🤠 “Yeehaw$$$” — Stetson’s cowboy revival. Luckin’ 1st US coffee. Elon’s last stand.

Summary

Podcast Summary: "🤠 'Yeehaw$$$' — Stetson’s Cowboy Revival. Luckin’ 1st US Coffee. Elon’s Last Stand."

Release Date: July 2, 2025
Host: Nick & Jack Studios
Podcast: The Best One Yet

---

1. Luckin Coffee's Expansion into the United States

Nick and Jack kick off the episode by discussing Luckin Coffee's aggressive expansion strategy. As China's leading coffee chain, Luckin has been making significant strides domestically, opening a new store every two and a half hours—a pace that far outstrips Starbucks' expansion in China.

Jack (06:26): "That is more locations opened in just one year than Starbucks has opened in China in 25 years."

They highlight Luckin's strategic entrance into the US market with their first two locations in New York City’s Chelsea and Greenwich Village, areas with a high concentration of Chinese students from NYU. This demographic targeting is a calculated move to cater to a familiar customer base.

Nick (07:14): "They're priced 30% lower than Starbucks. Plus, there's no delivery fee."

The hosts emphasize Luckin's unique approach—orders are exclusively placed through their app, which not only streamlines the purchasing process but also allows the company to gather extensive consumer data. This data-driven model enables personalized marketing strategies, such as offering discounts to customers who haven't ordered recently but are nearby a store location.

Jack (08:43): "Luckin knows you better than any other app and they'll find more ways to get you to buy more."

The discussion concludes with a comparison between Starbucks' "third place" concept—a welcoming environment to linger—and Luckin's "zero place," which emphasizes speed and convenience without encouraging customers to stay.

Nick (09:05): "Luckin's real threat to Starbucks is that they're betting on the opposite coffee experience."

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2. The Big Beautiful Bill: Elon Musk vs. President Trump

The podcast transitions to a heated political debate surrounding the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill in the Senate, which threatens significant setbacks for the clean energy sector in the United States.

Nick and Jack delve into the implications of the bill, noting its severe impact on electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy projects by eliminating crucial tax credits.

Nick (12:03): "The big beautiful bill would also end tax credits for wind and solar energy as well."

Elon Musk, representing Tesla, is at the forefront of opposing this legislation. His stance has ignited a fierce exchange with President Trump, who threatens to cut off government contracts and even deport Musk if the bill becomes law.

Jack (11:10): "Trump is saying that Elon is butthurt because this bill would end the subsidies for EVs which Tesla enjoys."

The hosts stress that the bill doesn’t just affect automotive companies but extends its reach to the entire clean energy industry, potentially coffining renewable projects and favoring fossil fuels. They juxtapose this with China’s robust investment in clean energy, highlighting a strategic divergence between the two superpowers.

Nick (13:31): "Do we compete with China or do we concede?"

Elon’s criticism underscores a broader strategic error, questioning the sustainability and long-term competitiveness of the US’s energy policies in the face of global advancements.

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3. Stetson’s Cowboy Hat Renaissance

Transitioning to fashion, Nick and Jack explore the surprising resurgence of Stetson's iconic cowboy hats. Founded in 1865, Stetson has adeptly navigated the evolving market by rebranding from a purely Western accessory to a broader Americana symbol.

Nick (18:13): "They rebranded Stetson from Western to Americana."

This pivot has allowed Stetson to appeal to both traditional users, such as Mexican ranchers, and high-profile celebrities like Beyoncé and characters in popular media. The brand's ability to maintain its legacy while expanding into luxury and lifestyle segments has resulted in impressive growth, with sales driven by diversified product lines including fragrances, boots, and even bourbon.

Jack (19:07): "Legacy brands are realizing that their age isn't a liability, it's actually a branding advantage."

The discussion highlights how founding dates play a crucial role in brand prestige, positioning Stetson alongside other enduring brands like Levi's and Birkenstock. Consumers today place significant value on legacy and authenticity, allowing these longstanding brands to thrive by balancing heritage with contemporary relevance.

Nick (20:11): "A key reason, we think, is age. [...] age isn't a liability, it's actually a branding advantage."

