In the lead-up to President Trump’s recent Middle East trip, the White House invited prominent U.S. business leaders to accompany him. Among those declining was Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO—a decision that appeared to irk the president. During his tour of the region, Trump took public jabs at Cook, contrasting him with other tech executives like…
Author: Riley Sullivan
Riley Sullivan explores the stories behind the headlines — how they reflect who we are, and who we’re becoming. With a background in sociology and journalism, Riley writes about cultural shifts, identity, generational change, and the digital landscapes that shape modern life.
Masayoshi Son and Trump Back $300 Billion US-Japan Wealth Fund With Global Ambitions
Masayoshi Son, the influential billionaire behind SoftBank, is collaborating with the Trump administration to establish a massive US-Japan sovereign wealth fund. The fund, potentially worth hundreds of billions of dollars, aims to fuel investments in technology and infrastructure across the United States. The concept has already reached top-level discussions involving US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent…
U.S. Mint Ends Penny Production as Coin Costs Soar and Paper Currency Proves More Efficient
The U.S. penny, long a staple of American currency, is approaching its end due to inefficiency and high production costs. Each penny costs approximately 3.69 cents to manufacture and distribute, nearly four times its face value. This cost has steadily risen, increasing by over 20% since the previous year. The U.S. Mint has responded to…
Trump’s Meme Coin Gala Draws Global Elites, Ethical Scrutiny, and Billion-Dollar Investor Divide
On Thursday, high-profile buyers of Donald Trump’s meme coin ($TRUMP) gathered for an exclusive black-tie dinner at Trump National Golf Club, situated just outside Washington, D.C. As Marine One delivered Trump to the event, over a hundred protesters lined the street outside, brandishing signs that decried what they called crypto corruption and demanded transparency. Inside,…
Nike Returns to Amazon, Reversing 2019 Exit to Expand Reach and Fight Counterfeits
Nike has confirmed that it will resume selling its products directly on Amazon in the U.S., ending a six-year break that began in 2019. This move reverses Nike’s previous strategy of cutting wholesale ties with Amazon to gain more control over its customer experience and reduce the risk of counterfeit sales. The decision marks a…
Markets Tumble as Treasury Auction Miss and Credit Downgrade Undermine Confidence in U.S. Debt
U.S. financial markets faced a sharp selloff on Wednesday amid rising doubts about the strength and stability of American assets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 817 points (1.91%), while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell 1.61% and 1.41%, respectively—marking their worst single-day performance in a month. A disappointing 20-year Treasury note auction triggered…
Warren Slams Crypto Bill as Dangerous While Trump Policies Spark Bipartisan Tech and Ethics Backlash
Senator Elizabeth Warren issued a stark warning about the GENIUS Act, a bipartisan cryptocurrency bill currently advancing in the Senate. The legislation proposes to formally integrate stablecoins—digital tokens tied to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar—into the traditional financial system. Warren cautioned that the bill lacks sufficient regulatory safeguards and could expose the U.S. economy…
Howard Lutnick Hands Over Cantor Fitzgerald to Sons and Investors as He Joins Trump’s Cabinet
Howard Lutnick, former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald LP and current U.S. Commerce Secretary, has sold his ownership stakes in the Wall Street business group he led for over three decades. The transfer of ownership marks a generational shift, as the stakes were placed into trusts benefiting his children, particularly his sons Brandon and Kyle, who…
U.S. Tech Titans Back UAE Stargate as AI Infrastructure Race Spreads Across Middle East and U.S.
Leading U.S. technology companies Nvidia, Cisco, Oracle, and OpenAI are collaborating on the “UAE Stargate,” a major artificial intelligence data center project in Abu Dhabi. Nvidia will provide cutting-edge hardware, specifically the Blackwell GB300 AI chips, to power the facility. This initiative aligns with a related U.S. AI infrastructure project announced shortly after President Donald…
Short-Term Tariff Cut Fuels Long-Term Uncertainty as U.S. Small Businesses Stall Growth Plans
The recent reduction of tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30% has offered temporary relief to U.S. small business owners, but the short 90-day duration of the deal has left many feeling more anxious than secure. Connor Alexander, a Seattle-based board game publisher, is among those feeling the pressure. Despite restarting production on two…