Caracal Global Daily
Caracal Global Daily is a human-curated global intelligence briefing that connects geopolitical developments, economic trends, and strategic business insights.
February 5, 2026
Detroit, MI
*** Ross Rant ***
Lessons from The Post's Purge: Video is winning. Global is losing.
The Washington Post announced it would eliminate approximately 300 journalists—roughly one-third of its newsroom—including its entire Middle East team, foreign bureaus in key markets, and its storied sports and books sections. Executive Editor Matt Murray was blunt about the reason: "The company's structure is rooted in a different era. In areas such as video, the outlet hasn't kept up with consumer habits."
Translation: Video is happening, whether traditional journalists like it or not. The Buggles warned us in 1979 that "Video Killed the Radio Star." Now it's also killing the foreign desk.
For CEOs and communications professionals navigating global markets, this restructuring signals two fundamental shifts that demand an immediate strategic response: the bifurcation of journalism into incompatible models and the accelerating inadequacy of US-based media for understanding global business risk.
The bifurcation of media
The future of journalism is splitting into two irreconcilable paths. Either you're producing content that is niche, erudite, and expensive—specialized intelligence for sophisticated audiences willing to pay premium prices. Or you're producing content that is mass-market, unlettered, and bargain basement—optimized for volume, video views, and advertising revenue.
There is no middle ground left.
The Post is betting on the latter. Murray's memo to staff made clear the paper is pivoting toward "high-intent digital verticals" focused on technology, climate, and wellness content designed to drive subscriptions through SEO and video engagement. They're shuttering books and sports not because these sections lost readers, but because they don't fit an AI-integrated, video-first distribution model optimized for "consumer habits."
This is the same strategy driving every legacy outlet and notable, since The Post is facing a reported $177 million loss and a 50% drop in organic search traffic. When you can't compete with specialized boutiques charging $2,000 annually for proprietary analysis, you pivot to producing content that competes with TikTok and YouTube for attention. The result is a media landscape where nuanced geopolitical analysis and cultural context—the "soft power" signals that often precede political or market shifts—become luxury goods rather than widely available public resources.
For corporate communications professionals, this bifurcation creates a painful choice.
Do you invest in expensive, specialized intelligence services to maintain information advantage? Or do you accept that your competitors operating with superficial, video-optimized media summaries will miss critical developments until it's too late? The companies that make the right choice will maintain a strategic advantage. Those who assume high-quality geopolitical intelligence will remain freely available are making a costly mistake.
The American media's blind spot
The second trend is equally critical: US-based media outlets are systematically retreating from serious international coverage precisely when global business complexity demands the opposite.
When The Post eliminates its entire Middle East team and closes foreign bureaus while emphasizing that the remaining international presence will focus "almost exclusively on national security issues," they're describing a media environment increasingly incapable of serving multinational corporations.
This creates an urgent imperative for US business leaders and communications teams: you must diversify your information sources beyond American outlets. Relying exclusively on US media for international intelligence is professional malpractice.
Consider what you're missing when your news diet consists solely of domestic sources. The BBC provides unmatched global reach and cultural context across regions that American media ignores. Nikkei offers Asia-Pacific business intelligence that no US outlet matches. Bloomberg and the Financial Times deliver financial and regulatory analysis that connects the dots between markets. The Times of London, Sydney Morning Herald, and Singapore Straits Times provide perspectives on how international partners actually view US policy—insight you'll never get from Washington-centric reporting.
Even the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, despite their quality, ultimately filter global events through American interests and priorities. When The Post announces that its international coverage will emphasize national security over commercial developments, it's simply making explicit what's already implicit across US media: global news is framed through Washington's strategic lens rather than business reality.
For communications professionals developing stakeholder engagement strategies, this matters enormously. You cannot effectively engage European regulators, Asian partners, or Middle Eastern governments if your understanding of their priorities comes exclusively from US sources explaining how those regions affect American interests. You need to read what they read, understand what they value, and recognize how they perceive your company's actions within their political and cultural contexts.
What this means for strategy
The Post's restructuring is a forcing function. It eliminates comfortable assumptions about freely available, high-quality international intelligence. Communications professionals must now make deliberate choices about information sources, recognizing that media fragmentation creates real operational risk for companies navigating tariff volatility, supply chain restructuring, and government engagement across jurisdictions.
Caracal Global specializes in this intersection—helping clients navigate the geopolitical complexities of business through intelligence, strategy, and communications expertise grounded in globalization and American politics.
The video revolution and the retreat of US media from global coverage are not separate trends. They're symptoms of the same disease: the systematic degradation of shared information infrastructure in an era when complexity demands the opposite.
The companies that recognize this early, invest in diverse international sources, and build communications strategies around sophisticated rather than superficial analysis will maintain a competitive advantage. Those waiting for legacy media to reverse course will find themselves operating with information asymmetries that favor better-informed competitors.
-Marc
*** Globalization + Statecraft ***
Can emerging markets’ stellar run continue? There is a lot more going for them than “sell America.” Economist
US, China, and Russia erode the rules-based order, says Human Rights Watch: Nikkei reports the watchdog calls on 'middle powers' like Japan, South Korea, and Australia to step up
Are Trump’s tariffs winning? He says yes, but let’s look at the evidence that voters feel judging by their views of the economy. WSJ-Editorial
The American and Chinese economies are hurtling toward a messy divorce: The breakup is focused on sensitive matters now considered national-security issues, including semiconductors, food, and energy. WSJ
China’s Xi presses Trump on Taiwan in phone call: NYT reports both leaders gave versions of what they discussed, but the Chinese president’s take made clear the issue of the island was front and center.
Trump touts ‘very positive’ call with Chinese leader Xi: WP reports the president noted plans to visit China in April, as Beijing sends a warning to White House over Taiwan arms sales.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping discuss Ukraine and trade ahead of US state visit to Beijing: FT reports call took place after Chinese leader spoke to Vladimir Putin about global instability.
Analysis: Chinese power struggle sends ripples through Japan's election: Xi Jinping's purge of Gen. Zhang Youxia coincides with Sanae Takaichi's election drive. Nikkei
Singapore is urging for international cooperation to curb shadow fleet vessels operating just beyond its territorial waters, as scrutiny intensifies on ships used to evade sanctions.
US, Iran agree to discuss nuclear issues Friday in Oman: WSJ reports the talks had been in danger of collapsing over the agenda and location.
The Times: Iran’s leader ‘should be very worried’, warns Trump
Donald Trump wants to end America’s half-century conflict with Iran: His showdown with Iran’s supreme leader will shape the region for a generation. Economist
Ukraine says Abu Dhabi talks with Russia 'substantive and productive': Le Monde reports the war in Ukraine has become Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II. Russia occupies around 20% of Ukraine, but Kyiv still controls around one-fifth of the Donetsk region. Ukraine has warned that ceding ground will embolden Moscow and that it will not sign a deal that fails to deter Russia from invading again.
