“Thousands Are Rooting for You”: Hidden Note in Murder Trial Sparks Uproar

Suit & Times Daily Briefing – March 28, 2025

Sponsored by Fiverr Pro
Unlock top-tier freelance talent to elevate your business.

What We're Covering Today

• ☕ Coffee Prices Surge Globally – Droughts and disrupted supply chains push global coffee prices to multi-year highs, with double-digit hikes hitting consumers.

• 🤖 Ex-Meta Execs Launch AI Agent Startup – Devi Parikh and Dhruv Batra raise $15M for Yutori, building autonomous AI assistants that go far beyond chat.

• 💸 GOP Targets ActBlue Over Donation Practices – Elon Musk joins Republican lawmakers in challenging Democratic donation platform ActBlue’s recurring payment model.

• ⚾️ Tragedy Strikes Brett Gardner's Family – Costa Rican officials investigate the sudden death of Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son, Miller, as toxicology results could take months.

• 💔 Courtroom Notes Spark Outrage in CEO Murder Case – A hidden message praising the accused shooter of UnitedHealth's CEO raises new questions about his motives—and his supporters.

📈 The Ledger

Tracking key market indexes to give you a pulse on global financial movements. 

These indexes cover U.S. markets, global equities, small-cap stocks, volatility, and economic trends, offering a snapshot of where the market is heading.

🔹 Why These Indexes Matter:

• Broad Market Trends: The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq show how major U.S. companies are performing.

• Volatility & Risk: The VIX measures market uncertainty and investor sentiment.

• Global Perspective: FTSE 100, Nikkei 225, and MSCI World reflect international market health.

☕ Economy | Coffee Prices Surge Globally

The Story: Global coffee prices are surging, with consumers expected to see double-digit increases on store shelves and in cafés by April. Severe droughts in Brazil and Central America have crippled harvests, while inflationary pressures, transportation backlogs, and labor shortages have exacerbated supply chain bottlenecks. Arabica coffee futures are up more than 30% year-over-year, according to commodity analysts. Retailers are beginning to pass those costs along to consumers, with some major coffee chains already adjusting menu prices.

🔍 What to Watch:

• Global Supply Disruptions: Weather extremes and reduced yields have intensified sourcing difficulties, particularly for premium beans, putting pressure on both large distributors and small-batch roasters.

• Consumer Impact: Analysts predict U.S. coffee consumers could pay 12–15% more per cup, with higher-end brands and imports seeing even sharper increases.

• Economic Signals: The spike in coffee prices adds to growing concerns about fragility in global commodity markets and could signal broader inflationary risks in the food and beverage sector going into Q2.

☕ Track How Your Morning Brew Is Getting Pricier

🤖 Technology | Former Meta Execs Raise $15M for AI Assistant Startup

The Story: Two leading former Meta AI researchers—Devi Parikh and Dhruv Batra—have launched a new startup called Yutori, focused on building autonomous AI assistants that can independently complete real-world tasks like booking travel or ordering food. The duo has secured $15 million in seed funding, led by Radical Ventures with backing from Fei-Fei Li, Jeff Dean (Chief Scientist at Google DeepMind), and Felicis Ventures.

Parikh and Batra previously headed critical AI research initiatives at Meta, including multimodal and embodied AI efforts. Their team also contributed to Meta’s open-source LLaMA 3 and LLaMA 4 models. Yutori's mission is to push beyond chatbots toward highly capable agents that don't just respond—but act.

💡 Insights:

• Next-Gen AI Agents: Yutori aims to move beyond conversational AI to autonomous digital agents that make decisions, perform multi-step actions, and operate across apps and devices with minimal human oversight.

• Post-Training Innovation: Rather than just training new models, the startup is optimizing post-training behaviors—refining how AI agents behave in complex real-world scenarios after their base training is complete.

• Backed by Titans: With support from global AI leaders and VCs, Yutori reflects growing momentum behind startups building AI tools that do more than chat—they act, automate, and learn in context.

🤖 See Why This AI Startup Has Silicon Valley Talking

💸 Politics | GOP Targets ActBlue Over Donation Practices

The Story: Republican lawmakers and prominent conservatives, including Elon Musk, are escalating efforts to investigate and regulate ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s online donation platform. The critique centers on recurring donations that some argue are deceptively structured, as well as transparency concerns about donor intent. GOP members are pushing for federal oversight and legislative measures to impose new disclosure requirements on all political fundraising platforms—moves Democrats argue are politically motivated and potentially suppressive.

