasts about Yoy

We reveal the real cost of running a home service business in 2025. In this full debrief, we open our books to show why plumbing business growth exploded while HVAC stalled, and exactly how we navigated the hardest summer in years.If you run a contractor business, you know 2025 was volatile. HVAC shipments cratered 49% YoY, forcing operators to face a brutal reality. In this episode, we break down the massive gap between our plumbing wins and HVAC headwinds, why "Always Be Recruiting" became our #1 survival rule, and how total financial transparency saved our bottom line.In this episode, we cover:The Industry Reality: Why mild weather and refrigerant transitions crushed HVAC demand.The Recruiting Crisis: Why we lost key techs mid-summer and how we fixed our hiring pipeline.P&L Transparency: The actual impact of overhead, margins, and "fixed" costs on a trades business.2026 Strategy: Our plan for a "Lean & Lethal" operation and new acquisitions.

Black Friday just got more interesting.While most brands were bracing for skyrocketing ad costs and fierce competition, something unexpected happened during BFCM 2025—and it's reshaping how smart brands should approach next year's holiday season.In this jam-packed episode, OMG Commerce CEO Brett Curry sits down with four of the agency's top strategists—spanning Google, YouTube, Amazon, and retention marketing—to dissect what actually worked (and what flopped) during one of the most surprising Black Friday weekends in recent memory.You'll also get the 2026 prep checklist, including why AI is about to eliminate every excuse you have for not planning year-round promos, how to break down channel silos that are costing you sales, and the exact timing strategies that separated winners from everyone else.Whether you crushed it this BFCM or are wondering where you went wrong, this episode gives you the data, insights, and tactical playbook to make next year your best yet.Featured experts:Bill Cover, Google & YouTube DirectorLuba, Amazon ABM StrategistBarry Bowman, Amazon Ads SpecialistNick Flint, Retention Marketing Director—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(02:06) Meet the panel(05:52) Google/YouTube: weekend “plateau” + CPM/CPC drops and why it happened(08:50) Amazon: expanded event length, strong YoY, and the “off-Amazon” halo effect(12:28) SMS surpasses email + why brands still underuse it(13:47) What worked across all channels(19:33) Save Money and Connect Your Marketing Channels with Channable(20:35) Top-of-funnel and offer strategy(24:02) What didn't work on Amazon: skipping promos, waiting too late, and thinking margin over LTV(27:42) Best brands vs. struggling brands(42:22) Playbook for next year(47:02) Channel strategy + 2026 planning(51:00) Final thoughts: AI's impact on creative + planning(53:11) Fast Funding the Way You Need It with Wayflyer—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Keranique: keranique.comSponsor Offer | Channable (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): https://www.channable.com/

More than four years after Better Being Company withdrew its IPO plans, one of the most historically significant dietary supplement brand portfolios finally got a (technically) new owner. Since that “Great Shutdown” period can be blurry for everybody, I'd guess most aren't aware Better Being Company filed Form S-1 with the SEC (in July 2021) for a proposed initial public offering…let alone that it postponed and eventually withdrew plans (due to market conditions) only a few months later. Obviously, hindsight granted us clarity to understand that despite the number of U.S. traditional IPOs in 2021 climbing to the highest levels since the late 1990s (and deal value hitting record levels), amid expectations for higher interest rates and a return of volatility…the market swiftly rotated away from risky, growth-oriented companies, which especially hurt small-cap IPOs. However, some might still argue it could've followed another dietary supplement company, Thorne Healthtech, that filed Form S-1 with the SEC something like a week after Better Being Company…and began trading a “downsized” IPO in September 2021. But even with continued strong sales growth, Thorne Healthtech struggled to maintain its IPO value until a 2023 acquisition by the private equity firm L Catterton offered stockholders a significant premium. Moreover, while most industry pundits would classify Better Being Company and Thorne Healthtech as direct competitors (due to offering similar categorical products), I see dramatically different strategic aspirations. Therefore, it's highly probable investors wouldn't have given Better Being Company a similar “spot landing” after eventually noticing it lacked the same prominence of Thorne Healthtech in this new “preventive health and wellness era” where consumers want a distinctively proactive, personalized, and integrative data-led approach. However, for the most part…private equity (and public markets) has adapted to lessons learned from this period, and positive momentum has been rebuilding throughout 2025. And that allows the recent Better Being Company announcement that it had been acquired by a syndicate of global investors led by Snapdragon Capital Partners (which has been a minority stake holder since July 2019). And assumably, Snapdragon Capital Partners would've built further conviction in the vertically integrated manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of branded dietary supplements and personal care products…because it had to buyout HGGC, the private equity firm that was responsible for taking Better Being Company (then known as Nutraceutical International) private in August 2017 for just shy of $450 million. But Snapdragon Capital stated in the recent press release that “Better Being Company has seen two years of explosive growth led by its flagship Solaray brand.” Additionally, within a trade publication article from earlier this year, President and Chief Commercial Officer (Kyle Garner), which joined in 2023, confirmed the strong recent performance of Better Being Company…stating 20% YoY growth and approaching $400 million in net sales (which would be about an additional $80 million in net sales compared to fiscal year 2020 financials). But then, beyond obviously looking for that successful future liquidity event...I'll explore where Snapdragon Capital Partners presumably envision Better Being Company going next?

In this special year-end episode, Ben and Cameron turn the spotlight inward for a behind-the-scenes look at the Rational Reminder podcast. They're joined by the extended team that keeps the show running—from compliance to editing to marketing—to reflect on a landmark year in the podcast's evolution. We hear from Multimedia Specialist Matt Gambino, Compliance Reviewer Ross Brayton, long-time Marketing Lead Angelica Montagano, and others who share their roles, personal stories, and what the show means to them. Ben and Cameron also discuss the podcast's growth trajectory, the impact of joining OneDigital, standout market events from 2025, and what's ahead for 2026. It's a thoughtful, personal, and often funny conversation that celebrates community, nerdiness, and meaningful work.   Key Points From This Episode: (0:01:00) Behind the scenes: Why the entire Rational Reminder team joined the mic for this special episode. (0:01:40) Meet the production crew: From video editing to compliance and marketing. (0:02:54) From 767 to 334,000: How the podcast grew since August 2018. (0:04:40) YouTube's rising role: Now 33% of all podcast consumption. (0:07:24) AMA evolution: How listener Q&As became a regular series in 2025. (0:08:45) Bringing in PWL advisors: Sharing real-world financial planning experience on the pod. (0:10:05) 12,500 members: Rational Reminder Community continues to thrive. (0:11:30) OneDigital acquisition reflections—one year later, no pressure to cut costs or change values. (0:14:23) Compliance-free growth: Maintaining service levels while scaling the firm. (0:15:06) Market surprise of 2025: Canadian small caps up 35%+ year-to-date. (0:16:55) Real estate rewind: National average home prices down 20% since 2022 peak. (0:19:24) Rent declines too: Down 7% YoY in Toronto, 4.4% in Vancouver. (0:20:39) Looking back: A wild year of unexpected returns and market resilience. (0:21:00) A different kind of year-end episode: No highlight reel—just team storytelling. (0:23:53) [Matt Gambino] The editor speaks: Role evolution, creative direction, and 200+ episodes later. (0:28:42) YouTube growth: From 11,000 to 46,000 subs under Matt's watch. (0:32:55) Matt on money: What 4 years editing the pod taught him about finance and happiness. (0:36:54) Defining success: Matt's answer after years of listening to the show. (38:40) [Ross Brayton] Compliance from the inside: What Ross listens for, and why disclaimers got longer. (0:43:05) Ross on investing: From Warren Buffett books to podcast fact-checker. (0:46:11) Planning life after financial independence: Ross poses a thoughtful challenge. (0:47:41) [Angelica Montagano] The original marketer: How the podcast started in a hallway. (0:50:14) Early tech struggles: Mono recordings, brick recorders, and lots of duct tape. (0:51:53) COVID's silver lining: Why lockdowns accelerated the pod's evolution. (0:54:20) Launching the RR Community: From 100-member goal to 12,500+ and counting. (0:55:49) Podcast = Brand: How RR became central to PWL's identity and communication. (0:57:26) What's next: Angelica's dreams for live events and even a coffee table book. (0:59:10) Angelica on investing: From ex-banker cynicism to believer in behavior and psychology. (1:00:38) Favorite moment: Hearing real stories of how listeners' lives have been changed. (1:01:36) Defining success: Impact, confidence, and financial empowerment.   Links From Today's Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/   Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Forester and timber consultant Kraig Moore (KY/TN) breaks down the 2025 hardwood landscape: prices up roughly 3% YoY overall (net flat after inflation), sharp species splits (yellow-poplar +~20%, sugar maple +20–30%, white oak −~11% YoY but +~52% over 5 years; walnut +~85% over 5 years), and fragile mill capacity after 100+ sawmill closures in two years. He explains how tariffs, China's historic pull for ~40% of U.S. lumber, and production shifting to Vietnam (labor ~⅓ cheaper than China) are reshaping demand. For landowners, the play is smart silviculture, competition-driven quality, patch clear-cuts/group selection, avoiding diameter-limit cuts, and aligning to mills within ~60–90 miles, to grow value and keep white oak (bourbon barrel essential) regenerating amid maple/beech pressure. Kentucky is ~50% forested, and with interest rates easing and housing starts improving, Kraig is cautiously bullish on hardwoods as a diversification pillar. Episode takeaways: Market snapshot: Hardwood prices ~+3% YoY overall (inflation-adjusted ≈ flat), with big winners (yellow-poplar, sugar maple) and laggards (hickory; white oak down YoY but strong 5-yr trend; walnut dominant long-term). Capacity risk: 100+ sawmills gone in two years; if demand pops, supply could choke, pushing prices up fast. Trade shift: China historically bought ~40% of U.S. lumber/logs; tariffs drove processing to Vietnam (labor ~⅓ cheaper than China), altering log vs. lumber economics. Profit strategy for landowners: Manage for competition (natural pruning/straightness), use patch clear-cuts/group selection, avoid diameter-limit cuts, and time sales to species cycles. Operational realities: Best ROI when mills are within ~60–90 miles; steep terrain or helicopter logging crush margins. White oak future: Main challenge is regeneration, not overharvest, control shade-tolerant maple/beech, open canopy on the right aspects, and keep foresters involved. Talk to Kraig Moore:  https://nationalland.com/real-estate-agent/kraig-moore   National Land Realty https://www.nationalland.com 