Ukraine's 'grandfathers' go to war: Le Monde reports Ukrainian army has an average age of 45, significantly older than European standards. The draft has targeted men between the ages of 25 and 60, which contrasts with recruitment practices typically seen in Western countries.
Last US-Russia nuclear treaty ends in 'grave moment' for world: Le Monde reports: 'For the first time in more than half a century, we face a world without any binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the Russian Federation and the United States of America,' UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement, urging Washington and Moscow to head to the negotiation table.
Are we entering a new nuclear arms race? As the last US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty expires, and Moscow warns of ‘decisive’ measures, the world may be in its most dangerous period since the Cold War. The Times
Britain can’t ignore Europe and China at the same time: Tory criticism of Sir Keir Starmer’s foreign policy shows the party is unserious. Janan Ganesh
Bloomberg: Files show Mandelson sought visa for Epstein via Deripaska
Starmer fights for future after ‘shocking’ Mandelson admission: The Times reports PM outraged his own MPs after saying he had been warned about Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein before appointing him as ambassador to the US.
Mandelson’s web of influence inside the Labour Party: The Times reports dozens of figures in the Starmer project have a history with the man who has been everything from minister and power broker to wedding guest.
Britain’s worst political scandal of this century: The Mandelson affair threatens Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership. Economist
The French connections: Epstein files expose links with France’s elite: The latest tranche of documents suggests the late sex offender’s tentacles reached far into France’s political, banking and arts worlds. The Times
In France's North Atlantic overseas territory, 'no clear sense of worry' among residents over Trump: Le Monde reports the elected representatives of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, home to 6,000 people and the only French overseas territory in the North Atlantic, are aiming to deepen ties with their major partner, Canada, amid growing geopolitical tensions with the US.
I’m the prime minister of Spain. This is why the West needs migrants. Pedro Sánchez
Dutch queen joins armed forces in symbolic move of support for military: NYT reports Queen Máxima of the Netherlands enlisted as a reservist, the Royal House said, because the country’s security “can no longer be taken for granted.”
The angelic Meloni behind a fresco fiasco: A figure resembling Italy’s prime minister on a Rome church wall blurred the lines between religion and politics. Amy Kazmin
How an art restorer sneaked Giorgia Meloni into a church fresco: Romans noticed a winged figure’s odd resemblance to their prime minister. Economist
How Japan’s Iron Lady learned to spend boldly and challenge China: Voters look set to back Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s vision of a more assertive Japan. Markets are wary. Bloomberg
An Israeli visit to the site of the Bondi attack tests Australia: The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is under most pressure. Economist
Venezuela said to detain Maduro allies targeted by the US: NYT reports the questioning of the politically connected businessmen, Raúl Gorrín and Alex Saab, signaled deepening cooperation between the two nations.
Any decision to join US critical minerals bloc will be part of USMCA talks, Anand says: G+M reports foreign affairs minister says Ottawa is not eager to cut a single-sector deal with the US on critical minerals.
White House seeks critical minerals trade zone to curb China’s dominance: FT reports effort marks rare instance of Trump administration aiming to collaborate with global allies on trade.
$500 billion: The value of additional energy and agricultural products that Donald Trump claimed India would buy from America.
*** US Politics + Elections ***
Top Democrat launches probe into ‘Spy Sheikh’ deal with Trump company: WSJ reports World Liberty Financial said lawmakers are “harassing a private American business to score political points.”
Bloomberg: Trump vows to donate any proceeds from $10 billion IRS lawsuit
Trump says his unpredictable style gives him leverage. But it has a cost. A year into President Trump’s second term, his threats, retreats, twists, and turns appear to be wearing on allies and adversaries. NYT
Trump digs in on ballroom size, saying height will match that of White House: WP reports review panels and a federal judge have asked if the project can be made smaller. Historic preservationists say the planned 90,000-square-foot addition will overshadow the mansion.
This is the real reason Susie Wiles talked to me 11 times Chris Whipple
Congress receives redacted version of whistleblower complaint against Gabbard: WSJ reports significant portions of the document had been blacked out for executive privilege.
Bloomberg: Trump orders pullback in Minneapolis, says ‘softer touch’ needed
WP: Border czar Tom Homan says 700 ICE and CBP officers are leaving Minneapolis
Democrats’ push to curb ICE powers hits GOP wall: WSJ reports lawmakers have less than two weeks to reach deal on immigration enforcement before Homeland Security funding lapses.
Supreme Court clears way for California voting map that bolsters Democrats: WP reports the ruling is a major victory for the party, which is seeking to offset a nationwide push by Republicans and President Donald Trump to redraw congressional maps to gain advantage in this year’s midterm elections.
Politico: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to endorse Gov. Kathy Hochul
WP: Gavin Newsom sat by his mother during her assisted suicide: ‘I hated her for it’
Doctors’ group endorses restrictions on gender-related surgery for minors: NYT reports the AMA’s announcement followed a similar recommendation from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Other medical groups argued for a more personalized approach.
New York Times added 1.4 million digital subscribers in 2025: NYT reports the company reported total revenue of $802.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, up 10.4 percent from a year earlier.
Washington Post lays off more than 300 journalists: NYT reports the layoffs cut into The Post’s local, international and sports coverage, and reduced its entire work force by about 30 percent.
CNN: Jeff Bezos remains committed to Washington Post amid brutal layoffs, top editor says
PBS Newshour: Sweeping layoffs at The Washington Post will do 'enormous damage,' former editor says
BBC: Washington Post announces sweeping layoffs, scaling back news coverage
AP: The Washington Post’s sports section was a gold standard, all the way to the end
The murder of The Washington Post: Today’s layoffs are the latest attempt to kill what makes the paper special. Ashley Parker
How Jeff Bezos brought down The Washington Post: The Amazon founder bought the paper to save it. Instead, with a mass layoff, he’s forced it into severe decline. Ruth Marcus
*** Distribution + Innovation ***
AI bots are now a signifigant source of web traffic: New data shows AI bots pushing deeper into the web, prompting publishers to roll out more aggressive defenses. Wired
AI voice company ElevenLabs valued at $11bn after latest fundraise: The Times reports the UK-based AI voice and music-generation business secures a further $500m, tripling its value, following last year’s launch of its ‘iconic voice marketplace.’
How Anthropic achieved AI coding breakthroughs — and rattled business FT
Anthropic is working on a deal that would allow some employees to sell shares in the company at a valuation of at least $350 billion.
