Axios

Massive price discrepancies between Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour tickets have fans ringing the alarm.

Why it matters: Stadium tour ticket releases that mirror the Hunger Games are par for the course for fans of mega stars. But seeing neighboring tickets go for wildly varying prices infuriated some in the Beyhive.

The Trump administration over the past two days has fired thousands of federal workers with jobs reportedly ranging from wildfire prevention to medical research.

Why it matters: A mass firing on this scale is unprecedented — and will likely vastly reshape the way the federal government works, or doesn't, for many years to come.

Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, on Friday reported just $3.6 million in sales for all of 2024 and an operating loss of $186 million.

Why it matters: President Trump's election doesn't seem to be helping the financial fortunes of his namesake company, which generated more revenue in 2023 than in 2024.

OpenAI's board has unanimously rejected Elon Musk's $97.4 billion takeover offer, with chair Bret Taylor calling it an "attempt to disrupt his competition."

• Why it matters: This was expected, given that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had previously said the company isn't for sale, but nonetheless was a sharp rebuke of the world's richest man.

What OpenAI is saying, per a letter sent to Musk's attorney:

"Earlier this week, you sent a letter on behalf of a consortium of corporate and financial entities offering to acquire all of the assets of OpenAI, Inc. ("OAI"), and to do so imminently, subject to numerous conditions. Two days ago, you filed a pleading in court adding new material conditions to the proposal. As a result of that filing, it is now apparent that your clients' much-publicized 'bid' is in fact not a bid at all."

When it comes time to pay the bill for your Valentine's Day date tonight, you might need to do an income check first.

• 57% of Americans say the person who makes more should pay, according to a NerdWallet survey of more than 2,000 adults.

Follow the money: The bill could add up quickly for higher-income daters.

• Valentine's Day spending is expected to hit a record $27.5 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation.

💭 Nathan's thought bubble: Whatever happened to it's the thought that counts?

OpenAI's board has unanimously rejected Elon Musk's $97.4 billion takeover offer, with chairman Bret Taylor calling it an "attempt to disrupt his competition."

Why it matters: This was expected, given that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had previously said the company isn't for sale, but nonetheless was a sharp rebuke of the world's richest man.

Morgan Stanley and other lenders to Elon Musk's Twitter takeover yesterday reportedly sold around $4.7 billion of X debt at face value.

Why it matters: This blows away expectations for the deal, in terms of both volume and pricing, and leaves creditors with only around $1.3 billion of their $12.5 billion outlay.

The Trump trade war has blown past the realm of tariffs. The White House plans to hit back at any measure undertaken by trading partners that it believes disadvantages U.S. exporters.

Why it matters: The Trump administration is ushering in a new era in which trade policy is managed country by country, using sweeping tariffs as the tool to address what officials call unfair trade dynamics.

America's educational endowments have long been among the most active and influential investors in venture capital funds, but soon they may retreat.

• No, this isn't another harangue about liquidity. It's much, much bigger than that.

Retail sales fell 0.9% in January, the steepest drop in nearly two years, as consumers were held back by California wildfires, unusually frigid conditions, and uncertainty around the outlook for tariffs.

Why it matters: Consumer spending has been the bedrock of the economic expansion over the last few years, and a meaningful deterioration would put growth at risk.

Money is the bedrock of our capitalist system, but recent moves from the Trump administration have made that foundation feel a bit squishier.

Why it matters: When the public loses faith in money objects, that unmoors us and can make things feel dangerously uncertain.

The office is back: The share of people who reported working mostly in-person doubled in 2024 from the previous year, according to a survey from McKinsey released Friday morning.

Why it matters: With hiring slowing, and workers feeling stuck, employers are using their newly strengthened upper hand to finally get what they want: butts in seats.

Searching for a partner? Consider Baltimore, the Bronx or Washington, D.C. — three areas with especially high shares of unmarried 20-and-older residents.

Why it matters: More Americans are delaying or foregoing marriage for a host of reasons, but it remains a bedrock of U.S. socioeconomic life and a strong predictor of happiness.

High cocoa prices have made the cost of Valentine's Day chocolates more bittersweet this year.

Why it matters: Chocolate treats are expected to increase 10 to 20% for the holiday and throughout 2025, David Branch, sector manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, tells Axios.