Talent Tariff

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Happy Wednesday, Future Party. With Apple’s new AirPods and Meta’s new Ray-Ban Display smartglasses both featuring live language translation, we may be entering an era where anyone can speak to each other… as long as they both have the proper tech. Walt Disney was right: it’s a small world after all.

The White House’s announcement that H-1B visas — used to hire and retain skilled foreign workers — will now cost $100,000 has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley.

Why It Hurts: Most H-1B holders work in tech and science, so those industries will feel the squeeze the most. While many agree the system needed an overhaul, the change risks creating two classes of companies: those that can afford the fees and those that can’t — especially since 30% of H-1B roles pay salaries under $100,000.

Behind The Hires: Currently, H-1B visas cost less than $5,000 total, so the price increase is significant.

The Future: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hopes a $100,000 H-1B fee will encourage companies to more strongly consider hiring Americans. But the new system could have serious consequences.

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan posted on X: “A $100K annual fee won’t bother Big Tech, but it kneecaps startups and body shops the same, and that’s a mistake.” Experts also warn it could backfire — catalyzing US firms to simply hire more remote employees abroad or discouraging foreign companies from setting up shop in America and bringing talent with them… an opening competitors like China could capitalize on.

Prediction: In the future, nearly every new H-1B visa holder will likely work for a major firm… making the visa even more competitive to secure.

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A new study found that NFL fans actively use their smartphones while watching games on TV — not as a distraction, but as a value-add to the experience.

Why It Hits: Everyone uses their phones while watching TV, but the prevailing wisdom has been that they’re engaging with content entirely separate from what’s on screen. New data shows that content — especially live content — is becoming a multi-screen experience, even when unprompted.

Behind The Screen: Horowitz Research found that football fans are fumbling with multiple screens during games.

Some stats from Tubefilter:

Final Score: The surge in second-screen engagement coincides with an overall increase in NFL viewership — live games now average 20.7 million viewers, up 4% from last year. With the league already deeply involved in sports betting and recently naming its first fashion partner, the NFL has endless touchpoints it can leverage for ancillary coverage on the small screen in fans’ hands.

Next Game: The NFL may consider introducing mid-game interactivity features to its app that sync with what’s on TV. That could be the biggest engagement booster of them all.

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78.8% of you voted Yes in yesterday’s poll: Would a brand’s use of recycled textiles ever influence your purchasing decisions?

“I’ve been sending my old, worn-out clothing to Trashie for recycling, so it’ll be pretty cool to buy new clothing made from recycled textiles and ‘close the loop.’”

“I already bought a winter coat made from recycled plastic bottles — it’s a very futuristic, cool jacket. People always compliment it and are shocked it’s recycled material.”

“I don’t buy inexpensive seasonal clothing anymore. I try to purchase timeless pieces because of the impact of processing and disposal. Once I became aware, I became more ecologically conscious — though I still miss those cheap, short-lived pieces.”

“It depends… if it costs more, then no. It also comes down to the quality of the fabric — is it rough? Two different textures?”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our Poll Of The Day newsletter, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

🍿 Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is now the highest-grossing anime movie of all time, scoring $555 million at the box office.

🎥 The big media companies spent a combined $210 billion on content in 2024, led by Comcast/NBCUniversal and YouTube.

🎭 Only 10% of Broadway musicals are profitable right now — 50% fewer than last year.

🛻 TELO, an EV firm that makes small pickup trucks, raised a $20 million Series A round led by co-founder Yves Béhar and Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning.

🏦 Coinbase is looking to create a super app that would replace people’s traditional banks. Your move, X.

🤖 X is raising $10 billion at a $200 billion valuation… highlighting how AI firms must constantly raise capital to stay competitive.

🎽 Nike has finally unveiled the first line of its new partnership with Kim Kardashian, NikeSkims.

🚗 Uber is rolling out prepaid passes for riders who frequently travel the same routes.

🛒 Highsnobiety is shutting down its famous ecommerce store.