In partnership with

Greetings N2K reader!

This week’s world famous News Haiku™ competition is about the last U.S. penny ever being minted (it’s true, they are no more!). Send me your entry — to our spiffy new email address, haiku at cheddar dot com — by noon ET on Thursday for consideration by your Cheddar peers. And now for something completely different!

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• Can AI stop school shootings?

• Crunch: Because broke people still love the gym

• Fleishman’s in bubble? A Jesse Eisenberg–led heist …

• True story: Ford’s new factory will have rotisseri …

• Trump reverses course, urges Congress to release E …

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▼ 0.92% ) $DJI ( ▼ 1.18% ) $NDX ( ▼ 0.84% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

ShotHawk, Crunch Fitness, $F ( ▼ 2.35% ) , $COST ( ▼ 1.13% )  

Can AI stop school shootings?

The tragic frequency of school shootings across the United States has spurred a lot of thoughts and prayers, but few constructive solutions.

Enter ShotHawk, whose co-founder Ohm Vyas caught up with as at TechCrunch Disrupt: “We're creating an AI-powered device that's able to track, aim and spray non-lethals, so we're using pepper gel onto an active assailant for threatful situations like school shootings,” he said.

The co-founders were motivated by a sense of urgency. "We saw the Uvalde shooting, we saw all these other shootings on the news, and we were pretty really moved by it and we were like, this is a man-made problem,” Vyas said. “These problems shouldn't exist. There has to be a solution for it." 

They noticed a gap in existing security, observing that many companies would "simply identify and then alert police, but not necessarily react to the situation at hand."

ShotHawk aims to fill that void. The device, which can plug into existing security systems, relies on its non-lethal deterrent and, crucially, AI. Vyas explained, "AI is helping us kind of do the object detection, so the weapon detection at hand, as well as track the weapon itself." This allows the device to "pinpoint and spray the active assailant" with pepper gel, chosen because it "comes out in a straight line," offering "laser accuracy" to minimize collateral issues.

While the product could apply to critical infrastructure, Vyas noted their core focus is where the issue is most pressing: “We primarily see that focus for K-through-12 schools," he said.

Sigh. Best of luck to them.

Song of the day: Jessie Murph, ‘I Stay, I Leave, I Love, I Lose’

Jessie Murph’s latest release has captivated fans with its emotional resonance, spellbinding live performances, and powerful vocals. Critics highlight her authenticity and genre-bending talent, blending country, pop, and trap. My favorite genres!

Crunch: Because broke people still love the gym

Despite economic pressures, or perhaps even because of them, more Americans are prioritizing health, and Crunch Fitness is expanding its value driven model nationwide. CEO Jim “Membership” Rowley points out the extremes in the fitness business, where monthly memberships can be as high as "$250 a month." 

That’s optimistic, Jim! I used to pay $350 a month for my wife’s Equinox membership and $350 a month for my squash club. Now I pay $150 a month to go the YMCA and that includes all the Regymen classes I can handle. My wife has a Concept II in the garage and rows on that every lunchtime. Lo and behold, now we can afford to eat¹ !

In contrast, Crunch aims to price its memberships to be accessible to a wider audience. According to Rowley, they "like to price point from an affordability standpoint, anywhere from $19.99 to $29.99 to make it affordable for for anyone who wants to join Crunch."

You’re doing God’s work, Jim! Crunch's focus extends beyond just physical aesthetics to mental well-being and longevity. Rowley acknowledges the anxiety and divisiveness in the world and believes "exercise is a way to release that energy."

A healthy way to release it, at least.

When it comes to the holiday season, Rowley shared his strategy: a December campaign focused on "results over resolutions" to encourage a lifestyle commitment rather than a short-term goal. Although, you know, look out for that huge bump in sign-ups on January 5!

Quote of the Day

Fleishman’s in bubble? A Jesse Eisenberg–led heist film made $75M this weekend…

In a surprising turn of events, Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me 3” pulled off an unexpected box office magic trick this weekend. Despite initial projections placing the film’s domestic opening at around $19 million, the long-awaited third installment dazzled with a $21.3 million debut in North America. Combined with an impressive $54.2 million overseas debut across 64 markets, its global tally soared to $75.5 million — outshining Paramount’s heavily anticipated “The Running Man,” which, let’s say… stumbled with a global start of $28.2 million.

