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Jack
This is Nick, this is Jack.
Nick
It's Friday. The Real Friday, May 30th. And today's pod is the best one yet. And this is a T boy.
Jack
The top three pop business news stories you need to know today.
Nick
Oh, besties.
Hailey
Jack and I are about to make.
Nick
You the most interesting person at Sunday brunch, baby.
Jack
Cause this episode's a T boy.
Hailey
It's a T boy. It's the best one we've ever done.
Nick
Jack, three stories for today's show. What do we got on the pod?
Jack
For our first story, Amazon and the New York Times just hooked up for an unexpected AI deal.
Nick
That's right. We're about to get the first ever premium on the chatbot Alexa.
Jack
Plus, for our second story, after a couple shocking developments, Trump's trade war is about to go to the Supreme Court.
Nick
We got checks and balances on the pod today.
Hailey
And what this huge ruling means for stocks, the economy, and Barbie dolls.
Jack
For our third and final story, Hailey Bieber's skincare brand, Rhode was just bought by elf Beauty for $1 billion.
Nick
Because Hailey Bieber used the same strategy as Elvis Presley.
Jack
A greatest hits album. But yetis before we hit that wonderful mix of stories.
Nick
Oh, what an M I, X of stories, Jack.
Hailey
Love the mix.
Jack
V I, C T O R Y. Ding, ding, ding.
Nick
That spells victory for the spelling bee.
Jack
Because last night was the 100th spelling bee tournament. The finale was last night.
Hailey
We were watching 243 spellers, 4,072 words.
Nick
Six or five vowels, and one big winner.
Jack
But here's the wild twist that we noticed as we watched this year's spelling bee.
Hailey
Just geography.
Nick
That's right.
Hailey
In order to win the spelling bee, you gotta know geography.
Jack
Because a little known secret about spelling bees, the hardest words to spell are. The places.
Nick
Yeah, the places.
Hailey
There's no root word, no language of origin. You just gotta memorize the map, baby.
Jack
Like Mississippi.
Hailey
Yeah.
Jack
I didn't even know that was a word. I thought it was a name. But that could be in the spelling bee.
Hailey
There are actually six more S's in Mississippi that they just dropped a few years ago.
Jack
Which means you can't win the spelling bee unless you're Carmen Sandiego.
Nick
So Jack and I jumped in T boy style, and we whipped the top place questions from the spelling bee.
Hailey
You ready for this one, Jack?
Jack
Am I the contestant?
Nick
Yes, you are. And here we go. Jack, the first word is a B.2B.
Hailey
Which is a body of water in Canada.
Jack
A B to B.
Hailey
Yes.
Jack
A B, I, T, A B I.
Nick
Okay, it is a b I t I b e. Second question is Hoofedorp.
Hailey
Which is a town in the Netherlands.
Jack
H o o f D o r b.
Nick
Sorry, Jack. That's h o o f D D o R B.
Jack
Two Ds. That's ridiculous.
Hailey
The Dutch. They get you every time.
Nick
And finally, the longest word ever used for a geographic name in the spelling bee.
Hailey
Are you ready for this, Jack?
Jack
Yes.
Hailey
Chargo gaga gam man chago goog og chabana goongama gog.
Jack
Can you repeat that word, please?
Hailey
Yes, Jack.
Nick
That would be cha gog ra ga.
Hailey
Bog mon Cha ga ga gog. Cha bongon ga ma gog.
Jack
This is f. Fake, right?
Hailey
Not fake. Real word.
Nick
Okay.
Jack
What's the language of origin?
Hailey
It is a native name for a lake in the state of Massachusetts just outside Boston.
Jack
Can you use it in sentence?
Hailey
Yes, Jack, I can.
Nick
After the Sox lost to the Yankees in the series, we cried all the way back to Lake Chagoga. Magog Monchog Magog Gog og mong bagga.
Hailey
Chog Mongog mah gog.
Jack
C H A r G O G O G O G O G. Sorry, Jack.