---

Key Takeaways

• Luckin Coffee's Strategic US Entry: By leveraging technology and data-driven strategies, Luckin Coffee poses a formidable challenge to established players like Starbucks, emphasizing speed and convenience over the traditional third-place experience.

• Impact of the Big Beautiful Bill: The legislation threatens to undermine the clean energy sector in the US, sparking a major conflict between industry leaders like Elon Musk and political figures such as President Trump. The outcome of this bill could significantly influence the country's position in global energy markets.

• Stetson's Successful Rebranding: Stetson illustrates the power of legacy brands in the modern market. By rebranding from Western to Americana and diversifying their product offerings, Stetson has successfully bridged the gap between historical significance and contemporary fashion trends.

---

Notable Quotes

• Jack (08:43): "Luckin knows you better than any other app and they'll find more ways to get you to buy more."

• Nick (09:05): "Luckin's real threat to Starbucks is that they're betting on the opposite coffee experience."

• Nick (13:31): "Do we compete with China or do we concede?"

• Nick (20:11): "A key reason, we think, is age. [...] age isn't a liability, it's actually a branding advantage."

---

This episode of The Best One Yet offers insightful analyses into emerging business strategies, significant political developments impacting industries, and the revival of classic brands through strategic rebranding. Nick and Jack provide listeners with a comprehensive overview of how legacy and innovation intersect in today's dynamic market landscape.

Transcript

[Nick]

This is Nick, this is Jack. It's Wednesday. Ceviche Wednesday, July 2nd. And today's pod is the best one yet. This is a T boy.

[Jack]

The top three pop business news stories you need to know today.

[Nick]

What the heck? Are stocks at record highs still, Jack?

[Jack]

Of course they are.

[Nick]

Yeah, there we go. But today's three stories, they are fantastic as well. Jack, what do we got on the T boy?

[Jack]

For our first story, Luckin Coffee opens a new coffee shop every two and a half hours in China.

[Nick]

True story.

[Jack]

And their first US location opened on Monday in New York City.

[Nick]

Starbucks invented the third place, but Luckin invented the zero place.

[Jack]

For our second story, the Big beautiful bill just passed the Senate and Elon and Trump are fighting about it again.

[Nick]

Because the most controversial part of this bill is energetic, Literally.

[Jack]

And our third and final story. We're about to enter 4th of July and one American brand is thriving right now. Stetson.

[Nick]

Stetson's cowboy hats ain't worn by cowboys anymore, but they are worn by Beyonce's.

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

What a mix. No one else is doing that mix. Love the mix, Jack.

[Jack]

Look, it's July. We're officially halfway through the year, so we're gonna pose an awkward question.

[Nick]

Yes, we will.

[Jack]

How you doing with your New Year's resolution?

[Nick]

Because you said you'd hit the gym, but then you hit snooze.

[Jack]

You said you'd quit Instagram, but you just liked our post.

[Nick]

Your last journal entry was on Monday, January 14th.

[Jack]

Get this, Yetis. Four out of five of us drop our New Year's resolutions within one month of the new year.

[Nick]

The diet starts tomorrow. Except. Except for that donut.

[Jack]

So three years ago, Nick and I.

[Nick]

Disrupted the resolution because Jack and I launched a resolution revolution.

[Jack]

Every July we do the same thing. We call it.

[Nick]

We do.

[Jack]

Actually, it's pretty self explanatory. The mid year's resolution.

[Nick]

Yeah, Mid year's resolution. It's the same idea as January, but we do it in July as well.

[Jack]

And here's our pitch for why you should do it too. The mid year's resolution is twice as.

[Nick]

Easy because it's half as long.

[Jack]

It's six times as much fun because.

[Nick]

It starts in the summer and it's way less pressure because no one even knows it about it.

[Jack]

Do you want to know my mid year's resolution?

[Nick]

What is it, Jack? What do you got this year? What are you running down?

[Jack]

Stop eating food off my kids plates. Not a single French fry, not a single chicken Nugget. No. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. If it's for my kid, I may not eat it.