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe world is moving away from wind and solar, coal demand is up, China was never going along with the green new scam. Trump is moving carefully through the [CB] minefield economy. Gold is on the move. Trump is moving the country out of the old system. The [DS] try to get Trump with the Epstein hoax, now that the information dropped the people can now see what the [DS] was planning. Ship building is coming back to the US. Trump signs the NDAA that has additional protections for the election. Every step of the way Trump is countering the [DS] cheating system. Economy https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2003156645388406992?s=20   consumption, or 4.95 billion tonnes. By comparison, US coal demand stands at 410 million tonnes, just ~5% of the world's total. Meanwhile, the IEA projects a gradual decline in demand over the next 5 years, to ~8.60 billion tonnes by 2030. However, past forecasts of peak coal demand have repeatedly proven wrong, as consumption continues to rise. Coal remains in high demand 23 US States Are At High Risk Of (Or In) Recession Currently  In 2025, states responsible for about a third of U.S. GDP are in recession, or face high recession risk. Another third are expanding, including Florida and Utah, based on payrolls, employment, and other key economic data. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Dorothy Neufeld, shows recession risk by state in 2025, based on analysis from Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. In Recession/High Risk Treading Water Expanding State/District Business Cycle Status Share of U.S. GDP (%) Georgia In Recession/High Risk 3.03 Montana In Recession/High Risk 0.25 Wyoming In Recession/High Risk 0.18 Michigan In Recession/High Risk 2.44 Massachusetts In Recession/High Risk 2.73 Mississippi In Recession/High Risk 0.53 Minnesota In Recession/High Risk 1.70 Kansas In Recession/High Risk 0.80 Rhode Island In Recession/High Risk 0.28 Delaware In Recession/High Risk 0.34 Washington In Recession/High Risk 3.02 Illinois In Recession/High Risk 3.85 West Virginia In Recession/High Risk 0.36 New Hampshire In Recession/High Risk 0.42 Maryland In Recession/High Risk 1.86 Virginia In Recession/High Risk 2.66 South Dakota In Recession/High Risk 0.25 Connecticut In Recession/High Risk 1.27 Oregon In Recession/High Risk 1.14 Iowa In Recession/High Risk 0.86 New Jersey In Recession/High Risk 2.93 Maine In Recession/High Risk 0.33 District of Columbia In Recession/High Risk 0.64 Missouri Treading Water 1.54 Ohio Treading Water 3.14 Hawaii Treading Water 0.39 Arkansas Treading Water 0.65 New Mexico Treading Water 0.49 Tennessee Treading Water 1.87 New York Treading Water 7.92 Vermont Treading Water 0.16 Alaska Treading Water 0.24 Colorado Treading Water 1.92 California Treading Water 14.50 Nevada Treading Water 0.86 South Carolina Expanding 1.18 Texas Expanding 9.41 Oklahoma Expanding 0.92 Idaho Expanding 0.43 Kentucky Expanding 0.99 Alabama Expanding 1.10 Indiana Expanding 1.81 Nebraska Expanding 0.63 North Carolina Expanding 2.86 Louisiana Expanding 1.11 Florida Expanding 5.78 North Dakota Expanding 0.26 Pennsylvania Expanding 3.54 Arizona Expanding 1.88 Wisconsin Expanding 1.53 Utah Expanding 1.02 Currently, many coastal, Northeastern states are facing some of the worst economic conditions. In Maine, for instance, year-over-year GDP growth is just 0.8% as of Q2 2025, compared to the U.S. average of 2.1%. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C.'s unemployment rate was 6.4% in July, significantly higher than the 4.6% U.S. average given sweeping federal cuts. According to Zandi's analysis, New York and California are “Treading Water”, together responsible for driving over 22% of U.S. GDP. In comparison, Texas, which fuels 9.4% of U.S. economic growth is expanding. Unemployment rates of 4.0% in July remain below the U.S. average. Additionally, the Texas economy is growing faster than the nation, while income growth rose 6.3% annually as of Q2 2025, outpacing the national average.   Source: zerohedge.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/unseen1_unseen/status/2003254895143461092?s=20   caused by falling home prices while increasing the affordability of homes. Home builders aren’t going to build more homes if they are losing money. Trump can’t force them to build homes. This is where thinking outside the box comes in play and things like the 50 year mortgage, interest rate cuts, lower down-payments, salt taxes etc get proposed. With deportations and the decline of the boomer generation from old age, supply will be increasing. Prices will come down. The trick is not to allow them to go into a free fall and keep demand high enough to soak up a great deal of that supply. Trump’s proposed $2,000 tariff rebate checks depend on Congress   President Donald Trump needs Congress to take action to make good on a proposal to send some Americans $2,000 tariff rebate checks next year. Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett said the U.S. House and Senate will need to take up the matter. “I would expect that in the new year, the president will bring forth a proposal to Congress to make that happen,” Hassett said on “Face the Nation” on Sunday. Details about Trump’s tariff rebate proposal remain sparse. Trump has said he wants to issue the rebate checks and use the rest of the tariff revenue to pay down the nation’s $38 trillion debt, even as the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet determined whether he has the authority to impose tariffs. Source: thecentersquare.com US Industrial Production Rises At Strongest Annual Rate Since Apr 2022 Following the much-stronger-than-expected GDP print, US Industrial Production also surprised to the upside, rising 0.2% MoM in November and pulling the YoY change up to 2.52% – the strongest annual growth since April 2022… Source: zerohedge.com Trump Boom: U.S. Economy Grows 4.3%, Fastest in Two Years, Smashing Expectations The U.S. economy grew this summer at the fastest pace in two years, far outpacing economists' forecasts. The Commerce Department said U.S. gross domestic product—the government's official economic scorecard—rose at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted 4.3 percent annual rate in the third quarter. The report on the July through September period was delayed due to the shutdown. Consumer spending grew much faster than expected, expanding at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted annual rate of 3.5 percent. That's up from 2.5 percent in the second quarter and above the 2.7 percent expected. Source: breitbart.com    FULL steam ahead — “You haven't seen anything yet!” Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2003149733158588868?s=20 This list is just the table setting for the coming booming economy. Wait till Trump transforms the entire fiat world debt system. A Golden Age for the world approaches. https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2003285919668011147?s=20    good news, the Market went up. Nowadays, when there is good news, the Market goes down, because everybody thinks that Interest Rates will be immediately lifted to take care of “potential” Inflation. That means that, essentially, we can never have a Great Market again, those Markets from the time when our Nation was building up, and becoming great. Strong Markets, even phenomenal Markets, don't cause Inflation, stupidity does! I want my new Fed Chairman to lower Interest Rates if the Market is doing well, not destroy the Market for no reason whatsoever. I want to have a Market the likes of which we haven't had in many decades, a Market that goes up on good news, and down on bad news, the way it should be, and the way it was. Inflation will take care of itself and, if it doesn't, we can always raise Rates at the appropriate time — But the appropriate time is not to kill Rallies, which could lift our Nation by 10, 15, and even 20 GDP points in a year — and maybe even more than that! A Nation can never be Economically GREAT if “eggheads” are allowed to do everything within their power to destroy the upward slope. We are going to be encouraging the Good Market to get better, rather than make it impossible for it to do so. We are going to see numbers that are far more natural, and far better, than they have ever been before. We are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The United States should be rewarded for SUCCESS, not brought down by it. Anybody that disagrees with me will never be the Fed Chairman! Political/Rights https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2003309528805470611?s=20 https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2003266300832038926?s=20 https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2003271819705389139?s=20   interfere with immigration operations. https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2003378383862817224?s=20 https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/2002573015142576350?s=20 https://twitter.com/TriciaOhio/status/2002801058897142114?s=20   This was a targeted operation to arrest Fernandez Flores, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras with a criminal conviction for making a false police report. Flores entered the United States illegally at unknown date and location without inspection by an immigration officer. He will remain in ICE custody pending further immigration proceedings. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will find you, we will arrest you, and you will not return. https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2003130997198713329?s=20https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2003214521419333695?s=20 https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2003214521419333695?s=20 WATCH: Justice Department Releases Shocking Recreation Video of Jeffrey Epstein Trying to Kill Himself The Justice Department on Monday released recreation video of Jeffrey Epstein inside of his jail cell trying to kill himself. The video – which was revealed to be computer-generated – is timestamped August 10, 2019 at 4:29 am ET – Epstein was found dead at 6:30 am ET on August 10, 2019. Prosecutors previously said that the two CCTV cameras positioned outside of Epstein's cell had malfunctioned. The 10-second recreation video shows Epstein sitting on the floor of his cell attempting to kill himself. WATCH:  Source: thegatwaypundit.com  https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2003476301970133417?s=20  “a circular line of erythema at the base of the neck” along with other marks of friction and bruising on his knee. Epstein told prison staff he didn't remember what happened but was afraid to return to the Special Housing Unit, saying it was “where he had gotten marks on his neck and he does not know why it happened.” He said he had only slept 30 minutes a night for five days due to noise and stress. His cellmate, ex-cop Nicholas Tartaglione, had reportedly been harassing him, and Epstein claimed “he tried to kill me.” Staff noted Tartaglione had been aggressive and was seen mocking Epstein with a string around his neck. Despite these signs, the incident was labeled a “possible suicide attempt.” https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2003292687835787393?s=20  were actively tracking and attempting to contact 10 individuals connected to Epstein’s crimes. The email references attempts to contact Brunel (modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who later died in prison), Maxwell (Ghislaine, now serving 20 years), and mentions “Ohio contacting Wexner.” Les Wexner is the billionaire L Brands founder who gave Epstein his $77 million NYC mansion and served as his primary financial benefactor for years. A separate confidential document from law firm Debevoise & Plimpton lists SDNY matters they appeared in, including one entry: “Wexner: Epstein investigation.” 10 co-conspirators. Only Maxwell was ever charged. The names behind those black boxes are the real story here. https://twitter.com/MikeBenzCyber/status/2003358231780032675?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2003480729624412240?s=20  and his residence as Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Profession listed: “Manager.” It's part of a trove of thousands of Epstein-related files released overnight. https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2003436034709995730?s=20   from Epstein's properties – computers, hard drives, disks, the digital nervous system of the operation. And they can't get it. At one point, frustration boils over into honesty: “The FBI is completely fucking us on this.” That's not a tweet. That's an internal DOJ message. Translation: the prosecutors responsible for bringing cases did not have a clear, reliable accounting of the evidence in the FBI's possession. Not what was seized. Not what was imaged. Not what was searchable. Not what was missing. This isn't incompetence in a vacuum. It's structural. Evidence control is power. Whoever controls the data controls the pace, the scope, and the fallout. And remember: Epstein died before trial. Maxwell was prosecuted narrowly. No broader conspiracy case ever materialized. Prediction: this is why. Not because the evidence didn't exist- but because it never cohered into something prosecutors could safely touch without detonating their own case. The scandal isn't just who was on the tapes. It's that even the feds couldn't tell you where the tapes went. That's not a cover-up movie plot. That's a system quietly eating itself. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2003457025695719784?s=20  and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 Election. To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.” New: More Epstein Files Drop, and Donald Trump Appears to Be the Star This Time Around So, what incriminating evidence against President Trump is to be found in this latest drop? Apparently, an email from January 2020 in which a federal prosecutor from New York – of course – to an “undisclosed person” claiming Trump had flown on Jeffrey Epstein’s private plan at least eight times during the 1990s, and one time there was a 20-year-old woman on the flight.  Here’s more: The email, which was sent in January 2020 from a federal prosecutor in New York to an undisclosed person, says, “For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a [Ghislaine] Maxwell case.”  This big revelation is that Trump traveled a few more times than we previously knew, although this was during a time period that the president has already acknowledged having had an association with Epstein. Note the timing of the email – January 2020 is when the presidential election would be kicking into full swing. This anonymous federal prosecutor clearly thought they had a gotcha moment, but there’s a pesky little detail that puts things in perspective: “[Trump] is listed as having traveled with, among others and at various times, Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric.”  Source: redstate.com The specific document you’re referring to appears to be the complaint filed in the 2020 civil lawsuit Doe v. Indyke et al. (Case No. 1:20-cv-00484, S.D.N.Y.), which was part of the recently released Epstein files by the U.S. Department of Justice.  This lawsuit was brought by an anonymous plaintiff (“Jane Doe”) against the executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate (Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn) and Ghislaine Maxwell, seeking compensation for alleged sexual abuse and trafficking by Epstein.How Trump’s Name Appears in the DocumentOn page 4 of the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that during one of her encounters with Epstein (around the 1990s), he took her to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when she was 14 years old. Epstein reportedly introduced her to Donald Trump (then the owner of Mar-a-Lago), elbowed him playfully, and asked, referring to the girl, “This is a good one, right?” Trump is described as smiling and nodding in agreement, after which they both chuckled. The plaintiff states she felt uncomfortable but was too young to understand why at the time. The document does not accuse Trump of any criminal wrongdoing or involvement in Epstein’s abuse; it frames this as part of the broader context of her grooming and exploitation by Epstein.How the Name Got Into the DocumentTrump’s name was included as part of the plaintiff’s personal allegations detailing her experiences with Epstein. The complaint is a legal filing where the victim recounts specific incidents to support her claims against Epstein’s estate and associates. It reflects her firsthand account, not a court-verified fact or evidence from other sources.  There is no mention of independent corroboration (e.g., witnesses, photos, or records) in the filing itself, and it has not been adjudicated in court as true.Source of the AllegationThe source is the anonymous plaintiff (“Jane Doe”), who claims to be a victim of Epstein’s abuse starting from age 13 or 14.  She was reportedly recruited at a summer camp in Michigan and alleges ongoing grooming and assaults by Epstein over several years. This Doe is distinct from other known accusers like Virginia Giuffre, though a similar incident (Epstein introducing a 14-year-old to Trump at Mar-a-Lago without the “good one” comment) was testified to by another accuser (“Jane”) during Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 criminal trial.  https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2003236602374713557?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/BreannaMorello/status/2003196698974191914?s=20   that are protected under the Constitution. Under D.C. law, anyone wishing to own a firearm must register it with the MPD. However, the D.C. Code imposes a sweeping ban on the registration—and thus the legal possession—of a wide range of firearms. This broad prohibition, the Justice Department argues, infringes on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens who seek to keep and bear commonly owned firearms for lawful purposes. Trump's DOJ Sues Washington, D.C. Police Department Over Unconstitutional Ban on Semi-Automatic Firearms The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department for enforcing a ban on semi-automatic firearms in violation of the Second Amendment. The lawsuit alleges that D.C.'s gun laws require registration of all firearms with the MPD; however, the D.C. Code imposes a sweeping ban on numerous protected weapons, making it legally impossible for residents to own them for self-defense or other lawful purposes. The DOJ said in a press release announcing the lawsuit: “MPD's current pattern and practice of refusing to register protected firearms is forcing residents to sue to protect their rights and to risk facing wrongful arrest for lawfully possessing protected firearms.” “Today's action from the Department of Justice's new Second Amendment Section underscores our ironclad commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Bondi continued, “Washington, DC's ban on some of America's most popular firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment — living in our nation's capital should not preclude law-abiding citizens from exercising their fundamental constitutional right to keep and bear arms.” Echoing this sentiment, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division added, “This Civil Rights Division will defend American citizens from unconstitutional restrictions of commonly used firearms, in violation of their Second Amendment rights. The newly established Second Amendment Section filed this lawsuit to ensure that the very rights D.C. resident Mr. Heller secured 17 years ago are enforced today — and that all law-abiding citizens seeking to own protected firearms for lawful purposes may do so.” The case draws directly from the landmark 2008 Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, where the Court affirmed that the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to own semi-automatic weapons in their homes for self-defense. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2003192220753723840?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2003238094057955337?s=20 War/Peace https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2003334956479558072?s=20 there will be no escalation into broader conflict, and the decision has already been made. However, precision air strikes on cartel assets seems like a probable outcome. Trump is neutralizing Deep State assets around the globe, and South/Central American drug cartels are assets of the Deep State. They are transnational criminal organizations responsible for the drug, weapon, and human trafficking of the Western hemisphere, and their racket feeds the Deep State machine. My guess is, that cartel drug factories and assets are going to get smoked by the US MIL via precision air strikes, and the other powerful leaders of the world have already agreed to some sort of deal with Trump and no one will interfere. Just like Iran and Syria. I think most of the leaders/nations of the world agree with Trump that these transnational criminal organizations must be eradicated, and stability must be brought to the world. President Unveils ‘Trump Class’ Of Warships, Huntington Ingalls Shares Jump    build two new “Trump-class” battleships, to acquire 20-25 of these ships in the coming years.   In his address, the President noted these 30,000-40,000 ton ships will carry a large quantity of missiles, including hypersonic missiles, and will also be outfitted with electromagnetic rail guns and directed energy lasers. Trump-class battleships will also carry nuclear-armed sea launched cruise missiles (currently under development) adding an additional element of nuclear deterrence to the Navy. Trump-class destroyers appear to be designed as the center of enhanced command and control networks at sea, as the Navy looks to field more autonomous assets and traditional vessels in the coming years.   The first “Trump-class” battleship will be named USS Defiant, and it will be even longer than the Iowa-class battleships of the World War II era. However, at 35,000 tons, it will only weigh about half as much, and have a smaller crew of between 650 and 850 sailors; the Iowa had some 2,700 sailors. The new ships — which are being called “guided missile battleships” —  are part of larger vision for a “Golden Fleet.” The Navy has rolled out a website to promote that concept. Sources tell AP that construction of the Defiant is expected to start in the early 2030’s, with another 19 to 24 Trump-class ships to follow.   Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2003231263520379120?s=20   that kind of money, they HAVE to build quickly!”   “We want the dividends to go into the creation of production facilities. We’ll be talking about CapEx, dividends and the pay.” “Also, buybacks…they want to buy back their stock. I want them to put their money in plants and equipment! So they can build these planes FAST, like, IMMEDIATELY!” Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2003224842078675311?s=20  of American institutions or threats to our food supply, economy, or public safety. Protecting the homeland means vigilance: every time, no exceptions. https://twitter.com/ThomasMoreSoc/status/2003262595566850541?s=20  precedent-setting victory, a federal court has permanently blocked California AG Rob Bonta and the CA Dept. of Education from forcing teachers to lie to parents about their own children’s secret gender transitions—declaring parents have a constitutional right to know and teachers have a constitutional right to share the truth. [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2003205278796501397?s=20  larger scale. Don't forget that the Malthusians are antihuman and that they believe that 7 out of every 8 human lives on the planet must be terminated in order to save the world. Nearly 100 Minnesota Mayors Send Panicked Letter to Lawmakers Complaining About Fraud Scandal and the Leadership of Tim Walz Almost 100 mayors in the state of Minnesota have sent a letter to state lawmakers complaining about the fraud scandal and how it is going to impact the communities they serve. They are clearly not happy with the leadership of Governor Tim Walz and his connections to the fraud scandal that has rocked the state in recent weeks. The scandal is still unfolding and it's unclear what the final tally will be, but it's looking like something in the tens of billions. FOX News reports:  You can see the full letter here. These mayors should have demanded that Tim Walz resign. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2002771316345327905?s=20 Our crooked politicians have set up the biggest money laundering operation in the world and that 38 trillion in debt is almost all tied to fraud. this is the tip of the iceberg. Buckle up, its all being exposed. Your harder earned money was used to support a criminal syndicate.  President Trump's Plan  https://twitter.com/DcLidstone/status/2003338615917806050?s=20 John Brennan Lawyers Confirm Their Client is a “Target” of a Grand Jury Investigation Lawfare lawyer Kenneth Wainstein representing former CIA Director John Brennan confirmed in a proactive litigation letter to Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida, their client is a “target” of a grand jury investigation. The word “target” is important here, because the letter specifically outlines how Brennan has received subpoenas for documents and information surrounding his construct of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment. The letter notes that prosecutors from the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason Reding Quiñones, have advised Mr. Brennan that he is “a target” of a grand jury investigation.   [SOURCE] Pay attention to the footnotes being cited by Brennan's lawyers as they begin to pull in some of the commentary by voices who have publicly given opinion about the overall Trump targeting operation.  Mike Davis name appears frequently in this letter, as the Brennan defense team begins to frame the conspiratorial nature of some claims against their client. In essence, the Brennan legal team are attempting to refute the evidence by pointing to the blanket of some crazy commentary that covers it. This is exactly what I have been cautioning about {SEE HERE}. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/TheStormRedux/status/2003448097930662069?s=20  Cannon's courtroom. FANTASTIC. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2003133420021424297?s=20   Thune objected the president would be able to adjourn Congress for ten days and get his full team on the field. https://twitter.com/DavidShafer/status/2002953961595449763?s=20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Contains Hidden Election Integrity Gem – Could Have Huge Implications for Voting Machines    With the National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Donald Trump on December 18th, 2025, a little-known section was snuck into the 3000+ page bill:  Section 6805. Requiring Penetration Testing As Part Of The Testing And Certification of Voting Systems. This section amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by adding a “Required Penetration Testing” section that “provides for the conduct of penetration testing as part of the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system hardware and software” by an accredited laboratory. The amendment now requires the penetration testing as a condition of certification from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and allows consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology or any other federal agency on “lab selection criteria” and “other aspects of the program.” While this is still short of a legitimate attempt at ensuring election integrity, it is an effort toward scrutinizing the voting systems by finally requiring cybersecurity experts to do what Clay Parikh was restricted from doing during his time as a VSTL contractor. Hand-marked paper ballots hand-counted at the precinct level, is being utilized in Dallas County, TX for the 2026 midterm primaries, and is still the ultimate goal of the election integrity community to ensure free and fair elections in the United States. Source: thegatewaypundit.com Penetration testing, often abbreviated as “pen testing,” is a cybersecurity practice where authorized experts simulate real-world cyberattacks on a computer system, network, or application to identify and exploit vulnerabilities before malicious actors can do so. The goal is to uncover weaknesses in security measures, such as software flaws, misconfigurations, or inadequate defenses, and provide recommendations for remediation. It typically involves several stages: Planning and reconnaissance: Gathering information about the target system. Scanning: Using tools to probe for potential entry points. Gaining access: Attempting to exploit vulnerabilities to breach the system. Maintaining access: Testing how long access can be sustained without detection. Analysis and reporting: Documenting findings, risks, and fixes. In the context of Section 6805 of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which incorporates provisions from the SECURE IT Act (H.R. 6315), penetration testing is mandated as part of the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification process for voting system hardware and software. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must implement this requirement within 180 days of enactment, with accreditation of testing entities handled through recommendations from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This ensures that voting systems used in federal elections undergo rigorous cybersecurity assessments to detect and mitigate vulnerabilities, enhancing election security Poll: Trump's Approval Rating Lands at 50 Percent, 9 Points Above Water President Donald Trump enjoys a 50 percent approval rating, with a net approval rating of plus 9 points, according to the latest polling from InsiderAdvantage.  Source: breitbart.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

