Read time: 8-12 Minutes | Total words: 1,816

Politics

Trump Convicted on All Counts,Yet Polls and Odds Signal Potential Comeback

President Trump was found guilty Thursday on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. His sentencing will be July 10th, with each offense carrying up to four years in prison. 

Trump participated in a sit-down interview with Fox News following the verdict, which aired throughout their Sunday programming. The former President said he “did absolutely nothing wrong.” Trump called the outcome a “scam”, claiming that “people get it.”

And apparently they do?

Trump’s fundraising page crashed following Thursday’s guilty verdict, as the former president mentioned, “the good news is, that I think we’ve set a record beyond all records for fundraising.”

One Daily Mail poll gave Trump a six-point bump in approval rating following Thursday’s verdict. According to odds checker, the betting odds for the next president tightened after the news, as well.

In some markets, President Biden moved from +136 to +156, while Trump’s odds improved from +134 to +110. 

For the Democratic Party, could this have the same effect as the low prices of the Michael Scott Paper Company? Michael thought his low prices were keeping him in business, when, in reality, they were actually putting him out of business.

If some thought this would end Trump’s presidential campaign, could it, actually, fuel it towards a re-election?

We’ll wait on the punishment next month, but Trump did suggest that any jail time or house arrest would be “tough for the public to take” and could be a “breaking point.”

In the meantime, he took in the UFC fights this weekend, seemingly unconcerned.

Global News

Biden Urges Middle East Ceasefire; Mixed Reactions from Netanyahu and Hamas

President Biden called for a ceasefire in the Middle East during his Friday address, declaring “it’s time for this war to end.”

Biden also claimed that Hamas has been degraded enough, where it would no longer be able to carry out the type of attack that sparked this whole thing back in October.

The president mentioned a three-phase Israeli proposal that was shared last week, which would lead to a resolution and ceasefire over time.

1. Phase one being the “withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza” and the release of numerous hostages. 

2. Phase two would allow for the “release of all remaining living hostages.”

3. And phase three would include a “major reconstruction plan” for Gaza and any final remains of hostages, who have been killed, would be returned to their families.

However, less than an hour after President Biden’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the country would not end the war until Hamas is fully defeated. 

Hamas, for their part, released a statement later on Friday, saying it viewed the proposal positively. 

Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the proposal, calling it “clear, realistic and just.”

On Sunday, a Netanyahu aide said that Israel had agreed to the framework of President Biden’s plan, though he did admit it’s “not a good deal.”

Some confusion has come from Biden calling it an Israeli proposal, while Israel’s position seems to be contradictory.

To this point, a deal has yet to be finalized. Stay tuned…

Tech

Elon Musk Faces $7.5B Insider Trading Lawsuit Amidst Tesla Shareholder Challenges

Elon Musk is being accused of insider trading, to the tune of $7.5B(!), according to a new lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday by a Tesla shareholder, Michael Perry, who claims that Musk sold over $7.5 billion of shares in late 2022, before disappointing production and delivery numbers were made public. 

The lawsuit was filed in Delaware Chancery Court and alleges that the fourth-quarter numbers were down for Tesla, which allowed Musk to “improperly benefit” about $3 billion in insider profits. 

He sold the shares on various dates in November and December of 2022, before the numbers were made public on January 2nd of 2023. 

According to the lawsuit, “Had [Musk] waited to make these sales until after the release of material adverse news,... his sales would have netted him less than 55% of the amounts realized from his November and December 2022 sales.”

The lawsuit also accuses Tesla’s directors of breaching their fiduciary duty by allowing Musk to even sell the shares. 

Meanwhile, Musk and Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. 

This isn’t the only battle for Musk right now, who is also facing opposition from some Tesla shareholders who are set to vote on June 13th on whether to ratify his $56B pay package. A Delaware judge voided the package earlier this year, after she found Musk “improperly controlled the process.” 

Additionally, a separate shareholder lawsuit has accused Musk of defrauding X investors.

The pitchforks are out, and many are taking legal aim at Musk.

Sports NBA

Celtics Face Mavericks in NBA Finals: Luka Doncic Challenges History with High Usage

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks are getting ready to duel in this year’s NBA Finals, beginning with game one Thursday night.

Mavs star Luka Doncic will look to accomplish something never done before, and that’s not just beating the heavy favored (-225) Celtics. 

The NBA championships have typically been won by teams, not one player dominant offenses. And despite having a co-pilot in Kyrie Irving, that’s exactly what the Mavericks are, led by Doncic.

Doncic’s season ranks 20th all-time in usage rate: 35.98. This means that 36% of the Mavericks possessions, when Doncic is on the floor, end with him. Whether that’s a shot attempt, turnover, or free throws drawn. 