Nick
Yetis, hit us up with your favorite geographical word. Drop it in the comments.
Jack
Let's hit our three stars. Let's hit em, baby.
Unknown
Fifteen years before this song, two boys from the Northeast met in the dorm. They had an idea that caused 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 atlas. If you know, you know. Cause we read to go. We can't wait, wait no more. So just start the show. Start the show.
Hailey
First, a quick word from our sponsor.
Jack
Airbnb. Nick, can you share that wonderful quote about hospitality we heard recently?
Hailey
Jack, I think I read this in the Danny Meyer book, but he said something like, hospitality is anticipating someone's needs beyond expectations.
Jack
I love that quote. When I have a guest booked to stay at my place, I try to meet that hospitality standard. And I do so by letting them know ahead of time events happening in the area.
Nick
Pro tip. Your favorite jam band is playing at your favorite burger place Wednesday night.
Hailey
Probably let your guests know about that one.
Jack
I also completed a full travel guide within my Airbnb listing, sharing my personal favorite recommendations and secret spots.
Nick
What kind of stuff's in that travel guide, Jack?
Jack
That swimming hole is so remote. You can definitely swim in the nude. And you won't get any issues?
Nick
Yeah, no George Costanza shrinkage that we know of. Yeti's your actual house, your apartment, your.
Hailey
Condo is just one part of the Airbnb hosting experience.
Jack
I really enjoyed the soft parts of hospitality, anticipating my guests needs beyond their expectations.
Nick
If this sounds your style and you.
Hailey
Enjoy a naked jump into a stream.
Nick
You can become an Airbnb host, too. As long as you got a place.
Jack
I'm proud of my 4.92 rating, and my wife is proud of the revenue we're generating with that rating.
Nick
Yeah, it is. Your home might be worth more than you think.
Hailey
Find out how much@airbnb.com.
Jack
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Nick
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Hailey
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Jack
Their chocolate flavored collagen powder turns a coffee into a mocha. It also adds 18 grams of protein and no sugar.
Nick
That's how I know you've been drinking this stuff. You caught that fact check right there, Jack. I'm a vanilla guy, though. And honestly, the vanilla flavor tastes like it was flown in from Tahiti on those beans.
Jack
Yetis, you don't want your body to fall into a collagen recession, especially after you hit 30.
Nick
No, you don't. Well, by taking collagen peptides daily, you.
Hailey
Can help support your hair, skin, nail, bone, and joint health.
Jack
Get 20% off by going to vitalproteins.com and entering promo code T Boy at checkout.
Hailey
That's vitalproteins.com promo code T Boy for 20% off.
Jack
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.
Nick
For our first story, the New York Times and Amazon just hooked up in.
Hailey
What we're calling the high school dance.
Jack
Of AI because the New York Times lets Amazon create the first premium AI chatbot.
Hailey
Funny thing, Yetis, Jack and I have.
Nick
Noticed there's a bit of a love.
Hailey
Triangle going on in the artificial intelligence industry. Right?
Jack
It started two years ago when ChatGPT got its first punch in the face.
Hailey
Slap in the face.
Jack
An epic lawsuit from the New York Times.
Hailey
That's right, the New York Times and a group of media companies sued OpenAI for stealing their content without content compensation.
Jack
The New York Times paywalls its news. Then OpenAI reads that news and regurgitates it for free to anyone using OpenAI. That was the law.
Nick
So the New York Times is a.
Hailey
Legal plaintiff suing OpenAI those two not in a relationship.
Jack
But now, two years later, New York Times is getting in bed with Amazon and their AI department.
Nick
That's right, they're P A R T N E R I N G partnering.
Jack
It's a multi year licensing deal. Amazon is gonna get access to all New York Times content.
Hailey
The New York Times Stock is up 2% on the because it's dipping into Bezos deep pockets.
Jack
Yep, the Times gets a big payday and Amazon gets access to the sports, cooking and original reporting of the New York Times.
Nick
Jack, you remember the movie?