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An uptick in repossessions, continued affordability challenges and weakened credit performance are top of mind for lenders headed into 2026.  The shutdown of several lenders this year combined with inflationary pressures is likely to contribute to more repossessions at the end of 2025 and in early 2026. By Dec. 31, repossession assignments nationally are projected to surpass 10.5 million units for the year, according to American Recovery Association data.  At the same time, credit performance continued to worsen across securitized nonprime auto loans in November while prime loans had some deterioration. This bifurcation in credit tier performance is expected to continue next year.  Car sales have also been challenged as consumers face high sticker prices and shift to used vehicles, creating more competition in the market. CarMax's used-vehicle sales fell 8% year over year in its fiscal third quarter to 169,557 units, while CarMax Auto Finance's originations declined 9.3% YoY to $1.8 billion.  Meanwhile, Auto Finance News is pleased to name Sanjiv Yajnik, president of financial services at Capital One, the 2025 Auto Finance Executive of the Year.  In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss trends across sales, affordability and credit performance for the week ended Dec. 19.

1. Immigration and Housing Mass immigration under President Biden increased rental demand and housing prices. Trump’s deportations and border enforcement are lowering rents and home prices. Median age of first-time homebuyers is rising above 40 (highest since WWI). Wharton study: “Every 1% population increase → rents up 1%.” Recent rent declines (−1.1% YoY, −5.2% vs. 2022 peak). Tax Policy Changes (2026) Highlights upcoming measures: No tax on tips No tax on overtime No tax on Social Security for seniors Suggests millions will receive IRS refunds starting January. HUD Report HUD finds that immigration significantly drove up housing demand and prices, especially for low-income Americans without assistance. 2. DOJ/FBI and Mar-a-Lago Raid Newly released emails show FBI doubted probable cause for the 2022 raid but proceeded under pressure from Biden DOJ. There were political motives behind the raid, calling it “abuse of power.” Lack of whistleblowers and calls for congressional hearings. 3. Last 3 BIG WINS of this past year Space Announces $10 billion investment in NASA and commercial space through the Working Families tax cut. Goal: U.S. lunar landing by 2028 (ahead of China’s 2030 target). Emphasizes jobs (50,000+ in Texas), national security, and inspiration for youth. Automotive Policy CAFE standards were “zeroed out” to reduce car costs and improve safety. Biden-era fuel economy rules are an attempt to ban internal combustion engines. Online Safety – “Take It Down Act” Makes posting non-consensual intimate imagery (including AI deepfakes) a felony. Grants victims a statutory right to demand immediate removal from platforms. Bipartisan passage and signing in the Rose Garden with First Lady Melania Trump. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the SF Daily podcast for today, December 19, 2025, with host Lorrie Boyer. These quick and informative episodes cover the commodity markets, weather, and the big things happening in agriculture each morning. The US's flash sales and China's soybean purchase target, and increased corn and wheat imports despite a strong domestic crop. USDA data showed corn exports up 70% YoY, wheat exports up 23%, and soybean exports down 46%. China's November corn imports rose 87.5% YoY, and wheat imports surged 279%. Cattle futures dropped, with estimates for cattle on feed at 98.3%. Extremely dry conditions in western Nebraska and dangerously cold weather in North Dakota were also noted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1222: Today we break down Cox Automotive's 2026 forecast and why fragmentation is becoming the industry's defining theme. We also cover California regulators taking aim at Tesla's Autopilot language.Show Notes with links:Cox Automotive says the auto industry beat expectations in 2025, but 2026 will be shaped by fragmentation everywhere—from consumers and labor to policy, EVs, and AI. The result is softer volumes, tighter margins, and a market that rewards precision over optimism.The 5 big forces at play: A bifurcated consumer trading down, a stagnant job market, inflation easing but Fed uncertainty lingering, shifting policy and an EV incentive cliff, and AI hitting an operational inflection point—all pulling the market in different directions.New-vehicle volumes reset lower: Cox forecasts 15.8 million SAAR in 2026, down 2.4% YoY, signaling the high-15 million range as the new normal rather than a temporary dip.Retail, fleet, and leasing cool: New retail sales fall about 1.5%, fleet declines more sharply, and lease penetration drops toward 21%, the lowest level in three years as EV tax credits and leasing loopholes disappear.Used remains the pressure valve: Total used sales dip roughly 1%, but tight retail inventory and affordability concerns keep demand steady, pushing more shoppers toward lower-priced vehicles.Wholesale values normalize: Cox expects the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index to rise 2% by the end of 2026, pointing to normal depreciation—with growing EV volume adding pricing complexity.California regulators ruled Tesla misled consumers with its “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” marketing, giving the automaker 90 days to fix its language. The case briefly threatened Tesla's ability to sell cars in the state, but stops short of halting production.The DMV ordered a 30-day suspension of Tesla's dealer license, which would prevent Tesla from selling vehicles directly to consumers in California if it goes into effect.That dealer suspension is stayed for 90 days, meaning Tesla can keep selling cars as long as it updates its advertising and disclosures within that window.A separate manufacturing license suspension—which could have affected Tesla's ability to build vehicles in California—was permanently stayed and will not take effect.Regulators say Tesla's use of “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving Capability” implied autonomy that doesn't exist, creating unsafe assumptions for drivers.Tesla pushed back strongly, saying no consumer complained and stating, “Tesla has never misled consumers.”Thank you to today's sponsor, Mia. Capture more revenue, protect CSI, and never miss a call or connection again with 24/7 phone coverage and texting (SMS) follow-up for sales, service, and reception. Learn more at https://www.mia.inc/Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

New data published by LinkedIn has revealed that labour markets across EMEA slackened in October, highlighting the growing competition professionals face to secure a new job. Job seekers are instead countering this trend by reducing their search intensity in favour of "job hugging" - the trend of staying put. In Ireland, job search intensity - the ratio of applications to applicants - fell by -3.9% year-on-year in October, over double the rate of decline in several EMEA-LATAM countries during the month, averaging at -1.5% YoY. Only the United Kingdom (down -9.4% YoY), France (-5.6%), and Germany (-4.4%) recorded higher falls than Ireland. Ireland continues to lead the way on flexible work Hybrid work remains the most popular flexible working option offered by companies in Ireland, with 37.3% of all job postings in October offered as hybrid. Ireland ties with the United Kingdom for the highest availability of hybrid across EMEA, above the average of 30.8% of job postings advertised as hybrid across the region during the same period. Ireland also ranks highly for pure remote positions, placing second in EMEA with 8.2% of all job postings offering the opportunity to work exclusively from home. Ireland ranks second only to the UK (8.6%) and also surpasses the European average (5.3%.) Remote roles remain some of the most in demand jobs, making up 14.7% of job applications in EMEA. Demand in Ireland was higher, with applications for remote jobs making up almost one in five (18.4%) job applications. Green talent more likely to land jobs LinkedIn's Green Skills Report 2025 has also revealed green talent is far more likely to secure a job, getting hired at a global rate of 46.6% above the global hiring rate. Across the world, Energy Management is the fastest-growing green skill category. The proportion of LinkedIn members that added this skill was 17.4% higher in 2025 than in 2024. A spike in AI-driven demand for energy and continued growth in renewable energy supply has led to these skills growing particularly quickly in the Technology, Information and Media and Utilities sectors. Commenting on the data, LinkedIn Ireland Country Manager Cara O'Leary said: "Internationally and in Ireland, we are seeing a trend where more workers are opting to stay in their current roles rather than actively seeking new opportunities. This is down to a more competitive jobs market as companies advertise fewer roles. This is coming through in our data where we have observed a decline in job search intensity, which fell by nearly 4% year-on-year in October. "At the same time, Ireland continues to stand out as a leader in flexible work, with hybrid roles now accounting for more than one-third of all job postings. Remote opportunities also remain highly sought after, with Irish workers applying to them at even higher rates than the European average. Flexibility continues to be a key differentiator for companies seeking to attract and retain the best talent. "Internationally and in Ireland, we're also seeing real momentum around green skills, with talent in this space being hired at rates well above the global average. As demand for sustainability and energy-related expertise accelerates, Irish professionals who invest in these skills will be exceptionally well positioned for the future." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook,...

