🀄👵 “Crazy Rich Aces” — Mahjong’s “GrannyCore” surge. Elon’s record bonus. NY Post’s Californiacation. Hennessey’s rap biz.

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Crazy Rich Aces" — Mahjong’s “GrannyCore” Surge, Elon’s Record Bonus, NY Post’s Californiacation, and Hennessy’s Rap Biz

Released on August 5, 2025 by Nick & Jack Studios

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1. Mahjong’s “GrannyCore” Surge: The New Networking Trend for Ambitious Women

Overview: Nick and Jack delve into the unexpected resurgence of Mahjong, a 200-year-old Chinese tile game, as the latest networking activity among female founders in America. Once stereotyped as a game for grandmothers, Mahjong has transformed into a vibrant platform for networking and business connections.

Key Points:

• Historical Roots: Originally popularized in the United States by Abercrombie & Fitch in the early 20th century, Mahjong has oscillated in popularity over the decades.
• Modern Revival: Catalyzed by its feature in the movie Crazy Rich Asians, Mahjong has seen a significant boom, especially among young female entrepreneurs.
• Business Model: The National Mah Jong League, a nonprofit organization, manages the game’s rules and capitalizes on annual rule card sales, generating approximately $5 million each year.

Notable Quotes:

• [05:54] Jack: "Mahjong is surging right now in America and it's got the most unique business model we've ever seen."
• [08:05] Jack: "Not through pickleball, Nick, through mahjong."

Impact: Mahjong events have increased by 180% nationwide, with San Francisco emerging as the epicenter for female founder networking. Startups are now hosting large-scale Mahjong tournaments, cementing the game's role as a modern-day "LinkedIn for ladies."

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2. Tesla’s Monumental Bonus: Elon Musk’s $30 Billion Reward

Overview: In a groundbreaking move, Tesla has announced a compensation package that effectively grants CEO Elon Musk a $30 billion bonus by allowing him to purchase 96 million Tesla shares at 2018 prices.

Key Points:

• Compensation Structure: Initiated in 2018, Musk's pay was contingent solely on Tesla’s stock performance, resulting in substantial personal wealth as the company's valuation skyrocketed from $50 billion to $1 trillion.
• Recent Developments: After facing legal challenges in Delaware, Tesla relocated its corporate headquarters to Texas, bypassing previous hurdles in awarding Musk his bonus.
• Shareholder Reaction: The announcement led to a 3% increase in Tesla’s stock, indicating shareholder endorsement despite questions about its efficacy.

Notable Quotes:

• [12:28] Nick: "Tesla is trying to make good on the money Elon is owed. And this time, Delaware can't stop him."
• [13:13] Nick: "That's $30 billion. Besties. 30 billion bucks is as big as Kraft Heinz. It's as huge as Lululemon."

Discussion: Nick and Jack ponder whether such an astronomical bonus can further motivate Musk, who already holds significant ownership in Tesla. They highlight the potential risks and uncertainties surrounding the continuation of this compensation strategy.

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3. New York Post’s Californiacation: Launching the California Post

Overview: America's oldest continuously running newspaper, the New York Post, is expanding its footprint by launching the California Post in Los Angeles. This strategic move aims to fill a void in the California news market amidst declining digital readership.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1801, the New York Post has a storied legacy, initially serving as a propaganda tool against Thomas Jefferson's ideals.
• Market Strategy: With 90% of its digital readers residing outside New York and a significant 7 million readers in California, the Post aims to leverage its brand to capture the LA market.
• Content Focus: The California Post is poised to blend traditional tabloid-style gossip with essential local news, catering to Los Angeles' celebrity and business ecosystems.

Notable Quotes:

• [17:27] Nick: "But the New York Post said headless body found in topless bar."
• [20:24] Nick: "So add it all up and real life. Logan Roy is leveraging his famous New York Post brand for a California Post."

Impact: The launch of the California Post represents a bold attempt to revive print media by targeting a region ripe with entertainment and technological news. Nick and Jack analyze the potential challenges and opportunities in adapting the New York Post’s iconic style to a new audience.

