In partnership with

Greetings !

The winner of this week’s world famous News Haiku^TM competition is Bob Andersen, who you voted the best with this beauty about jobs numbers being delayed thanks to the government shutdown:

“It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized,” Bob wrote in an email on Friday. “Thank you. Sadly it is for acknowledging the dysfunction that lies within our government that ensures that the people causing the problems get paid while hundreds of thousands don’t.” 

Still, congrats, Bob! Here’s your airplane-themed gif, to celebrate.

I’m deadly serious when I say the theme of this week’s world famous News Haiku™ competition is that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for democracy in the country. Email me your entry by Thursday at noon Eastern for your chance to be voted winner by your Cheddar peers!

Now let’s talk about today’s news you Need2Know, shall we?

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• Fight “the ancient art of lying,” Pope urges news …

• Trump suggests canceling Xi meeting

• World not ready for androids just yet, says droid …

• A list of this year’s Nobel Prize winners

• Firings of federal workers begin as White House se …

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▼ 2.71% ) $DJI ( ▼ 1.9% ) $NDX ( ▼ 3.56% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

$CBS ( ▲ 1.17% )  $TSLA ( ▼ 5.06% )  $FIGR ( ▼ 12.03% )  

Fight “the ancient art of lying,” Pope urges news agencies

Pope Leo “a.k.a. Bob from Chicago” XIV has called upon international news agencies to uphold their role as defenders of truth and objectivity. He emphasized the crucial role journalists play amidst the current climate, fraught with misinformation and manipulation. “If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them,” he said, acknowledging the vital importance of journalists' eyewitness accounts.

Bob, the first American pope, né Robert Francis Prevost, has been a vocal advocate for the protection of journalists throughout his papacy. Over the past five months, he has consistently championed the need for freedom of expression and the essential role of a free press. During his first meeting with reporters, he labeled journalism as a “precious gift of free speech and the press” and called for the release of imprisoned journalists.

Amid economic pressures threatening news agencies and the rise of, let’s say, post-truth environments, Pope Leo XIV implored journalists to resist the erosion of their integrity. “I urge you: Never sell out your authority!” he said. Highlighting the threat posed by disinformation, he invoked Hannah Arendt's warning from “The Origins of Totalitarianism” that societies are at risk when the distinction between true and false ceases to exist.

“With your patient and rigorous work, you can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing,” Leo told journalists. Given the stakes, he insisted that journalism is not just a profession, but a fundamental “duty of all those who long for a solid and participatory democracy.”

As we all know I’m a reasonably high quality journalist, with a postgraduate journalism diploma, no less, and I must say, I find Bob’s words very helpful. Cheers, Bob!

Song of the day: Patti Smith, ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’

Patti Smith has reissued her classic album “Horses” for its 50th anniversary. This is the RCA demo version of the first track on the album, and I must say, it’s a cracker.

Trump suggests canceling Xi meeting

Markets were down 2% on Friday after a period of relative calm as tensions between the U.S. and China escalated: President Donald Trump mentioned the possibility of canceling a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and threatened additional tariffs on Chinese goods.

It came in response to China’s decision to restrict exports of rare earths, vital materials used in technologies ranging from electronics to jet engines. “There seems to be no reason” for a meeting with Xi, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, further criticizing China’s “hostile” actions.

China recently imposed new restrictions requiring foreign firms to seek special approval for shipping rare earth metals and technology abroad. “These restrictions undermine our ability to develop our industrial base at a time when we need to,” said Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. With China dominating 70% of rare earth mining and 93% of magnet production, the move is seen as a powerful bargaining chip.

While Trump’s comments rattled markets, dropping the S&P 500 $SPX ( ▼ 2.71% ) by 2%, experts warn of escalating tensions. “Mutually assured disruption … is no longer a metaphor,” said Craig Singleton from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Today on the ‘gram: Robose, Robosa, Robokusa

Post of the day: What did you do this week?

Quote of the Day

World not ready for androids just yet, says droid expert

Humanoid robots have captured the public’s imagination, but leading experts caution that the technology isn’t ready for mass adoption. In a new essay Rodney Brooks, the famed roboticist and founder of iRobot, likened the current enthusiasm around androids to an "investment bubble," questioning whether billions in venture capital funding is justified given the robots' limitations. Brooks argues that androids still struggle with dexterity—fine motor skills essential for practical applications—making them far from "useful" today.

Fady Saad, general partner at Cybernetix Ventures, reinforced the skepticism. While androids hold promise for niche applications, such as space exploration, he sees their current use cases as narrow. Speaking about safety concerns, he said, “If this thing falls on pets or kids, it will hurt them.”

Even with significant funding, creating versatile androids is proving complex. Seth Winterroth, a partner at Eclipse, told TechCrunch that androids face challenges comparable to those of self-driving cars, saying, “It’s hard. It’s really hard to fully deliver on that technology.”

Though companies like Tesla $TSLA ( ▼ 5.06% ) and Figure $FIGR ( ▼ 12.03% ) are pushing the boundaries of robotics, the general consensus is clear: androids are still a decade or more away from becoming mainstream. Until then, innovation will remain in development and, of course, in all-too-human hands.

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👎️ 

Not today, although possibly tomorrow. See above about it being down 2% on Friday.

A list of this year’s Nobel Prize winners

The 2025 Nobel Prizes have been announced, recognizing outstanding contributions to humanity across various fields. This year’s laureates have made groundbreaking advancements that will leave a lasting impact on science, literature, and peace efforts.

In medicine, three scientists — Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi — were honored for uncovering key mechanisms of the immune system. Their work on regulatory T cells has revolutionized our understanding of autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes and lupus, paving the way for better treatments and even improving cancer therapy.

The physics award went to John Clarke, John Martinis, and Michel Devoret for their pioneering work in quantum technology. Their research into superconductor-based quantum systems is advancing the future of computation and communication.

In chemistry, Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi received the prize for their development of metal-organic frameworks, which have potential uses in addressing challenges like clean energy and water filtration.

Literature was awarded to László Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian author known for his evocative storytelling in works like The Melancholy of Resistance.

Finally, Venezuelan leader María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous advocacy for democracy and human rights under an oppressive regime.

These inspiring achievements remind us of the power of human ingenuity and bravery, don’t they?

Firings of federal workers begin as White House seeks to pressure Democrats in shutdown

The White House has begun issuing mass firings of federal employees, sparking outrage and legal challenges from unions and lawmakers.

Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, confirmed the action on the social media platform X, stating, “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at downsizing the federal workforce.

Key agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, have been significantly affected. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which protects the nation’s critical infrastructure, has also been hit, leaving experts concerned about national security vulnerabilities.

Unions and Democratic leaders are denouncing the layoffs as politically motivated and potentially illegal. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, called the move “disgraceful,” saying, “The Trump administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country.”

Senate Democrats, including Patty “Cake” Murray and Chuck “Call Me Charles” Schumer, have also harshly criticized the layoffs, with Schumer accusing the administration of “deliberate chaos.”

Poll of the day: Are you ready for androids?

Need2Know is covered by Cheddar’s Terms of Service.