Une Femme Wines didn't scale the way most wine brands do — and that's exactly why its story matters.What began as the house wine at Jen Pelka's two Champagne bars — The Riddler in San Francisco and New York — has scaled into a national brand selling more than 300,000 cases annually, with wines poured everywhere from Delta Airlines to Marriott, Kimpton, stadiums, cruise lines, and even space.In this episode, Jen breaks down how Une Femme unlocked scale by saying yes to the right opportunities — and then rebuilding the business to support them.The turning point came when a chance meeting led to a Delta Airlines trial that required Une Femme to ramp from 1,500 cases over two years to 6,000 cases in three months, a feat that seemed impossible at the time. But they persevered and that single partnership didn't just change volume — it reshaped the company's format strategy, pushing the brand into cans for sustainability, operational efficiency, and national reach.From there, Une Femme scaled differently than most wine brands: Prioritizing national accounts and high-velocity venues over slow regional rollouts, and focusing relentlessly on freshness, tight SKUs, and operational reliability.

NIO stock holders need to understand what's happening in China's auto market RIGHT NOW. In this episode of Courtside Financial, I break down the December 2025 reality that every NIO bull needs to know about.KEY POINTS COVERED:Why China's car dealerships are ghost towns in December 2025The $100+ billion subsidy cliff hitting the Chinese EV marketNIO's November deliveries: 36,275 units (+76% YoY but -10% MoM)How the 2026 purchase tax return will impact EV salesWhy Q1 2026 could be the roughest quarter for Chinese automakersNIO's margin improvements and strategic positioning through the stormChina just burned through 300 billion yuan in subsidies, and the money is GONE. Starting January 1st, 2026, purchase taxes are coming back. The industry expected a year-end buying rush... it never came.But here's what NIO bulls need to know: this is a MARKET problem, not a NIO problem. The company is improving margins (13.9% gross margin, highest since 2022), executing on the three-brand strategy, and expanding battery swap infrastructure.However, when the entire market is under pressure, nobody is immune. This video gives you the full context on what NIO is navigating through and why conviction matters now more than ever.RESOURCES:China Passenger Car Association DataNovember 2025 NIO Delivery ReportCentral Economic Work Conference Policy UpdatesDISCLAIMER: This is not financial advice. I am a NIO shareholder sharing my analysis of publicly available market data. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.#NIOStock #ChineseEVs #ElectricVehicles #StockMarket #InvestingInChina

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1219: Carvana adds another CDJR store as its retail expansion heats up. Mexico hits Chinese auto imports with a crushing 50% tariff. And Tesla tests its first fully driverless vehicle on the streets of Austin — no humans required.Carvana's push into franchised retail continues as it acquires South Atlanta CDJR‑Fiat, marking its fourth traditional dealership buy of 2025. Once known for vending machines and used cars, Carvana is rapidly becoming a notable player in new‑car retail.The store, now Carvana CDJR of South Atlanta, sits in Union City, GA, just outside Atlanta.It was acquired from Houston‑based ZT Corporate, a group ranked 132nd among U.S. dealership organizations.The aggressive expansion comes on the heels of a Q3 record: $5.6B in revenue, up 55%, and 155,941 used units sold—a 44% increase YoY.Carvana has said it's “always experimenting” and views select dealership acquisitions as tests to learn how to “provide great customer experiences” in a franchise setting.Mexico is drawing a bold line in the sand, approving sweeping new tariffs with some aimed squarely at imported Chinese cars.Chinese vehicles will now face a 50% import tariff, the highest among 1,400 affected products.The policy is seen as a direct defense against a surge of low-cost Chinese EVs and ICE vehicles entering Latin America.Mexico's auto industry has voiced support, fearing China's growing presence could erode market share and local jobs.Beijing slammed the move as “protectionist” and warned of possible retaliation.The future Elon Musk promised is officially rolling through Austin — driverless, empty, and already controversial. Tesla has begun testing its Robotaxi platform without a human behind the wheel or even a safety monitor in the car, marking its most aggressive autonomy move yet.The sighting appears to involve a Model Y testbed rigged for Tesla's upcoming Robotaxi platform.Elon Musk confirmed: “Testing is underway with no occupant in the car.”This marks the first known on-road test without a safety driver or passenger.According to NHTSA filings, Tesla's Robotaxi tests in Austin have already logged a crash every ~62,000 miles — with safety monitors still inside.Thank you to today's sponsor, Mia. Capture more revenue, protect CSI, and never miss a call or connection again with 24/7 phone coverage and texting (SMS) follow-up for sales, service, and reception. Learn more at https://www.mia.inc/Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

While beloved by children…did you know that the entire National Football League combined is estimated to consume about 100K Smucker's Uncrustables annually? If you aren't familiar with Uncrustables, it's essentially a frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich, minus the crust…and intended to be eaten after they have thawed. The J.M. Smucker Company launched Uncrustables in 1998, and annual net sales of the frozen sandwiches grew 15 percent YoY in fiscal year 2025…with the goal of reaching $1 billion in annual net sales by the end of fiscal year 2026. And largely due to those financial metrics, competition within the frozen sandwich category has increased substantially…as both branded and private label players battle for limited shelf space in the merchandising set. But newcomer Jams is packing the frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich with more protein, along with deploying a growing roster of influencers and athletes as equity partners…including NFL stars Micah Parsons and CJ Stroud. And that sounds all good…but let's just hope Jams learned the valuable lesson from Chubby Snacks to “not attack or mock Uncrustables” or the king of the category will gladly put you out business one way or another!

New identification requirements for vehicle registrations in Texas have prompted concerns from dealers and lenders about a potential increase in unregistered or uninsured cars on the road. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in a Nov. 19 bulletin clarified that documentation required to register vehicles or renew registrations cannot include expired IDs and that passports issued by a foreign country must include documentation proving lawful admission to the U.S. The changes could hamper vehicle sales and lead to an uptick in illegally operated cars, creating collateral risk for auto lenders. In the wider market, credit access improved in November even as average transaction prices rose. The Dealertrack Credit Availability Index increased 4% year over year to 99.1 as approval rates, subprime share and the share of longer-term loans rose. The new-vehicle ATP ticked up 1.3% YoY to $49,814, while incentives as a percentage of ATP was 6.7%, down from 7.9% of ATP a year ago.  High prices are prompting consumers to shift to used vehicles, with banks such as Huntington seeing the mix of originations also shift away from new cars.  Meanwhile, auto loan delinquency rates are projected to increase next year but the overall rate of growth is expected to slow. Auto loan delinquencies of 60-plus days are forecast to land at 1.54% in Q4 2026, up 3 basis points compared with the Q4 2025 projected rate, according to TransUnion. However, the percentage change YoY is expected to be 1.4% in Q4 2026, down from 2.6% forecasted in Q4 2025. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss trends across compliance, affordability and credit performance for the week ended Dec. 12. 

Salesforce, the world's #1 AI CRM, has unveiled its 2025 Cyber Week results (November 25-December 1), analysing shopping data from over 1.5 billion shoppers. This was another record-breaking shopping week, with overall industry global sales increasing 7% year over year (YOY) to €286billion, with Black Friday sales in Ireland increasing 19%. These results signal a strong consumer appetite for buying this holiday season despite increasing global prices, and they demonstrate AI and agents as fundamental accelerators for purchase and productivity in commerce. AI and agents deliver outsized impact on Cyber Week sales and service AI and agents were pivotal elements in shoppers' path to purchase, driving €57 billion in sales by delivering personalised, high-converting shopping experiences. Across Cyber Week, AI and agents influenced 20% of all global orders via personalised product recommendations and conversational customer service. Pandora, Shark Ninja, and Funko and other retailers who utilised Salesforce's Agentforce 360 and their own branded agents saw sales grow 32% faster than those without. Beyond purchases, AI agents efficiently managed the influx of inquiries to emerge as customer service heroes. Agentic customer service conversations grew 55% week over week. Crucially, the volume of agent actions - including updating delivery addresses and initiating returns - surged by 70% compared with the previous week, offsetting administrative loads for service teams and lowering operational costs. Salesforce powers Cyber Week with trust, scale, and AI agents The foundation of Cyber Week's success for global retailers was the trust and unified power of Agentforce 360. Brands drove profitable growth and scaled their operations, supported by Salesforce's 100% uptime the entire week, including Agentforce Commerce, which powered 61 million orders on digital storefronts. The scale extended across channels as retailers managed 76% more orders on the Order Management System (OMS) platform while Agentforce Marketing delivered personalised outreach by sending 56.3 billion marketing messages. On Black Friday, historically the largest day of the year for in-store shopping, Salesforce's Retail Point ofSale (POS) saw 96% YOY growth in order volumes. 2025 Cyber Week Industry Insights Cyber Week sets a new global record: Consumers demonstrated strong activity, continuing to spend throughout the week and driving healthy sales growth numbers for retailers. Black Friday drove €67 billion in global sales (up 6% YOY), up 19% in Ireland. . Black Friday also accounted for 31% of all in-store sales during Cyber Week, making it the largest in-store shopping day of the week. Meanwhile, Cyber Monday drove €45 billion in global online sales, which was up 15% in Ireland. Mobile shopping becomes the digital default: Mobile devices drove 70% of online orders both globally, and mobile wallets continued to grow as a top form of payment, used for 27% of all global orders. Meanwhile, social media is becoming a critical entry point for shoppers, driving 15% of all global digital traffic to retailers' sitesConsumer spending stays strong: The average selling price (ASP) across Cyber Week increased 6% YOY. But in the end, consumers were undeterred by these price hikes - Cyber Week order volumes still grew by 2% globally and 1% in the U.S. compared with last year. This signals that shoppers saw this time frame as the best week of the year to make purchases regardless of price hikes. "Irish shoppers with their well known eye for value continue to embrace Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a key moment in their Christmas shopping plans. This year's growth highlights the power that agentic AI can bring, with significant increases in predictive recommendations and conversion across the week. It shows the scale of the opportunity for Irish businesses of every size to adopt these new capabilities and deliver faster, smarter, and more personal experiences that meet rising custom...

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1215: Today we break down why monthly payments keep climbing despite improving fundamentals, VinFast's shrinking U.S. footprint as it pivots overseas, and VaynerMedia's Anti-Trend Report showing why trend-chasing is officially dead in 2026.Show Notes with links:New-vehicle payments hit a November record at $760, but underneath the headline, several affordability pressures are actually starting to ease. Softer interest rates and strong used-vehicle values are helping cushion buyers as the market normalizes into year-end.Rates dipped to 6.1% and robust used values are keeping trade-in equity near historic highs.Dealer profits stayed steady at $2,161 per vehicle, showing margin stability.However, negative equity rose to 27% of all trades and lease expirations are down 15% YoY and 50% vs. 2023“How aggressively manufacturers choose to adjust discounting and promotional activity during December will be critical in shaping the close of 2025.” said J.D. Power's Thomas King.VinFast's retreat from the U.S. market is accelerating as its retail network falls below two dozen active stores. Falling sales, stalled product plans, and shifting global priorities are prompting dealers to exit while the brand refocuses on markets where demand is stronger.Holman's North Carolina store — VinFast's first U.S. franchise — ends sales Dec. 31, marking the third dealer exit in six months.U.S. registrations fell 57% through October, even as overall EV sales grew 11% in the same period.Several listed stores show no inventory or are “coming soon,” and many active rooftops have 15 or fewer vehicles in stock.“Given the tariff situation and the instability in the EV market, we just need to see how that settles before we push hard in the U.S.,” said VinFast chairwoman Thuy Thu Le.VaynerMedia's new Anti-Trend Report argues that social trends are collapsing faster than ever, making 2026 the year brands stop chasing virality and start pursuing genuine relevance. With algorithms fragmenting attention, emotional connection becomes the new competitive advantage.The report says trend fatigue is accelerating — trends now fade 14x faster than they used to, and 1/3 of consumers think brands “jumping on viral trends” is embarrassing.Platforms are blurring: TikTok layouts show up on Instagram, Facebook-style text posts appear everywhere — meaning content format matters more than platform identity.Audiences expect authenticity, not broadcasts; brands must create two-way social conversations, not passive content streams.“In 2026, the brands that win won't be those who shout the loudest, but those who show up the most real.” — Allan Blair, SVP & Head of Strategy, VaynerMediaThank you to today's sponsor, Mia. Capture more revenue, protect CSI, and never miss a call or connection again with 24/7 phone coverage and texJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Modern soda isn't a trend — it's one of the fastest-growing segments in beverage. Now a $1.8B U.S. category, up 83% YOY, according to Circana, modern soda is redefining the carbonated space with functional benefits, low sugar, and health-forward positioning.Two brands were instrumental in creating this market: OLIPOP and Poppi. Together, they introduced consumers to gut-health sodas long before the category had a name — and they helped transform what was once a stagnant soft drink landscape into one of the hottest growth stories in CPG.Today, OLIPOP stands as the category's largest independent player, following Poppi's 2025 acquisition by PepsiCo for roughly $1.95B. OLIPOP is now sold in 50,000+ doors, staffed with 200+ employees, and approaching a $2B valuation. In this episode, OLIPOP Co-Founder, CEO and Formulator Ben Goodwin breaks down how OLIPOP carved out its own lane with a deeper scientific foundation and a product-first ethos that helped propel the entire modern soda movement.