[Nick]

No, no, no, Jack, the j. The calories don't count if it was on someone else's plate. That's just, like, a fact.

[Jack]

No, that's like, the opposite of my mid year's resolution.

[Nick]

Maybe I misunderstood the science experiment. All right, Jack, my mid year's resolution. I'm not buying any new shirts. I don't need new shirts. I have all these great shirts. I don't need new.

[Jack]

Why not expand it to pants then?

[Nick]

At the end of the year, I'm going to buy a Rolex.

[Jack]

Oh, with the savings, you mean? Yeah. Incentive. You need to incentivize the resolution.

[Nick]

Deny the shirts, approve the watch.

[Jack]

So, Yetis, to kick off the midway point of this year, let us know your mid year's resolution.

[Nick]

Drop your mid year's resi. Right here in the comments.

[Jack]

And remember the best part of the mid year's resolution.

[Nick]

No one cares if you quit. Because we literally made this up. It's not a real thing. And that's why it's so beautiful. Jack, let's hit our three stories.

[Unknown]

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 read to go. We can't wait no more. So just start the show. Start the show.

[Nick]

Start the show. First, a quick word from our sponsor.

[Jack]

Airbnb.

[Nick]

Yetis. 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 gonna pay for it? He's gonna 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 properties now.

[Nick]

Yeah, 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 and now.

[Nick]

A word from our sponsor, Netsuite.

[Jack]

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[Nick]

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[Jack]

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[Nick]

How to pivot fast if your revenues are at least in the seven figures. Download the free ebook Navigating Global Trade. Three insights for [e-mail] tboy for our first story. Just in time for the Fourth of July, Luckin Coffee has arrived in America.

[Jack]

China's biggest coffee chain just opened up in New York City, and they're doing the opposite of Starbucks.

[Nick]

All right, Yetis, eight years ago, when I was in business school, I used a QR code for the very first time. Revolutionary. Do you remember what I texted you, Jack?

[Jack]

You told me that you bought a latte in Beijing at a Luckin Coffee using your QR code.

[Nick]

Luckin Coffee, the biggest coffee chain in China. These guys are putting up numbers that would melt the Frappuccino.

[Jack]

They have grown so much since Nick was there. For instance, in 2023, they opened nine new stores per day. That's one new grand opening every two and a half hours.

[Nick]

Luckin opened 9,000 stores in 2023. Jack, could you sprinkle on some competitive context for us, please?

[Jack]

That is more locations opened in just one year than Starbucks has opened in China in 25 years.

[Nick]

They're not serving decaf over at Luckin headquarters.

[Jack]

Man, I think they work a 24 hour workday over there.

[Nick]

Well, Luckin's Coffee, it happens to be priced 30% lower than Star Starbucks. Plus, there's no delivery fee.

[Jack]

More on the delivery part in a second. But add it all up and Luckin is basically the sheen of coffee.

[Nick]

Yeah, they ain't serving double digit lattes, they're serving single digits.

[Jack]

They're cheap, they're fast, and they pair well with a cute top.

[Nick]

And here's the news on Monday, Luckin opened their very first location in America in New York City.

[Jack]

Actually, the first two locations, one in Chelsea and one in Greenwich Village, right next to nyu, which makes some strategic sense.

[Nick]

And why is that Greenwich Village location particularly smart?

[Jack]

NYU has the most Chinese students of any other American university, so they'll feel right at home with their local Luckin Coffee.

[Nick]

You're ordering the coconut latte if you know, you know first QR code.

[Jack]

But the real competitive situation for Luckin Coffee isn't on the street corner. It's in the App Store.

[Nick]

This is what Jack and I found fascinating. Besties, get this. Starbucks has the biggest food app in America, right?

[Jack]

Jack? Launched in 2009, Starbucks rewards app has 34 million active users.

[Nick]

But Luckin has nearly four times that.

[Jack]

The Luckin app is used by 120 million people in China. Those are like social media app numbers, not coffee numbers.

[Nick]

Totally, Jack. And the reason why is that 100% of the orders for Luckin take place in the app.

