Hello, N2K’ers!

We now have (checks notes) two dozen very good entries in Cheddar’s world-famous News Haiku™ competition. The rules? Send me a haiku by Thursday at noon EST right here. I’ll pick three and let you vote for your favorite on Friday. We’ll announce the winner on Monday!

A couple of things to note.

1. A haiku is a three-line poem with a 5 syllable, 7 syllable, 5 syllable structure. So while I’ve rather enjoyed your poetry not in the form of haikus, I’m afraid it’s ineligible to win Cheddar’s world-famous News Haiku™ competition. Not that I suspect you care. It is what it is.

2. Please, for the love of mature cheese, try to stay on topic. For example, Mark B., your “cat meditation” was lovely. But this is not about “the feud between Donald Trump and Fed chair Jerome Powell”, is it?

Still. It was rather nice. Just ineligible to win Cheddar’s world-famous News Haiku™ competition. 😿 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• Why are scientists dressing pigs in clothes?

• 40% of U.S. adults have used AI for work tasks

• US consumer confidence improves slightly

• Wall street drifts in 'monster week'

• Behold, the American Sake revolution!

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▲ 0.08% ) $DJI ( ▼ 0.6% ) $NDX ( ▲ 0.56% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter*

$JBLU ( ▼ 4.62% )  $SOFI ( ▼ 4.2% )  $MRK ( ▼ 0.86% )  

*We’re mentioning private companies here now, too.

Why are scientists dressing pigs in clothes and burying them in Mexico?

It’s a good question. Mexico is, I’m afraid, grappling with a haunting epidemic: over 130,000 people have been reported missing, victims of decades of drug cartel violence. In an innovative attempt to tackle this crisis, scientists are employing a unique approach — using pigs as proxies for human bodies in experiments designed to locate clandestine graves. 

"Pigs resemble humans in size, fat distribution, and the structure and thickness of skin," explains a researcher at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, which appears to have survived the recent round of cuts. This biological similarity makes pigs ideal substitutes for studying decomposition and burial conditions. The research, based in Jalisco, a state disproportionately affected by disappearances, combines cutting-edge technologies like hyperspectral cameras, thermal drones, and geophysical mapping techniques.

José Luis Silván, project coordinator at CentroGeo, describes the urgency behind this effort. “What good is science or technology if it doesn’t solve problems?” he asks. The researchers use these pigs to study chemical markers such as nitrogen and phosphorus, observing how these elements change in the soil during decomposition. “Flowers came up because of the phosphorus at the surface,” Silván noted, referencing a promising discovery at a simulated grave site.

Though technology is advancing these efforts, witness accounts and grassroots searches remain crucial. “Ninety percent of searches are resolved with a good witness and digging,” said an anthropologist supporting the project.

Song of the day: Patty Griffin, ‘Born in a Cage.’

Patty Griffin’s return from a six-year hiatus is the stunning album, “Crown of Roses,” out last Friday. Her voice has been reduced to a whisper by a fight with breast cancer, and her new album is bleak, to say the least. Her "obsession with the past, recent losses, and more directly with mortality is overwhelming,” according to one reviewer. “If you are feeling down, it’s best to avoid listening,” they suggest.

Although I love it. I LOVE IT. You hear? Then again I once listened to the 2000 remake of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” 800 times in a row when I realized I needed to get divorced. I love sad songs. It’s because, as an Englishman, I do my best to cry once every 28 years. You’ve got to process these feelings somehow.

40% of US adults have used AI for work tasks, says new poll

You cheeky monkeys. There I was thinking you’d been doing all that work yourself, and it turns out, according to a new Associated Press poll, “40% of U.S. adults say they’ve used AI for work tasks, with younger people leading the way.”

While 74% of Americans under 30 report using AI to search for information, fewer than half of older Americans say the same. This generational divide is perhaps most striking when it comes to brainstorming: 60% of adults under 30 use AI to come up with ideas, compared to only 20% of those aged 60 and older.

I thought today’s newsletter was being edited by a Gen Z’er called Sydney but perhaps she has sent a ROBOT my way to do it. (Would a robot have this level of wit, Matt? — Ed.)

Courtney Thayer, a 34-year-old audiologist from Des Moines, Iowa, embraces AI’s potential in her personal and professional life. She frequently uses ChatGPT for tasks like meal planning and analyzing nutritional information. “I asked it to make a meal prep for the week, then to add an Asian flair,” Thayer told the AP. While the results weren’t always perfect (imagine!), she found them to be a solid “stepping-off point.” Professionally, Thayer uses AI to draft emails more efficiently, though she avoids it for critical information like medical advice, having seen inaccuracies in chatbot responses.

Sanaa Wilson, a 28-year-old freelance data scientist, highlights AI’s potential for coding assistance but is more selective about other uses. She avoids relying on AI for emails to maintain her skills and lessen environmental impact. “It’s just an email. I can work it out,” she said, believing the extra effort is worth it.