Jack
She's all that classic Freddie Prinze Jr.
Hailey
Legendary. The jock and the nerd go to prom together.
Nick
Well, that's basically what just happened on Wall Street.
Jack
Now step back for a second. AI and media, those two industries are like boys and girls at a middle school dance. Everyone's on the sidelines, but a few have started to go into the middle and find a dance partner.
Nick
Cue the very white Jack. It looks like the Wall Street Journal.
Hailey
Partnered with OpenAI, Reuters partnered with Meta, and the New York Times has now partnered with Amazon for Amazon.
Jack
The key reason they want the New York Times is to feed Alexa content, specifically Alexa, because Alexa is Amazon's way.
Hailey
Delayed attempt at turning Alexa into an AI conversation partner because REM 10 years.
Jack
Ago, Alexa became the leader in voice assistants. But in the 10 years since, it's become the lagger in AI chatbots.
Hailey
However, with this New York Times hookup, Alexa could actually become your number one source of information.
Jack
You could discuss the front page of the Times every morning with your voice box assistant.
Nick
Like, hey Alexa, it's Valentine's Day. I need to cook a romantic dinner.
Hailey
Can you walk me through a fun idea? What do you got?
Jack
It's gonna find the perfect solution in the New York Times cooking section or.
Nick
Hey Alexa, why are the Giants so bad this season?
Jack
What's it'll read reporting from the athletic. The New York Times new sports section.
Nick
Or hey Alexa, what's the takeaway from the T boy podcast on this story?
Hailey
And Alexa plus is gonna know not.
Jack
Cause of this New York Times deal, but just cause she listens to the pod.
Nick
Yeah, yeah, she does. She does. Now Jack, I don't wanna take your job. So Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at the New York Times and Amazon?
Jack
Alexa is positioning itself as the first premium AI chatbot.
Hailey
Yeti is one problem no one talks about in AI. AI is basically a commodity product.
Jack
ChatGPT, Claude, Meta's Llama, they're all pretty similar. Because they all read the same Internet.
Hailey
Yeah, Grok has an edgy style and an edgy voice, but frankly, they're all delivering pretty much the same information to you.
Jack
But by partnering with the Times, Amazon is making a different move.
Hailey
That's right. Amazon is signaling that Alexa is more premium, a more sophisticated, sophisticated product.
Jack
Because it's the only AI chatbot that is trained on the premium content of New York Times reporting.
Nick
Yeah, basically, if the rest of AI.
Hailey
Are functional Volkswagens, then Amazon is building the Audi.
Jack
Alexa is the only one with a degree from the New York Times.
Nick
So best he's added up, and this is the biggest step we've seen yet.
Hailey
To create a premium brand of AI for our second story. In a shocking ruling, an unknown, mysterious 135 year old court just canceled the trade war.
Jack
This is the wildest development yet, because the trade war is now going to the Supreme Court.
Hailey
Jack, are you a fan of uno?
Jack
Yes. You know I am.
Hailey
You know the reverse card?
Jack
Yeah.
Nick
It feels like every week we get a new reverse card in the trade war.
Jack
Well, Nick, I think we just got a reverse, a skip and a wild draw four card. And it was thrown on the table by a cork you've never even heard of.
Nick
Get this Yetis.
Hailey
The Court of International Trade was set.
Nick
Up by Congress back in 1890.
Jack
Like doctors, judges specialize in one particular.
Nick
Field and the judges on this particular.
Hailey
Court that you never heard of specialize in trade and tariff law.
Jack
And those judges ruled late Wednesday that Trump's country specific tariffs are illegal because.
Hailey
To single handedly impose tariffs, President Trump has relied on emergency power.
Jack
But the court said on Wednesday the current situation doesn't qualify as an emergency.
Hailey
There's no emergency that, like we gotta stick a 10% tariff on Barbie dolls made in China.
Jack
So without a valid economic emergency, the President cannot single handedly tariff countries. Only Congress can do that.