[Jack]

You must order in the app. You can't walk up to the desk and order a cheese foam espresso. You have to look down at your phone and tap, tap, tap away your order.

[Nick]

By the way, Luckin isn't just doing all this in the app so you don't chit chat with the barista and waste everyone's time going on about order origins of the beans from Ecuador or whatever Luckin requires.

[Jack]

All orders happen in the app because of the data.

[Nick]

They're doing it for the data.

[Jack]

Luckin's former CFO said this. We started as an online model so that 100% of the transactions give us data.

[Nick]

For example, Luckin knows that you didn't order a coffee in the last 10 days, so they'll send you a half off deal when you walk within five blocks of a Luckin.

[Jack]

That's the power of data. Kind of like TikTok. Luckin knows you better than any other app and they'll find more ways to get you to buy more.

[Nick]

They're putting the algorithm in the macchiato. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Luckin?

[Jack]

It's Starbucks's third place versus Luckin's zero place.

[Nick]

Hey, Yetis, let's talk numbers here. Luckin, they did $1.2 billion in revenue last quarter. That is still a fraction the size of Starbucks. It's just 110 the market value.

[Jack]

But Luckin's real threat to Starbucks is that they're betting on the opposite coffee.

[Nick]

Experience, because Starbucks invented the third place. Not home, not work. A welcoming sanctuary in between.

[Jack]

And just last week, Starbucks doubled down on the third place. They said that they want you to stay and linger longer, but we think.

[Nick]

That Luckin invented the zero place because it's grab and go only. In fact, a huge percentage of their revenue is delivery.

[Jack]

Luckin thinks you don't care about a third place. No, the most important thing is getting your coffee fast and not interrupting your plan to go from A to B.

[Nick]

So while Starbucks focuses on coffee culture, Luckin focused on coffee logistics.

[Jack]

The new coffee battle in America won't be Starbucks versus Luckin. It'll be third place versus zero place.

[Nick]

For our second story, Elon Musk is going all out in opposing Trump's big beautiful bill.

[Jack]

But Tesla's not the only company that would suffer. The biggest target of Trump's big beautiful bill is the clean energy industry.

[Nick]

Yetis, yesterday, Jack and I used an ice cream sundae to explain the big beautiful bill to you. Great episode. You should check it out after this one.

[Jack]

But in just the last 24 hours, we have two big updates to report.

[Nick]

Yeah. First, Republicans in the Senate passed the biggest bill in our lifetimes, that big beautiful bill.

[Jack]

On Tuesday, it was a 5050 tie that was broken by the Vice President, J.D.

[Nick]

Vance. Now the bill goes back to the House, which could accept the Senate's changes or reject.

[Jack]

The second big update is on the Real Housewives of Mar A Lago.

[Nick]

Yeah, the new real time Bravo show. You got the world's most powerful man versus the world's richest man.

[Jack]

Here's the latest. Elon has committed to primary to basically oppose in the campaign any senator or House member who votes for Trump's bill.

[Nick]

Now, in response, President Trump mused on social media about cutting all of Elon's government contracts for his businesses.

[Jack]

Trump even said we will see when asked by the press if he would try to deport Elon back to South Africa.

[Nick]

Trump is saying that Elon is butthurt because this bill would end the subsidies for EVs which Tesla enjoys.

[Jack]

And Tesla stock did fall 5% on Tuesday. But the reality is way bigger than Tesla.

[Nick]

And Jack, how exactly would you describe the reality?

[Jack]

Trump's big beautiful bill basically throws the clean energy industry under a gas powered bus.

[Nick]

Yeah, because besties, yesterday we covered the biggest part of Trump's biggest big beautiful bill.

[Jack]

$4.5 trillion of debt, finance, tax cuts.

[Nick]

But the big beautiful bill would also cause huge financial damage to America's clean energy industry.

[Jack]

The highlight you've probably heard about is the end of the $7,500 tax credit for buying an electric car. That's going to hurt all electric car makers.

[Nick]

But here's what Jack and I found fascinating. It really goes even further. Get this. The big beautiful bill also ends tax credits for wind and solar energy as well.

[Jack]

And without those tax credits, wind and solar energy don't really get built.

