Good Afternoon. While most of us are sweating through summer, the Fed is keeping its cool, again. With rates on ice for the fifth straight meeting and Powell playing hard to get on cuts, Wall Street’s mood swings are starting to give us whiplash.

—Rosie, Wyatt, Evan & Conor

🔥 What’s Hot: 🔥

🥶 What’s Not: 🥶

The world produces 450 million tons of plastic waste each year. Microplastics are seeping into our oceans and food. They even show up in our bodies. So you can imagine how revolutionary a new kind of plastic that completely dissolves in water can be.

Thatʼs exactly what Timeplast created. They patented a water-soluble, time-programmable plastic that vanishes without harming the environment. Major players are already partnering with Timeplast—including a Fortune 500 company. Not only are they disrupting industries like packaging and 3D printing, their technology can also replace glass, metal, and paper.

For just a few more days, you can invest in Timeplast as they scale in their $1.3 trillion market. Become a Timeplast shareholder by midnight, 7/31.

Invest in Timeplast now.

_{This is a paid advertisement for Timeplast’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.timeplast.com.}

1. Amazon-backed Showrunner launches “Netflix of AI” platform

The News: Amazon-backed startup Fable just launched Showrunner, an AI streaming platform that lets anyone create and star in their own animated TV shows using text prompts. For $10–$40/month, users can generate episodes in minutes, even adding themselves or friends as characters. The first show, "Exit Valley," parodies tech leaders, and the whole thing runs on Fable’s new SHOW-2 AI model. Amazon’s involvement hints that big streamers are eyeing interactive content as the next frontier.

Why It Matters: Look for an answer from Netflix as Showrunner could turn TV from a passive hobby into something you actually shape yourself. With Amazon and Fable pitching Hollywood on branded "AI universes," this tech could become the norm or trigger even more tension over AI’s role in entertainment. Either way, TV’s next wave might put you and your friends in the starring roles, no acting experience required.
Source: tomsguide.com

2. JPMorgan Chase and Coinbase launch partnership

The News: JPMorgan Chase and Coinbase have unveiled a landmark partnership that will let Chase’s 80 million customers buy crypto, fund Coinbase accounts with Chase credit cards, and convert Ultimate Rewards points directly to digital assets all by 2026. The collaboration features a secure, direct API connection, eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries and aiming for seamless, bank-grade security and privacy. Credit card funding will launch first in Fall 2025, while rewards point conversions and direct bank-to-wallet transfers debut in 2026.

Why It Matters: So much for Jaime Dimon saying crypto is stupid. This partnership is the biggest push yet by a major U.S. bank to bring crypto into the financial mainstream. By linking credit card rewards, bank accounts, and direct funding tools to digital assets—all under Chase’s security umbrella—crypto just got a lot easier and safer for everyday users. It’s also a game-changer for loyalty programs, setting a precedent for other banks and moving the industry one step closer to making crypto as accessible as checking your balance or booking a flight.
Source: crypto-economy.com

3. Toyota sets record with 5.54M global sales in first half

The News: Toyota shattered records in the first half of 2025, selling 5.54 million vehicles worldwide and holding onto its crown as the world’s top automaker for a sixth straight year. Global production jumped nearly 9% to 5.5 million units, outpacing rivals like Volkswagen, with hybrids making up 43% of total sales. The strong showing came despite ongoing trade tensions and tariffs.

Why It Matters: Toyota’s blockbuster numbers highlight the global shift toward hybrids and electrified vehicles, with nearly half of North American sales now electrified. Their ability to meet surging demand across key markets, even under tariff pressure, cements Toyota’s lead in innovation and scale. For consumers, it signals a growing menu of green options, while competitors will feel the heat to catch up.
Source: seekingalpha.com

4. Solid-state battery market set to surge seven-fold by 2031

The News: The global solid-state battery market is set to skyrocket from $260 million in 2025 to $1.77 billion by 2031, according to MarketsandMarkets, fueled by demand for electric vehicles, renewables, and portable electronics. These batteries offer greater energy density, enhanced safety, and longer lifespan than conventional lithium-ion models, making them highly attractive for next-gen EVs, aerospace, and medical devices.