Welcome back to Stories from the River. December is here, so Charlie Malouf, Broad River's CEO and Stories from the River podcast host is back with a laundry list of updates.  First, we are happy to announce the opening of a brand new store in Easley, South Carolina. A two-in-one, dual concept Ashley Store & Outlet. https://stores.ashleyfurniture.com/store/us/south-carolina/easley/5149-calhoun-memorial-pkwy/   Even though new store openings are most definitely kind of a big deal around here, the Easley store seemed to have sprouted out of nowhere, and that's all thanks to our incredible team that works tirelessly behind the scenes. Charlie explains the process and acknowledges the team members involved to make this seemingly impossible task come to life. It may look effortless, but thanks to the effort of everyone involved, store number 34 is now live. It will be followed shortly by the iconic, new 3-story Ashley Store & Outlet in Spokane, WA, later this month, and then another new Ashley Store in Moscow, ID, in early 2026 Charlie then moves on to discussing the recently completed 95-Day Challenge and what that means for Broad River's growth. Even though the challenge wasn't technically met all the way, Broad River is still on its way to complete its annual financial goal of reaching $272 million in revenue. This is part of a larger, 6-year goal of growing 12% YoY and reaching a doubling in 2030.  Even though the 95-Day Challenge wasn't fully met, there are some teams that have done an exceptional job, and Charlie takes this opportunity to acknowledge them on the show. Their outstanding performance is what really shines through year over year.  Stay with us as we complete the year with more exciting updates, holiday events, and maybe some remote footage from Spokane, WA, so we can see how that massive store opening is really going.    This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LLGgNcAgiXk    Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.   Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com         Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail     

Welcome back to Stories from the River. December is here, so Charlie Malouf, Broad River's CEO and Stories from the River podcast host is back with a laundry list of updates.  First, we are happy to announce the opening of a brand new store in Easley, South Carolina. A two-in-one, dual concept Ashley Store & Outlet. https://stores.ashleyfurniture.com/store/us/south-carolina/easley/5149-calhoun-memorial-pkwy/   Even though new store openings are most definitely kind of a big deal around here, the Easley store seemed to have sprouted out of nowhere, and that's all thanks to our incredible team that works tirelessly behind the scenes. Charlie explains the process and acknowledges the team members involved to make this seemingly impossible task come to life. It may look effortless, but thanks to the effort of everyone involved, store number 34 is now live. It will be followed shortly by the iconic, new 3-story Ashley Store & Outlet in Spokane, WA, later this month, and then another new Ashley Store in Moscow, ID, in early 2026 Charlie then moves on to discussing the recently completed 95-Day Challenge and what that means for Broad River's growth. Even though the challenge wasn't technically met all the way, Broad River is still on its way to complete its annual financial goal of reaching $272 million in revenue. This is part of a larger, 6-year goal of growing 12% YoY and reaching a doubling in 2030.  Even though the 95-Day Challenge wasn't fully met, there are some teams that have done an exceptional job, and Charlie takes this opportunity to acknowledge them on the show. Their outstanding performance is what really shines through year over year.  Stay with us as we complete the year with more exciting updates, holiday events, and maybe some remote footage from Spokane, WA, so we can see how that massive store opening is really going.    This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LLGgNcAgiXk    Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.   Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com         Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail     

Electric vehicle sales declined at most major manufacturers in November on the heels of an uptick in EV share of total new-car sales in the third quarter, due in large part to a pull-ahead of purchases before the federal EV tax credit expired.  Automakers including American Honda, Ford Motor, Hyundai, Subaru and Toyota reported double-digit year over year declines in EV sales during the month, while overall sales were mixed. EV sales slowed in November but in Q3 benefited from consumers wanting to take advantage of the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 before Sept. 30, contributing to a jump in new-vehicle EV financing share to 11.4%. A strong tax refund season is projected to boost car sales in early 2026 as some consumers lean into the used-car market due to affordability concerns. Used-vehicle values were flat YoY and up 1.2% month over month in November, according to the latest Manheim index. In powersports, sales were mixed for the most recent quarter. Canadian powersports manufacturer Bombardier Recreational Products' North American retail sales declined 4% YoY in its fiscal third quarter ended Oct. 31. RV manufacturer Thor Industries' net sales, however, jumped 11.5% YoY in its fiscal first quarter ended Oct. 31. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss trends across vehicle sales, pricing, consumer sentiment and powersports for the week ended Dec. 5. This episode is sponsored by The Work Number by Equifax. 

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

At 22 years old, Eugene Kang bought a tiny jerky business from an 80-year-old butcher he met on a road trip. It was doing about $500K a year and relied entirely on private-label production. Over the next fourteen years, he rebuilt everything — the brand, the manufacturing, the product strategy — transforming it into Archer, one of the fastest-growing companies in meat snacks. From navigating USDA operations as a first-time founder, to unlocking national retail doors through a licensed Sriracha SKU that flipped early “no's” into “yeses”, Eugene grew Archer into a projected $500M brand by 2026, with 90% YoY growth in 2024. In this conversation, he breaks down the operational grind, the rebrand from Country Archer to Archer, and how sticks became the engine behind one of the biggest category expansions in modern snacking. Make sure to check out Archer at: https://archerjerky.com/   Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup   Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Felix covers this week's biggest gaming business headlines: Saudi Arabia's PIF slowing investments, King Shot surpassing $542M in revenue, AppLovin gaining ground on iOS, remarketing spikes, and Sensor Tower's November revenue & DAU charts.What you'll learn• Why PIF's cash slowdown could freeze gaming M&A• King Shot hits $542M in 9 months + $4.1M best day• Apple Ads losing share to AppLovin• Android still ruled by Google Ads• Remarketing up 20% YoY as CPIs climb• Top revenue games (Last War, Monopoly GO, Royal Match…)• Top DAU apps (Roblox, Free Fire, Block Blast…)Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — PIF slows investments → gaming M&A winter03:00 — King Shot hits $542M → 4X meta dominance06:10 — AppsFlyer Index: AppLovin rises, remarketing up 20%08:50 — Monthly revenue rankings (Last War, Monopoly GO, King Shot…)10:20 — DAU rankings + final takeaways---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1211: Today we break down fading dealer confidence heading into 2026, hear how Mazda's retail-led strategy is boosting margins despite tariff headwinds, and look at why holiday shoppers are leaning on real human reviews over influencers.Show Notes with links:Dealer confidence slid hard to close out 2025 as rising costs, shaky consumer confidence, and slowing demand pushed the Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index well below the positive threshold.Current market sentiment fell to 38 (down from 43 in Q3), with franchised dealers holding slightly stronger at 47, and independent dealers lower at 35. Future outlook declined from 46 to 42Customer traffic hit record lows, especially for franchised dealers, with both in-person and digital traffic declining.“Compared to the rest of the year, the current market feels like it's running out of gas,” said Mark Strand, Deputy Chief Economist at Cox Automotive.In a recent interview with Automotive News, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro breaks down how the brand quietly climbed upmarket—growing dealer throughput, elevating brand value, and pushing margins higher—even as tariffs briefly knocked profitability off course.U.S. market share climbed from 1.7% to 2.6% since 2017, with ATPs jumping from $24K to $33K and dealer throughput nearly doubling at Retail Evolution stores.Tariff pressures led to a temporary loss, but Mazda expects a return to profitability in the back half of the year as CX-30 production adjusts and large-vehicle margins hold strong.On rotary's return, Moro teased: “2027 marks the 50th anniversary of our rotary engine… What do you want to see?”Turns out the real power shoppers this year aren't influencers—they're everyday consumers dropping reviews at record pace. Trustpilot reports a massive surge in review activity as buyers lean heavily on peer feedback before spending.Consumer reviews spiked 76% YoY, with nearly 4 million visitors participating in National Write a Review Week.86% of shoppers checked reviews before buying, and 40% waited specifically for others to post first.Top complaints? Delivery delays, tech issues, and weak customer service.“When people share their experiences, everyone shops smarter,” said Alicia Skubick, Trustpilot's chief customer officer.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Send us a textInvest in pre-IPO stocks with AG Dillon & Co. Contact aaron.dillon@agdillon.com to learn more. Financial advisors only. www.agdillon.com00:06 - Databricks $134B Primary at 32x 2025E Sales02:20 - Revolut $75B Tender (+56% vs Aug 2025)04:30 - Physical Intelligence (Pi) $5B Primary (+>2.5x in

