Happy Friday, N2K reader!

Vote for the winner of this week’s world-famous news haiku competition™ on the Venezuela sitch, in today’s poll below, dear reader! And now for something completely different.

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• Robin Williams’ son talks about using AI to bring …

• How retail investors may be rewriting the rules of …

• Are parents ready for skyrocketing childcare in 20 …

• How Venezuela’s oil comeback could rewrite U.S. en …

• Trailers don’t provide the viral marketing the stu …

• Poll of the day: Choose a winning haiku

• Poll results: You like the Netflix deal for WB

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▲ 0.73% ) $DJI ( ▲ 0.5% ) $NDX ( ▲ 0.94% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

 $ETOR ( ▼ 2.49% )  $BOFA.TSX ( ▲ 0.11% )  $CVX ( ▲ 1.8% )  

Robin Williams’ son talks about using AI to bring precision to mental health care

Mental health advocate Zach Williams, son of the late entertainer Robin Williams, is spearheading a movement toward precision-focused psychiatric care using AI. Williams, an advisor to Lumos AI , discussed the launch of the firm’s precision neuropsychiatry platform.

"The platform itself is a precision neuropsychiatry platform,” he said. “And really what it's seeking to solve is the challenges relating to heterogeneity and mental health diagnosis and solutions." This new approach seeks to move past the traditional "one size fits all approach" that often fails patients, as "often the standard of care is an artifact of the 20th century."

Williams' involvement is personal; he shared that after his father's death by suicide, "I had to take measures to manage my complex post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression." His background in computational linguistics and consumer tech has led him to platforms that leverage agentic AI to "create specific precision-oriented patient solutions." This sophisticated approach, he believes, will lead to "what I hope to be a renaissance in the space."

Ultimately, the goal is to provide better, more individualized care, while also focusing on preventative action. Williams urges, "Prioritizing our mental health every day needs to be top of mind for all of us."

Over the last 25 years, the trend in U.S. suicide statistics has been characterized by a steady and significant climb.

How retail investors may be rewriting the rules of the market

Retail investors have emerged from 2025 as an optimistic and committed force. Andrew McCormick, Head of eToro $ETOR ( ▼ 2.49% ) US, summarized the year as a "rollercoaster...a very loud year and not a boring year," but stressed that "optimism reigns supreme." Despite market turmoil, government shutdowns, and political drama, he finds it "encouraging that markets are still strong and retail investors are optimistic."

This belief manifests as “dip buying,” which McCormick notes is driven by a long-term perspective. The market low in April, for instance, was eToro’s "highest buying day of the entire year." He likens recent crypto pullbacks to a “Black Friday,” where "you can buy your favorite asset on sale."

While conviction remains high — McCormick shared an informal survey where only "one percent" of Bitcoin investors reported selling during a 20–30% dip — he observes a slight shift away from purely speculative trading. He sees a "huge increase in ETFs," a "great product," that serves as a “typical hedge” for investors unsure about riskier assets.

Looking to 2026, McCormick is focused on Washington D.C., where he anticipates "legislation to create that crypto framework." He believes this D.C. activity will "really unleash that American innovative spirit that drives the engine of the world.”

Song of the Day: Dasha, ‘Here For The Party’

This is a viral country-pop anthem known for its high-energy, "let loose" vibe.,Just like this newsletter!

Are parents ready for skyrocketing childcare in 2026?

According to Taylor Bowley, an economist at Bank of America $BOFA.TSX ( ▲ 0.11% ) many U.S. families are facing an affordability crisis. She warns that "child care costs are rising faster than overall rate of inflation by about one and a half times more," which is "really cutting into families' budgets." The data confirms the pain point, showing that while average payments are up, the number of households paying has declined, suggesting "some households are having to drop out of paying for childcare because of affordability or lack thereof."

The financial burden is not shared equally, clearly illustrating a "K-shaped economy," a topic Bowley says "is something that we see quite clearly within our data." For lower-income households, the economist observes that the number of families with multiple paychecks paying for care has "really dropped off," indicating "they are feeling the most pressure." 

This pressure is also affecting the workforce. The high cost forces some families into a difficult choice: "Do I get my paycheck or do I take care of my kid?" Bowley notes this "disproportionately falls on moms," begging the question of whether childcare is playing a role in the fall of women's labor force participation, a.k.a when being a #tradwife becomes a necessity instead of a lifestyle choice.

How Venezuela’s oil comeback could rewrite U.S. energy independence

The potential return of Venezuelan oil to global markets, driven by recent, let’s say…developments, is sending ripples through the energy sector. While Venezuela currently produces around 900,000 barrels a day, Infrastructure Capital Advisors CEO Jay Hatfield notes its potential: "They're down from 3.5 million...so if that does come back, that's a huge opportunity for Chevron $CVX ( ▲ 1.8% )  in particular. It will lower oil prices."

The heavy, viscous crude from Venezuela is particularly good for certain U.S. facilities. Hatfield explains, it’s "good for U.S. refiners like Valero, MPC, which have refineries on the Gulf Coast, which can accept some of this very, very heavy, viscous crude." Chevron is uniquely situated because they "stuck it out" during the country's economic turmoil, making them "extraordinarily well-positioned" to help ramp up production, he said.

The country’s massive reserves, estimated to be "about 20% of global reserves," underscore the long-term potential for increased global supply. While the main impact is on overall prices, the increased supply "does hurt all producers a little bit." On the topic of U.S. energy independence, Hatfield clarifies that if one includes "not just pure oil, but these natural gas liquids, coal and natural gas," the U.S. is "close to independence." 

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👎️ 

Not today.

Trailers don’t provide the viral marketing the studios believe they do

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

It’s December 18th, and I am standing in line at the IMAX at my local AMC waiting to be let in for the first public screening of “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” I’ve waited three years for this movie, and the last hour is killing me. Once I’m seated the trailers begin. 28 minutes and counting…

Poll of the day: Choose a winning haiku

The theme of this week’s world famous haiku competition is the Venezuela sitch.

Poll results: You like the Netflix deal for WB

We asked: Do you think Warner Bros. should take the Paramount deal or the Netflix deal?

You answered:

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I think they should take the $72B Netflix deal because it's "cleaner." (203)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I think they should take the $78B Paramount deal because it's dirtier. (15)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ I think they should take me out for dinner and a movie. (159)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I think we should Netflix and chill, but in a corporate sense. (76)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I don't care as long as I can keep watching the Harry Potter archive. (86)

539 Votes via @beehiiv polls

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