David Lidsky's Blog, page 188

China’s new EVs can charge in 5 minutes

The tech inside BYD’s new electric SUV is far ahead of the rest of the world.

Filling an empty gas tank in an SUV might take five or six minutes. A new electric SUV from China’s BYD can charge its battery in roughly the same amount of time, using one of the company’s new EV chargers.

These tech companies are building healthier social media habits for kids

At a time when it’s becoming increasingly difficult to log off, these companies are building better, healthier technology for kids before they’re old enough to form bad habits.

The last year has seen a global reckoning with the effects of social media on kids. Australia banned children younger than 16 from using social media platform. Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation became one of the most purchased books of 2024. And former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for these platforms to create warning labels akin to those on tobacco products. 

Trump is dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Here’s what it does

The IMLS provides financial support to a wide array of cultural and educational institutions, including art, science, and history museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and historic sites.

On March 14, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order that called for the dismantling of seven federal agencies “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” They ranged from the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, to the Minority Business Development Agency.

This wellness app is like TikTok for your feelings

Social wellness app Exist is turning private journaling into a communal experience—and it’s resonating most with 40-somethings.

Would you share the pages of your journal with a bunch of strangers, because that’s the idea behind social wellness app Exist. 

42 housing markets see home prices fall. Is a bigger shift coming?

Among the 300 largest metro-area housing markets, 42 are seeing falling home prices on a year-over-year basis, according to ResiClub’s monthly analysis.

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter.

How brands can learn to tap into the power of fandoms

At the Fast Company Grill at SXSW, execs from Weverse, Crunchyroll, and Wattpad/Webtoon spoke about how their companies cultivate and serve their diehard fandoms—and how you can apply that approach to your customers.

Cultivating a loyal fan base is every brand’s dream. So why not take a page out of the book of companies that have made fandom the foundation of their business? 

Klarna’s deal with DoorDash is a dystopian reminder that groceries are so expensive you need a loan to shop

The deal will allow DoorDash users to pay for their food in installments—a bleak reminder that the U.S. cost of living is only getting more prohibitive.

DoorDash just penned a deal with Klarna that will let you pay for your take-out burrito in installments.

Why these business leaders center culture at the core of their companies

At the Fast Company Grill at SXSW, executives from Minnetonka, Mabï Artisanal Tea and Issei Mochi Gummies shared why they place culture at the core of their companies.

As the Trump administration continues to wage war against diversity, equity and inclusion programs, many business leaders have had to grapple with either standing firm in their previously stated DEI goals or abandon them and face consumer backlash.

Recession-proof your finances with these 5 steps before the economy tanks

Between mass layoffs, escalating trade wars, and high grocery prices, the possibility of a recession feels likely. Here’s how to minimize the impact on your finances.

If you watch any economic news, you’ve probably seen economists biting their nails while raising the alarm about the dreaded “R-word”: recession.

Suffering from loneliness? These businesses may have a cure

At the Fast Company Grill at SXSW, the founders of Pie, Mozi, and Ghia explained how we need to rethink the ways we socialize.

Loneliness isn’t just a lingering by-product of COVID lockdowns—it’s a public health crisis. The impacts of social isolation are said to be as detrimental to human health as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, according to former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease and strokes by roughly 30%, and dementia by about 50%.