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [CB] is pushing their agenda across the country and world. They are now pushing their Universal Basic Income in Illinois, this will fail. US production is picking up. SEC is cracking down on ETF’s. Trump has now nominated Kevin Hassett to take over the position of Powell. This restructuring will begin soon and the alternative currency will show it. The [DS] knows they are running out of time and they are losing control over Zelensky, this is why they are now pushing a war with Russia. They do not want peace. Trump is exposing the corruption and pushing for elections to remove Zelensky. Trump has null and voided everything Biden/Obama have done over the last 4 years. It’s like everything they did doesn’t exist. The [DS] is boxed in, there is no escape. Economy https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1996238986650464720?s=20   government, and I’m here to help,”. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/AwakenedOutlaw/status/1996060994892955661?s=20   logs, program letters, etc. weekly or be limited to 3-months of SNAP benefits in a 3-year period. US Industrial Production Sees Biggest Annual Gain In 3 Years Despite Slowing Capacity Utilization    Industrial Production rose just 0.1% MoM (as expected) up from the downwardly revised 0.3% MoM decline in August. On a YoY basis, production rose 1.62% – its best since Nov 2022… US Manufacturing output was unchanged in September (slowing from the 0.1% MoM rise in August), but, like IP, that supported a 1.5% YoY rise in output, its highest level since April 2022… Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1996217766366400884?s=20  registration of ETFs that seek to provide more than 200% (2x) leveraged exposure to underlying indices or securities,” the SEC wrote. Leverage is clearly out of control. Bessent says White House may ‘veto’ Federal Reserve presidents   Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday he would push a new requirement that the Federal Reserve’s regional bank presidents live in their districts for at least three years before taking office, a move that could give the White House more power over the independent agency.  Bessent said that “there is a disconnect with the framing of the Federal Reserve” and added that, “unless someone has lived in their district for three years, we’re going to veto them.” Source: msn.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1995954684859941373?s=20   In a July 2025 interview, Hassett highlighted the Fed’s origins under the gold standard in 1913 to critique current practices: “When the Federal Reserve was created, we were under the Gold Standard—and the idea that the Fed could print money and then spend $2.5B on a building… I think that we’ve got a real problem of oversight and excess spending.”   This aligns with sound money ideals, where gold symbolizes disciplined, non-inflationary currency, but he stops short of calling for reinstatement.  Monetary economist Judy Shelton (author of Good as Gold) praised Hassett in July 2025 for referencing the gold standard, noting it as a reminder that “Fed has a lot to answer for” in deviating from that era’s stability.  Hassett views Bitcoin as “digital gold” for its scarcity and hedge qualities—echoing sound money without physical backing. Political/Rights https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1996252623209373754?s=20  created sweeping exemptions covering Afghans who worked for the Taliban during the first regime (1996-2001) and again after August 2021, enabling hundreds of individuals normally barred under terrorism laws to enter the U.S. TRIG waivers skyrocketed to 6,848 in FY 2024, the vast majority for refugees, including 374 Taliban civil servants and more than 3,000 individuals who provided “limited” support to Tier 1 or 2 terror groups. Now, after the ambush killing of a West Virginia National Guard soldier by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, critics say Biden knowingly imported massive security risks into American neighborhoods. OUTRAGE: Minneapolis Police Chief Urges Somali Community to Dial 911 on Masked ICE Agents — Promises Cops Will “Intervene” Against Federal Arrests Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara speaks at a press conference alongside city officials as he urges Somali residents to call 911 on masked individuals Police leadership in Minneapolis is urging the city's Somali community, and other immigrant residents, to call 911 if they spot masked individuals detaining people in their neighborhoods. He urged community members to call 911 if they were unsure whether those enforcing arrests were legitimate law enforcement — and pledged MPD would investigate and log every such call. He did not stop at documentation, however. “If there is anything that is … a violation of someone's human rights or civil rights, excessive force or anything like that, they absolutely have a duty to intervene as police officers,” O'Hara declared. https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1995956308902879320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995956308902879320%7Ctwgr%5E19002c76c52297fc2dd58664d00870448c39f149%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Foutrage-minneapolis-police-chief-urges-somali-community-dial%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com UNREAL: Mayor Jacob Frey Declares He Won't Cooperate With ICE… and Suddenly Starts Speaking Somali to His Audience Mid-Speech Minneapolis far-left Mayor Jacob Frey abruptly shifted a public address into Somali, all while promising that city police will refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. At a press conference held on Tuesday, Frey stood alongside St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Ward 6 Council Member Jamal Osman, Police Chief Brian O'Hara, and other city leaders, reacting to reports that the federal government is preparing a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota's Twin Cities. This is not the first time the far-left mayor has drawn backlash from conservatives for switching into Somali during public remarks. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1995991450530553880?s=20 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1995920756203516224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995920756203516224%7Ctwgr%5E7752673c29b3a4de82187485d2de8512019722ba%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2025%2F12%2F02%2Ftim-walz-gets-skewered-by-kristi-noem-over-visa-fraud-warns-minnesota-is-about-to-feel-the-wrath-of-ice-n2196746 https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1995918101200703814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995918101200703814%7Ctwgr%5E6e01980749bee6d0aabd2036c6c2b51da5cb194a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Fkatie-jerkovich%2F2025%2F12%2F02%2Fpam-bondi-proves-trumps-flipped-script-on-crime-in-us-n2196748 https://twitter.com/DiligentDenizen/status/1996268038895907125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1996268038895907125%7Ctwgr%5Efc686f6c13365f75910a196f3fa3620a5f168083%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fbreaking-house-oversight-committee-dems-release-never-before%2F https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/1996022839250461041?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1996173544884154529?s=20  https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/1996233719469035734?s=20 https://twitter.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1996175636352700892?s=20  , and even Hezbollah have a presence in South America — and their anchor presence is inside Venezuela.” Let that sink in. 8 million Venezuelans displaced Spillover into Colombia, Brazil, the U.S. Cartels, trafficking networks, and Iranian intelligence embedded in the region Rubio isn't speaking hypothetically — he's confirming what U.S. intel has known for years: Venezuela is no longer just a failed socialist state. It's a forward operating base for Iran and Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere. This is why the situation is escalating. This is why Trump's ultimatum matters. This is why Maduro's regime cannot be ignored or “managed.” The threat isn't local — it's global. War/Peace https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1995724042285056018?s=20  that was left in unsecured parking lot in an industrial area near Burg in Saxony-Anhalt, according to the German Ministry of Defense. https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1996226688363979160?s=20   the beginning of the war for fossil fuels. Now we’re down to €1.5 billion per month…we aim to bring it down to ZERO.” “This is a good day for Europe and for our independence from Russian fossil fuels — this is how we make Europe resilient.”    “The European Union agreed on Wednesday to phase out Russian gas imports by late 2027 as part of an effort to end the bloc’s decade-long dependency on Russian energy.” – Reuters https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1996207752134488284?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996197728167043438?s=20   text does not address our concerns.” Meaning: No legal cover, no political suicide. The plan was simple on paper – use immobilized Russian funds as collateral for loans to keep Ukraine afloat. But Belgium is the custodian of the largest chunk of those assets. If something goes wrong, they're the ones holding the radioactive bag. This isn't some bureaucratic squabble. It's the EU's financing strategy cracking in real time. Prévot's pushback signals the core fear: If Europe touches Russian state money without watertight legal armor, Moscow retaliates – economically, diplomatically, and possibly through countersanctions on European firms. And here's the thing: the Commission thought it had majority backing. Belgium saying “nope” on the morning of rollout is a political body-slam. Happening next? The EU will scramble to rewrite the legal plumbing. Germany and France will pressure Belgium quietly – nobody wants to admit the plan is wobbling. Russia will weaponize the hesitation as proof the West can't agree on how to bankroll Ukraine. And Kyiv? Still waiting for the money that was supposed to be “already there.” Another example of Europe discovering that seizing assets is easy. Using them? That's where the real war begins.    Ursula von der Leyen did not state that she received “permission” from the US to seize Russian assets. In a recent appearance at the GLOBSEC forum, she said that she informed the incoming Trump administration (specifically mentioning a conversation with Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent) about the EU’s proposal to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for a “reparations loan” to Ukraine, and that “it was positively received.” https://twitter.com/briefing_block_/status/1996241939931201801?s=20 https://twitter.com/Dubinsky_pro/status/1996242036417028176?s=20  regime. Now the system is falling apart. Yermak is out. The crackdown is collapsing. Ukraine must release all political prisoners. I call on everyone involved in peace talks to demand this from Zelensky. These people committed no crimes. They were jailed for their faith, political views and demanding peace. Zelensky built a dictatorship – and filled prisons with dissent. I know what I'm talking about: I spent 24 months behind bars under this system. https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996231792752287822?s=20  to Brussels to meet Zelensky, the team returned to Washington. No official reason was given, but the message is clear: there's no deal, yet. Putin's warning didn't help. He said Russia is “ready” for war in Europe and claimed any future conflict would be so fierce that “nobody will be left to negotiate with.” This setback casts doubt on whether a negotiated end to the war is possible anytime soon. It also suggests Kyiv isn't ready to engage on Moscow's terms. What's next: Watch for how Ukraine positions itself diplomatically in the coming weeks, and whether Trump's team will try again with a revised proposal. https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1996059724173754525?s=20   situation may quickly arise where there is no one left for us to negotiate with” https://twitter.com/Panchenko_X/status/1996192741508645286?s=20  been given the black mark and is seen globally as corrupt. Many Ukrainian politicians are already quietly fleeing to Moscow in an attempt to negotiate. They hope that the Russians and Americans will come and shower everyone with money for the elections. It won’t happen that way. According to my information, the US and Russia are already discussing possible candidates for the position of President. I cannot make the names public. https://twitter.com/TimOnPoint/status/1995949121929138184?s=20   targets is the rule, not the exception. The physical status of possible survivors is not part of the consideration with stand-off weapons. This has been the norm under both Republican and Democrat administrations since the first Hellfire was mounted on a Predator years ago. Anyone who tells you otherwise, is lying or ignorant. The method is ugly, no doubt about it, but there's nothing new here except politics. https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1996006625333727410?s=20 Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/1996048243516456967?s=20 Man in TSA Sues Feds for Not Allowing Him to “Pat Down” Women   A man who says he is a woman is suing the federal government over restrictions in his job at the Transportation Security Administration that do not allow him to “pat down” female travelers. That restriction followed an executive order from President Donald Trump against recognizing transgenderism claims in the federal government. The claim being made by Mittereder is that the policy violates federal civil rights law. According to the report on the recently filed lawsuit, Mittereder began working at the TSA in 2024 and now is stationed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. He claims because he is not allowed to pat down women, his job prospects are being hurt. Source:  thelibertydaily.com  [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/TheLastRefuge2/status/1996069477197451483?s=20   questioning people (McCord, Wolfe, Jones, Warner and various staff), not merely discussing them. Rather than talk about what XXX is doing, or what motivates XXX, they would simply be going to XXX asking questions (on/off camera) and then reporting on what XXX responds with. Instead, what we are getting is a screenplay, that the ‘journalists’ (battle for influence) sell through various platforms. From here on out when I see it, I will draw attention to it. After a few examples it will become obvious. https://twitter.com/LauraLoomer/status/1996183770790048092?s=20  1, 2025, Maxine's California residence remains in default with a redemption amount still due totaling $21,302.95, despite her recent payment of $19,033.94 on August 13, 2025. Maxine also is incurring a monthly penalty of $301.45. Maxine is not competent to serve as the ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee when she cannot even keep her own house in order. https://twitter.com/SBA_Kelly/status/1995846331202457607?s=20   executives implicated in these schemes. Despite Governor Walz's best efforts to obstruct, SBA continues to work to expose abuse and hold perpetrators accountable, full stop. https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1996237594514915451?s=20 https://twitter.com/TonySeruga/status/1996226960393957435?s=20 https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1995957774510162165?s=20 https://twitter.com/almostjingo/status/1996051371251155359?s=20 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1996222235783401610?s=20 So all of these people were installed. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1996195848087384084?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1995934359569007036?s=20 President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1996218048458490302?s=20   imminent threat to the world and to the broader West, but especially the United States who they identify as the chief source of evil on the planet.” https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1996213829802307948?s=20  that received benefits more than twice – multiple people received benefits in 6 states – In February, for the first time ever, the Federal Government asked for alls rates to turn over their data to root out the fraud. —— 29 Red states said yes —— 21 Blue states said no “So as of next week, we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington https://twitter.com/MediasLies/status/1996279507079008317?s=20   states already share the data with zero privacy disasters. – USDA's own audits show $10–15 billion a year in improper payments and fraud. – The “court order” she keeps citing is a preliminary injunction, not a final ruling. Refusing basic federal oversight of a fully federally funded program isn't about privacy. It's about protecting bloated rolls and hiding waste. BREAKING: In Stunning Development, President Trump Issues Full and Unconditional Pardon to Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar  Biden's DOJ charged Cuellar, a nine-term Democrat Texas lawmaker who represents an area along the US-Mexico border, after he lashed out at both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for allowing illegal aliens to pour over the border.    the TRUTH. It is unAmerican and, as I previously stated, the Radical Left Democrats are a complete and total threat to Democracy! They will attack, rob, lie, cheat, destroy, and decimate anyone who dares to oppose their Far Left Agenda, an Agenda that, if left unchecked, will obliterate our magnificent Country. Because of these facts, and others, I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don't know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over! Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996053923820351745?s=20  despite recent disagreements: Senator Paul: “I know we have been at odds recently but in ur first term you signed an executive order to legalize Association Health Plans (that allow individuals to buy collectively health insurance via Costco, Amazon, or Sam’s Club). This collaboration brought us together and still holds the promise of lowering insurance premiums.” Paul noted the plan failed because Democrat AGs fought it in court, but it could now pass through Congress. Here’s why this matters: the current system forces individuals to buy insurance alone, giving them zero bargaining power against massive insurance companies. Association Health Plans let people band together through retailers or organizations to negotiate as a group, the same way large corporations do for their employees. More buyers in a pool means more leverage. More leverage means lower premiums. It costs nothing to implement and simply changes labor law. Competition works. Let Americans shop for insurance the same way they shop for everything else. https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1995856738994565416?s=20  Raskin against Trump Republicans to block this provision to protect the deep state. This is an easy one. This bill is DOA unless this provision gets added in as it was passed out of committee https://twitter.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1996205447917781326?s=20 -The Director and I made a long series of important personnel changes. The new leadership team has produced dramatic results which we will produce for you, in detail, as the year wraps up. They will include a historic drop in the homicide rate, along with record disruptions, arrests and drug interdictions. Many of these personnel changes have upset a group of Comey-Wray era disgruntled former agents who prefer the old ways of operating. We are not going back -We have been working on an AI project to assist our investigators and analysts in the national security space. I received an update yesterday and I am happy to report that the product looks promising. More coming on this. – We are in the end stages of a redesign of the FBI crisis management process. The redesign is intended to make information more accessible and transparent in a crisis to enable quick and effective decision making. The project should be complete by the end of the calendar year. -We saved the taxpayers billions of dollars by scrapping the plan for an expensive new FBI headquarters building. We will be moving to the existing Reagan building after decades of fruitless haggling as the current FBI headquarters building crumbles. -We relocated over a thousand headquarters based personnel out of the Washington DC area and into the field to focus on violent crime, crimes against children, and terrorism. Those agents are now working on the mission in those regional offices. -In recognition of the growing threat, and in conjunction with the President's Executive Order, we designed, launched and completed the FBI's first-ever counter-drone school last month. Special thanks to Sebastian Gorka and DDCOS Regan for their help on the project. -The work force apprehended 4 of the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives, and we are hunting down the rest. -We produced unprecedented disclosures, and took action on documents related to January 6, Crossfire Hurricane, Arctic Frost, and more. -The new leadership team, and the work force, made a series of ANTIFA related arrests in multiple states and assisted in record numbers of deportations and apprehensions. -Some of the culture changes we implemented include eliminating DEI, reforming the physical fitness test, making promotions contingent on real world results, severing ties with the SPLC and ADL, and implementing a new training curriculum to reflect current mission requirements. We dedicated significant personnel and financial assets to streamlining FOIA reform to ensure responsiveness. -We shut down multiple open air drug markets nationwide and, in conjunction with the White House, had 12 fentanyl precursors from China listed. -We created CIO and CTO positions to work with the CFO to find efficiencies and implement new technologies to assist in our mission. We conduct bi-weekly meetings and we have found and eliminated tens of millions of dollars in duplicative contracts, unnecessary real estate, and outdated technology. These are real savings to the taxpayer and each budget dollar allocated is intensely scrutinized for value. -We vastly expanded the overseas biometrics program to stop bad actors before they board a plane or vessel to the US. This gives us the ability to expand the border outwards and prevent the problems from coming here. -We are in the end stages of a reform project on our intelligence analysis positions to make them more responsive to current mission needs. We have been working with the field on this and we're happy with the progress. -We implemented a technology working group to ensure our technology tools evolve with the mission. Thank you, and God bless America and all those who defend Her.  https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1995992366553981026?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

Black Friday naysayers have been predicting its demise for years, but Adyen's Holly Worst has data proving the shopping holiday is far from dead—it's gone global. From Denmark's 6.1X surge to America's mobile wallet awakening, this year's numbers tell a story of transformation, not decline. The real shift? How we pay, when we shop, and why contactless finally caught on in the US.The Retail Super Bowl Delivered, AgainKey takeaways:Black Friday generated $43B globally with 837M transactions across Adyen's platformUS contactless payments jumped 23% YOY and mobile wallet usage doubled to 30%Denmark saw a 6.1X increase in transaction volume on Black Friday, and Spain 4.5X—Black Friday is officially a global phenomenonPeak shopping hit at 1 pm in-store and noon online (digestion first, deals second)46% of US consumers abandon checkout without their preferred payment methodAssociated Links:Check out Adyen's BFCM data hereSee our full recap of BFCM resultsCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aplós is one of the quickest-growing craft brands in the non-alc space — a premium functional spirit designed not to mimic tequila or gin, but to redefine what a cocktail experience can be without alcohol. Founded in 2018 and launched in 2020, the brand is now breaking out: Approaching 100K case sales annually, their wholesale is up more than 500% YOY, and they're ​​on pace to double their wholesale volume in 2026. In the last 12 months, Aplós has added 1,300+ chain retail doors, and on-premise placements have climbed to 750+ cocktails across 550 accounts. The company also just announced a $5 million funding round to grow production and expand its hospitality and retail footprint.In this episode, David Fudge, Co-Founder & CEO of Aplós, shares how the company is scaling through long-game brand building, deep bartender collaboration, and disciplined distribution strategy.

Epic's Tim Sweeney says it ‘makes no sense' for game stores to flag when AI has been used in development, Valve dev counters calls to scrap Steam AI disclosures, Gears Tactics developer Splash Damage puts entire studio at risk of redundancy, Phil Spencer says Xbox's Game Pass cloud hours are up 45% YoY, and a leaker says that Destiny 3 in “Extremely Early Development” at Bungie! Also: Farley pants, baby recommendations, sequel recommendations and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved, Battlefield 6, ARC Raiders, Walkabout Mini Golf, Baby Steps. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT Website Discord Bluesky Threads Instagram Facebook FOLLOW TCGS on Bluesky David on Bluesky Sean on Bluesky Mat on Bluesky James on Bluesky WATCH Twitch YouTube LISTEN Spotify Apple Podcasts Pocket Casts CREDITS Music by Nick Parton Art by Dave Chong

TIME STAMPS:00:00:01 Community Guest Intros00:00:30 Forza Horizon 6 Is Targeting Early 2026 Release Says Trusted Insider! There are also additional rumors that FH6 could be at the Xbox Developer Direct 2026!00:30:00 Phil Spencer CONFIRMS X-Cloud Gaming is UP, 45% YOY, "Meeting Gamers Where They Are" has always been the plan for Xbox, was Phil right?01:00:00 Microsoft's Chris Charla spoke to me recently about ID@Xbox, and how it seeks to improve the program for indie developers. "We don't want bringing games to Xbox to be a lengthy, painful process."01:35:00 Panel Outros and Special Message to the Community!

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.Welcome back! Today we're breaking down export sales, flash deals, China/Brazil soybean news, ethanol margins, and record-setting Black Friday spending.

