Chinese AI Model Closes Gap on US & African Teams Surprise at the World Cup

#879: It’s the first day of the second half of 2026, which means it’s time to wrap up the first half of the markets! A new study shows heavy AI adopters are actually expanding their workforce. DC Studios’ Supergirl flops at the box office – is this a worrying sign for the reboot plan? Then a special Wednesday edition of Neal’s Numbers (cause we’re off Thursday) on a new ‘hot girl’ accessory, Biscoff is booming, and old content is still tried and true among movie watchers.  Get 10% off using MORNINGBREW10 at altrarunning.com/morningbrew  Grab tickets to our Performance Revue show! https://www.morningbrew.com/events/brew-performance-revue-2026?utm_campaign=performance_revue_2026&utm_source=mbd Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#878: The Supreme Court blocks Trump’s attempt to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook but upholds its other firings. Comcast is splitting off NBCUniversal into its own company in another media shakeup. World Cup fever has everybody sporting soccer jerseys – true football fans or not. The hacky sack is cool again, and some are being sold for as much as $23. Finally, Alphabet joins the Dow Jones Index for the first time Learn more at https://www.schwab.com/oninvesting  Grab tickets to our Performance Revue show! https://www.morningbrew.com/events/brew-performance-revue-2026?utm_campaign=performance_revue_2026&utm_source=mbd Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#877: Chinese AI models are beginning to catch up to Anthropic and OpenAI, threatening America’s top spot in the AI game. NASA races to save a telescope that is falling back down to Earth. Nine out of 10 African teams have advanced in the World Cup. The fall of Spirit Airlines has caused a travel boom for the bus industry. Finally, what you need to know in the week ahead.  Learn more at https://www.schwab.com/oninvesting Grab tickets to our Performance Revue show! https://www.morningbrew.com/events/brew-performance-revue-2026?utm_campaign=performance_revue_2026&utm_source=mbd Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#876: Two powerful earthquakes devastated Venezuela and there are reports that Google alerted millions before it happened. Apple is taking some heat after it raised prices on its products due to the memory chip supply crunch. Oil prices have fallen down to pre-war levels. Grand Theft Auto VI has a release date, but some fans are irked by a digital-only release. Finally, is Taylor Swift having her wedding at Madison Square Garden? To learn more visit https://www.servicenow.com Grab tickets to our Performance Revue show! https://www.morningbrew.com/events/brew-performance-revue-2026?utm_campaign=performance_revue_2026&utm_source=mbd Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#875: President Trump suddenly cancels the signing of a landmark housing bill that was set to lower costs. The French are suffering one of the hottest heatwaves on record. A viral post on WallStreetBets sends Wendy’s stock to soar. Neal looks into CEO pay, China’s supercomputer, and the rise of divorces among boomers. Finally, why are World Cup fans weirdly obsessed with ranch dressing?  To learn more visit https://www.servicenow.com Grab tickets to our Performance Revue show! https://www.morningbrew.com/events/brew-performance-revue-2026?utm_campaign=performance_revue_2026&utm_source=mbd Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Neal Fryman and Toby Howell, are clients of Wealthfront, receive cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid testimonials in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. More details available via the referral link. https://wealthfron.com/morningbrew New clients get 3.30% base APY from program banks + additional 0.75% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. References to the APY for the Wealthfront Cash Account, including any APY increase, are to the APY paid by insured depository institutions that participate in our cash sweep program (the "Program Banks”). Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#874: The US stock market suffered a broad sell off led by tech and AI stocks. In NYC, a political race is underway where sweeping AI regulations are at stake.  Netflix launches a horror game that can be played on your TV. Finally, a special conversation with Meta’s Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth to discuss the launch of the Meta’s new in-house smart glasses and why they think the specs will be an everyday AI device rather than a niche tech product.  To learn more visit https://www.servicenow.com Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#873: A look back at the career of Alan Greenspan, former Fed chair, who passed away at age 100. Google invests $75M into A24 for a new AI partnership. A Wall Street Journal investigation found Polymarket faked videos of creators winning large bets on their platform. Toby’s Trends on Instagram testing horizontal longform videos on the app. SpaceX shares tumble after a $400B selloff and Alphabet shares fall after key AI researchers depart. To learn more visit https://www.servicenow.com Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Neal Fryman and Toby Howell, are clients of Wealthfront, receive cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid testimonials in this podcast, creating a conflict of interest. More details available via the referral link.  https://wealthfron.com/morningbrew New clients get 3.30% base APY from program banks + additional 0.75% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. References to the APY for the Wealthfront Cash Account, including any APY increase, are to the APY paid by insured depository institutions that participate in our cash sweep program (the "Program Banks”). Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#872: Apple’s CEO Tim Cook admits the high demand of memory and storage will likely raise prices on Apple products. Midjourney, the startup known for AI image-generation, is venturing into the healthcare sector with a full-body ultrasound scanner and spa concept. Creators are expected to have a large presence at Cannes Lions, the advertising world’s Super Bowl. World Cup fans from all over are enjoying American cheap eats. Finally, what you need to know in the upcoming week ahead.  To learn more visit https://www.servicenow.com Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Neal Fryman and Toby Howell, are clients of Wealthfront, receive cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid testimonials in this podcast, creating a conflict of interest. More details available via the referral link.  https://wealthfron.com/morningbrew New clients get 3.30% base APY from program banks + additional 0.75% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. References to the APY for the Wealthfront Cash Account, including any APY increase, are to the APY paid by insured depository institutions that participate in our cash sweep program (the "Program Banks”). Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#871: Former WSJ tech columnist Joanna Stern spent a year using AI for almost everything. She had her mammogram read by an algorithm, wore a bracelet that recorded every conversation, rode in a Waymo, and let ChatGPT help her decide whether to leave the Wall Street Journal. This year-long experiment is captured in her new book, “I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything,” which reflects on what AI actually does well, what it absolutely does not, and why humanoid robots are so dang funny. To learn more visit https://www.servicenow.com Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Neal Fryman and Toby Howell, are clients of Wealthfront, receive cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid testimonials in this podcast, creating a conflict of interest. More details available via the referral link.  https://wealthfron.com/morningbrew New clients get 3.30% base APY from program banks + additional 0.75% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. References to the APY for the Wealthfront Cash Account, including any APY increase, are to the APY paid by insured depository institutions that participate in our cash sweep program (the "Program Banks”). Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#870: The Fed holds rate steady in Kevin Warsh’s first meeting, but the central bank teases a rate hike is more likely than a cut. Carvana introduces a new ‘playground’ concept where shoppers can test-drive cars while purchases are still online. Qantas unveiled a new fly-direct route from Sydney to London, which would become the longest commercial passenger route in the world. Then, it’s Neal’s Numbers on World Cup teams, parents and kids looking at screens during meal times, and Toy Story 5. Finally, the US-Iran sign a Memorandum of Understanding to open the Strait of Hormuz To learn more visit https://www.servicenow.com Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Paid endorsement. Brokerage services provided by Open to the Public Investing Inc, member FINRA & SIPC. Advisory services by Public Advisors LLC, SEC-registered adviser.  Investing involves risk. Not investment advice. Agentic Brokerage is an AI-powered conversational tool that allows you to enter instructions for a set of self-directed, recurring transactions (your “Agent”) for your account. Outputs from Agentic Brokerage are provided for informational and illustrative purposes only, and should not be considered investment recommendations or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com/disclosures. See terms of match program at https://public.com/disclosures/matchprogram. Matched funds must remain in your account for at least 5 years. Match rate and other terms are subject to change at any time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices