- Need2Know, by Cheddar
- Posts
- Warren Buffet donated the GDP of Liberia yesterday
Warren Buffet donated the GDP of Liberia yesterday
Plus: A Tesla drove itself to a customer's house for delivery, and what's in the latest version of the president's big bill?
Hello, Tuesday-N2K’ers!
The world’s most successful investor is donating 95% of his wealth before he dies, and unfortunately, not one cent of it has so far found its way into my pocket. A car drove itself 15 miles to a customer’s house for delivery in Texas, and there’s big news on the coffee front. ☕️
—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor
News You Need2Know
Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter
$BRK.B ( ▲ 0.79% ) $TSLA ( ▼ 5.34% ) $AAPL ( ▲ 1.29% ) $LKNCY ( ▲ 4.45% ) $SBUX ( ▲ 3.59% ) $NKE ( ▲ 3.34% )
Warren Buffet donated $6 billion in stock
Warren Buffett continues to redefine what it means to be generous. This week, the legendary investor donated a record-breaking $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway $BRK.B ( ▲ 0.79% ) shares to philanthropy. It’s hard to wrap your head around the sheer scale of that number. Imagine handing over the GDP of Liberia, or knowing where Liberia is.
🎶 Liberian girl, you came and you changed my world… 🎶
The donation was divided among five organizations, tackling critical issues, ranging from global health and poverty alleviation to education and social equity.
Even after donating $6 billion, Buffett still holds a jaw-dropping 13.8% of Berkshire Hathaway stock. He’s pledged to donate 99.5% of his wealth by the time he kicks the Buffett, reinforcing his belief that enormous wealth is best used to help society.
Song of the day: Eat the Rich
"Eat the Rich" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Jim Vallance and was released in June 1993 by Geffen Records as the second single from the band's eleventh album, “Get a Grip” (1993).
Coincidentally, Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv sold her townhouse down the street from me for $17 million in 2019. She bought three units and knocked them together — depriving more families of more housing — for a mere $2.5 million, back in 2001. You may remember New York City was going through something of a, er…downturn, that year. #BuyTheDip
Free yourself from advertising forever!
Now you can sign up for an optional ad-free version of Need2Know! Subscribe for just $5 a month, or $50 a year, and you can continue to enjoy this reasonably high-quality newsletter uninterrupted. Bonus: The immense satisfaction that comes from supporting journalism*!
Most political news lives in the extremes.
It’s either rage bait meant to rile you up, or echo chambers that only reinforce what you already believe. The result? More division, less understanding — and a lot of burnout.
We give you the full story on one major political issue a day, broken down with arguments from the left, right, and center — plus clear, independent analysis. No spin. No shouting. No bias disguised as truth.
In just 10 minutes a day, you’ll actually understand what’s happening — and how all sides see it.
Join 400,000+ readers who are skipping the noise and getting the full picture.
*This counts as journalism, right?
A Tesla self-drove itself to a customer’s house
In the latest episode of "What Can't Tesla $TSLA ( ▼ 5.34% ) Do?" (answer: sell cars in Europe), a Model Y in Austin just drove itself 15 miles from the Giga Texas factory to its new owner's apartment. No driver. No supervisor. Just self-driving tech.
The journey wasn’t just a straight shot — it involved highways, exits, city streets, pedestrians, and of course, a Tweet by Elon Musk, who captioned the video with a simple "Kapow". Fitting, considering that's also possibly the sound everyone feared the car might make mid-trip…
I’m genuinely tempted to move to Texas and order a model Y, just to say it drove itself to my door.
Today on the ‘gram: Move a cursor with ur mind
Post of the day: Hard day at the office?
Senate Republicans just FAILED in their first vote on a motion to commit trump's Big Ugly Bill, 49-51.
Keep THIS going!!!!
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan)
5:45 PM • Jun 30, 2025
Quote of the Day
If the last thing I do is drive that car, I will take that drive.
