Are Trump's Cabinet Picks Moving the Markets?; Delta & Shake Shack Team Up On "Pilot" Project; Megatrends; Red Robin CEO on Value Wars; Cocktails!

Ulloa there. Ulloa, as we all know, is a cheese from Galicia in northwestern Spain, otherwise known as "cheese from the land." It has a smooth, thin rind and, when melted on toast, it tastes fantastic — just like this newsletter. Thankfully for those of us trying to make cheese puns, it also sounds a lot like the word “hello.”

To the cheddlines!

• Are Trump's Cabinet Picks Moving the Markets?
• Fasten Your Seatbelts and Your Taste Buds: Shake Shack Is Taking Off with Delta!
• Investment Megatrends To Look Out For In 2025
• Red Robin CEO on Navigating the “Value Wars”
• Try the Papa John’s Gin ‘Cini Tini, If You Dare

Have a ‘Cini Tini for me, mmkay?

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

P.S. We’ve got a wheeled quadruped robot dog crossing extreme terrain with terrifying pace on our ‘gram.?

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Quote of the Day

“Burgers themselves don't have great, great longevity once they come off that grill.” — G.J. Hart

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1. Are Trump's Cabinet Picks Moving the Markets?

Barron's stock pick writer Jacob "My name sounds like sunshine" Sonenshine offered us some insights on the market's reaction to Donald Trump’s election. He explained the initial surge, saying, "There is real reason why the market skyrocketed after the election. The market is saying, hey, we know that Trump's presidency is going to absolutely put a high priority on fiscal spending. That is stimulative to an already roughly 2% growth in consumer spend this year."

Sonenshine also discussed the potential impacts of deregulation, highlighting the regional banking sector. "If you do some deregulation, you're basically freeing up some capital within the banking system,” he said. “Big banks must do M&A. You have over 4,000 banks in the country, so I think you're going to see M&A in regional banking."

On healthcare, he expressed optimism despite concerns around drug pricing: "I don't think Trump is going to be an enemy to the pharma space,” he said. “The Health and Human Services department doesn't have nearly as much power as Congress to enact changes to reimbursement for certain drugs and therefore impact demand for the drugs and pricing."

On tariffs and inflation, Sonenshine said: "You don't know exactly the magnitude. What you do know is that you would have hundreds of billions of dollars of goods that are going to see a material increase in price. There will be some modest drag on economic activity.”

He also addressed the surge in Bitcoin's price, cautioning, "Not the time to buy.” Bitcoin can often be correlated to the equity market, so “if the stock market is vulnerable to a correction, certainly crypto is for sure." There’s a reason I stick it all in index funds rather than trying to pick stocks, but what do I know? #NotFinancialAdvice Read More

2. Fasten Your Seatbelts and Taste Buds: Shake Shack Is Taking Off with Delta

When you think of airline food, you might not immediately picture a mouth-watering cheeseburger with all the trimmings, particularly not if you’re prone to airsickness; however, for those accustomed to flying first class with an appetite for the finer things, that’s all about to change. Shake Shack — the iconic New York burger joint, revered for its all-natural beef patties and fresh ingredients — is now breaking altitude records by partnering with Delta Airlines to serve its delectable menu high above the clouds.

Starting December 1st, first-class passengers on select Delta flights going more than 900 miles out of Boston will be able to get a burger and Caesar salad at 30,000 feet. Highlighting their "people-first culture," Delta's managing director of onboard service, Stephanie Laster, announced that this partnership was a "no-brainer." After all, burgers have skyrocketed to the top of passengers’ most requested menu items. Should the, ahem, pilot program…take off, Delta has plans to expand the Shake Shack offering.

Booking a first-class seat for the Shake Shack experience could be a tempting proposition for the epicurean traveler. It’s only, like, a thousand bucks for a cheeseburger you could get at the store for fewer than 20. #NotFinancialAdvice Read More

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3. Look Out for These Investment Megatrends in 2025

Chiza "It's not a pun; it's my name" Vitta, the Managing Director of Global Analytics at S&P Global Ratings, said investment megatrends are "slow-moving trends happening over the next decade," and while they may seem gradual, they "can have acute impacts."

