This is CBS, I on the World. I'm John Batchel, the Scholar Report. Go immediately to Chris

Regal, the CEO of Scholar.com, a global technology firm with business on all the major continents,

watching especially the major, major franchises in the United States and globally as to how they're

responding to the news about tariffs possible, inflation possible, trade war possible.

And the most prominent franchise of all that I could name everywhere is Starbucks.

And there's a story in the Financial Times that points to the fact that maybe Starbucks is having

difficulties that are quite different from the assumption that they're making that tariffs make it

impossible for us to plan.

The story goes like this.

Will Starbucks big bet on its baristas pay off?

Wall Street nervous, says the subhead, about biggest human capital investment in the coffee

company's history. What they're talking about is that they're increasing the average staff

at a store from 18 to 23, which may or may not be consistent with profits, but it's seen as a way of

ensuring continuity. Now, continuity means many things. There's a new CEO. It's significant that he is

initiating this plan right now. Brian Nichol is his name. And speaking to 14,000

store managers gathered in the arena in Las Vegas with lots of dancing, I understand, and there

were celebrations and pledges. It's sort of a booster corporation thing. Underneath all this

is the question, what's wrong with Starbucks? What's happened? Chris, a very good evening to you. Thank you for joining. We mentioned recently, as I recall, that Starbucks was having trouble adjusting to the new reality that woke is no longer the trend, that woke is yesterday's news,

and that the Trump administration and the Supreme Court and a number of decisions made in

the interim have indicated that the citizens of America have rights, and that means we're not to be trifled with

by lawlessness in the streets.

I speak generally.

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