| Perhaps frustrated farmers could take a page out of the Czech Motorists Party’s playbook and stand up to the powers that be. Lionel Laurent says the party is on the brink of securing 13 seats in Prague, an impressive feat considering “Motoristé Sobě” — which translates to “Motorists for Themselves” — didn’t exist until three years ago. The party’s sole focus is evident in its name: They want to drive! And they can’t do that so easily with all the bicycle paths cropping up in Prague. “Its four-wheels-good message has clearly resonated in the car-heavy land of Skoda, where fossil fuels drive the energy mix and the economy is a key cog in Das Auto’s supply chain,” he writes. Although the party’s slogan — “car, coal and the (Czech) crown” — may raise some eyebrows, Lionel says the movement should be a wake-up call for progressives who have previously written off the power of road rage. “The Motorists are also evidence of a growing gender divide, mixing anti-green and pro-car policies with identity and culture wars in a post-MAGA world.” Read the whole thing. Nike, Elf Beauty, Walmart, Primark and many other retailers have made the tough choice to raise prices after tariffs. But shoppers aren’t powerless in the face of price hikes, argues Andrea Felsted. “Soaring costs for gas and groceries in 2022 taught them ways to cope. In retail parlance, this is known as ‘dialing out’ inflation; to everyone else it’s savvy shopping. And Americans are very good at it.” We shop for dupes. We buy in bulk. We seek out generic labels. “When it comes to the holidays, that could mean avoiding products with the highest tariff exposure,” Andrea writes. I guess that Bonne Maman Advent calendar will have to wait until 2026 ...  Meanwhile in China, everyone is staring at mountains of uneaten mooncakes in a post-Mid-Autumn Festival daze. The funny thing about the holiday treat is that “the packaging is often far more prized than the pastry itself, whose sickly-sweet richness tends to get mixed reviews,” writes David Fickling. “Regulations introduced in 2022 forbade packaging made of expensive materials such as precious metals or rosewood, banned fancy fillings such as shark fin and bird nest, and warned of inspections for products costing more than 500 yuan ($70),” he says. But loopholes have led to a boom in exports from Hong Kong to the mainland. “Though plastic is far from a prestige material for the exterior of mooncake giftboxes, it’s still almost indispensable for the pouches, trays and silica sachets used to keep their contents fresh,” he writes. $100,000 H-1B visa fees are a distraction from real reform. — Bloomberg editorial board The AI bubble will crash, but the crash probably won’t be like 2008. — Bill Dudley Putin is taking the hybrid warfare tactics he uses on land to sea. — James Stavridis HSBC shareholders are not happy with this Hong Kong real estate deal. — Shuli Ren European companies that list in the US are more radical than you think. — Chris Hughes Will anti-woke comedians recover from the Riyadh Comedy Festival? — Jason Bailey New tax brackets for 2026 just dropped. Gold’s rally is helping China challenge Trump. Texas halts the execution of a death row inmate. Barron Trump is tipped for a top job at TikTok. More veggie burger drama in the EU. Rachel Sennott is booked and busy. Angel Reese is walking the runway. Happy moldy cheese day, freaks! Leave the leaves in your yard. | 