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4. Bonus Segment: Hennessy’s Transformation in Rap Culture

Overview: Though briefly touched upon, Nick and Jack celebrate the cultural evolution of Hennessy from a symbol of French royalty to a staple in American rap culture, highlighting its pervasive influence and strategic branding.

Notable Quotes:

• [02:19] Jack: "The answer is Hennessy."
• [03:08] Nick: "This week's episode reveals Hennessy's pivot to become a symbol of black ambition."

Discussion: The hosts tease an upcoming detailed episode on Hennessy, emphasizing its remarkable journey and significance in modern pop culture.

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Concluding Thoughts

Nick and Jack wrap up the episode by summarizing the key takeaways:

1. Mahjong has transformed into a powerful networking tool for female entrepreneurs, backed by a unique and profitable business model.
2. Tesla’s unprecedented bonus to Elon Musk raises questions about the future of executive compensation and company leadership.
3. The New York Post’s expansion to California signifies a strategic shift to dominate the Western news market amidst declining digital engagement.

They also highlight additional business news, including American Eagle’s volatile stock influenced by celebrity collaborations, Amazon’s restructuring of the Wondery podcast studio, and The Points Guy’s venture into hotel bookings, showcasing the dynamic landscape of modern business.

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Notable Moments:

• [07:00] Nick humorously remarks on not challenging a Mahjong "grandma."
• [13:32] Jack humorously references Genghis Khan in the context of Elon’s bonus.
• [25:03] A fun fact celebrating the 111th birthday of the traffic light, tying back to their earlier discussion on AI traffic lights.

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Final Thoughts: This episode of The Best One Yet offers a rich tapestry of contemporary business stories, blending historical contexts with modern-day implications. Nick and Jack provide insightful analyses, peppered with humor and engaging anecdotes, making complex topics accessible and entertaining for their audience.

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Transcript

[Nick]

This is Nick.

[Jack]

This is Jack.

[Nick]

It's Tuesday, T Boy, Tuesday, August 5, and today's pod is the best one yet. This is a T boy, the top.

[Jack]

Three pop business news stories you need to know today.

[Nick]

I'm sorry, am I podcasting with the winner of the three mile stand up paddleboard championship Championships?

[Jack]

Jack, I did finish a 3 mile stand up paddleboarding race.

[Nick]

I wouldn't call myself the winner round.

[Jack]

Up, but I didn't fall, I didn't pass anybody, and I'm not sore.

[Nick]

Sounds like you lost, Jack. Sounds like you lost. No, I finished. I.

[Jack]

And I'm not sore yet.

[Nick]

By the way, Yetis, thank you so much for the baby. Congratulations isn't an easy process to get pregnant. Hasn't been an easy pregnancy. Molly's doing fantastic, by the way. But thank you for your comments, guys.

[Jack]

For those who didn't listen to yesterday's show, Nick announced that he and Molly are expecting their second baby.

[Nick]

It's an IBO baby initial baby offer. And Jim, very excited. We got a fantastic show today for the besties. What do we got on today's pod?

[Jack]

For our first story, the hot new networking activity for ambitious American Women is a 200-year-old Chinese tile game.

[Nick]

Mahjong Ain't just a game, Yetis. Mahjong is a wild business.

[Jack]

For our second story, Tesla announced yesterday it's letting Elon Musk buy 96 million shares of Tesla at 2018 prices.

[Nick]

What does that mean, Jack?

[Jack]

It means Tesla just gave Elon Musk the biggest bonus in human history in.

[Nick]

The most awkward timing ever.

[Jack]

And our third and final story is the New York. The iconic tabloid newspaper is expanding to Los Angeles with the California Post.

[Nick]

But few know that the New York Post actually began with Alexander Hamilton taking his shot.

[Jack]

But Yetis, before we hit that wonderful mix of stories, Whoa.

[Nick]

I mean, what a mix of stories for T Boy Tuesday.

[Jack]

Whoa. Is the appropriate reaction to that rundown.

[Nick]

Yes, it is.

[Jack]

Yetis, yesterday we hit you up with some trivia. What product is referenced in more rap songs and than any other product, this.

[Nick]

Brand has the most rapper name drops of all time.

[Jack]

We even gave you a fill in the blank hint from a Tupac song.

