Morning Brew Daily Summary Episode: Users Trick UK’s Age Verification Law & KPop Takes Over Netflix
Release Date: July 29, 2025
Hosts: Neal Freyman & Toby Howell

Introduction

In the July 29, 2025 episode of Morning Brew Daily, hosts Neal Freyman and Toby Howell delve into a variety of engaging topics ranging from emerging drink trends and stringent age verification laws in the UK to a surge in small-scale real estate investments and the meteoric rise of a K-Pop anime sensation on Netflix. The episode concludes with insightful discussions on the booming bobblehead memorabilia market and several pressing global headlines.

Spaghetti: The Summer's Hottest New Drink

The episode kicks off with Neal introducing a novel summer beverage known as the "spaghetti." Initially confusing to many, including Toby, the drink is a creative blend of Miller High Life beer topped with Aperol, earning aliases like the NASCAR Spritz or Hobo Negroni.

• Notable Quote:
  Neal Freyman [00:25]: “A drink that got its start as a secret menu item for bartenders and others in the service industry has officially hit the mainstream.”

The origin traces back to a Baltimore brewery, where it was crafted as a “bastardized Aperol spritz.” Its popularity has skyrocketed, with Insider reporting a 65% increase in orders in the first half of 2025 compared to last year, and a staggering 1,000% rise since 2022.

• Toby's Take:
  Toby Howell [01:04]: “It captures the vibes perfectly right now. So next time you're out, give it an order.”

UK’s Age Verification Law and the VPN Surge

A significant portion of the episode addresses the UK's new Online Safety Act, which mandates robust age verification for online platforms displaying adult content. Despite the law's intention to protect minors, Neal and Toby discuss the unintended consequences, notably the surge in VPN usage as users circumvent these restrictions.

• Neal’s Explanation:
  Neal Freyman [02:28]: “The Online Safety act... requires that online platforms... use a method that is 'strong and highly effective.'”

The law’s enforcement faces challenges as platforms like Pornhub, X, Reddit, and Discord have adopted easily bypassed age checks. Recent data shows that VPN app downloads in the UK have surged, with Proton reporting a 1,800% spike.

• Toby’s Insight:
  Toby Howell [04:06]: “A lot of people... because a lot of countries are going to see changes when it comes to Internet privacy.”

The hosts also highlight global parallels, noting similar legislative moves in the US, France, Ireland, and Australia, raising concerns about privacy invasions and the technology's ability to accurately verify age without compromising user data.

• Neal’s Concerns:
  Neal Freyman [06:04]: “These are very sensitive pieces of personal information... security experts are saying this is not just a question of if these will get hacked, it's a question of when.”

Real Estate Trends: Surge in Individual Investors

As mortgage rates linger near 7%, the traditional housing market faces a slowdown in individual homebuyers. In contrast, individual and small-scale investors are capitalizing on the opportunity, leading to a record 30% of single-family home purchases this year, up from an average of 18.5% between 2020 and 2023.

• Neal’s Analysis:
  Neal Freyman [09:09]: “Investors are swooping in... because very few individual homebuyers are buying a house right now.”

Toby elaborates on why smaller investors dominate the market, citing their ability to take risks and the reduced competition from individual buyers. This trend is further supported by regional variations, with hotspots like Hartford, Springfield, and New York City experiencing significant price hikes due to constrained inventory, while southern markets like Austin and Tampa see declining prices thanks to ample new constructions.

• Toby’s Observation:
  Toby Howell [09:59]: “Smaller investors can take a lot more risk... so they're just so much more active right now.”

Entertainment Spotlight: K-Pop Anime Takes Over Netflix

A highlight of the episode is the explosive success of the anime movie K Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix. Originating as a modest release with 9.3 million viewers, the film has since surged to become the most-watched animated movie in Netflix history, also propelling its fictional band’s single to the top of Spotify's global charts.

• Neal’s Excitement:
  Neal Freyman [12:49]: “Song of the Summer has to be 'Golden' by Hunt Tricks... it's so good.”

The movie's global appeal is partly attributed to its use of North American English dialogue, making it accessible beyond Korean audiences. Hosts discuss how this success aligns with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings's 2021 vision to rival Disney in family animation, highlighting the potential for K Pop Demon Hunters to spawn a lucrative franchise akin to Disney’s ecosystems.

• Toby’s Perspective:
  Toby Howell [13:53]: “Betting on Korea was the smartest thing that Netflix did... this is the nexus of all three of those trends.”

Toby's Trends: The Bobblehead Boom

In the Toby’s Trends segment, the hosts explore the resurgence of bobbleheads in the sports memorabilia market. Once niche collectibles, bobbleheads are now commanding high resale values, with unique editions like the Travis Scott Houston Rocket and Mac Miller Pittsburgh Pirates bobbleheads selling for up to $300.

• Neal’s Commentary:
  Neal Freyman [18:27]: “There's no denying how much of a force they are in the stadium promotion field.”

Toby highlights the strategic marketing behind bobblehead nights, noting significant attendance boosts and fan engagement. The discussion underscores the transformation of bobbleheads from simple toys to sophisticated, highly sought-after collectibles, driving both sales and event attendance.

• Toby’s Insight:
  Toby Howell [19:53]: “Visitors are pacing to rise 25% this year... it is a thing.”

Final Headlines

The episode wraps up with brief coverage of pressing news stories:

1. NYC Office Shooting: A tragic incident on Park Avenue resulted in four fatalities, including a police officer and a Blackstone executive. The suspect, Shane Tamura, reportedly suffered from CTE and referenced another former player’s suicide in his note ([21:26] Toby Howell).

2. Tesla’s AI Chip Deal with Samsung: Tesla secures a $16.5 billion agreement with Samsung to produce next-generation AI6 chips in Texas, aiming to enhance its autonomous driving systems and robotics initiatives ([22:34] Neal Freyman).

3. China Reverses One-Child Policy: Facing a depopulation crisis, China introduces a nationwide child care subsidy program, offering $500 annually for each child under three, signaling a significant policy shift from the previous one-child limit ([24:17] Toby Howell). The discussion touches on global low birth rates and the efficacy of financial incentives versus supportive measures like parental leave.

Conclusion

Neal and Toby conclude the episode by reflecting on the diverse topics covered, emphasizing the interconnectedness of technology, culture, and economic trends. They invite listeners to engage with the show via email and tease the continuation of insightful discussions in future episodes.

Notable Quotes Recap:

• Neal Freyman [00:25]: “A drink that got its start as a secret menu item for bartenders and others in the service industry has officially hit the mainstream.”

• Toby Howell [01:04]: “It captures the vibes perfectly right now. So next time you're out, give it an order.”

• Neal Freyman [02:28]: “The Online Safety act... requires that online platforms... use a method that is 'strong and highly effective.'”

• Toby Howell [04:06]: “A lot of people... because a lot of countries are going to see changes when it comes to Internet privacy.”

• Neal Freyman [06:04]: “These are very sensitive pieces of personal information... security experts are saying this is not just a question of if these will get hacked, it's a question of when.”

• Toby Howell [09:59]: “Smaller investors can take a lot more risk... so they're just so much more active right now.”

• Neal Freyman [12:49]: “Song of the Summer has to be 'Golden' by Hunt Tricks... it's so good.”

• Toby Howell [13:53]: “Betting on Korea was the smartest thing that Netflix did... this is the nexus of all three of those trends.”

• Neal Freyman [18:27]: “There's no denying how much of a force they are in the stadium promotion field.”

• Toby Howell [19:53]: “Visitors are pacing to rise 25% this year... it is a thing.”

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