Tariffs, Trades, Tech, Telegram and TRACAB!
??? The stories that stood out this week:
Have I got a Tariff for you?!
D.J. Trump sent the world into a spin this week with a flurry or suggested tariff's for Canada, Mexico, China, and EU. Some stuck, some did their job as a lever to tight homeland security measures. But as we edge closer to what could be THE GREATEST FIFA WORLD CUP EVER in 2026, North American politics isn't quite shapping up as a team sport. Here are of the best pieces from the week that helped shape the story:
EA Sports big bet
TRACAB who's technology rivals the likes of Sony Hawkeye was this week acquired by games giant EA SPORTS ! It is potentially a sign of the massive steps being made to make cutting-edge technology and real-time data capture part of player immersion and fan engagement: https://www.ea.com/news/ea-sports-realism-technology?isLocalized=true
N.A.S.C.A.R P.O.V
New ways to watch from a NASCAR drivers POV were unveiled, thanks to the Verge's Emma Roth who helped us digested the new tech transforming fan experience: https://www.theverge.com/news/602682/max-nascar-multiview-driver-cams
Super Bowl Ads
It's that tie of year again... the SuperBowl and its ads. Here's a cool clip from CNBC featuring the latest from Tom Brady and naturally, Snoop Dogg: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/02/03/robert-kraft-super-bowl-commercial-tom-brady-and-snoop-dogg.html
F1's Billion dollar gear shift
Great read and breakdown of some of the biggest brand moves ahead of the upcoming 2025 F1 season, this from Toni Cowan-Brown is well worth a read: https://ideefixe.co/p/rolex-f1-and-the-billion-dollar-shift
CR40
You can't go writing a newsletter this week (regardless of topic) without mentioning the 40th birthday of the great Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes... He's 40: https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-40-goat-status-debate-football-greatest-athlete/bltbda46a925b1c8d1e
?? Now for some inspiration
Love this from the great Rory Sutherland on rethinking value for money
?? Something to make you look clever
Here's a couple of links to stories a little more random, but which will equally make you the most clever in the room... If not, you're probably in the right room.
Space to Think
Ok, no one freak out, but there will be seven planets lining up in the sky this month - fingers crossed you'll get to see it. But what does it all mean for science?https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250117-planetary-parade-what-the-alignment-of-seven-planets-really-means-for-science
Social Bust
Remember that bust that took down the Telegram founder? Wired breaks down how it all unfolded and what it means for one of social media's fastest rising platforms: https://www.wired.com/story/pavel-durov-arrest-telegram-content-moderation/
Dopamine and the Next Quick Fix
You're going to have to subscribe to this one, but worth it. We all crave it, more so than ever. But understanding what is driving our ever veracious appetite for dopamine can also help us become less reliant on the quick fix: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/science-behind-dopamine-function