[Nick]

Yeah, here it is. Here it is. Here it is. Forget that gin and juice. Just pour me a glass of that blank.

[Jack]

The answer is Hennessy.

[Nick]

Hennessy.

[Jack]

Today, Hennessy is the biggest cognac brand in the world.

[Nick]

And Henny is Rick Ross's muse.

[Jack]

Get this. Hennessy controls 60% of the US cognac, and it's owned by Louis Vuitton.

[Nick]

But here's what's wild. What's beloved today by rappers was originally for French royalty.

[Jack]

So how did Hennessy go from French Castles to American rap recording studios?

[Nick]

How did it go from Kings and Queens to Nas and Biggie and then.

[Jack]

Get acquired by LVMH along the way?

[Nick]

Well, Bessie's Hennessy is the wildest brand journey Jack and I had ever heard of.

[Jack]

And core to the story is Aretha Franklin's famous song, R E S P.

[Nick]

E C T Respect.

[Jack]

So we'll tell you all about it in our weekly show, the Best idea yet.

[Nick]

Because this week's episode reveals Hennessy's pivot to become a symbol of black ambition.

[Jack]

We dropped the link in the episode description to make it easy for you.

[Nick]

And you're gonna love it. But Jack, in the meantime, today's show is fantastic. What do you say we hit our three stories? I'm ready, dude. Serve them up, Amy.

[Amy]

Fifteen years before this song, two boys from the Northeast met in the dorm. They had an idea to cause a cultural storm. It's the best one yet, but the best is the norm. Jack, Nick, that's it. I don't even think they need to practice. 50%, that's a fat tip. T Boy City on your at list. If you know, you know. Cause we ready to go. We can't wait no more.

[Nick]

So just start the show.

[Amy]

Start the show.

[Nick]

First, a quick word from our sponsor.

[Jack]

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[Nick]

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[Jack]

And I'm a proud power user. I put the mocha or chocolate flavored vital proteins collagen in every mug of coffee I've drank so far this year.

[Nick]

I threw some into a pancake mix. Cause like, why the heck not?

[Jack]

Jack, by taking collagen peptides daily, you can help support your hair, skin, nail, bone and joint health.

[Nick]

So get 20% off by going to vitalproteins.com and entering promo code T Boy at checkout.

[Jack]

That's vitalproteins.com, promo code T Boy for 20% off.

[Nick]

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[Jack]

Airbnb Yetis.

[Nick]

There is nothing more powerful in life or in business than the Double Dip.

[Jack]

Dip that chip twice and don't end.

[Nick]

It with the ultimate money. Double Dip. Hosting on Airbnb. Jack's talked so much about Being a host, his friends are asking him about it. I'm getting asked about it all the time.

[Jack]

One buddy is about to get married. He has no kids yet. He wants to travel the country dink style with his new wife. How is he going to pay for it? He's going to list his house on Airbnb.

[Nick]

So, Basties, if you're going on vacation this summer, join the millions who host on Airbnb.

[Jack]

Host your whole space. Host your extra space. Host any space.

[Nick]

The income from putting your home on Airbnb could pay for your whole vacay.

[Jack]

I've been doing it for three different.

[Nick]

Properties now and it's easy to set booking availability and then when the booking comes in, Jack, you always say it just shows up in your Google calendar.

[Jack]

And if you're not sure what to price your place at, check Airbnb and look at similar listings. It's very easy.

[Nick]

You can double dip that chip.

[Jack]

Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host.

[Nick]

For our first story. The hot new networking trend for Women in their 20s is a 200 year old Chinese game.

[Jack]

Mah Jong is surging right now in America and it's got the most unique business model we've ever seen.

[Nick]

Ah, Mahjong Yeti is long considered a game for grandmothers, but yeah, could I brag for a second here? My mother in law is the top ranked Mahjong player on Nantucket right now. I know.

[Jack]

That's what I heard.

[Nick]

If you see Meg in Naples, you do not want to challenge her to a Mah Jongg game. She will take your money.

[Jack]

What is Mahjong Yetis? It's a tile based game. It's basically a mix of like rummy and poker.

[Nick]

Yeah, like if Uno and chess had a baby, but it turned into an East Asian soap opera. That's mahjong.

