The Fault In Our Stars
Thursday, February 13th, 2025
World Events — Trump Talks With Putin
The Economists
On February 12, 2025, President Donald Trump initiated “immediate” talks with Vladimir Putin on Ukraine, a move that sent ripples of anxiety through Kyiv and European capitals. Without prior coordination with Ukraine, Trump's phone call with Putin and subsequent announcement of potential in-person negotiations in Saudi Arabia fueled fears of U.S. abandonment among Ukraine and its European supporters. This unilateral approach deviated from previous policies of ensuring Ukrainian involvement in discussions about its future, raising concerns that Trump might make concessions to Putin without securing tangible returns. While Trump administration officials have been dispatched to Europe, the president's direct engagement with Putin has sparked worries about the potential normalization of relations with Russia absent meaningful concessions, and about the implications for Ukraine's territorial integrity and security guarantees.
Tech — Reddit User Growth Slows
Bloomberg
Reddit shares tumbled by more than 18% in after-hours trading on February 12, 2025, following the company's fourth-quarter earnings report that revealed slower-than-expected user growth. The social media platform averaged 101.7 million daily active unique visitors, falling short of analysts' projections of 103.8 million. CEO Steve Huffman attributed this slowdown to changes in Google's search algorithm, which significantly impacted Reddit's traffic, as Google has historically accounted for up to 50% of the site's daily visits. Despite the user growth setback, Reddit reported a 71% increase in quarterly revenue to $427.7 million, surpassing expectations. The company is diversifying its revenue streams through data-licensing agreements with AI companies, having signed deals worth $203 million with partners like Google and OpenAI in the previous year. As Reddit continues to invest in advertising technology and its own AI capabilities, it faces challenges in reducing its dependence on search engines and large language models for traffic and growth.
Economics — Inflation Back in Focus
Bloomberg
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, testifying before the House Financial Services Committee on February 12, 2025, emphasized that while significant progress has been made in taming inflation, the central bank still has more work to do. Powell stated that inflation was 2.6% last year, indicating substantial improvement, but noted that the Fed's goal has not yet been fully achieved. The latest consumer price data, showing higher-than-expected inflation in January, reinforced the Fed's cautious stance. Powell stressed the need to maintain restrictive monetary policy for now, suggesting that interest rates will remain elevated in the near future. This approach aligns with the Fed's commitment to bringing inflation closer to its 2% target, despite calls from President Donald Trump for lower interest rates. Powell also addressed potential complications arising from Trump's proposed policies on tariffs, taxes, and immigration, stating that the Fed would assess their effects before considering any policy adjustments.
Health — The Let Them Theory
Very Well Mind
According to an article by Ariane Resnick, CNC, published on January 31, 2025, the “Let Them Theory,” popularized by Mel Robbins, promotes mental wellness and healthier relationships by encouraging individuals to relinquish the need to control others' opinions, actions, and life choices. The theory suggests that by accepting the limitations of influencing others and divesting from the need to control external factors, individuals can reduce stress, frustration, and emotional exhaustion, fostering a more adaptable and resilient approach to life. Implementing this involves emotional awareness, self-reflection, active listening, setting boundaries, and trusting others to make their own decisions, even if those decisions don't align with one's own expectations. While challenges such as cultural expectations, personal insecurities, and lack of trust may arise, the potential benefits include improved relationships built on trust and authenticity, enhanced personal well-being with a greater sense of calm, and the freedom to focus on one's own needs and interests, ultimately leading to a more fulfilled life.
Baking — Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake
This easy blueberry coffee cake, boasting a moist crumb and sweet streusel topping, is delicious any time of day. While traditionally enjoyed for breakfast or brunch, it's equally satisfying as a dessert, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Feel free to experiment by replacing the blueberries with fresh or frozen raspberries for a delightful variation.
Eating Well
Song Rec — Luther (Kendrick Lamar, SZA)
Quote of the Day
“There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There's .1 and .12 and .112 and an infinite collection of others. Of course, there is a bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.” — John Green, The Fault In Our Stars
