Hey there weekday warriors,

(TLDR: Please complete this survey that will help shape the future of TWC.)

Huge thanks to everyone who has completed the survey already.

And since I know your time is valuable, I’m giving a $250 Amazon gift card to one random person who completes the short survey this week.

In addition to treating yo self, you can sleep easy knowing your input will give me valuable insight into everything from the types of content you want to see, to how I should monetize TWC 2.0.

So, it’d be incredible if you would fill out this quick and completely anonymous survey.

Thanks in advance, all.

Keep on snapping necks and cashing checks,

- tyler

+ US stocks rose "as big tech led the broader move higher ahead of quarterly earnings from Apple due later this week, and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision slated for Wednesday." (Investing.com)

+ The 10-year Treasury yield "finished broadly higher on Monday as the government announced a lower-than-expected $776 billion in borrowing needs for the fourth quarter." (MarketWatch)

+ Oil "slipped more than 3% on Monday as fears eased that the Israel-Hamas war would disrupt supply from the region, and as investors grew cautious ahead of this week's U.S. Federal Reserve meeting." (Reuters)

+ Bitcoin’s rally stalled on Monday.

+ The three most talked about stocks on WallStreetBets in the past 24-hours were: 1) Tesla -4.79% 2) Nvidia +1.63% 3) Sofi +1.02%.

Facebook As A Service

Listen, you might be dumb, but you’ll never be “I pay for Facebook” dumb…

Meta is rolling out an ad-free subscription option for Facebook and Instagram in Europe. Think: the same disappointing social media app just without the targeted b*ner pill ads (just me?).

Europeans will get access to the cesspool of conspiracy theories and memes that were on Reddit like two weeks ago for the low, low price of $11 per month on the web or $14 per month on iOS. Because the Apple tax seems like a “you” problem…

Of course, if you want Facebook to continue to harvest your data and sell it to willing buyers at the current fair market price, you can continue to use Meta’s products free of charge. Because, remember, if it’s free… you’re the product.

Zuck’s premium play is more of a workaround than a money grab, anyway…

WTF happened?

Back in January, Meta was hit with a $415M fine by Irish authorities for violations of the EU’s GDPR rules. Turns out that forcing users to allow their data to be used for targeted ads isn’t kosher.

Zuck’s solution? Give them an option to opt-out… by paying for the right *privacy advocates have entered the chat*. Meta said the new option “balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users choice and allowing Meta to continue serving all people.”

The EU reportedly has concerns about pricing that would be prohibitive to some users (thus forcing them to just say eff it and let Zuck have his way with their data). For what it’s worth, Meta’s ARPU was $11.23 in the most recent quarter.

Shares of Meta were up 2% on the day... which probably had more to do with big tech having a big day than Meta’s subscription model actually moving the needle.

+ Why it’s so expensive to be single in the U.S. (Read)

+ This Brutally Honest Quote From Warren Buffett Is Something Every Entrepreneur Should Read (Read)​

+ ICYMI yesterday... A-Rod regrets not investing in Amazon, Microsoft or Starbucks in the ’90s: ‘I wouldn’t have to work so hard today’ (Read)

+ If history is any indication, the most recent Kardashian x NBA crossover isn’t going to end well (we see you, Kris Humphries, Lamar Odom, Tristan Thompson, and Ben Simmons…)

Yesterday, the NBA commish joined Kim K. to announce that her SKIMS brand would become the official underwear of the NBA, WNBA, and USA basketball. I know what you’re thinking: “bUT It’S A WOMeN’s SHapEWeaR COmPAnY.” Not so fast you uncultured swine… SKIMS recently launched a men’s line that’s endorsed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Neymar, Nick Bosa and others. (Read)

+ Walmart plans to spend $9B over the next two years to remind Amazon who the king of brick and mortar is. The upgrades will impact 1.4k of its roughly 5k stores in the US. Changes will include new paint and flooring, modernized bathrooms (read: they will kick out the crystal meth tweakers), and easier navigation (so, probably wider aisles to accommodate the average American). Pharmacies will get a major upgrade as well. Private screening rooms will allow you to ask pharmacists things like “is this an ingrown hair, or herpes?” in private. (Read)

+ Shocker… the quarter that included the Grimace birthday celebration was a yuge one for McDonald’s. Earnings and revenue topped expectations. But it wasn’t just viral purple milkshakes that helped the Golden Arches beat the Street’s consensus. The fast food GOAT is suckling from the teet of budget-conscious diners… that can handle some moderate price increases. Wait, what?

McDonald’s brass (so, Hamburglar) said that despite price hikes in some regions, customers still view it as more affordable than rivals. It probably doesn’t hurt that more affluent consumers are “trading down” to McDonald’s. Shares were up just shy of 2% on the day. (Read)

+ You gotta pump those numbers up… those are rookie numbers in this racket. The Treasury Department said it plans to borrow $776B in its Q4, which seems like a f*ck ton, until you consider its $76B below expectations. So, we’ve got that going for us… (Read​)

+ Welp, this is awkward. After talking sh*t about each other for almost two months, GM and its UAW employees will be back at work together in the coming days. General Motors and the United Auto Workers signed a tentative deal to end a strike. The 4.5 year deal will be similar to Ford and Stellantis’. Think: a 25% pay increase over the term of the contract. (Read)

Here's what I'm keeping an eye on today...

+ AMD, Anheuser-Busch, Amgen, Caesars, Caterpillar, and Pfizer report

+ Consumer confidence report drops

Yesterday I asked Who isn’t a billionaire, but probably deserves to be?

The best answer by far: Bernie Sanders, because he would hate it so much.

Here's today's question...

Some (not many, if we’re being totally honest) Europeans are about to shell out for Facebook and Instagram. So…

What’s something that’s currently free that you’d pay for?

Respond directly to this email and I'll share the best answers tomorrow.

Oh, and one more thing…

Does this look like the face of a guy you should take financial advice from?

No, it’s the face of a God-fearing family man with sh*t-for-brains. So, act accordingly...

This is not financial advice. Nothing in this newsletter is an investment recommendation. All content is created for entertainment, educational, or informational purposes only. Do your own research, or do yourself a favor and hire a professional.