Driving the news: Stock-trading app Webull began trading this week, more than a year after agreeing to go public via a merger with a blank-check company sponsored by South Korean conglomerate SK.
A federal judge on Thursday issued new restrictions on Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, extending a ban on its access to Americans' personal data in Social Security Administration systems.
Why it matters: The Social Security database contains sensitive personal information about every American, and DOGE's claim it was rooting out fraud threatens to disrupt critical services for millions.
OpenAI wasn't mentioned once Thursday in a judge's 115-page decision against Google over its dominance of the online ad market — but the ChatGPT maker stands as a key beneficiary of this legal conflict.
Why it matters: The rise of AI is threatening the heart of Google's search business at the same moment that the government is pressing its most sustained challenge to Big Tech power in nearly 30 years.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Thursday he'll sue the Trump administration over the reported DOGE-driven dismantling of the AmeriCorps service program.
The big picture: This is Newsom's second lawsuit announcement against the administration this week after saying Wednesday that he'd sue over President Trump's sweeping global tariffs.
Why it matters: The court's ruling, which Google said it would appeal, could fundamentally reshape the giant's advertising business, depending on the remedies, or penalties, the judge determines.
Why it matters: Eli Lilly said on Thursday that its experimental pill — called orforglipron — is showing promising results and could serve as an alternative to blockbuster injectable medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 527 points on Thursday, despite the fact that 20 of its 30 components actually rose in price. The culprit: UnitedHealth Group, whose $131 fall was singlehandedly responsible for an 805-point decline.
Why it matters: A single highly-priced stock, if it falls far enough, can now create a greater point drop in the Dow than the 508-point plunge that triggered panicked headlines around the world in 1987.
Netflix's stock was up more than 4% in after-hours trading Thursday, after it beat Wall Street expectations for its top and bottom lines in the first quarter and posted a positive revenue outlook for the second quarter.
Why it matters: The streaming giant's strong results suggest optimism amid an otherwise volatile economic landscape.
President Trump's trade war is inspiring the latest TikTok trend — Chinese manufacturers encouraging shoppers to buy direct and pay less.
Why it matters: The trend highlights American consumers' desperation to avoid massive price increases on Chinese-made goods as Trump's tariffs take effect.
Eli Lilly on Thursday reported promising results for a daily pill that could serve as an alternative to injectable weight-loss and diabetes drugs.
Why it matters: One thing hampering the GLP-1 drug boom is the fact that they're shots — not oral medications — which keeps some prospective patients from taking them.
The Trump administrationhas created a lose-lose situation for many of America's educational institutions, as it pressures universities to meet its demands or risk losing funding and tax-exempt status.
Why it matters: Universities have two options — capitulate or push back — both of which could ignite backlash and damage higher education's already flailing reputation.
Josh Machiz leads the founder experience team at Redpoint Ventures, tasked with identifying marketing, content and storytelling opportunities for the firm and its portfolio companies.
Why it matters: Redpoint — which has backed companies like Snowflake, Twilio, Stripe and Ramp — has embraced a content-first marketing strategy, with roughly 70,000 followers on Instagram and more than 40,000 on TikTok.
Google's dominance of the online advertising and ad-tech markets violates U.S. antitrust laws, a federal court ruled Thursday, in a decision that could scramble the massive digital ad universe.
Why it matters: It's the second major recent antitrust loss for Google, after a different court ruled last year that the giant has abused its dominance of the search market online.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said on Thursday that Anna Paulson, a current Fed economist, will be the next leader of the bank.
Why it matters: Paulson, whose research has focused on financial markets institutions, will get a vote on the Fed's interest rate-setting committee next year as the central bank grapples with huge questions about how White House trade policy will impact the economy.
House Democrats are pressing the Social Security Administration's inspector general to open a probe into DOGE's tinkering with the agency, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Social Security is an extremely sensitive issue that touches upon the financial security of millions of older Americans — a particularly politically active group.
OpenAI is in advanced talks to buy coding assistant company Windsurf for more than $3 billion, in what would be its largest-ever acquisition, per multiple sources.
Why it matters: This could be the starting gun for an AI apps land grab by foundation models.
Archer Aviation on Thursday announced plans for a New York City air taxi network, in partnership with United Airlines, that would replace existing helicopters with quieter, safer and efficient electric aircraft.
Why it matters: Archer's goal is to zip passengers across the New York metro region in a matter of minutes rather than hours, saving people time and reducing traffic congestion on the ground.
President Trump blasted Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Thursday with the strongest suggestion yet of his intention to try to fire the nation's most powerful economic policymaker.
Why it matters: Trump's attack comes after Powell said that tariffs were likely to stoke inflation and slow economic growth.
Tariffs are driving buyers of custom manufacturing services to quickly rewire their supply chains, including looking toward American suppliers to create their products.
Austin-based defense startupSaronic purchased boatmaker Gulf Craft, securing it a Southern shipyard where it plans to produce a new unmanned warship, Marauder.
Why it matters: President Trump has promised new ships "very fast, very soon" in a national address — and now an Austin firm is poised to play a big role.
The CEO of Kalshi says the prediction markets exchange should not be treated as a gambling operation, in part because the U.S.-based company doesn't make money from losing bets.
Why it matters: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates Kalshi, is expected to hold a roundtable later this month as it considers whether to continue allowing sports event contracts.
The corporate world is getting flatter, as more companies look to get rid of managers.
Why it matters: The trend is accelerating as firms look for ways hold down costs in the wake of Trump tariffs, finds a new report out Thursday morning from Korn Ferry, a global consulting firm.
Elon Musk has fathered at least 14 children with at least four women, intent on fighting civilizational collapse with a "legion" of genetically gifted offspring, according to an explosive new feature in the Wall Street Journal.
Why it matters: The investigation reveals new details on how the world's richest man has used his vast wealth and influence to recruit, manage — and at times silence — the mothers of his many children.
The White House is sprinkling the traditional press corps with an array of MAGA-friendly journalists who dilute scrutiny, denigrate Democrats and ultimately flatter President Trump.
Why it matters: As traditional media loses influence, the White House is giving increasing access to a growing cast of Trump-friendly reporters, podcasters and influencers who boost his narratives from inside the house.
A top National Institutes of Health scientist who specializes in nutrition and metabolism announced his sudden retirement after 21 years, citing censorship at the agency now headed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Why it matters: RFK pledged "radical transparency" after being confirmed as HHS secretary, but NIH senior investigator Kevin Hall said Wednesday he has "experienced censorship" of his work and not enough support on his recent research into ultra-processed food addiction.
President Trump's vision for elite higher education includes eliminating perceived liberal slants, sharpening discipline measures and reconstructing the makeup of student and faculty bodies.
Why it matters: The administration's recent demands of Harvard and other elite institutions show the government's playbook to influence and reorient the priorities of universities through federal funds.
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