Good morning. In this edition:

• 🤔 Capitalism v. socialism
• 🍔 Worst junk foods, per science
• 🚫 60 hours without sleep

…and much more.

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~3.82-minute read (1,015 words).

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“Try all things, hold fast that which is good.”

–John Locke (1632-1704)

The number of Americans who say they’re disillusioned with capitalism has grown to reach new all-time highs in recent years.

At the same time, views on socialism are on the upswing across the country, driven mostly by support from Democrats and younger Americans, according to new public polling.

It comes as many high-profile Democratic officials—like Bernie Sanders, AOC, NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, etc.—have identified themselves as Democratic socialists.

• This specific form of socialism lacks a clear singular definition, but in the US it generally means wanting elected leaders to shift power from corporations to workers. (More: What do the economic -isms mean?)

By the numbers

Just 54% of Americans today view capitalism favorably, down from 60% in 2021 and the lowest figure since at least 2010. Meanwhile, a record-tying 39% of Americans hold favorable views of socialism, up slightly from 2021, according to Gallup.

The partisan differences are stark:

• Far more Republicans support capitalism compared to Democrats (74% R | 51% I | 42% D)...
• …while the opposite is true for supporting socialism (66% D | 38% I | 14% R).

When it comes to US universities, socialism is significantly more popular than capitalism, highlighting college students' mostly left-leaning politics. 67% of students say they hold a positive or neutral association with the word "socialism," compared with 40% for "capitalism," per a new Axios-Generation Lab survey.

Driving the trend

Many younger Americans and Democrats say their increasingly negative views on capitalism—and corresponding openness to socialism—are fueled by massive wealth inequality, rising costs for essentials (like housing/healthcare), and the growing influence of billionaires in politics, tech, and media under America’s current economic system.

However…Opponents of socialism, which includes a majority of US voters, argue that this economic system consistently fails because it removes or weakens market incentives—like profit and private ownership—that help drive economic efficiency, innovation, and growth.

• They cite a range of historical and current examples like the Soviet Union, Cuba, and North Korea, where bureaucracy and mismanagement largely replaced competition and progress.

Bottom line: While younger Americans and Democratic voters may be warming to socialism, the ideology remains toxic to most Republicans and many independents, making it difficult for socialists to win any elections outside of left-leaning districts.

📊 Flash poll: In general, how would you best describe your opinion of capitalism?

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative

While coaches and consultants scramble for clients, Amanda Northcutt built a multi-million-dollar business in 18 months with zero funding. Her secret? She stopped selling one-time projects and started charging monthly for ongoing outcomes.

Travis Chappell's Make More Money Newsletter recently discussed Amanda's recurring revenue approach. Each edition covers wealth-building insights from successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders he's interviewed.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 🛢️ OPEC+ agrees to slightly boost oil production next month but signals pause in future output increases; move follows a month of turmoil in the oil market, with prices falling to a near-five-year-low amid overproduction concerns.
• 🚗 China to begin easing its export ban on chips vital to the production of cars across the world as part of US-China trade deal struck last week.
• 📊 What investors learned from recent tech earnings (in charts).

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🏆 Los Angeles Dodgers win World Series in an instant-classic Game 7 over the Toronto Blue Jays; SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named WS MVP with three of the Dodgers' four wins; LA is the first repeat WS champ since the NY Yankees from 1998-2000.
• 🤖 AI-created R&B singer, named Xania Monet, becomes the “first known AI artist to earn enough radio airplay to debut on a Billboard radio chart,” per the music company.
• 🏟️ CFB: Week 10 is in the books (recap). | NFL: See a full Week 9 recap (link). | YouTubeTV pulled ABC, ESPN, and other Disney-owned networks from its service amid an ongoing carriage dispute; outage still remains hours ahead of Monday Night Football.

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SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

• 🦠 MIT scientists develop new nanoparticles to fight ovarian cancer that eliminated 80+% of metastatic tumors in new study.
• 📸 Getty Images signs multiyear licensing deal with Perplexity AI that allows the startup’s tools to use content from Getty.
• 🍔 New research ranks which junk foods are the absolute worst for your health.

US, WORLD & POLITICS

• ✈️ Major airports across the US experienced delays related to staffing shortages yesterday; it came one day after air traffic controllers miss first full paychecks due to ongoing gov’t shutdown.
• 🧑‍⚖️ Two federal judges separately order the Trump admin to continue funding SNAP benefits (aka food stamps) during the government shutdown; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said SNAP benefits could resume Wednesday.
• 🏛️ Trump called for Republicans to “initiate the ‘nuclear option’” and eliminate the Senate filibuster; such a move would allow GOP senators to pass legislation—like a bill to fund the gov’t and end the shutdown—with 50 votes instead of 60. | Trump threatened to end all aid to Nigeria and ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in the country, citing alleged attacks on its Christian population.

☝️ Egypt hosted dozens of world leaders on Saturday for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, a ~$1B tribute to Ancient Egypt two decades in the making. Spanning over 5 million square feet and displaying 50,000+ historical artifacts, GEM is the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization.

🤔 Did you know? Bamboo holds the title of the world’s fastest-growing plant. One species can sprout up to 35 inches in a single day, and reach full maturity in just three months. Or in other words: pandas basically have an all-you-can-eat snack buffet.

📰 Worth a read: In 1925, seven students went 60 hours without sleep—for science

🖱️ What we’re clicking:

• 8 everyday sayings with bizarre origins
• AI researchers ’embodied’ an LLM into a robot—and it started channeling Robin Williams
• I've studied over 200 kids: These 7 'magic phrases' can calm any tantrum instantly

Built-in hangers in a carry-on? Yes, please… Luhxe holds 14 days of outfits wrinkle-free, plus 5 pairs of shoes in airline-approved size. Skip fees, skip baggage claim. Fall special: Save $100 on Luhxe here.

Yesterday we covered how President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a trade truce during a high-stakes summit in South Korea early yesterday morning, in a deal that de-escalates recent tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

❓ Our question to you: At the present time, which nation do you feel is stronger in terms of combined economic and military power: the US, or China?

• United States: 35%
• China: 46%
• Unsure/other: 19%

Click here to read some of the most thoughtful longform responses.

+Note on sample size: We received 832 votes and 70 longform responses.

Monday: College basketball season tips off (men’s and women’s)

Tuesday: All’s Fair starring Kim K and Naomi Watts hits Hulu

Wednesday: ADP’s private-sector jobs report for October

Thursday: National Men Make Dinner Day

Friday: Predator: Badlands and Nuremberg both hit theaters; University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index; Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) returns with Pluribus on Apple TV

Guess the definitions of the following Greek/Latin root words:

1. Chore
2. Frig
3. Itiner
4. Migr
5. Burs

🦾 Elementary School Teacher Scott Johnson used a 3D printer, a couple of screws, fishing line, and small rubber bands to build a custom prosthetic hand for one of his students. The entire system costs just $20-$30, and any damaged or broken parts can be replaced via 3D-printer

1. Chore = Relating to dance (e.g., choreography)
2. Frig = Cold (frigid)
3. Itiner = Route (itinerary)
4. Migr = Wander (migrate)
5. Burs = Purse (bursary)

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