Otello! Otello!

Italian cheesemaker Degust makes a cheese, which is a not-so-subtle visual tribute to Shakespeare’s tragic hero, who we’ll see is in the news today. Miraculously the cheese hasn’t yet been imported to the U.S., although with tariffs on European goods in today’s news — not to mention American sensitivities around race a little more heightened than those in Italy — it might be a while:

Meanwhile today’s news cheddlines you Need2Know are delivered with total sensitivity, as always.

Today's Cheddlines you Need2Know

• Dept. of Education cuts half its workforce

• Denzel’s 'Othello' breaks Broadway records

• European Union retaliates against US tariffs

  • Trump buys a Tesla on the White House lawn

• Risks arise as schools use AI to monitor kids

I follow him but to serve my turn upon him! That’s a nasty quote by Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, in case you were wondering.

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

P.S. This robot is kung-fu fighting on our ‘gram!

Quote of the Day

Should You Check Your 401(k) Today?

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Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter:

$TSLA ( ▼ 5.48% ) 

Dept. of Education cuts half its workforce

The U.S. Education Department has announced plans to lay off more than 1,300 of its employees, effectively halving the agency's workforce. It’s a significant step towards fulfilling President Donald Trump's vision of dismantling the department.

The cuts are part of a broader initiative directed by Trump to streamline the federal government, with similar job reductions expected across other departments, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration.

Officials have said that despite the drastic staffing decrease, the Education Department will continue its core functions. These include federal aid distribution to schools, student loan management, and Pell Grant oversight. The termination of leases on buildings in major cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland is also in process as part of the downscaling effort.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the goal of reducing bureaucratic bloat, to channel more funds directly to states and local education authorities. McMahon, confirmed by the Senate on March 3, has indicated these cuts as the department's "final mission" — to diminish its own bureaucratic size and enhance state authority over education.

The question many are asking is whether the department can uphold its mission, especially in areas such as enforcing civil rights for students with disabilities and managing the federal student loans portfolio, which totals $1.6 trillion.

“I don’t see at all how that can be true,” said Roxanne Garza, who was chief of staff in the Office of Postsecondary Education under President Joe Biden, talking to the Associated Press:

Denzel’s 'Othello' breaks Broadway records

In its second week of previews before the grand opening, Denzel Washington’s performance in "Othello" garnered an astonishing $2,818,297 in box office returns across just eight performances. With an average price of $338.09 — astonishingly higher than any other Broadway production for the week (and the equivalent of 37.5 dozen eggs at today’s prices) — it's evident that audiences are willing to pay top dollar to see him in action as the Moor of Venice.

The previous record was held by "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," with over $2.7 million in weekly grosses. Denzel Washington, a seasoned Broadway performer known for his roles in "A Raisin in the Sun," "Fences," and "The Iceman Cometh," brings a gravitas to the role of Othello that is both compelling and emotionally resonant. Jake Gyllenhaal, though relatively newer to the Broadway scene, has already made a mark with performances in "Sunday in the Park With George" and "Sea Wall/A Life." Together, their combined star power and theatrical prowess make this production of "Othello" an irresistible draw for theatergoers.

It’s a good play although not exactly uplifting. Gyllenhaal plays an ambitious and masterful manipulator who (spoiler alert) doesn’t exactly do his boss any favors throughout the course of the play.

Meanwhile thanks to the Internet, here is link to an image of a “body like Arnold with a Denzel face,” which if you’re familiar with the En Vogue classic, is their definition of “whatta-man” would look like. Newsworthy!

From @cheddar

European Union retaliates against US tariffs

The EU has announced a set of retaliatory tariffs on $28 billion worth of U.S. goods. The move came just hours after President Trump’s administration declared a significant increase in tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from the EU to 25%.

