Hello, my most fantabulous subscribers!

Earlier this year, in an effort to find out whether I have bowel cancer, I sent a box to a lab. You can guess what was inside. And if you can’t, well, I’m not going to tell you. Boundaries, people! Anyway, I am a big fan of this process and, as it turns out, part of a wave of new users of at-home tests for a huge variety of medical issues. We are a Trend™! Also, more people are eating soup at home these days than dining out. Can you guess why that could possibly be? Are these two stories related? Read on to find out!

News You Need2Know

• Me no use Grammarly but 40 million peoples does*

• ‘Lilo & Stitch’ tops weekend box office

• More Americans cooking soup at home, says soup com …

• You can at-home test for HIV now

• China doesn’t like U.S. moves on chips, visas

China also has some modest concerns about American behavior over the T-words. The truce over the tar…tar… I can’t even say it any more. Sorry.

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

$DIS ( ▼ 0.85% )  $PARA ( ▼ 2.29% )  $SONY ( ▲ 1.7% )  $CPB ( ▼ 0.24% )  $PEP ( ▲ 1.79% )  $GIS ( ▲ 0.68% )  

Me no use Grammarly but 40 million peoples does*

Kidding! My grammar is perfect. But yours might not be, buddy. And that’s where Grammarly co-founder Max Lytvyn can help. He joined us to explain how he scaled an AI startup into a multi-billion-dollar company and if an IPO is in their future. What began as a project focused on plagiarism detection, called "My Dropbox" (which has nothing to do with my lab test) has, er, pivoted into a platform used by "50,000 organizations and more than 40 million people."

Grammarly is a writing assistant tool that helps improve the clarity, accuracy, and readability of your writing. It offers features like grammar and spelling checks, proofreading, style suggestions, and even plagiarism detection.

The core mission of Grammarly, Max explained, has always been "very broad: how people communicate better, how people create and use knowledge more effectively." This expansive vision has enabled the company to adapt and grow. Max emphasized that this attachment to the "problem rather than to a specific way to address the problem" has been crucial for staying current with the latest technologies.

Addressing the challenge of convincing users of the value of better writing, Max acknowledged, "complacency is a big issue when it comes to communication... and suggesting that it can be done better... sometimes it's met with skepticism or even arrogance."

He countered this: "everybody could do things a little bit better, a little bit faster, with a little less second guessing."

Regarding the surge in AI technologies, Max highlighted Grammarly's pioneering role: "Grammarly was the original AI agent,” he said. “We started using AI back in 2009. And that made us build this very flexible and extensible infrastructure for delivering AI agents to all applications."

While the company is "IPO ready," there is "no current plan" for an initial public offering, Max said. For a company like Grammarly, an IPO would serve as "a means to an end,” he said. It could provide "additional equity" or "civil approval for the company." However, "right now, we're not in a need for any of this. We just secured significant funding. And There is no pressing need for IPO."

‘Lilo & Stitch’ tops weekend box office

The post–Memorial Day film weekend in the U.S. and Canada was a blockbuster success for film, with studios raking in an impressive $149 million, marking a 120% surge compared to the same period last year.

Disney’s $DIS ( ▼ 0.85% ) live-action hybrid “Lilo & Stitch” continued to dominate, claiming first place with $63 million in domestic weekend sales and pushing its total to $610.8 million globally. The family-friendly film has become a cornerstone of Disney’s strategy to merge nostalgia with new storytelling techniques, directly appealing to multigenerational audiences. Meanwhile, Paramount’s $PARA ( ▼ 2.29% ) “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” maintained its second-place position, earning $27.3 million domestically, bolstered by international box office contributions, including a strong showing in China.

Sony’s $SONY ( ▲ 1.7% ) “Karate Kid: Legends,” which reunites Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, opened to $21 million domestically and $47 million globally. With modest production costs of $45 million, the film represents Sony’s calculated risk in leveraging legacy characters while introducing fresh talent. Mixed reviews didn’t hinder its audience score, demonstrating that word-of-mouth credibility remains crucial for theatrical longevity. Meanwhile, A24’s horror feature “Bring Her Back” thrived in niche positioning, earning $7.1 million, while Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” teased a promising expansion following limited screenings in markets where people value Wes Anderson films. Like, you know. New York.