Apple’s first movie hit: ‘F1’ opens to $55 million
Apple $AAPL ( ▲ 1.29% ) isn’t just in the business of phones, watches, and gadgets that make you feel outdated every 12 nine six months — they’ve now got a box-office hit to their name. The imaginatively named “F1 The Movie” raced out of the gates with a $55 million debut in the U.S. and a screeching $144 million worldwide. That makes it the biggest opening Apple’s had since… well, ever. So, what’s their secret?
It wasn’t a software update. The movie had everything: Brad Pitt, a reasonably high quality script the New York Times called “veneer thin” and “as formulaic as its title subject”, the guy who directed “Top Gun: Maverick”, a reasonably high Rotten Tomatoes score, Javier Bardem and did I mention, Brad Pitt? With a production budget of over $200 million — the price of 20,000 maxed-out MacBooks — Apple’s bet on Formula 1 fandom seems to have paid off.
And they’re just getting started. Who needs Oscar-bait when you can strap an IMAX camera inside a race car? I’d rather have just one of those Macbooks 💻 than go see it, personally 🤤. But what do I know?
Should you check your 401(k) today?
👍️
It’s never been higher!
China's largest coffee chain opens in U.S.
Luckin Coffee $LKNCY ( ▲ 4.45% ) , China's largest coffee chain, has officially crossed the Pacific to open its first two U.S. locations in New York City. Launching in Greenwich Village near NYU and in the NoMad neighborhood, Luckin is bringing its unique style of affordable, tech-driven coffee shops to challenge Starbucks and other major players.
Known for undercutting Starbucks $SBUX ( ▲ 3.59% ) in China with prices 30% cheaper, Luckin has thrived by focusing on efficiency and Gen Z-friendly marketing. The company primarily operates via small, takeout-focused stores, uses cashless payments, and emphasizes mobile ordering — an approach that resonates with tech-savvy, budget-conscious customers.
While the chain's popularity in China is undeniable, its U.S. expansion is entering a highly competitive market. Luckin’s menu for its U.S. stores includes staples like cold brews and matcha alongside more inventive offerings such as "Refreshers," which combine fruity juices, coconut milk, and cold foam. They do sound rather tempting, actually.
What’s in the latest version of Trump’s big bill?
The latest version of President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill is making waves in Washington, with Republicans pushing for its passage before Friday. Spanning 940 pages, the bill packs in $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, a defense budget boost, funding for deportation measures, and cuts to essential programs like Medicaid.
Tax cuts are a centerpiece, with permanent tax brackets, increased child tax credits (though limited for lower-income families), and a significant break for businesses. Wealthier households would benefit the most, while middle-income earners are slated for modest relief. On the flip side, critics argue the bill will hurt the poorest Americans — costing them an extra $1,600 annually, per the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Defense and immigration spending also dominate the bill, with $46 billion set aside for a U.S.-Mexico border wall and record-setting deportation efforts. Meanwhile, cuts to Medicaid and food stamps could leave millions uninsured and without assistance.
Perhaps most controversially, clean energy tax breaks are on the chopping block, described by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) as a “death sentence for America’s wind and solar industries.”
With projected deficits of $3.3 trillion over the next decade, this bill is drawing both applause and condemnation, leaving its future uncertain.
Poll of the Day: Big beautiful somethin’
Are you concerned that the Big Bill does more for wealthy people than middle class Americans? |
Poll Results: Just don’t
We asked: Are you more or less likely to buy Nike products now than you were five years ago?
You answered:
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes, I still love some Nike, baby! (135)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'm a little bored with Nike, and less likely to buy their products as a result. (458)
593 Votes via @beehiiv polls
![]() | Want more Cheddar? Watch us!Search “Cheddar” on Samsung, YouTube TV, and most other streaming platforms. N2K is the tip of of the cheeseberg for financial news, interviews, and more. |