Anthropic takes aim at OpenAI’s ChatGPT in Super Bowl ad debut: WSJ reports chatbot wars are heating up, with Anthropic’s Claude highlighting the potential frustration of bringing ads into ChatGPT.
FT: Google set to double AI spending to $185bn after strong earnings
Google to double spending as earnings beat Wall Street expectations: WSJ reports AI is supercharging Google’s advertising and cloud-computing businesses, and the company is ramping up spending to unheard-of levels.
Why absolutely everyone is peddling an AI application: We are either on the verge of widespread adoption or a terrible crash. Brooke Masters
AI’s lending risk getting tougher to compute: Myriad private deals mask scale of funding exposures. Bloomberg
Nikkei: TSMC to make advanced chips for AI at 2nd Japan plant
Elon Musk is betting the future of his business empire on AI: The fates of xAI, SpaceX, and Tesla are increasingly intertwined. Economist
Musk’s boring tunnel in Nashville has mayor hoping no one dies: The Boring Co. is about to embark on its most ambitious tunneling project yet, but critics worry the company is woefully underprepared. Bloomberg
Nikkei: Toyota plans 30% increase in global hybrid production
Leapmotor: China’s no-frills EV maker aiming to become the next BYD: FT reports low-cost carmaker harbours ambitions to go global and rank among the world’s top 10 auto groups.
Walmart became a trillion-dollar company by evolving: The world’s largest private employer refused to compromise on profits. That paid off for workers. WSJ-Editorial
*** Culture ***
Why Stellan Skarsgard wasn’t sure he could handle ‘Sentimental Value’: After a stroke four years ago, the actor has changed how he approaches performances, including the one he’s become an awards favorite for. NYT
Sentimental Value is my favorite film of 2025: I saw the North American premiere at Telluride, where a Q&A with the cast and director revealed layers I didn't fully appreciate during the screening. The film explores family and creativity in a subtle but powerful way. I watched it again recently and found myself catching even more details I'd missed. With an original screenplay, a gifted director, and world-class actors, this film is worth seeking out.
Variety: ‘Wuthering Heights’ first reactions: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s chemistry is a ‘whole other level of hot’ in a ‘bodice-ripping crowd-pleaser’
‘The Muppet Show’ refuses to modernize in its triumphant revival: WP reports on the 50th anniversary of Jim Henson’s show, the Muppets — with a boost from guest star Sabrina Carpenter — pick up exactly where they left off.
Rome’s blundering battle against overtourism: Nonresidents of the Eternal City must now pay a fee to visit the Trevi Fountain—the latest in a series of measures that prove a greater nuisance than the crowds themselves. WSJ
*** Sport ***
Italy says it stopped Russian-linked cyberattacks targeting 2026 Winter Olympics sites: Le Mone reports just hours before the first sporting events, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy had foiled a series of Russian cyberattacks targeting foreign ministry offices and Winter Olympics sites, including hotels in Cortina.
Lindsey Vonn is skiing on a completely torn ACL. Could she still win Olympic gold? The 41-year-old making a comeback on a partially rebuilt knee just tore a ligament in her other knee. But experts say her hopes of competing anyway aren’t totally outlandish. WSJ
Mikaela Shiffrin is skiing’s GOAT. Can she get her Olympic revenge? In a sport where margins are dictated by who stays composed under pressure, the Alpine skiing legend is using every trick at her disposal to take gold at Milan Cortina. Jason Gay
The ice at Milan’s Olympic hockey arena is ready to go – but just barely: G+M reports icemaker confident that much-criticized venues will have NHL quality ice.
Western ski resorts and their terrible, horrible, no snow, very bad year: Little snowpack, strikes by mountain staff, and Trump administration policies that are keeping international visitors away have made this a difficult season in the Rockies and beyond. NYT
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal Global Daily | February 4
Caracal Global Daily
Caracal Global Daily is a human-curated global intelligence briefing that connects geopolitical developments, economic trends, and strategic business insights.
February 4, 2026
Detroit, MI
*** Ross Rant ***
The Musk merger: Why vertical integration is the new geopolitical strategy
When SpaceX acquired xAI this week to create a $1 trillion vertically-integrated behemoth spanning artificial intelligence, rockets, satellite internet, and social media, Elon Musk framed it as humanity's march to the stars. CEOs should read it differently. This is an MBA case study on how geopolitical complexity forces companies to consolidate control across supply chains, government relations, and other areas to avoid fragmentation risk.
Musk's memo to employees promised "the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth."
Strip away the sci-fi diction about "sentient suns" and Kardashev scales (a hypothetical method for ranking civilizations by their energy consumption), and the business logic becomes clear. In an era where AI development requires massive capital, regulatory approvals span multiple jurisdictions, and government contracts determine competitive advantage, controlling the entire tech stack, from hardware to software to distribution to political influence, this move isn't megalomania. It's risk management.
The deal reveals three strategic imperatives for how US businesses must operate in today's environment.
First, supply chain sovereignty matters more than efficiency. Musk plans to launch up to 1 million satellites for orbital data centers, claiming that space will offer lower computing costs within 3 years. Whether that's technically feasible is debatable. What's not debatable is the strategic logic: controlling your entire supply chain—from launch capabilities to energy sources to computing infrastructure—insulates you from trade wars, export controls, and geopolitical disruption. Companies that relied on "just-in-time" global sourcing learned this lesson painfully during the pandemic and Team Trump's tariffs. Musk is betting that vertical integration from Earth to orbit is the next evolution.
Second, government relationships are infrastructure, not incidentals. SpaceX is a principal defense contractor. xAI faces international investigations over Grok's content violations. Starlink wields geopolitical influence that makes world leaders nervous. The merger doesn't resolve these tensions; it amplifies them and strengthens Musk's long-term ambitions. For CEOs, the lesson is direct: When your business model depends on government contracts, regulatory approvals, and international operations, stakeholder engagement isn't a communications function. It's a strategic infrastructure requiring continuous investment, sophisticated coordination, and executive-level attention.
Third, expect persistent volatility, not temporary disruption. Musk's $250 billion acquisition of xAI comes as rival AI companies race to go public, investors speculate about an eventual Tesla integration, and SpaceX pursues both a public offering and lunar factories. This week's merger isn't an endpoint; it is just the start of Musk's plans for continuous consolidation and reconfiguration.
Companies that build strategies assuming a return to stability are planning for the wrong future.
Caracal Global is a geopolitical business communications firm specializing in Globalization + American Politics, providing Intelligence + Strategy + Communications services for Fortune 1,000 senior executives navigating today's interconnected business environment where commerce and statecraft have become inseparable.
The Musk merger won't be the last time a billionaire consolidates private empires to navigate geopolitical complexity.