Hailey
Basically, if President Trump wants baseline 10% tariffs, 145% tariffs on China, or 25% tariffs on Mexico, he must pass a law through Congress.
Jack
We can tariff China, but we need Congress to do it now.
Nick
We should point out the court said.
Hailey
Tariffs on specific products are okay, like.
Jack
Imported steel or imported cars. So those remain in place.
Nick
But the Court gave Trump 10 days.
Hailey
To cancel all tariffs targeting entire countries.
Jack
The penguins on the South Pole are gonna be okay now.
Hailey
You're gonna make it, guys.
Jack
Now, stock markets loved that news.
Hailey
Oh, I mean, every time tariffs go away, Jack, stocks pop. We talked about that taco trade the.
Jack
Other day, but even wildern. Yeah, Jack, some Experts say that the government may have to reimburse any company that has paid tariffs already in the trade war since those tariffs have been deemed illegal.
Hailey
So I think what you're saying, Jack, is that the government may have to send Mattel a check for millions of dollars because of all those tariffed little Barbie dolls.
Jack
Yeah, the Barbies were tariffed unlawfully so they can get a refund.
Nick
Congratulations, Barbie.
Hailey
Remember to split some of that with Ken.
Nick
Now, besties, just to sprinkle on a little don't get angry at us context right now. Remember, everything these days is viewed through.
Hailey
A lens of political suspicion. So there is something we want to clarify.
Jack
The three judges on this court were appointed by Ronald Reagan first, Barack Obama second, and Donald Trump third. And those three judges ruled unanimously against these tariffs.
Hailey
But this ruling has also already been appealed by the Trump administration.
Jack
And this thing is definitely going to end up at the Supreme Court.
Nick
In fact, last night, an appeals court.
Hailey
Paused everything we just said until the Supreme Court decides on the trade war.
Jack
So the trade war is actually still on. The ruling from less than 24 hours ago has already been paused.
Nick
So, Jack, what's the takeaway for all our buddies who are in the trade war?
Jack
Trump could lose his biggest bargaining chip.
Nick
Yetis.
Hailey
The president has called tariffs the most beautiful word in the English language, and he uses them as a negotiating tool.
Jack
He uses the threat of tariffs to force economic weaker countries into submission.
Hailey
But now, as President Trump is trying to get wins in trade deals, that threat, that leverage, that bargaining chip, it is gone.
Jack
Trump's not gonna give up this power easily. Prepare for an epic legal battle, starting with the Supreme Court very soon.
Hailey
But the way we see it, all the deal negotiations Trump has with other countries are on pause.
Jack
If you're little Vietnam and you're about to give Trump a big trade gift to prevent tariffs from happening, why would you do it now if he doesn't have the power to tariff?
Hailey
Add it all up, and the Supreme Court is about to decide whether to take away Trump's biggest bargaining chip. Now, a quick word from our sponsor.
Unknown
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Hailey
For our third and final story before.
Nick
The weekend, Hailey Bieber just pulled off.
Hailey
One of the biggest and fastest exits in startup history. $1 billion in just three years because.
Jack
Her beauty brand Rode borrowed a strategy from Elvis Presley.
Hailey
That's right, that Elvis.
Nick
But Jack, let's start with Elf Beauty.
Hailey
Who'S had a rough year.
Jack
The stock look looks like it was out all night.
Hailey
Yeah, it does. Got some bags under your eyes. Elf Beauty.
Jack
In April, Elf Beauty Stock was down 60% on the year because of the trade war.
Hailey
That's right, because 3/4 of E L F Beauty cosmetics are made in China.
Jack
And they just had to announce that everything is going up in price by $1.
Hailey
Yeah, on Instagram they actually posted not gonna Lie. Inflations and tariffs have hit us hard at E L F Beauty.
Jack
We appreciate the honesty from Elf Beauty, but The stock surged 25% this week on news they're spending a billion dollars to acquire HA skin brand Rode.
Nick
Apparently they do have some money. And Justin Bieber was so proud that.
