Morning Brew Daily – August 29, 2025

Episode Theme:
This lively episode covers major U.S. business and culture news: the launch of Amtrak’s much-anticipated NextGen Acela high-speed trains, a dazzling AI-powered “Wizard of Oz” experience at the Las Vegas Sphere, deep reflections on New Orleans 20 years after Katrina, the U.S.’s surprise tariff bombshell on India, college football/TV rivalries, a Build-A-Bear stock surge, and a glance at personal plans for the Labor Day weekend.

1. Amtrak Launches NextGen Acela: America’s New “High-Speed” Trains

[03:03–07:16]

Key Points:

• Newest Fleet: Amtrak’s new NextGen Acela trains—touted as “the fastest trains in America”—have officially hit the Boston-to-D.C. corridor. Top speed is 160 mph, 10 mph faster than the current fleet.
• But Not So Fast: Due to century-old U.S. rail infrastructure, the new trains are initially slower than the outgoing Acelas: New train trip D.C.-Boston is scheduled at 7h 5min, versus 6h 56min on current trains.

  “The bottleneck is not the trains themselves…these trains are pretty sweet…but the infrastructure is what’s holding it back right now.” —Toby Howell [04:21]

• Record Ridership: Despite the jokes, demand is up—Amtrak saw record ridership in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Acela recorded 3 million passenger trips, generating $530 million in sales. New trains will increase capacity by 27%.
• Profitability Struggles: Amtrak lost $700 million last year and aims for operational profit by 2028, which the White House is pressing for.
• U.S. Lags the World: The U.S.'s so-called “high-speed” trains are slow compared to global peers (“true” high-speed is above 186 mph). For comparison, China's fastest train clocks 217 mph.

  “If you go around the world, a number of train systems do exceed 186 miles per hour…The United States is still behind in terms of how fast these trains can go.” —Neal Freyman [06:40]

Memorable Moment:

• Humorous flag redesign ideas for Massachusetts segue into the Amtrak topic:

  “One of the flag submissions is just a dinosaur running while holding a cup of Dunkin.” —Toby Howell [01:39]

2. 20 Years After Katrina: Hard Truths and Hidden Successes in New Orleans

[07:16–11:18]

Key Points:

• Storm’s Impact: Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005, killing 1,800, displacing 1 million, and inflicting $200B in damages—the costliest in U.S. history.
• Recovery Spending: The government poured $140B into recovery efforts—more than the Marshall Plan (adjusted for inflation) or rebuilding Lower Manhattan after 9/11.
• Mixed Legacy:
  • Critics see the recovery as “painful, expensive, and ultimately a failure.” Funds were poorly coordinated, benefiting contractors more than ordinary residents.

    “More unequal and poorer than it was before Katrina…the $140B was not spent wisely.” —Neal Freyman, summarizing NYT op-ed [08:34]

  • Yet, some triumphs:
    • The West Closure Complex: Now the “gold standard” for U.S. flood prevention.
    • School System Overhaul: Switch to all-charter schools boosted graduation rates from 56% to 80%.

      “Test scores, high school graduation rates, college going—pretty much every metric across the board…has improved.” —Neal Freyman [10:34]

• City’s Fragile Future: Population is still down 23% vs. 2000. Ongoing economic and geographic vulnerabilities make the future uncertain.

3. Stock of the Week: Sphere’s “Wizard of Oz” AI Extravaganza

[11:18–15:37]

Key Points:

• Spectacle Unveiled: Las Vegas Sphere debuts an AI-powered, “sensory rollercoaster” remake of The Wizard of Oz.
  • 1700 seats, $100+ tickets, 160,000 sq. ft. LED, 167,000 speakers, wind machines, fire effects, drone “flying monkeys.”
  • Over 200,000 advance tickets sold.

    “You can see the yellow brick road stretched out over its 160,000 square foot LED screen and can hear the rest of the tornado on its 167,000 speakers.” —Toby Howell [11:36]

• AI Controversy: Outcry over using AI to extend visuals beyond the film’s original 1939 frame.

  “…Dorothy has legs in a particular scene where it was cut off before…the Cowardly Lion and Uncle Henry…were generated to be on the screen in this particular format…” —Neal Freyman [13:05]

  • Detractors call it “artistic butchery” and mourn the “death of cinema,” fearing AI erodes creative jobs.
  • Producers counter that immersive experiences are the next evolution—“We have this insane medium. Why not use it?” [14:19]
• Why Oz?
  • It’s “the most viewed movie in history” (Library of Congress), and itself was a 1939 technical marvel.