The question for every CEO is whether your company has the capabilities, relationships, and strategic flexibility to compete in this new hyper-geopolitical environment, or whether you're still optimizing for a world that no longer exists.
-Marc
*** Globalization + Statecraft ***
Should globalists give up? A riveting and depressing argument is tackled in a new book, “The Doom Loop.” Economist
The world is more equal than you think: Rich and poor consumers are seeing their spending patterns converge. Economist
Countdown to an arms race: The last significant nuclear-arms-control treaty is about to expire, and Trump isn’t putting anything in its place. Tom Nichols
A new nuclear arms race beckons: America wants more nukes to deter Russia and China. Economist
The hero who betrayed his country: An ethnic Russian serving in Estonia’s military had something to hide. Now he’s in prison as a convicted traitor. Michael Weiss
Ukraine seeks countermeasures against Russian drones equipped with Starlink: Le Monde reports that a wave of highly accurate and deadly strikes on civilian and military targets far from the front lines has led the Ukrainian government to ask Elon Musk for help. Musk claims to have taken the necessary steps to disable Starlink terminals being used by the Russian military.
US-Iranian talks are still expected after Gulf flare-ups: WSJ reports Iranian gunboats try to stop a US-flagged ship, and a drone flies close to an aircraft carrier.
US jet downs Iran drone but talks still on course: Le Monde reports Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement that 'An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the Iranian drone in self-defense.' The aircraft carrier was dispatched to the Arabian Sea last month amid a buildup of US forces.
Trump’s UAE chip deal is a national security risk Timothy L. O'Brien
+ The United Arab Emirates has been seeking access to advanced US chips to help cement its position as a technology hub and fuel its AI aspirations, but the Biden administration has rebuffed them due to concerns that the chips might end up in Beijing.
+ The Trump administration, however, sealed a deal with the UAE that included advanced chips, with the number of chips shipped annually to the UAE set to quintuple, and a portion destined for a company with business relationships with Chinese tech companies.
+ The deal has raised concerns about conflicts of interest, with reports that an enterprise backed by Sheikh Tahnoon secretly agreed to pay $500 million for a 49% stake in a Trump family-backed company, and that Trump's family has benefited financially from the transaction.
The US says it has deployed a small military team to Nigeria to strengthen the fight against jihadists: Le Monde reports Trump has alleged there is a 'genocide' of Christians in Nigeria, a claim rejected by the Nigerian government and many independent experts, who say the country's security crises claim the lives of both Christians and Muslims, often without distinction.
America’s critical-minerals strategy looks increasingly Chinese: WSJ reports the plan for the newly created US Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve borrows from Beijing’s longstanding playbook.
Nvidia AI chip sales to China stalled by US security review: FT reports the state department has pushed for close scrutiny before approving export licences.
Ruptures in China’s leadership could be due to paranoia and power plays: US intelligence analysts say that Xi Jinping, China’s leader, has a remarkable level of fear. He has carried out mass purges and surprised many by removing his top general. NYT
Xi’s military purge might be dangerous for the US James Stavridis
Can Sanae Takaichi govern Japan on star power alone? The new prime minister has revived the LDP, which had appeared poised to collapse. But if she wins this week’s elections, she will face harsh realities. FT
Power in Thailand now runs through a soccer-mad rural strongman: Bloomberg reports Bangkok’s royalist establishment is looking to Newin Chidchob to help fend off pro-democracy reformers and form a government in the Feb. 8 election.
WSJ: Milan takes the lead as Europe’s hottest housing market
Toronto Star: France dumps Zoom and Teams as Europe seeks digital autonomy from the US
Fernández wins Costa Rican presidency, steering Latin America further right: Guardian reports right-wing populist elected in landslide after promising to crack down on rising violence linked to cocaine trade.
Venezuela’s authoritarian grip eases. But for how long? NYT reports a weeping amnesty proposal, tests of censorship limits, and opposition leaders emerging from hiding are fueling hopes for democratic changes. But skepticism abounds.
Canada viewed as most positive leader on world stage: Ipsos survey for Halifax International Security Forum finds Iran, Israel are considered least likely to have a positive impact on world affairs over the next decade.
Mark Carney, a prime minister seeking to free Canada from US dominance: As the international order weakens, the Canadian leader has moved on from the Trudeau era, when his predecessor was seen as naive on the world stage, and to assert himself against hegemonic powers – starting with his American neighbor. Eliott Dumoulin
*** US Politics + Elections ***
Politico: Congress ends shutdown, approves $1.2T in funding — and sets up DHS cliff
House approves measure to end partial government shutdown: WSJ reports Trump signed the bill into law, setting the stage for immigration enforcement talks.
The Epstein rot goes deep: America must now ask itself if it can restore a culture of shame. Edward Luce
Express: Epstein was 'probably a Russian spy', Polish PM says - 'He has compromising material'
Epstein was probably a Russian spy, says Tusk: Telegraph reports Poland to examine ‘increasingly likely possibility that paedophilia scandal was co-organised by intelligence services’ in Moscow.
Express: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reported to police amid Epstein allegations
The Times: ‘Humiliated’ Andrew moves out of Royal Lodge
The Times: Sarah Ferguson ‘suggested woman for Epstein to marry’ in email
The Times: Mandelson faces full criminal investigation over Epstein emails
+ JD Vance has ratcheted pressure on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to testify before US lawmakers over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
+ @MattSunRoyal: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been moved out of Royal Lodge under the cover of darkness and begun his exile in Sandringham.
House cancels contempt vote as Clintons agree to testify on Epstein: NYT reports the move comes after Bill and Hillary Clinton agreed to be deposed on camera this month and requested that they be allowed to do so at public hearings.
After Republicans push Clintons to testify on Epstein, Democrats warn they'll haul in Trump: NBC News reports Democrats say Republicans have set a new precedent with subpoenas of an ex-president and first lady. "We will follow it ... Donald Trump, all of his kids. Everybody," Rep. Maxwell Frost said.
Bloomberg: Goldman defense of lawyer’s Epstein ties provokes unease at bank
Trump is doubling down on all the wrong things: Republicans are worried about the midterm elections, but the president doesn’t seem to be. Jonathan Lemire
Donald Trump has built a clicktatorship: Even the administration’s budget proposals read like Truth Social posts. Donald Moynihan
How Stephen Miller stokes Trump’s boundary-pushing impulses: The White House aide has been an architect of aggressive immigration sweeps in US cities and deadly boat strikes in the Caribbean. WSJ
Thank God for Melania Trump: Imagine the harm her husband could do with an Evita by his side. Economist
Trump doubles down on calls for Republicans to nationalize elections: WSJ reports resident says federal government agents should be involved in counting votes, a role the Constitution explicitly grants to states.