Today on the ‘gram: It’s on, this merger…

Post of the day: It’s also on, THIS merger…

Quote of the Day

US consumer confidence improves slightly, but tariff concerns persist

American consumer confidence in the economy has seen a modest uptick this July, according to the latest data. Despite the increase, a shadow looms from ongoing worries about the impact of tariffs. The consumer confidence index edged up two points to 97.2 in July, aligning perfectly with analysts' expectations. Nevertheless, this recovery comes on the heels of a significant dip in April when consumers' confidence sank to its lowest since May 2020.

A bright spot in the report is the measure of Americans' short-term outlook on income, business conditions, and the job market, which rose 4.5 points to 74.4. Yet, this figure remains below 80 — an important threshold indicating economic stability. A reading below this marker often prefigures a potential recession. Meanwhile, consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation slightly declined by 1.5 points to 131.5, suggesting persistent caution.

According to Stephanie Guichard, senior economist at The Conference Board, “Consumer confidence has stabilized since May, rebounding from April’s plunge, but remains below last year’s heady levels.”

Ultimately, while there’s a glimmer of positive momentum, the persistent concerns about trade underscore the fragility of economic sentiment. It’s a good job the stock market has never been higher, eh?

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👎️ 

Not today, but don’t worry too much. This week might end better than it’s started. #NotFinancialAdvice

Wall Street drifts as ‘monster week’ picks up speed

Wall Street drifted a tad yesterday as a host of economic information and the fed’s policy decision on interest rates loomed in the background.

Corporate earnings dominated the headlines, with JetBlue Airways $JBLU ( ▼ 4.62% ) climbing 3.7% and SoFi Technologies $SOFI ( ▼ 4.2% ) surging by 17.1% following strong profit reports. On the other hand, Merck $MRK ( ▼ 0.86% ) tumbled 4.7%, reflecting Wall Street’s reaction to less favorable earnings news. Investors are closely watching nearly a third of companies in the S&P 500 index reporting their quarterly results this week, as these earnings play a critical role in shaping the market’s trajectory.

One focal point is the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting, during which policymakers will decide on interest rates. While President Donald Trump has lobbied for rate cuts, the Fed appears likely to hold steady, waiting for more clarity on the impact of tariffs.

Tariff discussions remain a key influence. Top trade officials from the U.S. and China, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, are racing against an August 12 deadline to avoid escalating tariffs. If talks or extensions fail, triple-digit tariffs could resume, amplifying the uncertainty that has gripped markets.

As investors digest earnings reports, trade talks, and upcoming jobs data, this pivotal week could determine whether Wall Street can sustain its record-breaking momentum or face a potential pullback. My bet is on sustaining. Then again, I’m a terrible gambler.

American Sake by Brett Easton Ellis these dudes

Do me a favor and pause your bearded-hipster skepticism here. For many, sake remains a mystery — a cloudy, warm liquid associated with sushi restaurants. Brooklyn Kura, a pioneering company in the heart of Brooklyn, is challenging these misconceptions and rewriting the narrative of American sake. This ancient Japanese art form is now being transformed into something modern and accessible.

Brooklyn Kura is not just making sake; they're making history as the first U.S. sake company to export their products to Japan. Brian Polen, co-founder and CEO of Brooklyn Kura, explains the common misunderstandings: "Not a distilled beverage. It's not intended to be shot. It is not intended to be served warm." He emphasizes that their sake is crafted with the "same care, attention, and craftsmanship that you would expect of Japanese craftspeople."

Polen's journey into sake brewing began in Japan in 2013, where he realized the widespread availability and affordability of sake. "Why aren't more people doing this, drinking this, making this around the world?" he wondered. This curiosity led him and head brewer Brandon Doughan to experiment with home brewing, yielding surprisingly high-quality results.

Since launching their Industry City facility in 2017, Brooklyn Kura has captivated a diverse audience, from fermentation enthusiasts to 10th-generation Japanese brewers. Polen recounts a common customer reaction: "Someone orders a glass of sake and they're like, ‘Wow. This is what sake is? I've never had anything like this.’"

Brooklyn Kura's success lies in their dedication to quality and innovation. They use premium rice from Arkansas and California, their own koji, yeast from Japan, and what they describe as New York City's fantastic Catskills water. They even experiment with different koji types, like white koji, which "produces citric acid, giving a citric quality to the sake, which is beautiful," as Polen describes.

If only they’d make a non-alcoholic version, I’d be delighted to give it a try!

Poll of the Day: Have you used AI for work tasks?

Poll Results: You mostly hate Marvel movies too

We asked: “Where are we with all this Marvel CGI movie stuff, then, eh?”

You answered:

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I love CGI-heavy big budget flicks recycling old comic book nostalgia (141 votes)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 For the love of God, make it stop... (340 votes)

481 Votes via @beehiiv polls