The film’s surprise success can partly be attributed to its ability to draw in audiences unexpectedly, especially a strange and unearthly group of people called “women,” who make up 54% of domestic ticket buyers.

Solid audience reception, indicated by a B+ CinemaScore and an 80% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, helped the movie overcome mixed reviews from, let’s say…critics. Fans celebrated the return of “Fleishman’s in Trouble” star Jesse “Not Michael Cera” Eisenberg, “Natural Born Killers” actor Woody “Cheers!” Harrelson, Isla “She Was on an Australian Soap Opera I Used to Watch” Fisher, and Dave “Unfortunately Related to James” Franco as the iconic “Four Horsemen,” alongside a fresh cast of younger magicians whose names I’ve … made disappear!

“Now You See Me 3” proves that even dormant franchises can deliver surprises. Sadly it also means there’ll probably be a fourth such movie, although “women” will be delighted, apparently. Abracadbra!

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👎️ 

No.

True story: Ford’s new factory will have rotisserie chickens

Ford Motors $F ( ▼ 2.35% ) has officially unveiled its new state-of-the-art world headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, marking a milestone in the company’s transformation. The 2.1-million-square-foot facility, nicknamed “The Hub,” is likely to have teenagers tittering all over Christendom.

“It’s not just a building. This is a space that is a tool for our employees to be more productive, to be more collaborative, and really help deliver the Ford+ plan,” said Jim Dobleske, Ford Land CEO — who runs the automaker’s property management group.

The new headquarters, built to replace the iconic “Glass House” from the 1950s, merges design and industrial functionality. It features design studios with hidden courtyards, skylights for natural light, and multi-functional shared spaces called “neighborhoods.” Jennifer Kolstad, global design and brand director of Ford Land, emphasized the focus on flexibility in the workspace: “Domain staking, where employees attempt to make a space their permanent workplace, will be discouraged.”

I love to domain-stake, though, Jennifer. What future for us? Tell me something I already know in today’s poll.

Enhancing the employee experience, the headquarters includes scratch kitchens, a juice bar, and take-home meals like $6 rotisserie chickens. Executive chef Grant Vella highlighted their goal: “We wanted to do something different, push the boundary of business dining,” he said.

My advice is to drive your Ford truck down to $COST ( ▼ 1.13% ) Costco and get one of their $5 rotisserie chickens, Grant. Push the boundaries a little further. 🤯

Trump reverses course, urges Congress to release Epstein files

President Trump has ignited new political drama by urging House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein files, in what’s being called a surprising turnaround. Just days earlier, Trump pushed against the measure, describing it as a “Democrat hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics.” Now his statement that Republicans should back the vote “because we have nothing to hide” shifts the dynamic in a vote expected this week.

The reversal follows mounting pressure to address ties between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein after the release of 20,000 emails last week. The emails revealed Epstein claimed Trump “spent hours at my house” with a young woman later linked to Epstein’s trafficking crimes — one of the claims Trump dismissed as “a hoax.”

The Republican base remains divided, with key figures breaking ranks to endorse the measure. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky said, “100 or more House Republicans could support such a measure this week…The record of this vote will last longer than Donald Trump’s presidency.” Speaker Mike Johnson also acknowledged significant GOP support, saying, “We just need to get this done and move it on.”

Trump’s shift has further strained relationships with allies like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom he accused of being a “traitor,” escalating intra-party tensions in the lead-up to the vote.

Poll of the day: Raising the domain stakes

Poll results: Down the economic k-hole

We asked: “What do you think of the K-shaped economy?”

You answered:

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Whichever end of the K I'm at, it's probably the wrong one. (339)

 🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I'm about ready to K-ick the bucket. (70)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I love it because I am at the top! Let them eat cake! (22)

 🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Vive la révolution! (158)

589 Votes via @beehiiv polls

Need2Know is covered by Cheddar’s Terms of Service.

1  Ramen.