Newsletter | The Change Optimist

Weekly newsletter posts

Newsletter

Jun 21, 2026

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6 min read

Sovereign Truck Fund

While doing my regular weekly research, I came to an unlikely conclusion. Canada needs a federally funded Super Duty truck project. Let’s call it a “Sovereign Truck Fund”.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Jun 14, 2026

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6 min read

Twelve Zeros

The SpaceX IPO made Elon a trillionaire. Will we live to regret that?

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Jun 7, 2026

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6 min read

Who The F#$k Is Foxconn

Foxconn has been working up to this moment for over 20 years.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

May 31, 2026

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5 min read

A Ferrari For Every Ferrarista

You don't need to like the Ferrari Luce because Ferrari didn't make it for you.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

The Change Optimist: Weekly News Roundup

May 24, 2026

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4 min read

The Change Optimist: Weekly News Roundup

SpaceX launches Starship V3, Oil prices settle higher, Waymo suspended freeway service

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

May 24, 2026

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4 min read

Ramming Speed

Stellantis unveiled FaSTLAne 2030, its €60 billion, five-year strategic plan to accelerate growth and profit

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

May 17, 2026

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4 min read

The New Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI EV

Volkswagen announces the new ID. Polo GTI EV, Elon says OpenAI should go to his kids, Ford gets energized.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

May 17, 2026

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2 min read

Hello Bruce

The world’s largest Nuclear Power plant runs quietly along the shores of Lake Huron and is getting ready for expansion.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

May 10, 2026

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3 min read

Geely Says, "Oh, Canada!"

Geely starts shipments to Canada. Cadillac sells a lot of EVs. Solid-state batteries go prime time.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

May 10, 2026

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2 min read

I Donut Believe

Where are we at with Solid State Batteries in 2026?

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

May 3, 2026

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4 min read

The Change Optimist: Weekly News Roundup

A judge tells Elon to cool it on the robot apocalypse talk

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

May 3, 2026

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2 min read

Nearly Un-Li-mited

The US Geological Survey just found enough Lithium (Li) to replace 328 years of imports. And that’s the small deposit.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Apr 26, 2026

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5 min read

The Change Optimist: Weekly News Roundup

There was so much to talk about this week, I broke it into two pieces.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

The Uncomfortable Answer To The Uncomfortable Question

Apr 26, 2026

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6 min read

The Uncomfortable Answer To The Uncomfortable Question

Why are Chinese electric vehicles so affordable?

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Apr 19, 2026

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6 min read

Out Of Left Field

Doug Field might be the king of the boomerang.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Apr 12, 2026

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13 min read

Putting Fewer Volks Into Fewer Wagons

Rest in peace ID.4, we hardly got to know you.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Apr 5, 2026

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15 min read

The Donald Was Right

I can admit when I'm wrong.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Mar 29, 2026

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13 min read

Food Security Falters

Global food security is currently experiencing a severe, multi-year decline, with millions of people facing crisis-level hunger or worse in 2026.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Mar 22, 2026

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13 min read

When Will TOPS Beat MPH

Someday, we might measure vehicle performance in terms of "Trillions of Operations Per Second” rather than physical speed. Maybe we’re already there.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Mar 15, 2026

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15 min read

Straight Outta Hormuz

The world's most important oil chokepoint is effectively choked.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Mar 8, 2026

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15 min read

Within Range

Cars with 1,000 KM range are now within reach.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Mar 1, 2026

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15 min read

Maybe We Need To Recall Recalls

Increasingly, recalls are related to software. They’re bugs, not recalls. We’re using the wrong language.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Feb 22, 2026

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14 min read

Emergency Over?

If only The Donald loved Melania the way he loves Tariffs

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Feb 15, 2026

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13 min read

American Idiots

History won't be kind to Lee Zeldin.

Mathew Growden

Newsletter

Feb 8, 2026

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15 min read

The Beginning Of The End

The automotive industry is reshaping itself in, around, and outside of the United States.

Mathew Growden