🔍 Key Points:

• Legislative Push: Multiple Republican-led committees have signaled interest in launching formal inquiries into ActBlue’s practices, with draft legislation already in discussion.

• Elon Musk’s Role: Musk has used his social platform to amplify criticisms, calling ActBlue a “scam donation machine,” and his involvement is drawing new public scrutiny to campaign finance laws.

• Political Stakes: Any regulation could alter the landscape for grassroots donations in 2024, with Democrats defending ActBlue as a critical infrastructure for small-dollar donor empowerment.

🧾 Explore the Political Battle Over Digital Donations

⚾️ Sports | Brett Gardners Son’s Death Sparks International Investigation

The Story: Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died suddenly last Friday while on vacation in Costa Rica. Authorities now say it could take two to three months to determine the exact cause of death due to backlogs in the country's overwhelmed forensic laboratories. Initially, food poisoning was suspected after several members of the Gardner family fell ill the night before, but the preliminary hypothesis of asphyxiation has since been ruled out by Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ).

Miller was found unresponsive in his hotel room at the Arenas Del Mar resort in Manuel Antonio by a family member. Medical teams who arrived on the scene attempted CPR for 30 minutes but were unable to revive him. Officials say Miller showed signs of vomiting, but a definitive cause of death remains pending until toxicology results are returned.

📊 Key Developments:

• Pending Answers: Toxicology reports are underway, but results could take months due to a rise in homicides that has overwhelmed local labs. Investigators continue to explore foodborne illness as a possible cause.

• No Signs of Asphyxia: Initial suspicions of asphyxiation have been dismissed, with no obstruction found in the airways, according to Costa Rican forensic medicine.

• Hotel Cooperation: Arenas Del Mar is working with investigators and confirmed the family did not eat at the resort’s restaurants the day prior. A routine health inspection was passed earlier this month.

• Family's Statement: Brett and Jessica Gardner described their son as “a beloved son and brother” who “lived life to the fullest every single day,” enjoying sports, the outdoors, and time with friends and family.

• Ongoing Investigation: Authorities are reviewing hotel security footage, interviewing staff and medical personnel, and plan to speak with the family virtually now that they have returned to the U.S.

⚾ Follow the Investigation Into Gardner’s Tragic Death

💔 US News | Hidden Notes Reveal Shooter’s Alleged Support Network

The Story: Prosecutors say Luigi Mangione—the 26-year-old man charged with the targeted killing of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson—received a hidden heart-shaped note praising his actions, tucked inside a pair of argyle socks given to him before a February court appearance. The note, discovered by a court investigator, read: “Know there are thousands of people wishing you luck.” Another note, found in the same clothing bag, was addressed to a woman named Joan—possibly referencing a defense team spokesperson, though her involvement remains unclear.

Mangione’s lawyers say the notes were inadvertently included with courtroom clothes and not intentionally delivered to him. One of the notes also featured an unmentioned second line: “We are all rooting for you! Keep your head held high.”

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, as well as federal charges that include stalking, murder with a firearm, and weapons offenses—some of which carry the possibility of the death penalty.

🔍 Key Areas to Watch:

• Courtroom Controversy: Prosecutors argue Mangione received special accommodations, including civilian clothing, which was “violated” when the notes were found. The defense maintains that wearing normal clothes is a standard legal right.

• Wider Support?: The notes have raised concerns about ideological supporters. Dozens appeared at Mangione’s Feb. 21 hearing, suggesting a possible undercurrent of public sympathy or political alignment.

• Evidence Mounts: When arrested five days after the shooting, Mangione had a backpack containing zip ties, duct tape, a Glock firearm with a silencer, and a handwritten manifesto targeting the health care industry.

• Mental State & Motive: Authorities suggest Mangione’s writings reveal personal rage following a back injury and frustrations with the health care system—despite not being insured by UnitedHealthcare.

🧦 Uncover How a Pair of Socks Sparked a Legal Flashpoint

📢 Reach 14,000+ Industry Leaders & Decision-Makers

Our audience includes executives, investors, and professionals across business, finance, and technology—engaged readers who influence industries and drive decisions. Put your brand in front of the right people.

📩 Contact [email protected] to explore sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

Start Your Shopify Store for Just $1/Month

As a valued Suit & Times subscriber, you’re getting exclusive access to this Shopify deal—a free 3-day trial, then just $1/month for your first 3 months. If you’ve been thinking about launching an online store, now’s the time.

💡 That’s it for today’s briefing. Stay sharp, stay informed, and we’ll see you tomorrow!