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1208: Today we're joined by guest host Todd Caputo and break down why car buyers are finally pushing back on pricing and how BMW and Audi are muscling into the booming off-road segment.Show Notes with links:American car buyers are finally tapping the brakes. After years of paying whatever it took to get into a new car, stretched consumers are hitting affordability ceilings and forcing both dealers and OEMs to rethink what demand really looks like heading into 2025.Shoppers are shifting downmarket—buying used, taking longer loans, delaying purchases, and gravitating toward lower-priced models like the Chevy Trax.Industry projections for 2025–26 have softened as tariffs, inflation, and tighter labor markets cool big-ticket spending.Rising days' supply is prompting deeper discounting while lower-income borrowers fall behind on payments and overall vehicle spending drops YoY.Retailers report weaker new-vehicle margins, though service traffic is climbing as more owners try to stretch aging vehicles.“People are asking, ‘How can I afford this?'” said dealer Robert Peltier. “There are people who are in debt and living paycheck to paycheck.”The all-terrain SUV segment is heating up fast as BMW and Audi prepare to challenge icons like Wrangler, Bronco, G-Wagen, and Defender—tapping into a growing niche that's suddenly not niche at all.The off-road segment is booming: nine core models totaled 371,495 sales through Q3 2025, on pace for a post-pandemic record. Wrangler and Bronco remain the kings.Audi will build its first true off-roader on the upcoming Scout Terra/Traveler platform in South Carolina, offering both full EV and range-extender options.BMW's G74 aims straight at the G-Wagen and Defender, built on the X5 platform in Greer, SC, with U.S. production helping dodge tariff pressure.Analysts say styling—not specs—will make or break these newcomers; anything too close to G-Wagen territory risks immediate backlash.“Adding a true off-road-capable SUV will attract buyers… but whether that investment pays off is the challenge,” said S&P Global Mobility's Sam Fiorani Bernard.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Pavan Davuluri only spoke at one Ignite 2025 session, and it did not deserve the hate he got. But what did he really say? Copilot is a front-end for apps and cloud AI services, agents are background processes. Apps in Windows need to become programmatic so AI and agents can control them. You are in control. You being IT and the user. These experiences are off by default, opt-in, and optional. This is the end of whatever BS argument anyone has about this stuff. Copilot Voice because AI is better when you babble and is often more natural than typing Key concept: Apps, CLIs, etc. expect exact commands, AI is all about intent, just do what I want, not exactly what I say. This is why, yes, people WILL want to talk to their PCs (and other devices) UIs for these new features will look/feel natural in Windows Search box in Taskbar is getting updated to orchestrate between local/web search and Copilot capabilities, including agents Agents will appear as app icons in Taskbar when fired, can be check in on, can post notifications for you to attend to Integration of M365 Copilot capabilities with Windows - Better together story, with things like Writing Assistance for every text box Accessibility updates thanks to AI - Fluid Dictation, which is what makes Copilot Voice make so much sense All the security, privacy, and IT management the audience expects Windows Insider Program Dev and Beta builds include Full Screen Experience on all PCs, new Notepad app, more Hardware - Earnings Lenovo PC business up 12 percent to $15.1 billion, 25.6 percent unit share HP up 4 percent to $14.6 billion, but job cuts for AI are coming Dell PC business up 3 percent to $1.41 billion AI and Stuff Microsoft releases local Fara-7B agentic model for computer use ChatGPT's new coding model is optimized for Windows Dear God, you must see Nano Banana Pro to understand Google's lead Google is bringing AirDrop to Android, starting with Pixel. This is what happens when regulators "force design changes on OS makers." Xbox and Gaming Xbox Cloud Gaming usage is up 45 percent YOY. Sure. What's 45 percent of 3 people? Xbox Cloud Gaming is adding per-game resolution settings, to 1440p for Game Pass Ultimate customers ROG Xbox Ally is getting default game profiles, in preview for 40 titles now Microsoft open sources the source code for Zork, Zork II, and Zork III New Chromebook buyers get one year of Nvidia GeForce NOW with Fast Pass Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Finding experts is more important than ever We live in the age of stupid. Find the smart and never let go Also, Xbox is having a good Black Friday sale Also: Perplexity Comet on Android RunAs Radio this week: Christmas Gifts for SysAdmins with Joey Snow and Rick Claus https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/1012 Brown liquor pick of the week: Sidetrack Stone Whisky https://www.huskdistillers.com/shop/sidetrack-stone-whisky These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/960 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsors: outsystems.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

Pavan Davuluri only spoke at one Ignite 2025 session, and it did not deserve the hate he got. But what did he really say? Copilot is a front-end for apps and cloud AI services, agents are background processes. Apps in Windows need to become programmatic so AI and agents can control them. You are in control. You being IT and the user. These experiences are off by default, opt-in, and optional. This is the end of whatever BS argument anyone has about this stuff. Copilot Voice because AI is better when you babble and is often more natural than typing Key concept: Apps, CLIs, etc. expect exact commands, AI is all about intent, just do what I want, not exactly what I say. This is why, yes, people WILL want to talk to their PCs (and other devices) UIs for these new features will look/feel natural in Windows Search box in Taskbar is getting updated to orchestrate between local/web search and Copilot capabilities, including agents Agents will appear as app icons in Taskbar when fired, can be check in on, can post notifications for you to attend to Integration of M365 Copilot capabilities with Windows - Better together story, with things like Writing Assistance for every text box Accessibility updates thanks to AI - Fluid Dictation, which is what makes Copilot Voice make so much sense All the security, privacy, and IT management the audience expects Windows Insider Program Dev and Beta builds include Full Screen Experience on all PCs, new Notepad app, more Hardware - Earnings Lenovo PC business up 12 percent to $15.1 billion, 25.6 percent unit share HP up 4 percent to $14.6 billion, but job cuts for AI are coming Dell PC business up 3 percent to $1.41 billion AI and Stuff Microsoft releases local Fara-7B agentic model for computer use ChatGPT's new coding model is optimized for Windows Dear God, you must see Nano Banana Pro to understand Google's lead Google is bringing AirDrop to Android, starting with Pixel. This is what happens when regulators "force design changes on OS makers." Xbox and Gaming Xbox Cloud Gaming usage is up 45 percent YOY. Sure. What's 45 percent of 3 people? Xbox Cloud Gaming is adding per-game resolution settings, to 1440p for Game Pass Ultimate customers ROG Xbox Ally is getting default game profiles, in preview for 40 titles now Microsoft open sources the source code for Zork, Zork II, and Zork III New Chromebook buyers get one year of Nvidia GeForce NOW with Fast Pass Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Finding experts is more important than ever We live in the age of stupid. Find the smart and never let go Also, Xbox is having a good Black Friday sale App pick of the week: Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge Also: Perplexity Comet on Android RunAs Radio this week: Christmas Gifts for SysAdmins with Joey Snow and Rick Claus https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/1012 Brown liquor pick of the week: Sidetrack Stone Whisky https://www.huskdistillers.com/shop/sidetrack-stone-whisky These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/960 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsors: outsystems.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

A repodcast of our Thanksgiving Eve live show: following up on your comments on the state of bicycle touring, plus a bunch of great questions in an Ask Me Anything segment! Followup: Is Bicycle Touring in Decline? More emails on this than any topic in a while. Some selected thoughts from listeners: Regarding ACA Multiple listeners: Could ACA  be losing older members in its attempts to expand into younger audiences, but worse… might not be succeeding on either front? It's hard to do both, and that's the challenge… you need to find what drives your constituencies and sometimes you swing and miss. @BounceBackWesterner"I subscribed to the ACA magazine for one year.  I was happy with one edition, but then, it seemed like there was a trend to rides that were extremely challenging and demanding whether that be road or offroad. These folks predominantly seemed younger and maybe that's where most of their subscriptions come from. " Another point: ACA was built on a need which may not exist anymore. Before they were the best and maybe only resource for routes and maps that had been vetted. Now there are way more resources. Listener Harry Hellerman was a great example of someone who's let his ACA membership lapse after 20 years. The reason? Kind of what ACA was saying… he says he's aging out and the roads are now occupied by larger and larger vehicles, so there's a safety concern. Regarding Touring being down Multiple listeners: Travel is down across the board, but travel to the US in particular has taken a huge hit. Lots of factors there, but you can't ignore the current politics as a possible reason here. Listener Andrew Piper: "Data point: For a 2-year comparison, the overall demand for search terms around "bike touring" is infact down 25%-35% YoY. However, using the same comparison, the demand for terms around "bikepacking" is up about 40%. Which does lend itself to the change in nomenclature more than an actual decline in interest." "I think I am maybe a couple years younger than yourself at best. Of the people I have seen doing this, I always feel I am on the younger side of the sport. Logistically it makes sense. Who has time to do this....older people."  Bicycling for older generations was a big part of freedom - it might not be that for younger generations? Listener Dr. G4 wrote a really thoughtful email from the perspective of a younger rider. Shorter touring is much more of a thing Some of the places where the routes go don't feel welcoming (political, demographics) Real shift to urbanism amongst younger generation Poor infrastructure/safety perception: ACA represents an older version of bicycle travel (longer trips) "I think what the next generation wants is not road maps, but trail maps and advocacy for more trails and trail amenities (and, I might note, probably videos, how-tos, explainers, and meetups, not print versions of easily-googleable information)." "it's clear from the overabundance of urbanist youth getting around by transit, bicycles, or even scooters that travel by bicycle isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But turning them into bicycle tourers involves developing routes and programs that are closer to cities and farther from cars, marketing dedicated bicycle trails as one piece of an integrated solution for transit- and bicycle-accessible nature, specifically focussing on routes with many transit junctions to allow long routes to be chewed in smaller chunks, helping the rapidly-growing contingent of bicycle commuters to learn how to use their bicycles beyond weekdays to short or long weekends (with week-long or more tours being an eventual end goal, not the primary purpose), and politically advocating for car-displacing trains, trails, and cycle tracks that make all this possible." •Rails to Trails Conservancy may have the better model?

Pavan Davuluri only spoke at one Ignite 2025 session, and it did not deserve the hate he got. But what did he really say? Copilot is a front-end for apps and cloud AI services, agents are background processes. Apps in Windows need to become programmatic so AI and agents can control them. You are in control. You being IT and the user. These experiences are off by default, opt-in, and optional. This is the end of whatever BS argument anyone has about this stuff. Copilot Voice because AI is better when you babble and is often more natural than typing Key concept: Apps, CLIs, etc. expect exact commands, AI is all about intent, just do what I want, not exactly what I say. This is why, yes, people WILL want to talk to their PCs (and other devices) UIs for these new features will look/feel natural in Windows Search box in Taskbar is getting updated to orchestrate between local/web search and Copilot capabilities, including agents Agents will appear as app icons in Taskbar when fired, can be check in on, can post notifications for you to attend to Integration of M365 Copilot capabilities with Windows - Better together story, with things like Writing Assistance for every text box Accessibility updates thanks to AI - Fluid Dictation, which is what makes Copilot Voice make so much sense All the security, privacy, and IT management the audience expects Windows Insider Program Dev and Beta builds include Full Screen Experience on all PCs, new Notepad app, more Hardware - Earnings Lenovo PC business up 12 percent to $15.1 billion, 25.6 percent unit share HP up 4 percent to $14.6 billion, but job cuts for AI are coming Dell PC business up 3 percent to $1.41 billion AI and Stuff Microsoft releases local Fara-7B agentic model for computer use ChatGPT's new coding model is optimized for Windows Dear God, you must see Nano Banana Pro to understand Google's lead Google is bringing AirDrop to Android, starting with Pixel. This is what happens when regulators "force design changes on OS makers." Xbox and Gaming Xbox Cloud Gaming usage is up 45 percent YOY. Sure. What's 45 percent of 3 people? Xbox Cloud Gaming is adding per-game resolution settings, to 1440p for Game Pass Ultimate customers ROG Xbox Ally is getting default game profiles, in preview for 40 titles now Microsoft open sources the source code for Zork, Zork II, and Zork III New Chromebook buyers get one year of Nvidia GeForce NOW with Fast Pass Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Finding experts is more important than ever We live in the age of stupid. Find the smart and never let go Also, Xbox is having a good Black Friday sale App pick of the week: Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge Also: Perplexity Comet on Android RunAs Radio this week: Christmas Gifts for SysAdmins with Joey Snow and Rick Claus https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/1012 Brown liquor pick of the week: Sidetrack Stone Whisky https://www.huskdistillers.com/shop/sidetrack-stone-whisky These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/960 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsors: outsystems.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

Pavan Davuluri only spoke at one Ignite 2025 session, and it did not deserve the hate he got. But what did he really say? Copilot is a front-end for apps and cloud AI services, agents are background processes. Apps in Windows need to become programmatic so AI and agents can control them. You are in control. You being IT and the user. These experiences are off by default, opt-in, and optional. This is the end of whatever BS argument anyone has about this stuff. Copilot Voice because AI is better when you babble and is often more natural than typing Key concept: Apps, CLIs, etc. expect exact commands, AI is all about intent, just do what I want, not exactly what I say. This is why, yes, people WILL want to talk to their PCs (and other devices) UIs for these new features will look/feel natural in Windows Search box in Taskbar is getting updated to orchestrate between local/web search and Copilot capabilities, including agents Agents will appear as app icons in Taskbar when fired, can be check in on, can post notifications for you to attend to Integration of M365 Copilot capabilities with Windows - Better together story, with things like Writing Assistance for every text box Accessibility updates thanks to AI - Fluid Dictation, which is what makes Copilot Voice make so much sense All the security, privacy, and IT management the audience expects Windows Insider Program Dev and Beta builds include Full Screen Experience on all PCs, new Notepad app, more Hardware - Earnings Lenovo PC business up 12 percent to $15.1 billion, 25.6 percent unit share HP up 4 percent to $14.6 billion, but job cuts for AI are coming Dell PC business up 3 percent to $1.41 billion AI and Stuff Microsoft releases local Fara-7B agentic model for computer use ChatGPT's new coding model is optimized for Windows Dear God, you must see Nano Banana Pro to understand Google's lead Google is bringing AirDrop to Android, starting with Pixel. This is what happens when regulators "force design changes on OS makers." Xbox and Gaming Xbox Cloud Gaming usage is up 45 percent YOY. Sure. What's 45 percent of 3 people? Xbox Cloud Gaming is adding per-game resolution settings, to 1440p for Game Pass Ultimate customers ROG Xbox Ally is getting default game profiles, in preview for 40 titles now Microsoft open sources the source code for Zork, Zork II, and Zork III New Chromebook buyers get one year of Nvidia GeForce NOW with Fast Pass Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Finding experts is more important than ever We live in the age of stupid. Find the smart and never let go Also, Xbox is having a good Black Friday sale Also: Perplexity Comet on Android RunAs Radio this week: Christmas Gifts for SysAdmins with Joey Snow and Rick Claus https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/1012 Brown liquor pick of the week: Sidetrack Stone Whisky https://www.huskdistillers.com/shop/sidetrack-stone-whisky These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/960 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsors: outsystems.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

