Joining me now, we have Megan Hayes, former special assistant to President Biden and former director of message planning for the Biden administration. So, Democrats have high hopes for the midterm elections, especially with what they see as ammunition from this big policy bill. Senator Chuck Schumer are saying that it boosted Democrats chances of taking back the Senate.So, what is the message they need to focus on. And how should they go about countering Republican push back. I think they've been doing a re ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco Wholesale has significantly outperformed the broader market, with a 200% increase in stock price over the last five years, doubling the S&P 500's return during the same period [1] Group 1: Sales Growth and Opportunities - Costco's sales have accelerated post-pandemic, with annualized revenue growth of about 11% from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2024, compared to 8% from fiscal 2010 to 2019 [2] - The company has substantial growth opportunities in e-commerce and non-food sales, with e-commerce sales increasing nearly 16% year over year last quarter [6][7] - Costco's competitive advantage lies in its membership model, with nearly 80 million paying households, allowing it to offer low prices and continue expanding [4] Group 2: Expansion Plans - As of the recent quarter, Costco operates 914 warehouses globally, with plans to open 24 new locations in high-quality markets such as Sweden, Japan, South Korea, and Canada [5] - The company is experiencing double-digit sales growth in various non-food categories, including jewelry, toys, and home goods, indicating strong demand for diverse product offerings [8] Group 3: Valuation Concerns - Costco's stock trades at a high earnings multiple of 54 times forward earnings, significantly above the S&P 500's forward P/E ratio of 26 [9] - The current P/E ratio is also above Costco's five-year average of 44, raising concerns about the sustainability of such a high valuation given the slowing sales momentum in e-commerce and non-food sales [10][11] - Analysts expect long-term earnings growth at an annualized rate of 9%, which may not justify the current high P/E, potentially leading to disappointing returns for investors [11][12]

Core Insights - The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has committed up to US$3 million in non-dilutive, interest-free funding for the Banio potash project in Gabon, marking a significant milestone for the company [1][2][4] - This funding is aimed at mitigating geopolitical and financial risks associated with the project, particularly in the context of West Africa [3][4] - The project aligns with global trends in potash demand, as Africa currently relies on imports despite being a major consumer [5][6] Funding and Risk Mitigation - The DFC funding is structured as a loan without interest payments or collateral, allowing the company to repay only when raising funds for construction [2][3] - The backing from DFC enhances the project's credibility and reduces risks in a region where Gabon is considered stable [3][4] - Future funding from DFC could support construction, indicating a long-term commitment to the project [4] Market Position and Demand - Approximately 70-75% of global potash supply comes from Canada, Russia, and Belarus, highlighting the potential for African production to meet local demand [5][6] - The company aims to become the first African potash producer within the next 2-3 years, addressing the continent's growing consumption needs [6][7] Economic Viability and Infrastructure - The project is expected to have one of the lowest cost structures globally, bolstered by strong government support [7][8] - The coastal location of the project facilitates easier logistics compared to inland potash basins, enhancing its economic viability [9][10] Geological and Technical Developments - Recent drilling results have strengthened the geological profile of the project, with a revised technical report expected to expand the resource estimate significantly [11][12] - The company has indicated a resource of 1.7 billion tonnes, covering less than 5% of the property, suggesting substantial upside potential [12] - The DFC funding will enable the company to proceed with feasibility studies and environmental assessments without delays, aiming to apply for a mining permit by mid-next year [13]

Investment Strategy - Long-term success requires prioritizing essential needs before pursuing desires [1] - Investment should focus on infrastructure, food security, energy security, and defense [1] Macroeconomic Perspective - The pyramid of needs concept applies to nations, highlighting the importance of basic necessities [1]

Group 1 - Sodexo is a global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences, founded in 1966 in Marseille by Pierre Bellon [2] - The company operates in two main sectors: Food and Facilities Management Services, aiming to improve quality of life and contribute to social and environmental progress [2] - As of June 30, 2025, Sodexo's market capitalization was €7.7 billion [7] Group 2 - For the first semester of 2025, Sodexo traded 412,920 shares for €26,508,699 and sold 353,779 shares for €22,872,331 [1] - As of December 31, 2024, the liquidity account had bought 359,601 shares for €28,862,832 and sold 363,244 shares for €29,334,581 [1] - The company had 423,000 employees as of August 31, 2024, and served 80 million consumers daily [7]

Core Insights - N2OFF, Inc. has completed a $2.7 million investment for the development of two Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Sicily, Italy, each with a capacity of 98MWp/392MWh [1][3] - The combined capacity of the BESS projects is approximately 196 MWp, valued at up to $13.5 million based on an estimate of $70,000 per MW [2][3] - The projects are designed to enhance grid stability and have secured preliminary grid connection approvals from Terna SpA, with expectations to achieve Ready-to-Build (RTB) status within 18-24 months [3][4] Company Overview - N2OFF, Inc. is a cleantech company focused on sustainable energy solutions and "Agrifood" tech, recently entering the solar market and funding various projects in the EU [5] - The company has invested over $1.2 million in its 70%-owned Italian subsidiary, which is involved in the BESS projects [1][5] - N2OFF's majority-owned Israeli subsidiary, Save Foods Ltd., focuses on post-harvest treatments for fruits and vegetables to prevent pathogen contamination [5] Market Context - Italy's solar market is experiencing strong growth, supported by government incentives and increasing public awareness of sustainability [4] - Solar electricity generation in Italy is projected to reach 36.47 billion kWh in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 6.86% from 2025-2029 [4] - Italy aims for 52 GW of solar capacity by 2030 and 74.6% renewable electricity by 2050 [4]

Market Impact - China's food-delivery market battle has erased $100 billion (1000 亿) in market value from Alibaba [1] - The protracted battle shows no signs of abating, continuing to negatively impact profits and investor confidence [1]

As food costs climb in the US, a supermarket model with government at the center is moving from an idea to policy experiment.Will Zohran Mamdani manage to deliver at a NYC-scale of an estimated population of 8.5 million? https://t.co/ZIL6RV4EWK ...

You'd mentioned that you were concerned about the rise in measles cases. You attributed that to vac vaccine skepticism. How do you reconcile that with your vote for RFK as the head of health and human services.Well, first let's note that RFK has come out and told people that they should be vaccinated. So that's easily reconcilable. He is now saying people should be vaccinated for measles.But I'll also note some positive things that the secretary has done. People were very concerned about ultrarocessed food ...

Facility Conditions & Treatment - Reports indicate poor conditions within the Florida immigration detention center "Alligator Alcatraz," including complaints of large mosquitoes, inadequate access to showers, and substandard food [1][3] - Detainees have allegedly complained about lack of running water, medication, and worms in their food [9] - Concerns raised regarding extreme temperatures inside the facility [3] Access to Legal Counsel - Detainees are reportedly facing difficulties in accessing immigration attorneys, which is atypical for ICE detention facilities [4][5] Transparency & Accountability - There are suspicions that the facility is being sanitized before official visits, preventing a true representation of the conditions [6][10] - Doubts expressed about the accuracy of information released by the Florida Department of Emergency Management regarding the facility's operations [9][10] Detainee Demographics - Claims that detainees are "the worst of the worst" are disputed, with reports suggesting that individuals were apprehended from their jobs, streets, or court appearances [11][12][13] Communication & Tracking - Relatives are experiencing difficulties tracking detainees within the state-run facility, as standard ICE tracking methods are not applicable [15][16] - Communication with detainees is limited to brief phone calls, hindering information flow [15]