Senate GOP Leader John Thune says he disagrees with Trump that Congress should 'nationalize' elections: NBC News reports Trump said Monday that Republicans "ought to nationalize the voting," but Thune said the current system of states' running elections has "worked pretty well."
Mamdani’s surprising spirit animal: Mike Bloomberg: Politico reports the new mayor puts in long hours and is laser-focused on public relations.
Republicans are freaking out about Hispanic voters after a Texas upset: Politico reports Democrats flipped a deep-red state senate district over the weekend that has the party worried about November.
3 Florida House Republicans are exiting Congress. Now the mess begins. The Sunshine State is expecting to see three open House seats heading into the 2026 cycle. Politico
FL-GOV: Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback (R) said he joined the dating app Tinder “to meet young female voters where they are, and share my plan to make it easier for them to get married, buy a home, and raise a family.”
Gavin Newsom is playing the long game: California’s governor has been touted as the Democrats’ best shot in 2028. But first, he’ll need to convince voters that he’s not just a slick establishment politician. Nathan Heller
Gavin Newsom is setting his own rules Maya Singer
CNN: Jill Biden’s ex-husband faces murder charge in death of his current wife
Citadel’s Ken Griffin says Trump White House has ‘enriched’ family members: FT reports Wall Street figure and Republican donor offers rare public criticism of perceived administration’s self-dealing.
Netflix leader pushes Warner deal before skeptical lawmakers: NYT reports Senators asked Ted Sarandos about whether the acquisition would raise prices, squeeze talent, and degrade the moviegoing experience.
NYT: Trump scolds CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for ‘not smiling’
Anger is deadly to moderate politicians: AI-driven disruption is about to make the world a more resentful place. Economist
*** Distribution + Innovation ***
Space tourism raises ‘urgent’ fertility questions, NASA says: As more people travel beyond Earth, scientists have warned that the risks to reproductive health from zero-gravity and radiation remain little understood. The Times
Artemis is a throwback to the golden age of lunar exploration: This US programme must contend with the difficulties of returning humans to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Anjana Ahuja
How Elon Musk used SpaceX to rescue xAI and build a $1.25tn colossus: Billionaire folds rocket maker into a loss-making AI start-up, betting scale and control can beat rivals to blockbuster IPO. FT
The out-of-this-world reasons for Elon Musk’s SpaceX deal: The billionaire is turning to his old playbook to keep his AI ambitions aloft. Tim Higgins
Elon Musk’s mega-merger makes little business sense: The AI economy’s dealmaking keeps getting wilder. Economist
WP: Paris police raid X offices as part of expanded criminal probe
Why French prosecutors investigating X summoned Elon Musk: Le Monde reports that the French investigation that led to a raid on the Paris offices of X on Tuesday is examining a wide range of alleged offenses.
+ Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said his government would seek to ban social media for under-16s.
FT: US stocks drop on fears AI will hit software and analytics groups
+ Tech stocks fell after Anthropic, an artificial-intelligence firm, launched an AI tool that can automate some legal work. Shares in legal and data-services companies plummeted first, including those of Thomson Reuters
You won’t find salvation in AI Catherine Thorbecke
+ People are turning to artificial intelligence for guidance, with uses including therapy, companionship, and finding purpose.
+ AI is being treated like a deity, with platforms like DeepSeek and GitaGPT becoming popular, and some people even worshiping AI in a pseudo-religious way.
+ Religious leaders are pushing back against the trend, with some calling for regulation to protect against emotional attachments to chatbots and the spread of manipulative content.
Bloomberg: Nvidia nears deal to invest $20 billion in OpenAI round
WSJ: Microsoft’s pivotal AI product is running into big problems
The political cost of America’s surging electricity bills: Data centres powering the AI boom are straining grids and causing price rises that could hurt Trump. FT
PayPal replaced CEO Alex Chriss, who led for two and a half years, with Enrique Lores, the longtime HP executive and current board chair, effective March 1.
Disney said that Josh D’Amaro will become its chief executive on March 18th.
Disney’s future now depends on the ultimate theme park insider: WSJ reports shareholders will be looking for Josh D’Amaro to generate value after the company has underperformed the broader stock market for years.
Disney’s new boss must not forget its creative magic: Josh D’Amaro faces a tricky balancing act. Economist
A new ruler for the Magic Kingdom: Disney’s pick to replace Bob Iger reflects the iconic brand’s urgency to evolve or die. WP-Editorial
Disney's next C-suite task is keeping Dana Walden in the empire: A new title and expanded duties could go a long way to retain the Hollywood power player. Bloomberg
WP: PepsiCo cuts prices on Lays, Doritos amid high food costs, GLP-1 growth
Walmart joins tech giants with a $1 trillion market valuation: WSJ reports that the company’s rapid e-commerce growth and push into automation and artificial intelligence have propelled its stock into the trillion-dollar club.
The $20 side dish is here Adam Reiner
Private jet sellers rattled by Trump threats on Canadian-made aircraft: FT reports US president’s vow to ‘decertify’ planes and impose tariffs of 50% hits Bombardier’s shares.
Kalshi + Polymarket are using the promise of free groceries to win over New Yorkers, with Kalshi offering $50 in free groceries to customers and Polymarket planning to open a free grocery store.
*** Culture ***
Transparent toilets take Tokyo’s vulture of hygiene to the next level: Don't worry—once their doors are locked, smart glass technology ensures the exteriors become opaque. AD
+ @readswithravi: Books are so cool because there are NO FUCKING ADS IN THEM.
‘The Odyssey’ director Christopher Nolan takes on the industry’s troubles as DGA president: Variety reports: 'The loss of a major studio is a huge blow,' the Oscar-winning director says in his first interview in the role of union leader.
One last Sundance in Park City: The most important film festival in America bade farewell to its Utah roots. Justin Chang
*** Sport ***
Winter Olympics host Italy fires up snow cannons for alpine skiers: Bloomberg reports artificial snow has become an essential insurance policy for ski resorts worldwide as global warming shortens winter seasons and makes conditions increasingly unpredictable.
Lindsey Vonn will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite a torn ACL.
Deadline: Donald Trump to sit down with anchor Tom Llamas for Super Bowl pregame and ‘Nightly News’ interview
WSJ: NFL again grapples with a lack of diversity in its latest hiring cycle
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal Global Daily | February 3
Caracal Global Daily
Caracal Global Daily is a human-curated global intelligence briefing that connects geopolitical developments, economic trends, and strategic business insights.
