
- __[Popcorn](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/5UsR9CJqj5w4UCSqDJZdp7/articles/7dL53WKkpyqfvZJO0amHD9/):__ __[AMC](https://robinhood.com/stocks/AMC)__ debuted a loyalty program for individual investors (feat. free popcorn), as shares soared. It's catering to the retail investor.
- __[Blue](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/jF3LIog2WHKh7zqo33DuG/articles/2QKrMaJaf3KxzRpKyGkYbA/):__ __[Twitter](https://robinhood.com/stocks/TWTR)__ launched its first subscription service,  "Twitter Blue," for ~$3/month — but will people pay for social?


ICYMI

Highlights from last week...

__Dream on...__ This month marks the 90th anniversary of the American Dream — or at least, when the term was first [coined](https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/happy-anniversary-american-dream). Historian James Truslow Adams described it as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." Ninety years later, thousands of Snackers told us whether they think the American Dream is still alive. 

- __The TLDR:__ It was 50-50. Most of you think the American Dream is  alive, but some think it's dying — and some think it's dead, but could return.
- __The core of the Dream:__ 26% said  financial freedom, 17% said  equal opportunity, and 40% said  a combo of those plus material ownership and racial equity.
- __Key to achieving the Dream:__ 40% said hard work, and 43% said a combo of hard work, luck, and privilege.

__Lay down the stats...__ Generations of Americans have climbed the economic ladder for [decades](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/09/social-mobility-upwards-decline-usa-us-america-economics/#:~:text=For%20decades%2C%20a%20majority%20of,harder%20to%20make%20this%20ascent.), but there are signs that economic mobility is waning. The fraction of Americans who earn more than their parents has shrunk from 90% of those born in the 1940s to 50% of those born in the 1980s. Income inequality in the US has been rising for decades, and is [wider](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/bg6FaCgu8qc8z1Zllmofx/articles/3ZVsKmCRQNLUOSaAVHfNJi/) between Black and white Americans.  

__In your words...__ We asked what the American Dream means to you today:

- *“The ability to move above the station you were born in life through hard work and perseverance.”*
- *"To fail and have continuous opportunity to get back on our feet regardless of discrimination."*
- *“Filling up my gas tank without checking my bank balance first.”*
- *"Exists because people are still willing to do anything to get to America."*


_What Snackers said the American Dream means to them_

__The dream is what you make of it...__ For some, it aligns with Adams' first description: *opportunity* to succeed, regardless of your background.  For others, it's a lie. And for some, it's changing: thanks to stimulus spending, US households have saved [$2T](https://www.wsj.com/articles/consumer-spending-personal-income-april-2021-11622154969) more than they would have normally. In April, US household income was [11%](https://www.wsj.com/articles/consumer-spending-personal-income-april-2021-11622154969) higher than *pre*-pandemic levels. Biden's presidency could further shape this trajectory, with trillions in proposed spending on social initiatives. 

Is the American Dream still alive? We're diving into your answers

__What do you meme?...__ __[GameStop](https://robinhood.com/stocks/GME)__ reports on Wednesday. ICYMI: GameStop shares have soared 1,400% this year as retail traders [rallied](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/6jwYdiy4al8n5v0GOdIik/articles/3BaPiKzHQyiMoyxvpIyqNG/) around the money-losing video game company. Some are bullish about its new, ecomm-savvy board. But annual sales have fallen each year since 2017. In April, GameStop raised $551M by [selling](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/26/gamestop-shares-jump-after-the-reddit-favorite-raises-more-than-500-million-in-stock-sales.html) new shares and said its CEO is stepping down. Investors will likely be watching for signs of ecommerce progress.

__After Cream of Mushroom Monday...__ and Tomato Bisque Tuesday: __[Campbell Soup](https://robinhood.com/stocks/CPB)__ serves up earnings on Wednesday. The canned soup legend [thrived](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/7oqsnC8zl2TBCc1NByeQF1/articles/3CS1ynDs6oVhxFPNtQOv9I/) early in the pandemic, as people stocked up on Campbell classics like Snyder's pretzels and Goldfish. After nearly a decade of falling sales, Campbell's soup sales started *growing* again. But growth has slowed as we return to a lifestyle that involves *less* can-hoarding. Campbell is trying to keep momentum going with Millennial-friendly recipes — we'll see if it's succeeding.


Events

Coming up this week...

__Recovery is chugging along...__ Jobless claims [fell](https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stock-markets-dow-update-05-27-2021-11622100790?mod=markets_lead_pos1) to a new pandemic low, and wages are [growing](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/03/business/economy/wage-growth-pandemic.html).  On the flip side: prices are rising faster than expected as the US economy revs up and shortages abound. Prime example: Ubers are getting [pricier](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/7E0Xgqi9nVw0CWQRdC3lvE/articles/4mDChkIDEAYryjE2WU9OBa/) (and they're always 24 minutes away). Companies are struggling to bring workers back, since  42% of people on enhanced unemployment earn more than they did at their jobs. 

__Crypto ransoms intensify...__ Cyber attacks are continuing to target critical infrastructure. Last week, Earth's largest meat producer was [forced](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/5UsR9CJqj5w4UCSqDJZdp7/articles/4fnXenwFLWyEzrp3u1OJl0/) to shut beef plants after a ransomware attack. Last month, the US' largest fuel pipeline was also [hit](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/4G8N3WpBgRoMSpXHAML44t/articles/v7Ixe754ezFPvMk4gSHBw/)  — and paid $4.4M in Bitcoin to reclaim its systems. Experts believe Russia is funding "[the ransomware plague](https://www.axios.com/ransomware-industry-jbs-colonial-1c7594e5-31e5-4c05-b74c-45a040413cb2.html)." We'll be looking to see if the US government takes a stronger stance. President Biden meets with Russian president Putin next week.


Highlights from last week...

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