[Jack]

It was invented in China in the 1800s and in the 1900s, then outdoorsy company Abercrombie and Fitch imported Mah Jong to the United States for the first time and marketed it as an exotic game.

[Nick]

In the 1950s, mahjong was banned in Communist China, although now it is unbanned and very popular again.

[Jack]

In the 1920s, the American Jewish community adopted this game as a social ritual in New York city.

[Nick]

And in 2018, Mah Jong took off with its most viral moment yet.

[Jack]

Crazy Rich Asians.

[Nick]

Yes.

[Jack]

Everyone's finally like, oh, that game. Yes, the game at the end of Crazy Crazy Rich Asians.

[Nick]

You don't mess with a Mahjong grandma, do you man.

[Jack]

Now mahjong is seen to have brain boosting benefits that could potentially combat dementia for old people.

[Nick]

And during the pandemic, during the board game Boom, what did we see happen with mahjong? Jack?

[Jack]

It was mahjong mayhem.

[Nick]

But here's what we find fascinating, Eddies. Mahjong has only accelerated out there.

[Jack]

The game of mahjong, the game of grandmas is everywhere. You look here in America.

[Nick]

And the next time you go to a DJ dance party, it's probably going to have a Mah Jongg TABLE.

[Jack]

According to data from eventbrite, events with the word Mah Jong in the Description are up 180% nationwide in the last year.

[Nick]

It's granny core. People are freaking out. You're doing your hair in a bonnet and you're playing mahjong.

[Jack]

And San Francisco is where mahjong is most popular because it's become the new female founder networking activity.

[Nick]

Here's the plot twist. Inc. Magazine interviewed dozens of female founders on how they're making business connections. And Jack, how are they making business connections?

[Jack]

Not through pickleball, Nick, through mahjong.

[Nick]

Forget the conferences and cold intros. Mahjong is the new IRL. LinkedIn for ladies.

[Jack]

Inc. Spoke to the founder of Parachute, the home goods company, and she hosts a Mahjong Night with 20 other female founders.

[Nick]

At her house down in Austin. Founders are ditching VC mixers and instead going to mahjong tournaments.

[Jack]

There's even a startup in Los angeles that hosts 14 mahjong events a month, inviting up to 200 people.

[Nick]

Some nights are so big they gotta rent a warehouse for this thing with a disco ball.

[Jack]

10 bucks a ticket, 200 people show up. Yes, 14 events per month, calculating that's a 28,000amonth business.

[Nick]

Sit down, stand up and pass the tiles, Jack.

[Jack]

And it brings the game full circle. Because 100 years ago, mahjong was considered the first socially acceptable way that Chinese American women could bring money into the family by betting on Mah Jongg.

[Nick]

Well, today, a century later, 27 year old female techies are meeting their co founder over mahjong.

[Jack]

And it turns out the $2.6 billion mahjong industry has at its core one all powerful company.

[Nick]

So Jack, in deference to my mother in law, what's the takeaway for our buddies playing mahjong?

[Jack]

Mah Jong is actually a code breaker product.

[Nick]

Yetis. The game of Uno is owned by Mattel. The game of Monopoly is owned by Hasbro. But there is no corporate owner of Mah Jong.

[Jack]

However, there is one nonprofit who makes huge revenue on this game. The National Mah Jong League. Ah, the league.

[Nick]

This league manages the rules for Mah Jong for 350,000 players in America.

[Jack]

They don't sell the tiles or the board you need to play, but they do sell a trademarked rule card, which is essential if you want to play the game.

[Nick]

And here's the key. That $14 rule card, it changes every year. So each year, 350,000 people have to pay 14 bucks for a brand new card.

[Jack]

That's $5 million in revenue just from a card that costs next to nothing to print and sell.

[Nick]

Now, this is a profit puppy product, although we should point out the nonprofit donates the proceeds to health and humanitarian charities.

[Jack]

But the business model is selling a rule card that unlocks the game for all. That reminds us of a code breaker.

[Nick]

Code breakers. Encrypted messages are worthless unless you have the code. Just like these tiles are worthless without this year's rule card.

[Jack]

That's how this nonprofit generates $5 million in revenue, simply by printing new cards each year.