Memorable Quotes:

“Maybe it’s just an ultimate commodification of classic IP. Or maybe it is an awesome reimagining.” —Toby Howell [14:19]

4. Dog of the Week: U.S. Tariffs Slam Indian Exports

[17:10–19:46]

Key Points:

• Shock Tariffs: The U.S. slapped a 50% tariff on Indian goods—a historic high—comprising a retaliation for Russian oil purchases and reciprocal duties.

  “A jewelry industry leader called it an earthquake.” —Neal Freyman [17:10]

• Broad Impact: Textiles, jewelry, shrimp/farming—industries employing millions—face existential risks. Two-thirds of Indian goods exports to the U.S. will be hit; electronics and pharma exempt.
• Ripple Effects:
  • India has become deeply dependent on Russian oil (from <1% to 40% of imports since the Ukraine invasion).
  • Indian companies save billions, but now face harsh U.S. penalties.

    “Indian refiners have saved around $17 billion on buying Russian crude oil since 2022…these are big numbers…not going to be easy to just immediately find a fungible source…” —Toby Howell [18:38]

  • India seeks new customers, e.g., Japan, to counter lost U.S. market share.

5. College Football’s Media Rivalry: ESPN vs. Fox, and The Bill Belichick Show

[19:46–23:41]

Key Points:

• Showdown in Columbus: Saturday’s Texas vs. Ohio State doubles as a TV “frat boy takeover”: Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” (with Dave Portnoy) vs. ESPN’s “Game Day” (with Pat McAfee), battling for supremacy and viewership.
  • ESPN still leads—2.2M viewers vs. Fox’s 1M [22:01].

  “…the biggest rivalry isn’t even taking place on the field. It’s taking place before the game and during the broadcast itself.” —Toby Howell [22:37]

• Belichick in College: Bill Belichick’s new gig at UNC is overshadowed by headlines about his relationship with 24-year-old Jordan Hudson, their business filings, and trademark attempts.

  “UNC already sold out football tickets faster than it ever has, hoping to get this return that it spent a ton of money on Bill Belichick…” —Neal Freyman [23:41]

6. Rapid-Fire Headlines

[23:41–27:54]

• Fed Showdown: Fed Governor Lisa Cook sues President Trump to stop her removal over mortgage form allegations. Potential for Supreme Court involvement; implications for central bank independence.

  “…could have massive ramifications for the central bank’s independence, which is seen as a bedrock of the global financial system.” —Neal Freyman [24:34]

• Regulator Firings: Robert Primus, of the Surface Transportation Board, is fired post-Amtrak ribbon cutting, possibly for not “aligning” with America-first rail mergers.
• Build-A-Bear’s Remarkable Run: Stock soars after strong earnings; 14 new stores, 40% of revenue now from teens/adults (vs. <20% in 2022).

  “Build-A-Bear over the past five years is up 2300% compared to Nvidia’s 1200% gain.” —Neal Freyman [27:54] “Who needs AI when you have custom stuffed animals you can put funny little outfits on.” —Toby Howell [27:54]

7. Weekend Preview: Hosts’ Picks

[28:04–29:28]

• Neal: Noting Oasis’ long-awaited U.S. stadium tour. “FOMO is a powerful thing.”
• Toby: Heading to England for best man duties; entire apartment is overrun with “fascinators.”

  “Fascinators. They are like these tiny formal headpieces…think about what Kate Middleton wears all the time.” —Toby Howell [29:11]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “The bottleneck is not the trains themselves…but the infrastructure is what’s holding it back right now.” – Toby Howell [04:21]
• “More unequal and poorer than it was before Katrina…the $140B was not spent wisely.” – Neal Freyman [08:34]
• “You can see the yellow brick road stretched out over its 160,000 square foot LED screen.” – Toby Howell [11:36]
• “A jewelry industry leader called it an earthquake.” – Neal Freyman [17:10]
• “Who needs AI when you have custom stuffed animals you can put funny little outfits on.” – Toby Howell [27:54]
• “Fascinators…tiny formal headpieces…think about what Kate Middleton wears all the time.” – Toby Howell [29:11]

Episode Recap

A breezy but insightful Morning Brew Daily, packed with both major headline analysis (Amtrak’s future, Katrina legacy, global supply chain tension, AI in entertainment) and fresh pop culture tidbits (college football drama, the adult plushie craze). The hosts, Neal and Toby, blend hard business facts with offbeat humor and memorable sound bites for a fast start to your day.