Morning Brew ☕️ Profile picture
Mar 8, 2024 11 tweets 3 min read Read on X
1/ Youtuber @MKBHD recently tested Fisker's latest EV and called it the "worst car I've ever reviewed."

The video has picked up 4.3 million views since he posted it and even reached execs at the company.

But things got really weird when Fisker responded. Let's get into it. Image via Auto Focus
2/ Brownlee had initially asked Fisker to give him a vehicle to review, but they kept delaying.

Tired of jumping through hoops, he found a car dealer willing to let him borrow one.
3/ When Fisker found out Brownlee sourced a car from a dealer, it asked that he delay his review until a software update came through.

Brownlee refused, saying "It's not really in my policy to wait on promised future software updates."
4/ He continued with the review, posting it to his account on February 17.

In it, he notes "a lot of weird" choices—including unlabeled buttons, sunroof solar panels you can't monitor, and software glitches with the keyfob, cameras, and more.
5/ Brownlee did give credit to the car's handsome physical design.

But he followed that up by saying "You could give me this car and I wouldn't want to drive it," so the pros were obviously not enough to make up for the cons. Image via Fisker
6/ Fisker had a truly bizarre response.

A Fisker senior engineer called the dealership that loaned Brownlee the car to try to do damage control.
7/ Unaware that they were being recorded, the rep let some things slip.

They admitted that even after the car's new update, Fisker's software "still got some holes in it."

The video recording of the call has 3.6+ million views on TikTok. Image
8/ Fisker's stock has tanked ~50% since Brownlee's video went live.

More people subscribe to Brownlee's YouTube channel than to the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today combined. Image
9/ It's another example of just how influential social media reviewers have become in the product space.

Separately, Fisker announced last week that it may not have money to survive the year.
10/ If you enjoyed this thread, follow us @MorningBrew

We post business breakdowns like this 3x a week.

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More from @MorningBrew

Mar 17
1/ Law school applications are surging, up 20.5% from last year alone.

Schools like Georgetown received 14,000 applications for just 650 spots, making this one of the most competitive years in recent history.

What's causing the jump?

Let's get into it. Image
2/ A weak job market and economic uncertainty are driving many to law school, seeing it as a stable career path.

Even MBA graduates from top schools are struggling to find jobs, adding to the influx of applicants.
3/ AI may be reshaping industries, but law remains relatively resistant to automation, making it an attractive option for those seeking long-term career stability.

But only a fraction of graduates secure those high-paying Big Law positions. Image
Read 12 tweets
Mar 7
1/ Federal agencies have until today to justify their use of 10 major consulting firms.

If they can't prove these firms are mission-critical, their contracts will be cut.

That means putting billions in contracts at risk.

Let's get into it. Image
2/ In an effort to align with the current administration, consulting firms are rebranding.

Accenture is dropping diversity goals, Deloitte is removing pronouns from emails, and IBM is pitching itself as a cost-saving tech provider. Image
3/ But no one is more worried than Booz Allen Hamilton.

The firm gets 98% of its $11 billion revenue from government contracts and is positioned at the cliff's edge right now.

Its stock has already dropped nearly 30% since Trump's election, signaling investor fears. Image
Read 13 tweets
Dec 30, 2024
1/ Older homes in the US are now nearly as expensive as newly built ones thanks to low inventory.

It's a stark contrast from the historical norm, and a trend that shows few signs of slowing down.

Let's get into it. Image
2/ Newly constructed homes are selling for just 3% more than older homes.

That's a significant drop from the average 16% premium seen since 1968, per a WSJ report.
3/ And the number of existing homes for sale fell from 1.7 million in 2019 to 1.1 million in 2024, hitting a near 30-year low.

So what's causing the shortage?
Read 10 tweets
Dec 13, 2024
1/ BuzzFeed had a saving grace this week when it sold "Hot Ones" for $82.5 million.

But will it be enough to save the once high-flying digital publisher from financial collapse?

Let's get into it. Image
2/ "Hot Ones," known for its spicy celebrity interviews, will now operate as a stand-alone company under the ownership of a fund controlled by George Soros.

Host Sean Evans remains an investor, ensuring continuity for fans.
3/ The show has over 14 million YouTube subscribers and 4 billion views.

It even has a cultural presence on shows like SNL and "The Simpsons."
Read 10 tweets
Nov 14, 2024
1/ Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the newly created "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE).

Their goal? To slash $2 trillion from the federal budget, cutting nearly one-third of total spending.

But what exactly might go? Let's get into it. Image
2/ The US spent $6.75 trillion in fiscal year 2024, leading to a deficit.

Of that $6.75 trillion, Social Security, health, and Medicare were the biggest expenditures. Image via Business Insider
3/ Social Security alone accounted for $1.46 trillion, while health and Medicare cost $912 billion and $874 billion, respectively.

Those programs may not need annual approval from Congress but it would take new legislation to change them.
Read 12 tweets
Sep 26, 2024
1/ OpenAI has been non-profit...until now.

The company is considering a shift to for-profit, with Sam Altman getting a 7% equity stake.

So why the change?

Let's get into it. Image
2/ OpenAI was founded as a non-profit.

When asked about his "real motivation" on the All-In Podcast a few months ago, Altman made it clear it wasn't equity he was after. Image
3/ But the tables have turned.

News broke this week that OpenAI is considering a serious restructure as a means of appealing to investors.
Read 12 tweets

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