[Nick]

The Mahjong League. It makes millions without any innovation.

[Jack]

And that is one of the most.

[Nick]

Unique things we've ever seen in business. For our second story, Tesla just announced it's hooking up Elon with $30 billion, the biggest bonus for any CEO ever.

[Jack]

Here's why Tesla thinks the world's richest man also now needs the world's biggest bonus.

[Nick]

All right, Jack, if we're going to tell this story, I'm just going to pull a book off the shelf. One second, one second. Elon Musk and the Delaware Chancery Court.

[Jack]

It does sound like the eighth Harry Potter, doesn't it? But it's actually just the context you need to understand Monday's news, because Yetis.

[Nick]

As CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk has made his shareholders incredibly rich. We're talking Draco Malfoy rich because the.

[Jack]

Stock has risen from $23 in 2018 to $300 today.

[Nick]

Tesla went from $50 billion valuation to a $1 trillion valuation.

[Jack]

And here's the shocker. Elon was not paid a single dollar from Tesla since 2018.

[Nick]

He's arguably the full time CEO, and yet Tesla pays him no salary, zero annual bonus.

[Jack]

Why are they not paying the CEO? Here's why. In 2018, the board of Tesla gave Elon the ultimate put up or shut up pay package.

[Nick]

Put up or pay up. What does that kind of a pay package look like, Jack?

[Jack]

Elon would only get paid if the stock rose and rise it did, faster.

[Nick]

And further than any stock in history except Nvidia. Ever.

[Jack]

But you probably remember last year when the court in Delaware blocked his unique bonus twice.

[Nick]

And that is why Furious Tesla abandoned Delaware as its corporate home and moved on down to Texas.

[Jack]

Which brings us to today.

[Nick]

Tesla is trying to make good on the money Elon is owed. And this time, Delaware can't stop him.

[Jack]

So on Monday, Tesla's board announced they're giving Elon 96 million shares of Tesla two years from today.

[Nick]

Okay, that's the news. Let's dive in T boy style. Jack, can we break down this paycheck, please?

[Jack]

In two years, Elon Musk will get the right to buy Tesla stock at 2018 prices. Because 2018 is when he agreed to that big compensation plan.

[Nick]

Okay, we gotta sprinkle on even more context here, Jack. How much exactly is 96 million shares of Tesla worth today? If it was bought at 2018 prices from seven years ago, that would be.

[Jack]

A bargain worth $30 billion.

[Nick]

$30 billion. Besties. 30 billion bucks is as big as Kraft Heinz. It's as huge as Lululemon.

[Jack]

With that much money, you could buy Snap twice, you could buy Lyft six times.

[Nick]

Jack, this is the biggest bonus in human history since Genghis Khan treated himself to the Balkans.

[Jack]

I'd fact check that, but I don.

[Nick]

Trust me, he just took seriously.

[Jack]

Eddie's buying Tesla shares in 2018, that's like buying a cottage in the hamptons in the 1950s.

[Nick]

That's a good deal.

[Jack]

So the pay package is going to be voted on by Tesla shareholders at their November shareholder meeting.

[Nick]

But here's what Jack and I find fascinating. Jack, can you share it with the Yetis, please?

[Jack]

The board said yesterday that they're not paying Elon this gigantic bonus for his past performance. They're paying him to incentivize him to remain at Tesla.

[Nick]

Which leads to a question that led to our takeaway. Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Tesla?

[Jack]

Does a little more money incentivize the already richest person in the world?

[Nick]

Yetis. To be clear, Elon got rich on Tesla just like everyone, because he is Tesla's biggest shareholder.

[Jack]

Which brings us to the incredible headline of yesterday. Tesla is paying the richest man in the world the biggest bonus ever, while the company is doing worse than ever.

[Nick]

Now remember, besties, Elon splits his time as CEO of X&XAI and SpaceX and the boring company and Neuralink and Tesla.

[Jack]

And the most active Twitter user of all time.

[Nick]

So we're not sure increasing his ownership in Tesla from 13% of the company to 16% is going to change many things.

[Jack]

We're also not sure that keeping Elon as the CEO for the next two years is the best thing for the company.

[Nick]

But the board does think so. Don't Jay Jack.