Looking back at the NBA’s highest usage rates of all-time, they lack an NBA Champion.

Let’s run through them:

1. Russell Westbrook (2016-2017): lost in the first round

2. James Harden (2018-2019): lost in the second round

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (2022-2023): lost in the first round

4. Kobe Bryant (2005-2006): lost in the first round

5. Russell Westbrook (2014-2015): missed the playoffs

6. Michael Jordan (1986-1987): lost in the first round

7. Allen Iverson (2001-2002): lost in the first round

8. Luka Doncic (2022-2023): missed the playoffs

9. Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019-2020): lost in the second round

10. Luka Doncic (2021-2022): lost in the first round

11. Joel Embiid (2021-2022): lost in the second round

12. Joel Embiid (2022-2023): lost in the second round

13. Luka Doncic (2019-2020): lost in the first round

14. DeMarcus Cousins (2016-2017): traded mid-season, both teams missed the playoffs

15. James Harden (2019-2020): lost in the second round

16. Dwayne Wade (2008-2009): lost in the first round

17. Jermaine O’Neal (2004-2005): lost in the second round

18. James Harden (2017-2018): lost in the Western Conference Finals

19. Michael Jordan (2001-2002): missed the playoffs

20. Luka Doncic (2023-2024): TBD

Looking at the top 20 usage rates, only one player prior to Doncic this season even reached the Conference Finals. Doncic is the first to even make it to the NBA Finals. 

Furthermore, Doncic is just the eighth player in the top 20 to even advance past the second round of the playoffs. 

The player with the highest usage rate to win the NBA Championship was Michael Jordan in 1993… which ranks 44th on the all-time list!

Typically, it’s easier to stop one player as opposed to a whole team, unless it was Jordan in his prime.

Doncic apparently is an exception too. Even the top ranked defense couldn’t slow him down, as Doncic averaged 32.4 points per game last round vs. Minnesota. 

Now it’s Boston’s turn to attempt to slow down one of the best players in the world. 

Sports WNBA

Caitlin Clark Ignites Tensions Amidst Rising Popularity

“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you” - but it might be the new fit of the WNBA this season.

Caitlin Clark is the new sensation in women’s basketball, evidently to the chagrin of EVERYONE else involved.

Charles Barkley called out the other women for being petty…. But it didn’t stop.

During Saturday’s game, Clark seemed to be called a curse word, before getting knocked to the ground on a cheap shot from an opposing player, Chennedy Carter.

Carter’s teammate, Angel Reese, an apparent rival of Clark (dating back to their college careers), celebrated the move from the bench. 

Carter would not respond to any questions about Clark after the game…

Clark, for her efforts, scored 11 points, as her Indiana Fever pulled off the small upset for their first home win of the season. 

Clark has averaged 16.9 points per game so far this season, along with 5.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists.

The irony is, Clark is the reason for the WNBA’s sudden popularity surge. She is also credited with the reason why the WNBA finally began using chartered flights for games this season. Something Reese alluded to in a now-deleted tweet…

These players should be careful what they wish for, as a high tide raises all boats.

Clark is very good for the WNBA right now, which means she would be very good for the other players of the league, as well. The WNBA might even turn a profit this season?

The rest of the league should not cut off its nose, just to spite its face.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake Beef Cools Off, Snoop Dogg and Tupac's Brother Weigh In

It seems we have reached a conclusion, at least for now, in the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef. 

And recent comments from a legendary rapper probably won’t reignite things either…

Snoop Dogg went on “Entertainment Tonight” to address the drama, but did stay as diplomatic as possible. 

Snoop said he wanted “to give both of them a shout-out for raising the bar as far as lyricism.”

“The writing has been up since the confrontation… Those are both my nephews and that’s personal business. I don’t get into personal business. As far as the genre and the rap game, they made you rap again. You can’t just mumble your way through songs anymore.”

An AI-generated voice of Snoop was used in one of Drake’s diss tracks, which the rapper glossed over.

Meanwhile, Tupac’s brother took offense to Drake using Pac’s likeness in one of the tracks. 

Like Snoop said, maybe this whole beef was good for the rap game. Sometimes you need a fire lit under you to elevate the performance.

Listen to This!

Eminem's new track "Houdini" serves as a metaphorical farewell, marking a pivotal moment in his music career. Released as the lead single from his twelfth studio album, The Death of Slim Shady, the song features a teaser with magician David Blaine, hinting at the disappearance of Eminem's alter ego, Slim Shady. This collaboration symbolizes a blend of magic and personal transformation, exploring themes of career evolution and the ending of an era

Weekly Commute