Hailey
His wife sold her company for a billion bucks. He cut off his bangs.
Unknown
Did he?
Hailey
Or maybe he already had, I'm not sure. But they're not there anymore, Jack. Now, if you're not familiar with Road Beauty, basically they have the same value.
Jack
Proposition as Krispy Kremes to glaze your skin with goodness. That's their actual tagline they want to.
Nick
Make your skin so dewy.
Hailey
And I know you hate when I say this word, Jack, but you'd lick your own face.
Jack
We almost spin the second half of the pod because you're on a roll.
Nick
Well, let's talk financials, Jack, because this.
Hailey
Company, Rhode, has done $212 million in revenue in the last year.
Jack
And it's all direct to consumer, and it's all online. Rode Beauty is not in any physical stores yet.
Hailey
But the key reason why E L F Beauty has fallen in love with Rhode. What is it, Jack?
Jack
A majority of Rhodes Cosmetics are made in Italy and South Korea, so the business protects Elf against both wrinkles and tariffs.
Nick
But here's what Jack and I found.
Hailey
Fascinating about this story. Hailey Bieber's Road has accomplished all of this with just 10 products.
Jack
They've got a cream, a balm, a.
Nick
Serum, and an iPhone case that actually.
Hailey
Is customized to hold your lipstick.
Jack
That's a really funny product. But seriously, there's only 10 things you can buy on the website.
Hailey
That's right. You can count all of the products that Hailey Bieber's company makes on two hands.
Jack
Or as they put it, they make one of everything really good.
Nick
Now, Jack, in order to really understand.
Hailey
The story, could you please sprinkle on some context to the cosmetics industry?
Jack
It's the opposite. Elf Beauty has 400 products. L' Oreal has 1000 products.
Hailey
From all the ads we've seen on TV our whole lives. Maybelline has maybe a million products.
Jack
But Hailey resisted the temptation to go beyond 10. It's like an invisible dewy ceiling she refuses to crack.
Nick
And you know what this means, Jack?
Hailey
At her $1 billion valuation, each of her products is technically worth 100 million bucks.
Jack
So that iPhone case with a customized lipstick holder is a hundred million dollar product?
Nick
Yes, it is, Jax.
Hailey
So, besties for all of Hailey Bieber's Instagram posts. Shimmering like a watermelon, it appears that she actually borrowed a strategy from the music industry.
Jack
And it has nothing to do with Justin Bieber.
Hailey
No, it doesn't.
Nick
So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Road Beauty?
Jack
Road just sold for a billion dollars because of Elvis Presley.
Hailey
Yetis some fun business history here. Elvis Presley is the first musical artist to publish a greatest hits album.
Jack
It was 1958, and he published Elvis Golden Records. It was only his best songs. The ones that sold a million units.
Hailey
Well, Elvis's greatest hits album went platinum for similar reasons. We believe that this skincare company just sold for a billion bucks.
Jack
Because in a world that offers more too much, frankly, there are major benefits to resisting and doing less.
Hailey
For consumers, offering less limits.
Jack
The stress of choice and seeing so few choices on Rhodes website implies that each product is premium.
Hailey
And for the business, offering less streamlines operations, simplifies marketing, and saves money overall.
Jack
Like Elvis's greatest hits album, Hailey Bieber only offers her greatest hits.
Hailey
And that's how she just sold for a billion bucks in three years.
Nick
Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for the real Friday, the.
Jack
New York Times stock jumped on a multi year licensing deal with Amazon to feed their AI Alexa.
Hailey
Plus she's being positioned as the first premium AI chatbot.
Jack
For our second story, the Court of International Trade said Trump's tariffs are illegal. But an appeals court has already paused.
Nick
That ruling, so the Supreme Court will.
Hailey
Decide whether Trump gets his biggest bargaining chip tariffs.
Jack
And our third and final story is Elf Beauty. They just bought Hailey Bieber's road Beauty for $1 billion.