[Jack]

They're offering him 96 million shares to stick around for two more years.

[Nick]

And you know what? Shareholders agree the stock rose 3% on Monday on that very decision.

[Jack]

But only time will answer the question, can a little more money incentivize the already richest person in the world?

[Nick]

May have worked with Genghis Khan. Don't know if it's going to work with Elon. Now a quick word from our sponsor.

[Jack]

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[Nick]

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[Jack]

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[Nick]

It kicks off in Toronto's wealthy cottage country, AKA the Hamptons of Canada.

[Jack]

I already am. Sold.

[Nick]

Double sold. Rich Girl Summer. It follows the story of Valerie a down on her luck event planner posing as a socialite.

[Jack]

And she's piecing together secrets to a mystery while falling in love with an infuriatingly handsome family assistant.

[Nick]

Yeah, if you're looking for a break from business news, this would be it. Narrated by Philip Basu, the incredible voice of Angelica from Hamilton and her real life husband. It sounds as beautiful as the Hamptons of Canada looks.

[Jack]

So listen to Rich Girl Summer now on audible. Go to audible.com richgirlsommar@&t business Yeties Starting.

[Nick]

Your own business, it ain't easy. When we first got our daily newsletter off the ground that led to this podcast a decade ago, we definitely did not get everything right.

[Jack]

Remember we initially bummed wifi off of hotel lobbies.

[Nick]

Classic move.

[Jack]

And then the concierge kicked us out. So coffee shop free Wi Fi became our God.

[Nick]

Send another latte.

[Jack]

Shout out to all the small business cafe owners. Your WI fi is the real hero.

[Nick]

What's the code to the bathroom again? Honestly, if we could do it all over, we would probably invest in our own less bootleggy Internet.

[Jack]

If you need to connect your small business, you need AT&T business. They make connecting easy. Actually they make so many things easy.

[Nick]

Which is the main thing you want in a provider. Less time stressing, more time for you to work on your business.

[Jack]

And Yetis, there's never enough.

[Nick]

So start a business, live your dream and wake up to the power of ATT business business.att.com for our third and final story. America's oldest newspaper, the New York Post, is launching its second newspaper, the California Post.

[Jack]

Newspaper or tabloid? We'll discuss the difference and connect it all to Alexander Hamilton.

[Nick]

Yeah, that Alexander Hamilton. But besties. Funny thing about the New York Post, that print newspaper actually made its way all the way up to Vermont when Jack was growing up. To your front porch, right?

[Jack]

Man, not to my front porch, but my dad would buy it at the store every day.

[Nick]

I knew they couldn't make it all the way there.

[Jack]

And dude, every road trip, I was reading like baseball statistics from the backseat.

[Nick]

Oh, I can understand. I can understand. When I would wake up in the morning, Jack, there'd be a stack of newspapers in our elevator. New York Post was honestly the biggest one. You know, my favorite headline ever. This is so good. Headless body found in topless Bar.

[Jack]

That is the most epic New York Post headline.

[Nick]

Yeah, like the New York Times probably covered the story. Murder at gentleman's Club. But the New York Post.

[Jack]

But the New York Post said headless body found in topless bar.

[Nick]

The New York Post. The headlines are poetry. The sports page has a cult following. And page six, that is the world gossip column, baby.

[Jack]

If the New York Times is is the straight A student sitting in the front row of class, the New York Post is in detention, but it's the.

[Nick]

Most popular kid in the whole class.

[Jack]

Get this yetis. The New York Post actually is America's oldest still running newspaper.

[Nick]

Cause it was founded by Alexander Hamilton.

[Jack]

I feel like Lin Manuel forgot to.

[Nick]

Mention this in the play. It could have been a whole nother act in the musical jam. I know. Founded in 1801 by Alexander Hamilton, the New York Post was used to oppose Thomas Jefferson's presidential run.

[Jack]

So it began as propaganda.

[Nick]

Right.

[Jack]

The whole point of the Post was to advocate for federalism which won out as our way of governance. By the way, instead of Jefferson's state dominated union that he wanted.

[Nick]

Alexander Hamilton. My name is Alexander Hamilton and there's a million things I haven't done except start a newspaper which still exists today. It's the New York Post.