Today on the ‘gram: Kickboxing robot tourney

Post of the day: No Signal chat on this one

Quote of the Day

More Americans cooking soup at home, says soup company

Campbell's Co. $CPB ( ▼ 0.24% ) has seen a significant rise in sales as more Americans return to cooking meals at home.

Campbell's president and CEO Mick Beekhuizen — easy for you to say! — noted during a conference call with investors, "Consumers continue to cook at home and focus their spending on products that help them stretch their food budgets, and they're increasingly intentional about their discretionary snack purchases."

That’s because everybody is broke and everything is more expensive. So they’re eating more soup. Campbell's broth sales surged by 15%, while Rao's pasta sauces went up 2%. Conversely, the company reported a 4% decline in snack sales, including popular items like Goldfish crackers and Cape Cod potato chips. This reduction aligns with broader trends observed by other snack makers like PepsiCo $PEP ( ▲ 1.79% ) and General Mills $GIS ( ▲ 0.68% ) who have reported declining demand amid tightening household budgets.

Cooking at home presents a viable solution to save on the rising costs of dining out, which, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, increased by 4.1% in 2024 compared to a 1.2% rise in grocery prices.

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👎️ 

No.

You can at-home test for HIV now

At-home health tests are revolutionizing access to healthcare, offering human beings the ability to monitor various conditions in the privacy of their own homes. From testing thyroid function to HIV, and now the recently FDA-approved cervical cancer test, these self-administered kits are making healthcare more accessible, especially for people in rural areas or those uncomfortable with traditional medical visits.

One key benefit of these tests is their ability to help people overcome barriers to seeking care. Dr. Joseph Cherabie, an infectious disease specialist in St. Louis, underscores their importance in supporting vulnerable groups: “If you are part of a sexual and gender minority community, going to a doctor’s office can be full of a lot of historical trauma, and you may prefer to just do testing at home without anyone judging you or asking you invasive questions about your sex life,” he said.

However, while at-home tests provide convenience and accessibility, they are not a substitute for in-person medical consultations. This sentiment is echoed by Susan Modesitt, a gynecologic oncologist at Emory University: “There are so many other reasons to see your doctor and get an exam outside of a cervical cancer screening,” she said.

This is especially important for tests like colon cancer screenings or cervical cancer exams, where the results might necessitate further professional evaluation. As experts caution, patients should ensure tests are FDA-approved and always follow up with their physicians for proper interpretation and care. After all, empowering patients starts with informed decisions.

China doesn’t like U.S. moves on chips, visas

Trade relations between the United States and China have hit another rough patch, with the Chinese Commerce Ministry accusing the U.S. of undermining a recent tariffs truce through its recent actions impacting Chinese interests. Among the grievances are new export controls targeting AI chips, restrictions on chip-design software sales, and the announcement of plans to revoke student visas for Chinese nationals studying in the U.S.

“These practices seriously violate the consensus,” said the Commerce Ministry, referencing the 90-day agreement both countries signed to ease trade tensions. The deal had seen the U.S. drop select tariffs and China reduce rates on American goods, laying the foundation for more substantive negotiations. However, the pause has done little to resolve deeper economic disputes.

The situation escalated further with President Donald Trump accusing China of breaking the agreement, declaring on social media, "The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" 

While Trump promised to discuss the matter directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he reinforced his administration’s tough stance on trade. On the other hand, China argued it has upheld its commitments, canceling and suspending tariffs while accusing the U.S. of instigating new economic friction. As the Commerce Ministry stated, “Instead of reflecting on itself, [the U.S.] has turned the tables and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus.”

Yeah we’re not known for self-reflection, guys.

Poll of the Day: Cutting back on dining out?

Poll Results: You’re stockpiling, but what?

We asked: Which are you more inclined to stockpile right now?

You answered:

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Bitcoin (33 votes)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Bullets (126 votes)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Butter (168 votes)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Beer (148 votes)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Ballots for the 2026 midterm elections (243 votes)

718 Votes via @beehiiv polls

Coming soon: The Disruptors

Airing TONIGHT at 8:30 p.m. ET wherever you watch Cheddar, The Disruptors dives deep into the lives and minds of visionary entrepreneurs, innovators, and change-makers who are revolutionizing industries and shaping the future. Each episode will profile a different disruptor, exploring their personal journeys, motivations, challenges, and the groundbreaking solutions they’ve brought to the world. Find out more at the Disruptors website!