Hailey
Elvis pioneered the greatest hits album. Hailey Bieber made it her business model.
Jack
But yetis, this pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today.
Nick
First, Zuck is gonna open up more.
Hailey
Meta stores to sell AI glasses and.
Jack
VR headsets, according to people familiar with the matter. Meta wants to do what Apple did with Apple stores.
Nick
Yeah, it started last year in Los.
Hailey
Angeles and now they're planning more so you can try on some Meta Ray Bans before you buy them.
Jack
And yes, this does mean that once again, Zuck is zucking another tech company.
Hailey
Yeah, Zuck is zucking Apple.
Nick
And second, United Airlines and JetBlue are subletting each other's runways in a kind of airline roommate pretty much situation.
Jack
Yeah, United wants access to JFK airport because of the whole mess going on at Newark, which happens to be its east coast hub.
Hailey
And JetBlue has got plenty of JFK gates, so they're swapping a few of them with United.
Jack
Yeah, it's a very pretty high brow, lowbrow hookup, by the way. Premium and discount airline.
Hailey
Yeah, it's like kind of a Kim Kardashian Pete Davidson situation going on.
Jack
And finally, the new Harry Potter series coming to. HBO has finally cast the three main characters.
Hailey
Harry, Ron and Hermoine will be played. I'm just kidding.
Jack
I thought it was that as I.
Nick
Was reading the books for years I always said Hermoine.
Hailey
For years I said Hermoine will be played by three child actors who you've never heard of, but each of those.
Jack
Three children, children are set for life.
Hailey
Yeah. Because there are gonna be seven seasons of this Harry Potter series, so the kids are gonna be employed for a decade.
Jack
They're gonna need a bigger bank account.
Hailey
We hope puberty treats all of them well.
Nick
Now, time for the best fact. Yeah. This one's sent in by legendary yeti Tiffany Schmidt from Ann Arbor, Michigan, in.
Jack
Honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We're talking about the Bing cherry.
Hailey
Yeah.
Nick
The famous Bing cherry was named after.
Hailey
Ah Bing, a 19th century horticulturalist who emigrated from China to the US and.
Jack
This immigrant's precise selective breeding of only the sweetest cherries set the modern standard for what we enjoy as cherries today.
Hailey
And are currently the most expensive cherries on the market and the sweetest. And also, before we go, a thanks to Emmy Seals for pointing out a correction we gotta make to the pod.
Jack
We said this week that Nespresso has more revenue than American Airlines. That was flat out wrong.
Hailey
Yeah, that's right. Nespresso's $7 billion in annual sales is a fraction of American Airlines $54 billion in annual sales. Our mistake on the fact check.
Nick
Yetis, you looked fantastic this week. Jack, you look fantastic too. You want to celebrate some wins?
Jack
Absolutely.
Nick
Okay, here's a win. I'm gonna spell out that word that.
Hailey
You missed at the end of the beginning of the podcast.
Jack
Oh, yeah, go ahead, Go ahead.
Hailey
C h a r g o g g a g o g g m a n c h a u g g a g o g g c h a u b a n e g u n g a m a.
Jack
U g g. You're sure this is real? Also, you need an oxygen bag right now.
Unknown
Yeah.
Nick
You look fantastic. Enjoy our weekly show. This weekend on Heinz ketchup, the best idea yet. Remember to rate and review today's pod.
Hailey
And Jack and I will see you Monday.
Nick
And before we go, a happy birthday to yeti Will beef Chung. Turning 40 years old down in Las Vegas.
Hailey
This girl dad is spending it with a girl's day.
Jack
Happy birthday to Kevin Wolfe in Malvern, Pennsylvania. This man has a fly fishing new show that I want to subscribe to.
Nick
We're tuning in. And Joseph Semple. Happy 36th birthday down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Hailey
Celebrating with a life reset. There you go.
Jack
He's unplugging himself and he's plugging himself back in.
Nick
And Ameya Alvarez has got a fantastic birthday in Jacksonville, Florida.
