Happy Saturday,

We just wrapped a wild news week. But here’s the most controversial Q in biz right now: Are women Instacart shoppers better than men? Female TikTokers are going ham over male shoppers messing up their orders. One even said he got 80% of her order wrong. Canola oil as a replacement for herb butter?!

Full Disclosure: We’re a couple guys who pride ourselves on knowing shiitakes from his maitakes. Buttttt, there’s a cultural stereotype that men struggle with grocery shopping. You asked for parsley, I got you spinach—same thing, right?

What do you think—should apps let you pick your shopper’s gender?

BTW: Hit us with a follow on LinkedIn (Nick & Jack) for more text-form Takeaways.

TikTok is scheduled to shut down this Sunday.

Here’s what to expect — and the 2 ways TikTok could still be rescued:

Outcome #1: TikTok shuts down. 😵
The TikTok bill Congress passed requied that ByteDance, TikTok’s owner, sell the app to a non-Chinese buyer for it to continue operating in the US. Well ByteDance refuses, and reportedly plans to shut down the app Sunday morning to show Americans what life is like without TikTok. That’d be a win for Mark Zuckerberg, as Instagram and Facebook are expected to scoop up 40% of TikTok’s user traffic & ad dollars.

Outcome #2: TikTok is rescued. 🍻
The Supreme Court ruled Friday to uphold the TikTok bill. But President Biden reportedly plans to not enforce it his final day in office. And both Donald Trump and members of Congress seem desperate to now save TikTok (even though they all previously wanted it banned). An executive order, a promise not to enforce, or even a new bill from Congress are all possible in the final hours.

Outcome #3: TikTok is sold. 🫰
ByteDance could sell TikTok to an American owner to comply with the bill and avoid the ban. Some American investors are interested in buying, but Elon Musk would be the wild card given his close relationship with both Trump and China (plus he can single-handedly afford it). Picture Elon merging TikTok with X. The result? One app to rule them all.

The latest development: TikTok’s CEO, Shoe Zhi, will attend Trump’s inauguration Monday with a VIP seat — fueling speculation that a deal may be in the works to prevent the ban.

Meanwhile? Americans are furiously swiping their favorite app while others are flocking to learn Chinese on Duolingo — Mandarin lessons spiked 216% this week… because the leading TikTok replacement app Red Note is all in Chinese.

The Takeaway:

• Zuckerberg wants TikTok banned (Outcome #1). 

• ByteDance wants TikTok saved (Outcome #2).

• Elon wants TikTok sold (Outcome #3).

T-24 hours to TikTok’s D-Day. 

The Red No. 3 Ban is 40 Years Late - and it’s a Big Business Paradox

Here’s the tea (or should we say cherry-flavored daquiri?): Red 3, an artificial coloring found in treats like candy corn, maraschino cherries, and candy hearts, was shown to cause thyroid cancer in rats 40 years ago. Yet somehow, it stayed in our food until… now. The FDA ruled this week to ban Red 3 in foods/beverages starting in 2027.

Why the holdup?

1. 💼 Lobbying power: Industry groups like the International Association of Color Manufacturers (real thing) advocated hard to keep Red 3 in your Easter candy.

2. 🏛️ Regulatory gaps: The FDA doesn’t have a solid process to revisit old approvals—even when new science shows, “Hey, this causes cancer.”

The craziest part? The FDA’s own Delaney Clause prohibits anything that causes cancer in animals from being served to humans. Red No. 3 blatantly violated this rule, but since cherry Jell-O tastes good and looks fun, it’s still in foods we eat today.

The Takeaway:

This highlights the difference between deregulation and fixing regulation. Cutting rules is simple. Reforming outdated systems to actually protect people is complex—but essential.

Trickshots:

Pre-Baby Planning? Jack’s countdown to baby No. 3 is officially at T-6 weeks. He’s got a tradition: While Alex (aka mom of almost 3) catches some Z’s, Jack binge-watches an entire series with the newborn on his lap. Baby 1: The Mandalorian. Baby 2: The Last of Us. Got a must-watch suggestion for Baby 3? Drop it in the replies—Severance is the front runner, but the remote’s still up for grabs.

For Mid-Winter Blues? Try night skiing. Jack hit the slopes Wednesday after recording the show, guided by nothing but a full moon and his studly headlamp.

Birthday hacks? Nick finally has his 4-quarter bday (his real birthday) next week. Now he’s planning a b’day party at spot in San Francisco with a pizza-making bar… but hit us up with any other good SF party restaurant recs.

Tell a Bestie:

These are stories from our “Headline Hammer”

• 📘 A Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver made this self-help book a best-seller.

• 🎯 Hinge’s new feature says your response is basic or not

• 📉 MBAs are struggling to get jobs in this economy

• 🚒 State Farm canceled its Super Bowl ad to focus on LA fire victims

• 🎭 Ben Stiller & Severance’s wild “pop-up” stunt in Grand Central Station

The Best Idea Yet 🥜 

Did ya know Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup was invented by a frog salesman…. and invented by accident?? It’s the latest episode of our deep dive series, The Best Idea Yet.

Listen to the untold origin stories of the products you’re obsessed with… New 45-minute episodes drop every Tuesday… it’s simply The Best Idea Yet.

And one more thing. To our LA Besties & Yetis, we’re sending hugs and thinking of ya - and we know you’ll get through this bigger and brighter than ever, just like Los Angeles always does ✨🫶

— Nick & Jack