Extra, Extra
Ask for Da Moon: “Changpeng Zhao, crypto’s richest man, flew home from a California jail a year ago to recuperate in a secluded neighborhood of $30 million villas on a white-sand island here. He worked on his kite-surfing, caught up with friends in beachside clubs and kept his 100-foot yacht, Da Moon, moored nearby.” It was there that he plotted a comeback for his company (that would require a presidential pardon). And it worked. And it serves as an example for how things are done in today’s America. WSJ (Gift Article): How a Billionaire Felon Boosted Trump’s Crypto Company en Route to a Pardon.
+ Sick Joke: “A number of viral infections, including flu, Covid-19 and shingles, are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study affirmed.” Covid and Flu Can Triple Your Risk of Heart Attack. (If only humanity had come up with an effective method to reduce the chances of you getting those infections…)
+ Operation Desert Norm: “The Pentagon has ordered thousands of specialized National Guard personnel to complete civil unrest mission training over the next several months, an indication that the Trump administration’s effort to send uniformed military forces into urban centers – once reserved for extraordinary emergencies – could become the norm.”
+ The Other Chips Business: Chipotle just had a really bad quarter. The reasons why might tell us about more than the just the fake burrito business. Gen Z and millennials burdened by student debt and unemployment stay away.
+ All Your Base Are Belong to Us: “It is an ominous marker of the nation’s polarization, to which the Trump administration has itself contributed, that some of those top public servants have felt a need to separate themselves from the public. These civilian officials can now depend on the U.S. military to augment their personal security.” Top Trump Officials Are Moving Onto Military Bases.
+ Single A for Effort: The 2025 World Series continues to feature some unthinkable performances. Consider Toronto’s Game 5 pitcher Trey Yesavage. He started the year playing in the lowest level of the minors and his salary is so low (he made about 60K this season) that he will see a meaningful upside from his playoff bonus. And he completely dominated one of the best lineups ever assembled. “This playoff paycheck is going to be nice.”