The EU, anticipating such measures from the U.S., had already prepared its countermeasures, but the imposition still places immense pressure on an already tense relationship with the U.S. The EU’s retaliatory tariffs will affect a wide range of goods including not only steel and aluminum but also textiles, home appliances, and various agricultural products. Among the targeted items are motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter, and jeans, echoing the list from a previous tariff imposition during President Trump's first term.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the EU's openness to negotiation despite the countermeasures. The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU has expressed concern, emphasizing the harm they pose to jobs, prosperity, and security. They urged both sides to seek a negotiated resolution to de-escalate the rising trade tensions urgently.

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič’s recent trip to Washington was an attempt to prevent these tariffs. Despite his efforts to argue against such burdensome measures, the lack of cooperation from the U.S. side led to the inevitable implementation of EU countermeasures. Šefčovič's reflections from the meetings reiterated that "both hands are needed to clap."

The trade conflict occurs within a broader context of a $1.5 trillion annual trade volume between the EU and U.S., representing a significant segment of global trade.

Trump buys a Tesla on the White House lawn

President Trump transformed the South Lawn of the White House into an impromptu Tesla car showroom on Tuesday alongside Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla $TSLA ( ▼ 5.48% ) by his side. They showcased five Tesla vehicles, turning one of the nation’s most revered public spaces into what appeared to be a promotional platform for the car company. The cars, including a cherry-red Tesla Model S, not only served as a striking backdrop but were also pronounced by Trump as “top-tier products,” affirming his support for Musk and his business endeavors.

President Trump, known for his unorthodox methods, openly declared his intent to purchase a Tesla Model S with his personal funds. Trump's affirmation of Musk as a "great patriot" and his urging of the public to support Tesla were also marked.

Critics, including Richard Painter, the chief ethics lawyer to President George W. Bush, argue that this event has stretched the limits of acceptable behavior within the White House to new extremes. The historical reluctance to link the presidency with commercial interests seems to have been overlooked, signaling a significant shift in the intertwining of politics and business. He told the Washington Post:

Trump said he would pay full price for the vehicle, even as he mused that Musk would probably give him a discount were he to ask for one.

“I think his credit is good,” Musk said.

Trump said he preferred to pay the old-fashioned way.

“I give checks,” he said. “I like checks.”

It also sounds like the check won’t bounce. Trump’s net worth has halved since taking office, but he is still worth around $4.6 billion. Musk’s net worth has also plummeted with the value of Tesla stock, but he is still estimated to be worth $301 billion, and a Tesla Model S retails for around $81,000.

Risks arise as schools use AI to monitor kids

The conversation around student safety has taken a distinctly modern turn, intertwining with the worlds of AI and digital surveillance.

A stark example is at Vancouver Public Schools in Washington state, which — along with many districts across the nation — has embraced technology to monitor school-issued devices for potential dangers. The initiative aims to combat the student mental health crisis and the looming threat of school shootings. However, the infiltration of AI surveillance into students' private lives has ignited a fiery debate on privacy, security, and the unintended consequences that arise from such oversight. Read the Associated Press’s investigation:

Through software powered by AI, the intimate details of students' lives are scrutinized under the guise of safety. Searches questioning personal relationships, emails venting despondent thoughts, and online diary entries divulging struggles with identity are all within the purview of surveillance. The technology is not silent; it alerts school staff immediately upon detecting potential signs of distress or danger.

One might argue that this is a necessary invasion, a sacrifice of privacy on the altar of security. However, the unauthorized release of nearly 3,500 sensitive student documents to the press, comprising personal confessions and expressions of angst, starkly highlights the precarious balance between safeguarding students and preserving their confidentiality.

While the rationale behind AI surveillance is to protect, there's growing evidence that it may inadvertently harm the very individuals it seeks to save. The technology has led to LGBTQ+ students being outed. It has also eroded trust between pupils and educators. Ironically, it’s failed to completely eliminate the threats it was designed to combat.

Nobody is saying AI is inherently dangerous, but it does seem that there are significant risks to manage. The investigation into what’s happened in Washington state brings stark warnings for us all.