Pavan Davuluri only spoke at one Ignite 2025 session, and it did not deserve the hate he got. But what did he really say? Copilot is a front-end for apps and cloud AI services, agents are background processes. Apps in Windows need to become programmatic so AI and agents can control them. You are in control. You being IT and the user. These experiences are off by default, opt-in, and optional. This is the end of whatever BS argument anyone has about this stuff. Copilot Voice because AI is better when you babble and is often more natural than typing Key concept: Apps, CLIs, etc. expect exact commands, AI is all about intent, just do what I want, not exactly what I say. This is why, yes, people WILL want to talk to their PCs (and other devices) UIs for these new features will look/feel natural in Windows Search box in Taskbar is getting updated to orchestrate between local/web search and Copilot capabilities, including agents Agents will appear as app icons in Taskbar when fired, can be check in on, can post notifications for you to attend to Integration of M365 Copilot capabilities with Windows - Better together story, with things like Writing Assistance for every text box Accessibility updates thanks to AI - Fluid Dictation, which is what makes Copilot Voice make so much sense All the security, privacy, and IT management the audience expects Windows Insider Program Dev and Beta builds include Full Screen Experience on all PCs, new Notepad app, more Hardware - Earnings Lenovo PC business up 12 percent to $15.1 billion, 25.6 percent unit share HP up 4 percent to $14.6 billion, but job cuts for AI are coming Dell PC business up 3 percent to $1.41 billion AI and Stuff Microsoft releases local Fara-7B agentic model for computer use ChatGPT's new coding model is optimized for Windows Dear God, you must see Nano Banana Pro to understand Google's lead Google is bringing AirDrop to Android, starting with Pixel. This is what happens when regulators "force design changes on OS makers." Xbox and Gaming Xbox Cloud Gaming usage is up 45 percent YOY. Sure. What's 45 percent of 3 people? Xbox Cloud Gaming is adding per-game resolution settings, to 1440p for Game Pass Ultimate customers ROG Xbox Ally is getting default game profiles, in preview for 40 titles now Microsoft open sources the source code for Zork, Zork II, and Zork III New Chromebook buyers get one year of Nvidia GeForce NOW with Fast Pass Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Finding experts is more important than ever We live in the age of stupid. Find the smart and never let go Also, Xbox is having a good Black Friday sale App pick of the week: Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge Also: Perplexity Comet on Android RunAs Radio this week: Christmas Gifts for SysAdmins with Joey Snow and Rick Claus https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/1012 Brown liquor pick of the week: Sidetrack Stone Whisky https://www.huskdistillers.com/shop/sidetrack-stone-whisky These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/960 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsors: outsystems.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

FRE is one of the most quietly powerful brands in American wine. Launched in 1992, it now holds 48% dollar share of the U.S. non-alcoholic wine market, sells ~439,000 cases a year, and is growing nearly 16% in volume YOY — all while the broader wine category softens.In this episode, Brie Wohld, Vice President of Marketing at Trinchero Family Estates, breaks down how a 30-year-old NA brand is driving double-digit growth and helping keep wine culturally relevant for flexi-drinkers.

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links—Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links—Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1202: Day 2 from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show, and we host Amit Chandarana, CEO of Curbee to talk about how there are now 16 independent repair shops to every 1 franchise dealership.. Plus, Paul and Kyle get gifts to welcome them to their first West Coast activation.This episode is brought to you by our Automobility LA Press and Content Partner Curbee, the fastest growing mobile service technology platform for dealerships.Dealers may be facing a bitter reality as new data reveals there are now 16 independent repair shops for every franchised dealership in the U.S.—and that gap is only growing.The 16:1 ratio highlights a major competitive disadvantage for dealerships in service accessibility.With over 300K independent shops and aging vehicles on the road, independents are winning on location, price, and speed.Dealership service appointments are down 6% YoY while consumer expectations around convenience continue rising.Mobile service is emerging as the top solution—dealers offering it see high ROI and retention gains.“The 16 is more than a ratio—it's a reality check,” says Curbee. “Convenience wins and accessibility is the new loyalty program.”Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Subscribe to the Blockspace newsletter for market-making news as it hits the wire! Welcome back to The Mining Pod! Today, Haris Basit, CSO at Bitdeer, joins us to break down their Q3 results, where revenue hit $169.7M (up 173% YoY), self-mining production doubled to 1,109 BTC, and they achieved 41.2 EH/s of self-mining capacity. We dive deep into Bitdeer's AI and HPC expansion strategy across sites in Norway, Tennessee, Washington, and Ohio, discuss the SEALMINER A3's production schedule and A4 chip development delays, and get updates on the Massillon facility fire recovery. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com **Notes:** • Revenue up 173% YoY to $169.7M • Self-mining doubled: 565 to 1,109 BTC • Hash rate reached 41.2 exahash in October • Adjusted EBITDA: $43M vs -$7.9M last year • SEALMINER delays • AI expansion: planned across 4 sites Timestamps: 00:00 Start 03:32 Overview of report 05:43 Colocation vs self mining vs neoloud 09:30 Why do both colocation & neocloud? 10:42 Facility fire 12:13 Bhutan 15:01 Convertible notes 16:43 Future financing options 18:54 Cloud mining profitability 19:57 Choosing where to locate services 22:11 Alberta 24:03 Ethiopia 25:20 ASIC production 28:35 A4 delays 31:39 What's coming?

Has anyone else noticed that compared to a few of its peers…the Premier Protein growth story gets overlooked by pundits far too often? BellRing Brands (NYSE: BRBR) is a portfolio that owns a collection of convenient nutrition brands like Premier Protein and Dymatize Nutrition, which was previously wholly-owned by Post Holdings. A fast-paced and busy lifestyle is pushing consumers to switch to quick and healthy meal options. This has resulted in above average categorical growth rates and increased household penetration of RTD protein shakes that promote active lifestyles. Additionally, powders are becoming more mainstream, and category proliferation has created an environment where more consumers are purchasing both every day and performance nutrition positioned protein products at grocery stores and mass retailers. Bellring Brands reported 2025 Q4 net sales of $648.2 million, which was up 16.6% YoY. Premier Protein (~86% of BellRing Brands total revenue) grew 14.9% YoY, driven by strong volume growth. Dymatize Nutrition was up 32.9% YoY, stemming from strong volume growth and pulled forward international revenue ahead of planned pricing actions in fiscal year 2026. But since this was the company's fiscal fourth quarter, BellRing Brands annual results included generating net sales of $2.32 billion, an increase of 16.1% YoY…which comprised of a 14.7% volume increase and 2.2% increase in price/product mix. Moreover, I provide deep dives into Premier Protein RTD protein shakes business activity, along with examining similar metrics surrounding the protein powders from Premier Protein and Dymatize Nutrition. But my latest first principles content piece will end with briefly analyzing the product development variable defining this next phase of RTD protein beverages market. Premier Protein owns just over a quarter of the market…and the other quarter market share is held by the two RTD protein beverages under Fairlife (owned by The Coca-Cola Company). And from a product development standpoint, (in many ways) these are different products. Premier Protein is essentially an emulsified protein powder beverage…which has a comparatively thicker (higher viscosity) fluid and generally the consumption experience reminds you of drinking a healthy milkshake. Then, Fairlife (Core Power) is primarily ultra-filtered milk…which is thinner and generally the consumption experience reminds you of drinking a typical beverage. So, who (or I guess technically which product approach) wins? I don't think there's a definitive answer to this question just yet…despite Fairlife (Core Power) retail sales growth outpacing Premier Protein, and the gap closing quickly across a collection of other commercial metrics. While the competitive landscape is filled with declining legacy, newer insurgent, and crossover brands…it will continue as mainly a marketplace duopoly for some time, as it will take many years to replicate the manufacturing capacity, supply chain, product expertise, brand equity, and retailer relationships of these market leaders.

In this episode, the hosts dissect a $17.5M electrolyte powder Amazon FBA brand with 86% margins and 20K subscribers—debating whether it's a goldmine or a marketing death spiral in disguise.Business Listing – https://quietlight.com/listings/16065383/Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

We've heard that Microsoft will go off script this year with a 26H1 release of Windows 11 specifically aimed at Snapdragon X2-based PCs, as it did with the early release of 24H2 last year for the first-generation Snapdragon X. Also, Microsoft's latest earnings call left analysts baffled as execs dodged questions about multibillion-dollar AI losses and the real story behind OpenAI's ballooning deficit.26H1! Now confirmed by the release notes of a Windows Update And the Dev channel will soon switch over to 26H1 testing, with Beta moving to 25H2 (from 24H2) Expectations? All three versions will be functionally identical except for some Copilot+ PC-specific features that may be briefly only on Snapdragon X2. And then there will be a 26H2 for everyone More Windows 11 Microsoft (over) simplifies its Windows Update naming scheme, and then has to backtrack a bit because of admin/IT backlash October Preview Update screwed up Task Manager a little bit Dev/Beta update noted above included a new build with Ask Copilot in the Taskbar, Full-screen experience for Xbox gaming handhelds, Shared audio over Bluetooth LE in preview, and improvements to the WOA Prism emulator (which partially explains the expectations bit above) Microsoft Edge password manager can now save and sync passkeys, but you should still use a third-party password/identity manager Microsoft Store gets a bulk installer but only on the web Earnings learnings Microsoft earnings: Revenues up 18 percent to $77.7 billion but cost of AI is spiraling out of control and will only get bigger this FY Productivity and Business Processes revenues up 17 percent YOY to $33 billion Intelligent Cloud revenues of $30.9 billion, a gain of 28 percent YOY More Personal Computing delivered $13.8 billion in revenues, up 4 percent YOY. CapEx/AI infrastructure build-out costs are $34.9 billion (vs. $20 billion one year ago), plus a $4.1 billion loss attributed to OpenAI that was mentioned in a 10-Q (SEC) filing but not in its earnings reports Paul's analysis sticks mostly to Wall Street complicity in Microsoft's earnings non-transparency shenanigans. This is getting weird, given the amounts of money we're now talking about This isn't a first, but Spotify's earnings announcements includes a few BS sleights of hand too AMD: 36 percent revenue growth isn't enough for Wall Street Alphabet/Google: Up 16 percent to $102.3 billion, ads are 72.5 percent of revenues Amazon: Up 13 percent to $180 billion in revenues, $30 from AWS Apple: Up 8 percent to $102.5 billion, this quarter will be its best ever AI, antitrust, & dev Epic Games and Google announce settlement in Epic v. Google, a dramatic common-sense move that Apple should (but won't) emulate Regulatory filings tied to Microsoft earnings suggest OpenAI lost $12 billion in most recent quarter Freed from Microsoft, OpenAI immediately signs $38 billion infrastructure deal with AWS .NET 10 to launch next week at .NET Conf 2025 Xbox & games Xbox Game Pass getting Call of Duty Black Ops 7, five more Day One games in coming days (with an *) Xbox October Update rolls out with game shader preloading on Xbox Ally, new modules in Game Hubs on console, more games to stream on Xbox Cloud Gaming, more Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a blockbuster first year with T These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/957 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsors: helixsleep.com/windows framer.com/design promo code WW 1password.com/windowsweekly auraframes.com/ink

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureUK, Germany and many other questions are struggling through the green new scam, this will not end well for them. People are experiencing Biden/Fed inflation from the past 4 years. Trump is countering this with low energy prices. Trump makes deal with China.  Obama now sending the message out to the infiltrators to get ready for the battles or we are finished. The [DS] will be moving from an information war to a physical war. Kash Patel countered and dismantles another [FF] . When the crimes are exposed the D party will cease to exist. They will fight to the very end because they do not want to go on trial. In the end this will all fail.   Economy Rooftop Solar Panel, Battery Installations Are Causing Fires in the UK The once-Great Britain has gone all-in on "green energy" as a matter of national policy, and it hasn't worked out too well for them. There's just one problem: They're catching fire. A surge in house fires caused by solar panels and their batteries is sparking safety concerns over Ed Miliband's plan for millions more rooftop installations. UK fire services faced a blaze involving a solar panel once every two days in 2024, according to data gathered by insurance company QBE, marking a 60pc increase in the past two years. That's a lot of fires, presenting a deadly danger - and a 60 percent increase in two years is nothing short of alarming. There may be more to it than just the solar panels, but they are certainly a contributing factor:   Source: redstate.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1984594356154831267 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Confirms He Apologized to President Trump for Reagan Ad Effort   GYEONGJU, South Korea, Nov 1 (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday he had apologised to U.S. President Donald Trump over an anti-tariff political advertisement and had told Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to run it. Carney, speaking to reporters after attending an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, said he had made the apology privately to Trump when they both attended a dinner hosted by South Korea's president on Wednesday. “I did apologise to the president,” Carney said, confirming comments by Trump made on Friday. Carney also confirmed that he had reviewed the ad with Ford before it aired but said he had opposed using it. “I told Ford I did not want to go forward with the ad,” he said. The ad, commissioned by Ford, an outspoken Conservative politician who is sometimes compared to Trump, uses a snippet of Republican icon and former President Ronald Reagan saying that tariffs cause trade wars and economic disaster.   Source: theconservativetreehouse.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1984268764414631994   at +8.2%, Vermont at +7.0%, and Maryland at +7.0%. This was followed by West Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, with increases of +6.9%, +6.8%, and +6.6%, respectively. Concerningly, grocery prices in rural areas jumped +7.6% YoY compared to+5.6% for residents of large cities. US consumers are still drowning in inflation. People start feeling the effects of inflation almost immediately in tangible ways,