February 3, 2026
Detroit, MI
*** Ross Rant ***
The business case for a Chief Geopolitics Officer
When JPMorgan Chase launched its Center for Geopolitics in May 2025, naming Derek Chollet, a counselor to former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and chief of staff to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, to lead it, CEO Jamie Dimon was blunt: "Our greatest risk is geopolitical risk." The unit's advisory board reads like a national security all-star roster: former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley.
This move wasn't corporate theater. It was recognition of a fundamental shift in global business.
Citigroup followed suit, bringing on Robert Lighthizer, Trump's former trade representative. McKinsey and Russell Reynolds report surging demand among Fortune 500 companies for executives with geopolitical expertise, often recruited from military, intelligence, and government backgrounds. These moves signal that the assumptions underpinning global commerce for three decades have shattered.
The data confirms what boardrooms increasingly understand. The Geopolitical Risk with Trade Index has surged approximately 30% since 2020, compared to the previous two decades. The Global Supply Chain Pressure Index has nearly tripled. The use of sanctions has more than tripled since 2019. Restrictions on exports of industrial raw materials increased fivefold between 2009 and 2023, now targeting not just military items but also cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductors, AI, and quantum computing.
Companies that once worried primarily about exchange rates and regulatory compliance now navigate trade wars, sanctions, export controls, nationalist boycotts, and populist leaders who prize political theater over economic rationality. In this environment, ignorance of geopolitics isn't just risky, it's reckless.
We have entered an era defined by geoeconomic fragmentation and exponential innovation. Established cooperative frameworks are under pressure, requiring more dialogue, imagination, and entrepreneurship to maintain momentum. Technology deploys at unprecedented speed, with companies playing ever-greater roles in shaping outcomes.
As Edward Fishman, author of Chokepoints: How the Global Economy Became a Weapon, observes, companies are increasingly "instruments of geoeconomic policy." Yet they retain agency through advocacy and compliance efforts, thereby shaping how policy is developed and implemented.
The challenge extends beyond managing discrete crises. Rupert Younger, who founded Oxford University's Centre for Corporate Reputation, notes: "Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, we have lived in a world characterized by remarkably stable geopolitics. Now geopolitical complexity and unpredictability are back, but today's boards, executives, and corporate-affairs teams have little muscle memory for navigating these volatile conditions."
Karthik Ramanna, professor of business and public policy at Oxford, captures the strategic dilemma: "If you don't play the short game, you're not around to play the long game, but if you only play the short game, you'll find yourself outcompeted by your peers in the long term."
Consider Apple. The company built an empire on "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China," A subtle geopolitical message suggesting the real innovation remained American while mass assembly leveraged Chinese efficiency. That model is breaking down. The company is expanding into India and Vietnam, enhancing supply chain resilience while courting US allies.
Even pedestrian regulations carry geopolitical weight. When Brussels mandated USB-C ports across consumer electronics, Apple lobbied hard, arguing that "strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation." Brussels was unmoved. Apple SVP Greg Joswiak acknowledged reality at a WSJ Tech Live conference: "Governments get to do what they're gonna do. Obviously, we'll have to comply. We have no choice."
He's right. Governments have changed the rules, and companies have no choice but to comply.
Despite mounting evidence, most corporations remain woefully unprepared. Geopolitical advisory units and risk analysts too often occupy ancillary roles peripheral to core decision-making—consultants writing reports that gather dust, government affairs departments focused on tactical lobbying rather than strategic anticipation.
What's needed is fundamental restructuring: a Chief Geopolitics Officer (CGO) at the C-suite level with a seat at the table where decisions get made daily. This isn't about adding another layer of compliance. It's about integrating political intelligence into every major business decision, whether capital allocation, supply chain design, or market-entry strategy.
The CGO role addresses systemic risks that traditional risk management cannot handle. This executive must understand how governments think, how regulators operate, how political crises unfold, how voters respond, and how to navigate all four simultaneously. They require sophisticated intelligence capabilities, scenario-planning expertise, and the authority to shape corporate strategy in real time as geopolitical conditions evolve.
Rising expectations of corporate patriotism add another dimension. Business leaders who spent careers in hyperglobalization must now balance global operations with alignment with home-country geoeconomic agendas. In Europe, "lobbying" carries negative connotations and is replaced by "advocacy" or "active engagement." You're packaging the same activities differently to be culturally effective.
US businesses must prepare for an era of endless tit-for-tat tariffs, restructured supply chains, and elevated interest rates driven by geopolitical instability. This requires four strategic imperatives:
First, integrate geopolitical intelligence into core strategy. This means elevating political risk analysis from a compliance function to a strategic driver. Every significant investment, partnership, and market decision must account for regulatory shifts, sanctions risk, and diplomatic tensions.
Second, build supply chain resilience through geographic diversification. The era of optimizing purely for efficiency is over. Companies must balance cost considerations with geopolitical stability, cultivating supplier relationships across multiple jurisdictions and political alignments.
Third, proactively engage governments and stakeholders. Reactive crisis management no longer suffices. Companies need sustained dialogue with policymakers in Washington, Brussels, Beijing, and other power centers, shaping policy before it shapes them.
Fourth, develop internal capabilities for scenario planning and rapid response. The CGO must lead war-gaming exercises that stress-test business models against various geopolitical shocks, including sanctions escalation, intensification of trade wars, and regional conflicts that disrupt critical supply routes.
This interconnected geopolitical business environment demands specialized expertise.
Caracal Global is a geopolitical business communications firm that lives at the intersection of globalization, disruption, and politics—home of the world's most savvy participants. The firm specializes in Globalization + American Politics, providing Intelligence + Strategy + Communications services for senior executives, board members, and CEOs responsible for geopolitics, corporate affairs, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and communications. Led by a Michigan-born, DC-based global business advocate with experience in US and UK national political campaigns, US-China commercial relations, NATO, and media engagement, Caracal Global helps Fortune 1,000 companies navigate today's interconnected business environment where commerce and statecraft have become inseparable.
Geopolitical risk has crossed the threshold from manageable concern to core strategic challenge. The most forward-thinking companies already recognize this reality and are acting accordingly. The question for every other CEO is simple: Will you establish the capabilities to navigate this new landscape before your competitors do, or will you learn these lessons the expensive way?
Alan Turing wrote in 1950: "We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done." In today's geopolitical environment, that short distance requires constant vigilance, sophisticated analysis, and strategic agility. The companies that build these capabilities now will define the winners in tomorrow's geoeconomic competition.