[Jack]

Now some would argue that the New York Post is still engaged in propaganda because it's owned by Rupert Murdoch.

[Nick]

Rupert Murdoch, the Australian right wing billionaire who owns Fox News and the Wall Street Journal as part of News Corp.

[Jack]

News Corp. Did $8 billion in revenue last year and they actually report earnings today.

[Nick]

But besties. Despite all the attention on Trump right now, the New York Post has actually seen a surprising slowdown.

[Jack]

They announced last quarter that their digital reach fell by 25%.

[Nick]

So yetis the new York Post is doing what anyone uncertain of their future does. They move to California.

[Jack]

I thought you were gonna say they what the Brooklyn Dodgers did, but I like yours better.

[Nick]

The New York Post is expanding to California with a print newspaper, taking their talents to lovely Los Angeles in 2026.

[Jack]

It's gonna be called the California Post. So if you're wondering who is Leonardo DiCaprio dating these days, check the New York Post if he's currently at his.

[Nick]

New York condo, But check the California Post if he's hanging out at his Beverly Hills mansion.

[Jack]

Here's the strategy. Rupert Murdoch thinks that the decline of the Los Angeles Post leaves a void in the newspaper market.

[Nick]

This is just before the World cup, the Olympics, the governor's election the next year is gonna be really big in Cali.

[Jack]

Plus, 90% of the post's digital readers are outside of New York. And the biggest market is the 7 million readers from California.

[Nick]

So add it all up and real life. Logan Roy is leveraging his famous New York Post brand for a California Post.

[Jack]

Brand starting next year.

[Nick]

Not just digital, it's gonna be in print as well.

[Jack]

Can you believe a a new daily print newspaper just launched.

[Nick]

So, besties, here's the question. We're wondering, do you call this new creation a newspaper or do you call it a tabloid? Because there's actually a difference. Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at the California Post?

[Jack]

LA is a tantalizing target for a tabloid.

[Nick]

Yetis few realize this, but technically, a tabloid just means it's printed on smaller paper than a newspaper. There's one fault instead of two folds in the paper.

[Jack]

Whereas the New York Times is a newspaper. To open that thing up completely, you need an entire, like, library table. It's huge.

[Nick]

Better reason why the Post is known as a tabloid. What is it, Jack?

[Jack]

It's that the Post is not known for deep investigative journalism. Like their crosstown rival, the New York Times, the Post is more known for gossip.

[Nick]

And where there are powerful, famous and beautiful people therein, lies. Gossip.

[Jack]

Look at what Los Angeles offers in terms of gossip. You got two NFL teams, two NBA teams, two MLB teams, and two NHL teams.

[Nick]

But you also have a bit of news there, like in entertainment, the Beverly Hills Hotel. At 8am that restaurant is the source of eavesdropping on whatever Hollywood studios are about to merge.

[Jack]

And then in tech, SpaceX is based in LA county, and every AI company is somewhere between LA and the Bay Area.

[Nick]

So this is what we find fascinating even in A digital and fractured media landscape. One physical paper with a reputation for gossip and some news could actually become the one source to check.

[Jack]

Plus E news just shut down leaving an even bigger void in the market.

[Nick]

So basties, the way we see it, the New York Post's first expansion in 225 years. It's actually long overdue. Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for T boy Tuesday, Mahjong.

[Jack]

Is the tile and card game from crazy rich Asians that's now played by female founders in America.

[Nick]

At its core is a code breaking non profit that makes 5 million bucks a year selling rule cards.

[Jack]

For our second story, Tesla is awarding Elon Musk with a 30 billion dollar bonus to incentivize him to focus on Tesla.

[Nick]

But the big question will boostin Elon's ownership of Tesla from 13% to 16% really motivate him on Tesla?

[Jack]

And our third and final story, the New York Post is expanding to LA with the California Post, a daily print tabloid starting next year.

[Nick]

Lovely Los Angeles with its sports celebs and power people is the perfect headline for a tabloid.

[Jack]

But yetis this pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today.

[Nick]

First, American Eagle stock is maga memeing right now, something we have never seen before.

[Jack]

First, American Eagle stock surged 15% on a jeans collaboration with Sydney Sweeney.