That’s why S&P Global Ratings is actively working to incorporate these megatrends into their ratings assessments. For example, Vitta acknowledges both the potential benefits and challenges of AI: "AI promises some efficiencies, but ultimately what companies need to keep in mind is they need to stay nimble,” he said. “They need to stay ahead of the opportunities as the winners and losers will be determined by those who are best able to leverage AI."

Regarding the ongoing challenges in supply chains, Vitta said: "We're beginning to see that it's becoming more difficult and more costly to maintain that shortage of supply."

He also discussed the blockchain, digital assets, and climate change, which is apparently a phenomenon where the world is getting warmer. I have no idea what he’s talking about, but it probably warrants further research. I’m sure the federal government has that well in-hand, backed by a majority of the population. #NotGovernmentAdvice Read More

4. Red Robin CEO on Navigating the “Value Wars”

I love a fast-food CEO. They make me want to become fast-food CEOs. Red Robin’s G.J. Hart joined us yesterday to share his insights on the opportunities facing the restaurant industry, particularly in the midst of ongoing "value wars." While acknowledging the pressures of food and labor inflation, Hart emphasized Red Robin's commitment to offering a premium experience. "We offer gourmet burgers, the best out there, and provide great hospitality in a fun environment at a reasonable price," he said.

Hart also offered his perspective on a recent move by competitor Shake Shack – a partnership with Delta Airlines to serve burgers in its first-class section. You may have heard about this elsewhere in this newsletter, in fact. "In my opinion, it's a challenging risk, particularly with burgers, because burgers themselves don't have great, great longevity once they come off that grill," he said.

Rather than engaging in daily price wars with competitors, Red Robin has focused on promoting its value proposition through strategic initiatives. For instance, the company emphasizes its “bottomless” offerings early in the week to drive traffic on weekends. Hart believes this approach is more sustainable than constant discounting.

A key element of Red Robin's strategy has been a focus on delivering a "gourmet burger" experience. The company's decision to switch to cooking burgers on a flat top grill (as opposed to the old-fashioned flame-grillers) is a testament to that. Hart explained, "When you cook on a flat top, the immediate thing you do is take the seasoning, and the juices are locked into the burger itself. So, the burger ends up being much more tasty in addition to being bigger."

Hart — who has previously led successful turnarounds at Texas Roadhouse, California Pizza Kitchen, and Torchy's Tacos — also emphasized the importance of company culture. "In my experience, what drives businesses forward is having a great culture in your organization, and what that starts with is great people and giving them an environment that they can thrive in," he said.

See what I mean about wanting to become a fast-food CEO? That sounds pretty right-on, right? #NotBurgerAdvice Read More

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5. Try the Papa John’s Gin ‘Cini Tini...If You Dare

Papa Johns and Aviation American Gin, which is owned by Ryan Reynolds, have joined forces to create a cocktail that promises to elevate your happy hour experience. Dubbed the "‘Cini Tini," the innovative drink combines the zest of pepperoncini peppers with the smooth, botanical blend of Aviation American Gin, offering a…unique ahem twist on the classic martini.

The partnership, revealed on National Happy Hour Day last week, signifies a bold step into the beverage world for both brands. Though the 'Cini Tini is not available for purchase in restaurants, making one at home is “straightforward,” they say.

Here’s how you can mix up your own. Order your favorite Papa Johns pizza, and don’t forget to get extra pepperoncini for the full experience (I think this step is optional, personally. It’s almost like they just came up with this as a gimmick to sell more pizza). Then add 1/2 ounce of pepperoncini brine (oh, my God, this sounds absolutely disgusting…for the love of Jesus…) and 1 1/2 ounces of Aviation American Gin into a shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, give it a good shake to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Strain the mix into your chilled glass, then add a Papa Johns pepperoncini for that “extra flair and flavor.”

Best of luck, folks. Let me know if you consume one of these without turning into Deadpool? #NotMartiniAdvice Read More

Matt Davis is a writer who lives with his wife and son in New York.