[Nick]

There was even a new tax on solar and wind energy projects until it got removed in the final minutes of the debate last night.

[Jack]

So basically, this bill is rolling out the red carpet for fossil fuels.

[Nick]

Coal is getting a tax break, but.

[Jack]

It punishes clean energy.

[Nick]

Solar and wind are losing their tax break.

[Jack]

Solar stocks have fallen 30% in the last month in anticipation of this bill. But interestingly, nuclear stocks have been up in the same period.

[Nick]

That's right. Nuclear happens to be the one big clean energy exception in the big beautiful belt.

[Jack]

Because remember, nuclear is carbon free and it is getting a lot of support from this administration.

[Nick]

Maybe also because big tech is very interested in nuclear for powering artificial intelligence.

[Jack]

But nukes and artificial intelligence aside, renewable energy bankruptcies loom if this bill becomes.

[Nick]

Law and you can see it in the stock prices. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over in the energy industry?

[Jack]

In energy, do we compete with China or do we concede?

[Nick]

Honestly, Eddies, Jack and I never would have thought five years ago that the United States would be abandoning its transition to clean energy.

[Jack]

Now, nonprofits and many private companies are still committed to the transition, but the US Government is about to abandon it.

[Nick]

And what we think is so striking is the contrast because our strategy is. Is now the opposite of China's strategy on energy.

[Jack]

For years, China has invested big money in clean energy, considering it an industry of the future.

[Nick]

Jack, you want to share the two wild stats we discovered on Chinese energy?

[Jack]

Half of the world's solar electricity is now generated in China and clean energy is 10% of China's GDP.

[Nick]

We repeat, clean energy, 10% of China's economic output.

[Jack]

Elon tweeted this weekend that abandoning solar is a massive strategic error that leaves America extremely vulnerable in the future.

[Nick]

So the question we gotta ask for US Energy is do we compete with China or do we concede? Now, a quick word from our sponsor.

[Jack]

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[Nick]

Ah, speed and quality, not typically a combo you get together.

[Jack]

I mean, Nick, you can get a fast food hamburger, but we hope you like it well done.

[Nick]

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[Jack]

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[Jack]

Now a quick break, switching topics to one of our favorite sponsors, Vital Proteins.

[Nick]

All right, Yeti. So Jack has become an extreme collagen user. This guy's adding vital proteins collagen to each morning coffee. And Jack drinks a lot of morning coffee, I should point out.

[Jack]

Yeah, I have three cups a day. I have a tub of mocha and a tub of chocolate. Both make my coffee taste chocolatey. And there's a bunch of protein in each scoop, too.

[Nick]

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[Jack]

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[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. For our third and final story, Stetson, the original American cowboy hat has jumped from bull riders to Beyonce's because Stetson.

[Jack]

Figured out how to sell Americana style. From blue collars to white.

[Nick]

Yetis little funny thing. Jack and I have noticed, you know the most successful companies from the great gold rush of the 1840s. Who are they, Jack?

[Jack]

They have nothing to do with gold.

[Nick]

Yeah, like Levi's jeans, Wells Fargo bank, Ghirardelli Chocol.

[Jack]

All of those companies were famous for originally selling to gold miners. But unlike gold miners, all those companies are still around and thriving today.

[Nick]

Gold. And they're gold, Jack. The other company we almost forgot is Stetson. The 1865 founded OG Cowboy Hat.

[Jack]

Stetson, the most disruptive hat in the history of heads.

[Nick]

We say that because before the cowboy hat, you had to wear a raccoon tailed hat. And what's the problem, Jack?

[Jack]

Well, first of all, they looked ridiculous.

[Nick]

Yeah, sorry, sorry, Ethan Allen.

[Jack]

No judgment. Yeah, sorry, Davy Crockett. They also didn't provide any protection from rain or snow.

[Nick]

So to avoid that fashion faux pas, John B. Stetson of a New Jersey hat making family invented a precipitation proof streamlined hat design we now call the cowboy hat.

[Jack]

It's basically a hat with an all around BRIM that goes 360, but it's not a bucket hat.

[Nick]

Call it a bucket hat. Gonna get kicked by that Bronco. Well, 160 years later, the cowboy hat company, Stetson should have been out of business by now, right? J?

[Jack]

I mean, there aren't that many cowboys these days, so.

[Nick]

And yet Stetson's brand is hotter than ever. And we were fascinated by that because.

[Jack]

Again, gold miners, cowboys, pioneers, not really occupations these days.

[Nick]

You can't check that on the census, can you, Jack?

[Jack]

No, you cannot. So for decades, sales of Stetson's were slowing.

[Nick]

But then get this. In 2019, this family business rebranded. They rebranded Stetson from Western to Americana.

[Jack]

They realized that Western is a niche brand that's kind of impractical and kind of outdated. But Americana is a brand that's bigger, more aspirational, and as relevant as ever.

[Nick]

And what was the result of this rebrand pivot? Jack?

[Jack]

Stetson's cowboy business has been growing double digits every single year since 2021.

[Nick]

And driving all that have been some key obvious partnerships.

[Jack]

What hat does the Dutton family wear at Yellowstone Ranch? Stetson hats.

[Nick]

But also some unobvious partnerships.

[Jack]

What hat were Ken and Barbie wearing in the Barbie movie?

[Nick]

I think that's a black Stetson, Jack.

[Jack]

And what was Beyonce wearing for her Cowboy Carter tour?

[Nick]

I believe that's a Swarovski crystal Stetson hat.

[Jack]

All three of those cultural icons the last few years all rocked Stetson's.

[Nick]

What's so shocking is that Stetson is now selling both blue collar worker hats and white collar luxury ones. Without diluting the brand.

[Jack]

Mexican ranchers buy Stetson hats as part of their standard uniform. But Stetson also sells a $5,600 diamond crusted hat that is popular with the Aspen crowd.

[Nick]

You're wearing that to the apres. So this brand, they've expanded so Much culturally since the pivot that their cowboy hat is now just 15% of their sales.

[Jack]

Stetson's fragrance and perfume business just passed $100 million a year.

[Nick]

Okay. Their fastest growing division is boots, Fashionable women's boots, cowboy boots.

[Jack]

And they've also expanded to alcohol with Stetson branded bourbon, which makes sense. And even Stetson branded bedding, which makes less sense. Is that leather sheets? Because I don't want to sleep in leather sheets.

[Nick]

If you can't handle the cowhide, then the sleepover is off. Butch Cassidy. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Stetson?

[Jack]

Founding dates are a competitive advantage.

[Nick]

Yetis, Birkenstock, Levi's, Carhartt, and now Stetson. All of their sales are surging for older brands.

[Jack]

And all of those older brands straddle both working class consumers and premium consumers.

[Nick]

And a key reason, we think, is age. Carhartt founded 1889, Stetson founded 1865, Levi's.

[Jack]

Founded 1854, and Birkenstock founded 1774 before the United States of America.

[Nick]

Jack, right now, consumers are putting a premium on legacy.

[Jack]

As long as a product still provides value, you. It's not seen as old fashioned, it's seen as historic.

[Nick]

Legacy brands are realizing that their age isn't a liability, it's actually a branding advantage.

[Jack]

Because anyone can change their design, their price, their location, or their logo to.

[Nick]

Compete with you, but they can't change their founding date. Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for ceviche Wednesday?

[Jack]

China's Luckin Coffee has finally arrived in America with two locations in New York City.

[Nick]

The way we see it, it's Starbucks third place versus Luckin's zero place.

[Jack]

For our second story, Trump's Big Beautiful bill was passed by the Senate, but Elon is fighting tooth and nail to kill it.

[Nick]

And the big loser in this bill is clean energy. Do we compete with China or do we concede?

[Jack]

And our third and final story is Stetson. The OG cowboy hat is hotter than ever, selling to both blue collar workers and Aspen fashionistas because a founding date.

[Nick]

Is a competitive advantage.

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

First, Lululemon is suing Costco over alleged knockoff activewear.

[Jack]

This isn't a lawsuit. This is a dupe suit.

[Nick]

Yeah. Lulu says Costco copied the look and the feel of their ABC khakis, their scuba hoodies, and their defined jackets.

[Jack]

And the product in question is Kirkland branded clothing. Nick, I got A feeling Lululemon just picked a fight with every Costco card holding American.

[Nick]

If you want these leggings, you better come and take them. And second, Uber's CEO just basically said you shouldn't tip your Uber driver.

[Jack]

Here's what he said. You should only tip if you feel like you got your money's worth and then some.

[Nick]

Yeah, that sounds like not tipping. Like drivers are probably gonna hate this comment. Jack.

[Jack]

Why would Uber risk making such an important group the drivers mad?

[Nick]

Well, Yeti's, Jack and I were talking about it and we think that self driving cars are coming so quickly the riders will matter more than the drivers. And Uber is picking sides.

[Jack]

And finally, the WNBA isn't just setting record attendance, it's getting record teams.

[Nick]

In May, 400,000 people attended a WNBA basketball game, the most in 20 years.

[Jack]

And half of all WNBA games right now are sold out.

[Nick]

So here's the update. Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, congratulations. You are now getting your own WNBA teams.

[Jack]

Which means. That means it's time for the most exciting parts of the sports industry.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Coming up with the names name Stormin, baby.

[Nick]

The Philadelphia Sheagles. Here we go, Jack. Now time for the best fact yet. This one sent in by Pat Meehan from lovely Bradenton, Florida.

[Jack]

Get this, there are 60 million pickup trucks on the road in America. But here's the kicker. Seven out of eight of those trucks were not bought for work.

[Nick]

That's right. According to registrations and Usage data, only 1 out of 8 pickup trucks are actually used for job related purposes like.

[Jack]

Construction, farming or hauling equipment. The rest, they're lifestyle pickups used for like commuting, grocery shopping and flexing at tailgates.

[Nick]

What you're saying, Jack, is that pickup trucks are basically America's favorite fashion statement.

[Jack]

Rugged and rarely dirty.

[Nick]

Yeah, our buddy Timmy, he's never hauled lumber, but he has parallel parked an F150 at Trader Joe's. Yetis, you look fantastic today. And if you have got a mid year's resolution, we want to hear it. Drop it right here in the comments.

[Jack]

I think every dad listening to this show should follow my lead and not have a single piece of food off their children's plates.

[Nick]

Okay, Jack, do you remember what your resolution was last year?

[Jack]

Yeah. To only eat ice cream if it's eaten on a cone.

[Nick]

Yeah. There's kind of a theme here of you and this uncertainty with other people's food and maybe a bizarre relationship with eating other people's food. Yetis, you look fantastic. Drop down to follow the show so you get us every day. And Jack and I, we'll see you tomorrow. And before we go, a happy birthday to Yeti Jose Estrada in New York City who just got a toothbrush sales internship. Congratulations, Jose.

[Jack]

And a happy birthday to Bimpe Abiola of Milton, Ontario, Canada, the mother of Tariq, the mother of Adeel, and the wife of Usman.

[Nick]

And Rohit Sharma is turning 30 years old down in Washington because the roses are red, the skies are blue, the love, love is prismatic just because of you.

[Jack]

And congratulations to Adele and Justin Silver for getting married.

[Nick]

Congratulations, guys. And Khaled from Kuwait has a fantastic T boy Flamengo T shirt he sent us. Thank you for the creativity and support, Khaled.

[Jack]

And a big shout out to Shriyash Kulkarnu who's listening during his workout. Long time bestie hit us up in.

[Nick]

The DMs, 45 push ups in a row. And Matt Newsome, who brushed shoulders with Jeff Bezos while in Milan last week sent us a video of it. And Matt, you're the next level paparazzi right there.

[Jack]

And a shout out to G with the girls club company for sharing her T boy routine with all of her besties on Instagram.

[Nick]

G, we see you. Thanks for being a fantastic yeti.

[Jack]

This is Jack. I own stock of Levi and Birkenstock and Nick owns stock in Lululemon and Luckin. 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.

[Jack]

And before you go, tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey we want to.

[Unknown]

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