Hailey
Just finishing the first grade. Congrats, Amaya.
Jack
Happy birthday to Brian Rosa turning 40 in Gardena, California. Crushing volleyballs pound and bruise And a.
Nick
Shout out to Anna and Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who are having a baby in 24 hours. Anna, we're so pumped for you and.
Hailey
The whole Hauer family.
Jack
Congratulations to Ben and Lexi Einstein, who have a new baby boy over in San Francisco, Archie.
Nick
And congratulations to legendary Eddies Amanda and Doug Whittem. A couple of T boy tweets celebrating at topgolf and opening an HSA outside of Boston.
Jack
Dibs on being Amanda's caddy. Dibs.
Nick
And Wynn is celebrating a 20th anniversary for being at Starbucks in Seattle.
Hailey
That has gotta be a corporate record win.
Jack
Congratulations to Emily and Dan Chambers moving from Boston to Chicago. See you at the live show. Bring all your siblings.
Nick
And Kyle Radczak from Warner Robbins, Georgia is celebrating a promotion in the Air Force.
Hailey
Kyle, thanks for flying for yourself. Service.
Jack
Congrats to Miranda Day in Detroit, Michigan, who landed a job at Simple Closure the day after hearing our episode on it.
Nick
That's right, we did a story on that company and then Miranda shared it.
Hailey
With the hiring team. Congrats on the job, Miranda. Well earned.
Jack
And finally, shout out to the New York City influencer on our Instagram. Check it out.
Hailey
They just dropped a review of Nvidia's earnings.
Jack
This is Jack. I own stock of Amazon and Krispy Kreme and Nick and I both own stock of Apple. 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.
Hailey
Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.
Jack
And before you go, tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out a short survey@wondery.com survey we want to.
Nick
Get to know you.
Unknown
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Podcast Summary: "🧴 Rhode to Riches — Hailey Bieber’s $1B Deal. The NYT’s Alexa+. Supreme Tariff Court"
Release Date: May 30, 2025
Hosts: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell, Nick & Jack Studios
In this episode of "The Best One Yet", hosts Jack and Nick delve into three significant pop business news stories: the surprising AI partnership between the New York Times and Amazon, a pivotal Supreme Court ruling on Trump's trade tariffs, and Hailey Bieber’s successful $1 billion exit with her skincare brand, Rhode Beauty. The hosts provide insightful commentary, engaging discussions, and notable quotes that bring each story to life.
The episode opens with Jack introducing the first major story: a groundbreaking collaboration between the New York Times and Amazon. This deal marks a significant move in the AI and media industries, aiming to enhance Amazon's AI assistant, Alexa, with premium content from the NYT.
Multi-Year Licensing Deal:
[06:33] Jack: "Amazon is gonna get access to all New York Times content."
The partnership allows Amazon to integrate NYT's rich content, making Alexa a more informed and sophisticated AI chatbot. This move differentiates Alexa from other AI assistants by providing access to high-quality, reliable information.
Strategic Significance:
[10:11] Nick: "If the rest of AI are functional Volkswagens, then Amazon is building the Audi."
[10:17] Jack: "Alexa is the only one with a degree from the New York Times."
By partnering with the NYT, Amazon elevates Alexa's status, positioning it as a premium AI option compared to competitors like ChatGPT, Meta's Llama, and others that rely on more generic internet sources.
User Experience Enhancement:
[08:48] Jack: "You could discuss the front page of the Times every morning with your voice box assistant."
This integration aims to provide users with detailed and specific information from a reputable source, enhancing daily interactions with Alexa.
The second story tackles a significant legal development: the Supreme Court's involvement in Trump's trade tariffs. The Court of International Trade has ruled that President Trump's country-specific tariffs are illegal without Congressional approval, igniting a major legal and economic debate.
Court's Ruling:
[11:06] Hailey: "The Court of International Trade was set up by Congress back in 1890."
[12:03] Jack: "We can tariff China, but we need Congress to do it now."
