Netanyahu Trial, US Poet Dies, and an Internet Slang Guide

In partnership with

Netanyahu Stands Trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand yesterday in a corruption trial against him. It marked the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister testified as a criminal defendant. 

The trial, which began in 2020, covers three separate cases involving alleged fraud and bribery. Netanyahu stands accused of receiving almost $200K in gifts from a billionaire Hollywood producer and positive press from media moguls in exchange for regulatory favors. The Israeli leader was not granted exemption from standing trial; he will testify for six hours a day, three days per week in the coming weeks, passing notes to continue running the country. A verdict is expected in 2026. 

Separately, Israel launched dozens of airstrikes into Syria yesterday, claiming to have destroyed its naval fleet and striking air bases and weapons arsenals. Netanyahu said the offensive—including entering the demilitarized zone between the two countries earlier this week—is designed to protect Israel following Syria’s regime change (see previous write-up).

GM Hits the Brakes on Cruise

General Motors announced it will stop funding its Cruise robotaxi project, citing competition, costs, and time required to scale the business. GM will instead focus on developing advanced driver assistance technologies and autonomous systems for personal vehicles, merging Cruise's technical team with its own. GM spent over $10B on Cruise since acquiring it in 2016 and expects to save roughly $1B annually from the restructuring. 

The decision follows a series of challenges for Cruise, including an October 2023 incident where one of its vehicles struck and dragged a pedestrian, leading to federal regulatory scrutiny and operational setbacks. Amid the fallout, Cruise cofounder and CEO Kyle Vogt resigned, and Cruise laid off 900 employees, or about 24% of its workforce. Last month, Cruise paid a $500K criminal fine for submitting a false report related to the October 2023 incident. 

In other auto news, Amazon launched an online dealership with South Korea's Hyundai as its first partner. Consumers in 48 US cities can browse, order, finance, and pick up new Hyundai vehicles through Amazon. 

Poet Nikki Giovanni Dies

Poet and activist Nikki Giovanni died Monday in Blacksburg, Virginia, from lung cancer complications at the age of 81. The longtime Virginia Tech professor was a renowned political poet and speaker whose work sought to uplift the Black experience in the US. 

Born June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and raised outside Cincinnati, Ohio, Giovanni became a fixture of the Black Arts Movement in the 1960s. She penned candid poems, including 1968's "Nikki-Rosa," in pursuit of Black civil rights. Giovanni would go on to write dozens of books and speak regularly, including in an iconic 1971 conversation (w/video) with acclaimed writer James Baldwin. After stints at Rutgers and Ohio State, she spent over three decades on the English faculty at Virginia Tech.

Giovanni was also the recipient of seven NAACP awards and 31 honorary doctorates. She made the National Book Award shortlist in 1973 and received a Grammy nomination for a spoken word album in 2004. Watch the trailer of a 2023 documentary of her life here.

In partnership with Pacaso

Top Investors Are Buying This Unlisted Stock

In partnership with Pacaso

The Bigger The Market, The Bigger the Profits

That's why Ferrari’s worth double Ford’s value despite making 99% fewer cars each year. A similar story’s playing out in real estate – and it’s an opportunity for investors.

Meet Pacaso. They brought luxury vacation homes to a streamlined co-ownership marketplace. And by selling fractional shares to 1,500+ happy homeowners, Pacaso’s already earned $100M+ in gross profits.

Now Pacaso’s ready to hit top speed as they scale in their $1.3T market. Join leading investors like SoftBank and Maveron. Learn more about becoming a Pacaso shareholder here.*

Please support our sponsors!