*****
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*** Globalization + Statecraft ***
The middle-power dilemma: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's call for the rest of the world to join forces to manage a new era of economic and geopolitical turmoil will resonate with national leaders worldwide. But the path to unity among middle powers is fraught, because interests within such a broad grouping rarely align. Eswar Prasad
The dilemmas for the UK created by a rupturing world: New priorities are needed to succeed amid unreliable and competing great powers. Martin Wolf
A world without nuclear arms control begins this week: New Start treaty, which expires on Thursday, capped the number of missiles and warheads in US and Russian arsenals. FT
US and Iranian officials to meet as Trump’s threats loom: NYT reports President Trump’s Middle East envoy and his son-in-law were expected to meet Iran’s foreign minister in Istanbul on Friday amid tensions between the countries.
Iran's proxy groups are ready for a wider existential war: Unlike 2025 conflict with Israel, 'Axis of Resistance' primed for bigger role. Vali Kaleji
AP: A Kremlin official confirms that US-brokered Russia-Ukraine talks are resuming this week
Germany arrests 5 over violation of Russia sanctions: DW reports five German, Russian, and Ukrainian nationals were arrested in Lübeck for allegedly exporting goods to Russian defense companies.
Russian captain found guilty in North Sea tanker collision: DW reports Vladimir Motin has been convicted for manslaughter after a deadly collision last year off the coast of the UK.
Epstein scandal sends shockwaves through the British establishment: WSJ reports the British prime minister urged ex-US Ambassador Peter Mandelson and former Prince Andrew to cooperate with US authorities.
Police look into Jeffrey Epstein ‘leaks from Peter Mandelson’: The Times reports Lord Mandelson is accused of sending the disgraced financier a private email from an adviser to the then prime minister Gordon Brown.
This is what a proper Brexit looks like: Prosperity and security will be driven by removing unnecessary barriers that hold businesses back. Nick Thomas-Symonds
International companies cut off business in the US because of ICE: WP reports French multinational Capgemini moved to distance itself “immediately” from ICE after criticism from French officials; a Canadian company has also canceled a sale to the agency.
France spirals down EU wealth list towards ‘third-world status’: The country used to be among Europe’s richest economies but it’s being overtaken and critics warn there is no recovery on the horizon. The Times
Rome brings in €2 tourist charge to see the Trevi fountain: Visitors will have to splash out for their Emily in Paris moment at the landmark but will the fees stop it turning into a battlefield at high season? The Times
In Italy, church and state investigate the appearance of a cherub seemingly modeled on Meloni: AP reports the diocese of Rome and the Italian Culture Ministry both launched investigations into the recent renovations at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, after photographs of the Meloni-esque cherub were published in Italian newspapers this weekend. Their swift and harsh reactions indicated little tolerance for the profane in a sacred place.
Costa Rican president-elect looks to Bukele for help against crime: AFP reports Costa Rican President-elect Laura Fernandez on Monday welcomed guidance from El Salvador's gang-busting Nayib Bukele in her own country's fight against a surge in drug-related violence.
How a Silicon Valley startup became a crypto lifeline for Venezuela: WSJ reports cryptocurrency fintech Kontigo, which recently raised $20 million from Coinbase and others, is under fire for its role in helping Venezuelans avoid sanctions.
Argentines snap up Lego and Apple computers as Javier Milei opens economy: FT reports Amazon, Shein and Temu gain a foothold after libertarian president cuts import tariffs.
Canada should keep options open on acquiring nuclear weapons, former top soldier says: G+M reports retired general Wayne Eyre says the question of whether to develop a nuclear deterrent is not an immediate concern.
China is the main beneficiary of Trump’s Arctic antics: As the US redeploys its navy and alienates allies, Beijing is filling the void. Isaac Kardon
+ The writer is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of ‘China’s Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order.’
China eyes reshaping global order as US influence wanes: As the Trump administration pulls the US back from international institutions, China is stepping up its diplomatic outreach while pursuing leadership roles in selected areas. DW
Xi’s ominous purge of his top general: Xi’s power play bodes badly, whether it is a sign of strength or weakness. FT-Editorial
China’s opacity brings Pekingology back into vogue: What, for example, is behind Xi Jinping’s sweeping military purge? Economist
+ Ross Rant Flashback: When Beijing purges generals, what CEOs should know. Read the post here.
Trump announces long-awaited trade deal with India: Politico reports the US will lower its duty on India from 25 percent to 18 percent as part of the agreement, the president said in a social media post.
Trump announces initial trade deal with India: NYT reports the agreement was short on details, but President Trump said India had promised to stop buying Russian oil and would buy more US products for a reduction on tariffs.
Trump says US and India reached trade deal, will lower tariffs immediately: CNBC reports Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to “stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela,” Trump said on Truth Social.
+ Ross Rant Flashback: When Europe and India trade: What the world's largest trade pact means for US business. Read the post here.
Trump administration to create $12 billion rare earth stockpile to counter China: WSJ reports president’s move comes after Beijing used its dominance over the minerals supply chain to squeeze US industries.
US to launch $12bn critical minerals stockpile to counter China’s dominance: FT reports US Export-Import Bank will provide $10bn in debt financing for effort named Project Vault.
America is alienating what could become a superpower: If Europe and Asian democracies coordinate, they can reshape the global balance. Max Boot
The stablecoin war: Wall Street vs crypto over the future of money: Banks say rules governing the digital currency are a risk to financial stability. Are they just trying to stamp out competition? FT
Capitalism has already ended and we don’t even know it, Yanis Varoufakis warns: Speaking to Euronews after his panel at Web Summit Qatar, the former Greek finance minister said the world could be heading toward another crisis like 2008, driven by the rise of stablecoins and powerful tech platforms. Euronews
*** US Politics + Elections ***
How Mike Johnson is scrambling to keep the shutdown short: Politico reports conservatives want the SAVE Act, a partisan elections bill, added to the $1.2 trillion spending package.
House GOP searches for votes to end shutdown with razor-thin majority: WP reports House Democrats have indicated privately that they do not plan to support the plan, leaving Republicans to go it alone.
CNN: Justice Department expected to ramp up efforts to deliver on Trump’s ‘weaponization’ priorities
Trump wants to ‘nationalize the voting,’ seeking to grab states’ power: WP reports Trump, who continues to falsely claim that he won the 2020 election, has baselessly alleged widespread fraud.
Trump, in an escalation, calls for Republicans to ‘nationalize’ elections: NYT reports the comments, made on a conservative podcast, follow a string of moves from his administration to try to exert more control over American elections.
Trump had unusual call with FBI agents after election center search: NYT reports Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, brokered the call and President Trump directly questioned frontline agents on the inquiry, The Times has learned.
CBS: Georgia's Fulton County to file motion after FBI seizes 2020 election ballots
Classified whistleblower complaint about Tulsi Gabbard stalls within her agency: Congress hasn’t seen the complaint, which was filed eight months ago with the US intelligence community’s watchdog office. WSJ
‘It’s been brutal’: Twin Cities economy suffers under ICE crackdown: NYT reports immigration raids have scared off customers and workers, a pattern repeated in other cities where federal officials have arrived in force.