The ruling states that without a declared emergency, the President cannot unilaterally impose tariffs, specifically targeting entire countries like China and Mexico.
Economic Impact:
[12:26] Hailey: "Every time tariffs go away, Jack, stocks pop."
[12:47] Jack: "The Barbies were tariffed unlawfully so they can get a refund."
The immediate market reaction was positive, with stock markets rising in response to the potential easing of trade tensions. Additionally, companies affected by the tariffs, such as Mattel, may receive refunds for unlawfully imposed tariffs.
Legal Proceedings:
[13:25] Jack: "This thing is definitely going to end up at the Supreme Court very soon."
[14:00] Hailey: "Prepare for an epic legal battle, starting with the Supreme Court very soon."
The Trump administration has appealed the ruling, and the case is set to reach the Supreme Court, ensuring that the trade war remains a contentious issue until a final decision is made.
The final major story highlights Hailey Bieber's impressive $1 billion exit with her skincare brand, Rhode Beauty, which was acquired by Elf Beauty. This acquisition is notable for its speed and the strategic business model behind Rhode Beauty.
Strategic Business Model:
[17:20] Hailey: "Road has accomplished all of this with just 10 products."
[18:20] Hailey: "Rhode has accomplished all of this with just 10 products."
Inspired by Elvis Presley’s "Greatest Hits" album, Rhode Beauty focuses on a curated selection of high-quality products, emphasizing simplicity and excellence over quantity.
Financial Success:
[17:55] Hailey: "Rode Beauty has done $212 million in revenue in the last year."
[18:00] Jack: "And it's all direct to consumer, and it's all online."
Rhode Beauty's focused product lineup has driven significant revenue growth, making it an attractive target for acquisition by Elf Beauty, despite Elf's own challenges in the market.
Market Impact:
[20:13] Hailey: "At her $1 billion valuation, each of her products is technically worth 100 million bucks."
[20:31] Hailey: "Hailey Bieber only offers her greatest hits."
By limiting the number of products, Rhode Beauty reduces operational complexities and marketing expenses, positioning each product as a premium offering. This strategy not only appeals to consumers but also makes the brand highly scalable and valuable.
Historical Parallel:
[19:50] Jack: "Because Elvis's greatest hits album went platinum for similar reasons."
[20:04] Jack: "In a world that offers more too much, there are major benefits to resisting and doing less."
Drawing a parallel to Elvis Presley's success with a curated album, Rhode Beauty's selective product strategy has proven effective in achieving rapid growth and a lucrative exit.
Beyond the three primary stories, the hosts briefly touch on other noteworthy business developments:
Meta’s Expansion of Physical Stores:
[21:22] Hailey: "Meta wants to do what Apple did with Apple stores."
Meta is planning to open more physical stores to sell AI glasses and VR headsets, emulating Apple's successful retail model.
United Airlines and JetBlue Runway Sharing:
[21:37] Jack: "It's a very pretty high brow, lowbrow hookup, by the way. Premium and discount airline."
United Airlines and JetBlue are collaborating by subletting each other's runways to optimize operations at JFK Airport, reflecting innovative partnerships in the airline industry.
Harry Potter Series on HBO:
[21:44] Nick: "Three child actors are set for life as they join the seven-season series."
The new Harry Potter series on HBO has cast young actors for the main characters, setting the stage for a long-term commitment to the franchise.
The hosts promptly correct a factual error regarding Nespresso's revenue compared to American Airlines, demonstrating their commitment to accuracy.
The episode concludes with the hosts celebrating their community members' birthdays and milestones, fostering a sense of connection and appreciation among listeners.
Conclusion
In this episode of "The Best One Yet", Jack and Nick deliver a comprehensive and engaging analysis of significant business developments. From groundbreaking AI partnerships and landmark legal rulings to strategic business exits, the hosts offer valuable insights and entertaining commentary. Notable quotes and structured discussions make the episode both informative and enjoyable, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the latest in pop business news.