Why It Matters: Solid-state tech could be a game-changer for the energy storage industry, but big hurdles remain production costs are still 2–3 times higher than traditional batteries, and scaling up is tough. Still, with automakers and tech giants pouring investment into breakthroughs, and with North America projected to lead the market, solid-state batteries are charging toward mainstream adoption, if they can clear the final engineering speed bumps.
Source: finance.yahoo.com

5. Central bank leaves interest rates unchanged, with two officials dissenting

The News: The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25–4.5% on Wednesday, with Chair Jerome Powell signaling no commitment to a rate cut at the September meeting. For the first time in over 30 years, two Fed officials dissented, both calling for an immediate cut. Stocks slid after Powell's press conference, with the Dow falling over 300 points and Treasury yields climbing as investors dialed back their expectations for near-term easing. The decision comes as new data showed Q2 GDP rebounded to 3% growth, inflation pressures remain sticky, and President Trump continues to press both the Fed (for rate cuts) and trading partners (with new tariffs on Brazil, India, and others).

Why It Matters: Watch for people to start calling Jerome Powell “iceman.” Markets had been hoping for a clearer signal on rate cuts, but Powell played it cool insisting the Fed will watch the “totality of the evidence” before making any moves. With dissent inside the Fed and political pressure mounting, the outlook for lower rates this year just got cloudier. Higher-for-longer rates mean pricier borrowing, continued pressure on stocks, and a tough path for anyone hoping for cheap money. Add in Trump’s escalating tariffs, and global markets have plenty of reasons to stay on edge as summer rolls on.
Source: wsj.com

1. Tesla signs $4.3B battery deal with LG Energy Solution

The News: South Korea’s LG Energy Solution has inked a massive $4.26 billion deal to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to Tesla, over three years starting in August 2027. The agreement, one of the largest in the battery sector, will see LGES provide LFP batteries from its U.S. factories in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan, supporting Tesla’s shift away from Chinese suppliers amid rising tariffs.

Why It Matters: It’s a good day for LG as this deal represents 23.2% of LG Energy's annual sales of 25.6 trillion won from last year, highlighting the deal's significance for the battery manufacturer and cements LG Energy’s status as a global battery powerhouse. It also signals Tesla’s strategic push to diversify its supply chain and lower costs by using more U.S.-made, tariff-friendly LFP batteries. LFP tech is winning favor for its safety and affordability, especially in energy storage and entry-level EVs, reflecting industry trends toward local production and greater supply chain resilience.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr

2. Adidas shares plunge on $231M US tariff warning

The News: Adidas shares plunged over 10% after warning that new U.S. tariffs could cost the company up to $231 million in the second half of 2025—wiping out gains from a strong quarter. Despite almost doubling net income to €369 million, Adidas missed sales expectations and kept its full-year profit forecast unchanged, citing trade uncertainty and supply chain headaches from tariffs on key manufacturing hubs like Vietnam and Indonesia.

Why It Matters: Your next pair of shoes may cost more. Adidas’ warning spotlights how U.S. trade policy is shaking up global supply chains and threatening profits, even for industry giants. With nearly 60% of its shoes made in Vietnam and Indonesia, now hit by hefty tariff hikes, Adidas and other shoe companies may have to raise U.S. prices, potentially slowing demand. The turmoil adds to wider industry woes, with 99% of American-sold shoes imported and facing some of the highest tariffs among consumer goods.
Source: barrons.com

3. Trump to hit India with 25% tariffs - plus 'penalty' for trade with Russia

The News: President Trump announced the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff, and an additional penalty, on Indian imports starting August 1, citing India’s “tariff king” status and its continued purchases of Russian oil and arms. The move comes as a Friday deadline looms for India (and other countries) to strike a trade deal with the U.S. or face higher tariffs. Trump specifically criticized India for protecting its agricultural sector and maintaining “some of the highest tariffs in the world,” even as both sides claim to be working toward a new agreement.

Why It Matters: The tariffs crank up pressure on India at a delicate moment as it just overtook China as the leading smartphone manufacturer, putting billions in trade on the line. For India, it’s a tricky balancing act: open up its markets (especially in agriculture and dairy) or risk major economic pain. For U.S. businesses and consumers, higher tariffs mean pricier imports and potentially more inflation. The penalty for India’s ties to Russia adds a geopolitical curveball, signaling the U.S. is ready to use trade policy to push foreign policy goals. Bottom line: this is no mere trade tiff, it’s high-stakes economic brinkmanship that could impact everything from the war in Ukraine to whiskey & smartphones.
Source: bbc.com

Q: Why did the golfer bring two pairs of pants?

A: In case he got a hole in one.

✅ Dinner Planned: Get new inspo for your next dinner by ingredient from Lisa Bryan. Yum.
✅ A Nice Walk: After your dinner, go on a walk around your block.
✅ Back to Basics: With all this talk of rising costs, sometimes you just need to get back to the basics. See if you can save money with Amazon Basics today.*

*A message from our sponsor or affiliate link.

An unstated or implied premise that must be true for an argument to work, though it is not explicitly stated.

“The assumption underlying the argument is that all the data provided is accurate.”