Wanted: CEOs with backbone: The killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis is a moment for leaders to challenge America’s direction. Rana Foroohar
ICE agents hate being filmed: FT reports Trump administration accused of trampling First Amendment by targeting Americans recording immigration raids.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said today that the January jobs report will be delayed due to the shutdown, per Bloomberg.
‘Hot mess’: Former Trump cyber leader slams DHS leadership void: Politico reports Bridget Bean, the former acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said in an exclusive interview that without permanent leadership, agencies under DHS are “not working.”
Trump says not 'ripping' down Kennedy Center -- much: AFP reports Trump said Monday he would not demolish the Kennedy Center but hinted at major changes, a day after announcing he is closing the famed Washington arts venue for two years for renovations.
This famed architect says Trump’s plan for Kennedy Center is ‘absurd’: FC reports that Steven Holl, architect of the ‘much loved’ national cultural center’s recent expansion, has thoughts on its proposed 2-year closure.
‘Crisis’: The fallout from Trump’s surprise plan to close Kennedy Center: WP reports the president’s announcement shocked artists and staff. A letter obtained by The Washington Post brought the National Symphony Orchestra’s future into focus.
How the Supreme Court secretly made itself even more secretive: Amid calls to increase transparency and revelations about the court’s inner workings, the chief justice imposed nondisclosure agreements on clerks and employees. NYT
Trump’s AI push exposes a divide in the MAGA movement CNN
The real reason Silicon Valley won’t stand up to Trump Aaron Zamost
+ Zamost is a tech communications consultant and former head of communications, policy and people at Square.
The Hill: Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: MAGA ‘was all a lie’
Tina Smith endorses Peggy Flanagan over Angie Craig in Minnesota Senate race: Politico reports the retiring senator is choosing a fellow progressive and lieutenant governor as her successor over moderate Rep. Angie Craig.
Nancy Mace is not okay: “Something’s broken. The motherboard’s fried. We’re short-circuiting somewhere.” Jake Lahut
AFP: Epstein files: AI photos circulate of Zohran Mamdani’s mother at party
Clintons capitulate on House Epstein inquiry, agreeing to testify: NYT reports former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the ex-secretary of state, agreed to depositions they had long resisted days before the House was to vote to hold them in contempt.
*** Distribution + Innovation ***
SpaceX has acquired xAI, in a deal that encompasses the billionaire’s increasingly costly ambitions to dominate artificial intelligence and space exploration.
Elon Musk merges SpaceX with his AI start-up xAI: The deal further intermingles Musk’s companies and creates the most valuable private company on earth. NYT
SpaceX buys xAI to unite crucial parts of Musk’s empire: Rocket company and AI model builder to combine as billionaire envisions data centres in space. FT
SpaceX is requesting permission to launch as many as 1 million satellites into the Earth’s orbit in order to pull off Elon Musk’s latest grand vision of putting data centers in space to do complex computing for artificial intelligence.
Musk merges xAI into SpaceX in bid to build space data centers: AFP reports Elon Musk's SpaceX has taken over his artificial intelligence company xAI in a merger aimed at deploying space-based data centers, a statement said on Monday.
OpenAI accused Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company of “systematic and intentional destruction” of evidence in xAI’s lawsuit accusing the ChatGPT maker of trying to thwart competition in emerging markets.
A social network for AI bots only. No humans allowed. NYT reports a new website called Moltbook has become the talk of Silicon Valley and a Rorschach test for belief in the state of artificial intelligence.
A social network for AI agents is full of introspection—and threats: How worried should you be about Moltbook? Economist
The church of molt is not for humans: The rise of Crustafarianism has confounded many tech users, but what if AI agents are merely mimicking human behavior? Jessica Karl
SoftBank, Fanuc turn to partners as robotics and AI merge: Nikkei reports Japan's robotics industry struggles to catch up to physical AI technology.
Hyundai Motor to deploy AI robots at US plants as Trump tariffs hit profit: Nikkei reports humanoids by Boston Dynamics can run 24 hours a day.
Palantir shares jump 7% on rapid revenue growth: FT reports data intelligence group predicts 61% boost in sales this year.
Oracle plans to raise $45 billion to $50 billion this year through a combination of debt and equity sales to build additional cloud infrastructure capacity, reflecting the scale of financing needed to feed AI’s growth.
AI is not the only threat menacing Big Tech: Are Meta and Google ads really recession-proof? Economist
Waymo raised $16 billion at a $126 billion valuation, a funding round that reflects its rapid ascent as a robotaxi pioneer.
EU companies adopt BYD, Yutong buses despite China security fears: Nikkei reports German, Belgian, Austrian transport groups cite low price, superior electric tech.
Indonesian coffee chains brew stronger overseas ambitions: Slow domestic growth and robust regional demand drive expansion strategies. Nikkei
McDonald's is offering McNugget Caviar kits.
Eddie Bauer is closing stores as list of struggling mall retailers grows in 2026: FC reports the company that operates the outdoor recreation brand’s US stores is expected to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a source confirmed.
The wild markets behind Polymarket’s ‘truth machine’: Shayne Coplan has built the crypto-based betting platform into a $9 billion company; Justice Department probe gets shelved. WSJ
*** Culture ***
The real reasons Sundance’s legendary film fest is done with Park City: Next year’s move to Boulder was foreshadowed by red flags and rising costs. WP
The GRAMMYs: The only show where I have to Shazam every single performance just to know what’s going on.
*** Sport ***
Between the sheets at the college Excel championships: One of the most unusual — and fun — events in college sports is a high-stakes spreadsheeting competition in Las Vegas. WP
The half-billion dollar offseason that rebuilt the Patriots winning machine: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are long gone. But a new coach, a rising star at quarterback and an enormous offseason investment in the franchise has New England back in the Super Bowl. WSJ
Is football doomed? Chuck Klosterman thinks so. In his new book, the writer goes deep on a sport that dominates American cultural life — but possibly not for long. NYT
Do they call it a 'Quarterback with Cheese' over there? NFL's first game in France will be Browns-Saints in Paris on October 25.
It’s way too early to discuss Carlos Alcaraz as an all-time tennis great. Let’s do it anyway. The 22-year-old from Spain remains on a historic pace after winning his first Australian Open—and seventh major overall. Jason Gay
United by soccer, not mountain sports: Italians offer tepid enthusiasm for the Winter Olympics Eric Reguly
FIFA president Infantino defends giving peace prize to Trump: AFP reports FIFA chief Gianni Infantino defended his controversial decision to award a peace prize to United States president Donald Trump as he dismissed calls for a World Cup boycott.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal