Greetings !

Choose a winner for this week’s world famous News Haiku™ competition in today’s poll! Now let’s talk about today’s news you Need2Know, shall we?

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• Apple’s new products: Same as the old products?

• The coolest gadgets, breakthroughs, and life-chang …

• Stellantis invests $13 billion in U.S. plants

• Whirlpool invests $300 million in Ohio factory (a …

• There’s more to the movie business than making a p …

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▲ 0.07% ) $DJI ( ▲ 0.23% ) $NDX ( ▲ 0.3% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

$AAPL ( ▲ 1.29% )  $STLA ( ▲ 2.1% )  $WHR ( ▼ 0.15% )  $PSKY ( ▼ 0.18% )  $T ( ▲ 0.48% )  $WBD ( ▲ 0.68% )  $STLA ( ▲ 2.1% )  

Apple’s new products: Same as the old products?

Apple $AAPL ( ▲ 1.29% ) has announced three new devices to its fall lineup: updated MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro models. Each is powered by the new M5 chip, which offers a significant boost in performance compared to its predecessor, the surprisingly named M4 chip. Apple claims the M5 chip delivers “four times the peak compute performance," with Johny “On the Spot“ Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, highlighting that, “The M5 delivers a huge boost to AI workloads.”

It sounds like the sort of thing you’d need to say if your MacBook Pro models started at an eye-watering $1,599. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at a mind-blowing $999, showcasing an ultraportable design. Also it’s perfect for thieving off the train, so get some insurance. Meanwhile, the new Vision Pro headset, priced at an NSFW $3,499 and featuring an innovative “Dual Knit Band,” aims to set a new standard in “immersive content experiences” through “cutting-edge spatial computing technologies.” I think that means it’s for wealthy tech bros to watch naughty movies on. Do you have one of these? Let me know!

Available for preorder in most markets before their official release on October 22, these devices are expected to appeal to wealthy Apple enthusiasts eager for next-level functionality.

Regular joes, though? I’m happy with my M3 chip, thanks very much. And let’s see how the new products perform amid the tariffs.

Song of the day: Ascension, ‘Nightbus’

This is a an upbeat, dream-pop single with a blend of synth-pop and, er, “shoegaze elements,” featuring pulsing club beats and shimmering riffs. It reminds me of the soundtrack from “Drive,” and I liked that. Give it a try!

The coolest gadgets, breakthroughs, and life-changers of 2025

Time's 25th annual list of best inventions highlights groundbreaking innovations that are redefining how we live, work, and interact with the world. Emma Barker, editorial director for Time, shared insights into the selection process, emphasizing products or ideas accessible to the target audience in the past year, major approvals like FDA-approved medical treatments, and inventions that are changing lives for the better.

Among the standout inventions is Figure AI's humanoid robot, Figure 03, which earned its place on the cover. Barker noted, "We were really excited by Figure 3... they've been doing some really exciting things in the robotics space." The company's partnership with BMW $BMWYY ( 0.0% ) and their push for home use robots are particularly noteworthy.

Other impactful inventions include the newest version of Medtronic's deep brain stimulation device, Brain Sense, for Parkinson's disease, and the Frontline Wildfire Defense System, which significantly improved the survival rate of homes during the LA County wildfires. For a touch of fun, the world's largest roller coaster, opening in Saudi Arabia, also made the list. Just don’t mention the fun to be had for journalists at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Barker highlighted the diversity: "So many things that could save people's lives or homes, and then also so much fun with that roller coaster." The selection process, though evolving with technology, remains focused on "impact and newsworthiness," as Barker explained.

Today on the ‘gram: Sam Altman, meet Henry Miller

Post of the day: Never post on Reddit (especially if you’re running for election)

Quote of the Day

Stellantis invests $13 billion in U.S. plants

Automotive giant Stellantis $STLA ( ▲ 2.1% ) has unveiled plans for a historic $13 billion investment in the U.S., marking the largest manufacturing investment in its century-long history. Over the next four years, the company aims to introduce five new vehicle models and expand operations in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana — an initiative projected to add over 5,000 jobs in the region and increase annual vehicle production by 50%.

“This investment in the U.S. — the single largest in the company’s history — will drive our growth, strengthen our manufacturing footprint, and bring more American jobs to the states we call home,” said Antonio “My Company’s HQ Is in the Netherlands“ Filosa, Stellantis CEO and North America COO.

The investment includes reopening Illinois’s’s’s Belvidere Assembly Plant, which will support 3,300 jobs, and a $400 million expansion at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio, bringing 900 new jobs to the region. Ohio governor Mike “DeBottle Of“ DeWine praised the move, saying, “This expansion will continue to reinforce Toledo's legacy in the automotive sector, positioning Ohio at the forefront of the global automotive industry.”