[Nick]

But then the stock fell 10% on backlash about the genetics undertones of her good genes.

[Jack]

But then it surged yesterday 17% after American Eagle doubled down and defended the.

[Nick]

Ad and Trump weighed in, praising the ad and reports that Sydney Sweeney is registered as a Republican.

[Jack]

Second, Amazon is reorganizing the Wondery podcast studio that it owns, including sadly, with over 100 layoffs, as Amazon put it.

[Nick]

Podcasting is shifting to video and creators. So Wondery will too.

[Jack]

As many of you know, Wondery manages the ads for this show and is a production partner for our other show.

[Nick]

But we want to let you know that neither of our shows is affected by this news from everything we know so far.

[Jack]

But we have worked with many wondering people. They're extremely talented, they're hardworking, they're impressive and we feel terrible for any of the layoffs.

[Nick]

It's an amazing group of people and we've been so impressed with everyone who works there. So really terrible to see the news.

[Jack]

We will vouch positively for all of them in the future.

[Nick]

And finally, the points guy is turning from a website into a hotel booking app.

[Jack]

The points guy became famous for hacks about how to optimize your credit card points.

[Nick]

But now points fatigue has gotten so bad, he's building his own hotel booking system.

[Jack]

It's basically an alliance of independent hotels and it ensures you get a discount just by booking directly with the website.

[Nick]

What we're saying here, Jack, I think, is the points guy is disrupting William Shatner.

[Jack]

Finally.

[Nick]

Now time for the best fact yet. This one whipped up by Jack and me for T Boy Tuesday.

[Jack]

Happy birthday to the traffic light.

[Nick]

Yeah, happy 111th birthday. You don't look a day over, I want to say 56.

[Jack]

The first ever traffic light was installed in Cleveland, Ohio. So it was red, it was yellow, and it was green.

[Nick]

Yeah, it actually hasn't changed that much. So we actually did a story on AI traffic lights that are coming soon. And if you remember that story, then you know how big a deal today is.

[Jack]

By the way, we got a link in the episode description for you to submit your best fact yet and get.

[Nick]

On the pod or leave us a voicemail and we can get your fact and your voice on the podcast Yetis. You look fantastic today. And if you're looking to pour yourself a little post pod beverage, I think Jack and I know exactly what you should be serving.

[Jack]

I'm not Tupac, but the lyric to fill in here is Hennessy.

[Nick]

We got a whole episode on the story of Hennessy. It's wild. It starts with a French kingdom. It ends in a rap studio.

[Jack]

There's a link in the episode description. Check it out. And Nick and I will see you right back here tomorrow.

[Nick]

Can't wait. And before we go, a happy 50th birthday. Happy birthday to Augusto Perez. Celebrated over in lovely Madison, Wisconsin.

[Jack]

Happy birthday to Farrah Asmussen in Wayland, Massachusetts.

[Nick]

And Jeff Rodriguez is enjoying some WA ball in Baltimore. Happy birthday, Jeff.

[Jack]

And to anyone else celebrating something today.

[Nick]

Making a tea boy celebrate the mah Jong wins.

[Jack]

This is Jack. I own stock of Amazon and Nick owns stock of Lululemon. If you like the best one yet, you can listen ad free right now by joining Wondery and the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

[Nick]

Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us a.

[Jack]

Little bit about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey.

[Nick]

We want to get to know you.

[Unknown]

How hard is it to kill a planet? Maybe all it takes is a little drilling, some mining, and a whole lot of carbon pumped into the atmosphere. When you see what's left, it starts to look like a crime scene.

[Nick]

Are we really safe? Is our water safe. You destroyed our tap.

[Unknown]

And crimes like that, they don't just happen.

[Jack]

We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable.

[Unknown]

They're the result of choices by people. Ruthless oil tycoons, corrupt politicians, even organized crime. These are the stories we need to to be telling about our changing planet. Stories of scams, murders, and coverups that are about us and the things we're doing to either protect the Earth or destroy it. Follow Lawless Planet on the Wondry App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes of Lawless Planet early and ad free right now by joining Wondry plus in the Wondry App, Apple Podcasts, or Spot.