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September 30, 2026
The Appetizer
“Father Time always wins. He has, however, been generous with me. He has given me the opportunity to see Berkshire reach a point where I am more confident than ever about what lies ahead. ”
- Famed investor Warren Buffett, in his September 18 letter to shareholders announcing he is stepping down after more than 50 years as Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.
Now, on to the numbers. Drum roll, please …
- 730,000: The number of Meta Muse app downloads over the first five days since the personal artificial intelligence agent hit the app store.
- 7,000: The number of humanoid robots sold globally for industrial and professional service use in 2025.
- $6 million+: How much the University of Miami paid to acquire transfer portal quarterback Darian Mensah.
- 15 years: How long Princeton held the No. 1 spot in the ranking of national universities by U.S. News & World Report before being overthrown by MIT in the latest rankings.
- 22 hours: The time that specially configured Qantas Airbus A350-1000ULR jets will be able to fly as the airline will launch nonstop flights between Sydney and New York.
- 80,139: The number of centenarians in the U.S. as of 2020, the latest official count, up from 53,364 in 2010.
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Dig In
Higher for Longer
Not long ago, investors were counting down to rate cuts. Now, they’re debating how many more hikes the Federal Reserve has left in the tank. After last week’s quarter-point increase, Fed officials reiterated that inflation remains public enemy number one. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said inflation has been “too high for too long.” Thanks, Sherlock.
Several policymakers have indicated another hike this year isn’t off the table. Even if the Fed ultimately stands pat, officials continue to signal that rates may need to remain elevated for some time. That’s where the phrase “higher for longer” comes from.
For markets, that changes the math. When money isn’t free, profits matter more. Companies with strong balance sheets potentially have more flexibility, while those that rely heavily on debt may face a bumpier road.
Higher rates can create headwinds, but they aren’t necessarily a sign that trouble is ahead. Economies and markets have historically operated in rate environments well above today’s levels.
The real story isn’t whether rates move another quarter point higher or lower. It’s that the era of easy money may no longer be the default assumption.
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Weekly Specials
A viral debate has erupted over whether bringing an iced coffee to an interview sends the wrong message. I’m going to settle this for my fellow Gen Zers: Don’t bring one. Have it beforehand at a café across the street, then throw it out on your way in. Don’t bring it into the lobby or the interview room. No one likes a wet handshake.
MTV’s Video Music Awards pulled 8.43 million viewers across CBS and MTV, the biggest audience in 11 years and up 51% from last year. The twist: the crowd that supposedly abandoned live TV showed up first. Viewers 18-34 jumped 46% to 1.09 million, the show’s best young audience since 2020. Highlights included GENER8ION featuring Yung Lean performing “STORM” and “Great Expectation” by Sienna Spiro. Just trying to keep all my readers hip.
Finishing a TV show is fun. Staring at your screen afterward, wondering what to watch next? Less fun. Luckily, The New York Times recently put out its list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century. I would’ve put Gossip Girl at an obvious No. 1, but somehow it didn’t even make the top 100. The reported top three: Breaking Bad, The Wire, and Mad Men. Obviously, this was an opinion piece.
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Corporate Lunch
Joby completed a fully autonomous cross-country flight … well, of course with a safety pilot onboard. Imagine going to work, and your entire job is hoping you don’t have to do your job.
Moschino sells pasta bags, Balenciaga sells trash bags, and Walmart just entered the designer handbag market with a $5.97 rotisserie chicken purse.
Apple is reportedly developing a screenless fitness tracker, joining Whoop, Garmin, Google, and Amazfit in the increasingly crowded category.
Eli Lilly says its GLP-1 pill for obesity, Foundayo, already accounts for roughly one-third of new GLP-1 pill patients, despite the pill entering the U.S. market in April.
Dunkin’ and L.L. Bean teamed up for their first-ever collab, complete with a donut wall and coffee-scented merch. Flannel meets Munchkins.
Netflix put an actor inside a fully furnished billboard on Sunset Boulevard for three days to promote its thriller “The Last House”. Marketing budget: unclear. Commitment to the bit: unmatched.
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