While the U.S. celebrates, Canada's response is less favorable. Canadian officials have criticized Stellantis for moving production out of Brampton, Ontario, calling it “a direct consequence of current U.S. tariffs.” Minister Melanie “Don’t Call Me Angelina“ Joly warned the shift could be deemed a violation of prior agreements. But what are you gonna do, Canada? America is number one! (Canada is suing the company.)

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👎️ 

No.

Whirlpool invests $300 million in Ohio factory (a different one!)

Ohio is getting a lot of good news about manufacturing this week. Whirlpool’s CEO Mark “Itzy“ Bitzer has said that the implementation of tariffs under the Trump administration has provided a "level playing field" for U.S. manufacturers, which has been pivotal in strengthening domestic production and creating jobs, as his company has invested $300 million in a new Ohio factory. The tariff policies help protect U.S. manufacturers from unfair competition, a challenge that had long impacted their ability to grow within the country, he said.

"Whirlpool Corporation’s unwavering commitment to American manufacturing is a cornerstone of our identity," Bitzer said.

Whirlpool has been able to expand its manufacturing presence and generate around 5,000 additional jobs. The company views this as a critical step in its effort to increase competitiveness globally while amplifying local economic growth.

There’s more to the movie business than making a profit

This is the latest in a weekly series of guest columns by Grant Keller on the business of moviemaking.

“One Battle After Another” has become the movie of the year, with universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike, but reporters focused on box office numbers are disparaging because it’ll only become profitable if — or when — hell freezes over. So far it’s made about $100 million against a production budget of $135 million. Those aren’t great numbers. But there is so much more to the movie industry than box office. 

The film, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, was greenlit at Warner Bros. by co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy not because they thought it was going to be a smash hit — although who doesn’t like a smash hit? — but other “reasons.” They are long-time collaborators with the auteur, and it’s likely going to be nominated for and win a bunch of Oscars. They’ve made a bunch of other highly profitable movies recently like “A Minecraft Movie,” which grossed about $1 billion but which, let’s say, underperformed at Cannes. They also scored big with movies like “Sinners” and “Weapons.” Not all of their films have been hits, it’s true —  “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “The Alto Knights” and “Mickey 17” all failed at the box office. 

Still, “One Battle After Another” is already successful because of why it was produced. There is also a good long-term chance it will become profitable thanks to digital rentals and purchases, licensing fees to streaming services and television networks, and physical media sales. Why? Because the movie is excellent. People don’t go to the movies to see excellent films as much as they used to, but they sure as heck stream them at home. 

We tend to forget that movies exist forever after they are made, so they have a long tail to become profitable. As Matt Damon mentioned on “Hot Ones,” movies used to make $30 to 40 million easily on DVD, and while Gen Z hasn’t yet rediscovered DVDs, there’s still plenty to be made from streaming.

The only reason you — a regular person who occasionally sees movies — should care if a movie is successful is if you want similar films to get produced. So if you wanted a fourth Tron film, then you can be upset that “Tron: Ares” flopped. (They’ll make another sequel 10–15 years from now anyway.) If you didn’t, and I really hope you didn’t, then we’re all good here. 

What we’ve learned from Warner Brothers being purchased and sold countless times over the years — and the studio is currently under bid from Paramount, yet again —  is that Hollywood is a horrible business for shareholders. It is outrageously expensive and often loses money, which is why AT&T got rid of it in 2022. Rare are the great, critically acclaimed movies that make a ton of money for their makers. “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Titanic,” “Jurassic Park,” “Gone With The Wind,” “Star Wars” and “Jaws” are the rare exceptions to that rule, but they’re generational blockbusters. After “Jaws,” Stephen Spielberg was given carte blanche to make whatever he wanted. (He followed it up with “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” — and “1941.”) That’s exceedingly rare in Hollywood.  

There are countless industries designed for people to obsess over money in. I’m simply making the case for us to consider critical acclaim as more important than box office success. Then again there are also terrible movies that also flop at the box office, and they deserve everything they get. The 2019 remake of “Cats,” for example, is genuinely unwatchable. It blows my mind that nobody stopped it halfway through production. Meow!

—Grant Keller

Poll of the day: Pick a winning haiku!

This week’s haiku theme is that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for democracy in the country. Pick a winner…

Poll results: Air traffic issues

We asked: Do you feel safe flying knowing air traffic controllers are in some cases working without pay?

You answered:

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ I feel safe enough, sure. I'm not going to change my plans or anything. (203)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I have genuine concerns and would rather not fly until the shutdown is over. (383)

 🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I'm worried, but also: YOLO! (122)

708 Votes via @beehiiv polls

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