US soldier charged with using classified intel to win $400K Polymarket bet on Maduro raid
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the mission to win more than $400,000 in an online betting market. Federal officials unsealed the indictment Thursday. Gannon Ken Van Dyke was part of the work to capture Maduro in January and used his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market site Polymarket, the federal prosecutor’s office in New York said. He has been charged with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.
Meta slashes 8,000 jobs, or 10% of its workforce, as Microsoft offers buyouts
In the latest round of tech industry job cuts, Meta is laying off about 8,000 workers and Microsoft is offering buyouts to a similar number. Meta confirmed Thursday it plans to cut about 10% of its workforce in an effort to invest in other parts of its business and for efficiency, as first reported by Bloomberg. Microsoft is taking a different approach by offering voluntary buyouts to thousands of its U.S. employees.
Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in a historic shift
WASHINGTON (AP) — A cannabis industry group calls President Donald Trump’s reclassification of state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug “the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy" in decades. The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp says the Trump administration action recognizes “cannabis is medicine.” The order the Republican president's acting attorney general signed Thursday Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them and allows state-licensed medical marijuana companies for the first time to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes. Critics say marijuana is harmful and policy is being dictated by ”CEOs, psychedelics investors, and podcasters in active addiction.”
What to know about a federal order reclassifying medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug
President Donald Trump's administration has reclassified medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The order, signed Thursday, marks a first step toward broader federal acceptance. It could boost research and profitability in the marijuana industry. But it doesn't legalize marijuana under federal law. The reclassification moves state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, alongside substances like ketamine. Recreational marijuana remains a Schedule I drug, like heroin. The change could allow businesses that sell medical marijuana to claim tax deductions for expenses, though complications remain. Studies show that marijuana use has increased nationally, as more states embrace legalization.
Trump's 'gold card' visa starting at $1 million granted to just 1 person so far, White House says
President Donald Trump's “gold card” visa program, which allows foreigners to live and work in the U.S. for at least $1 million, has approved just one person since December, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced this Thursday. Trump introduced the idea last year, initially suggesting a $5 million cost to attract foreign talent and boost federal funds. The program replaces the EB-5 visa, which required a $1 million investment in a company with at least 10 employees. Lutnick noted hundreds are in the queue and praised the program's rigorous vetting process. The initiative is managed by Homeland Security.
US stocks fall on a shaky Wall Street as Brent oil briefly barrels above $107
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks pulled back from their record heights on a shaky Wall Street. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Thursday to halt a weekslong rally. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.9%. Tesla helped drag the market lower on concerns about how much it's spending to build factories. Stocks also took a hit after the price for a barrel of Brent crude to be delivered in June briefly jumped above $107. Uncertainty continues about what will happen with the Iran war. That sent the S&P 500 suddenly down as much as 1.3% before it trimmed its loss.
Trump threats against Iran are a boon for prediction markets, including some backed by his son
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump loves to keep people guessing about his next policy moves, a reality TV, cliffhanger governing style that is helping “events” wagering companies, including some backed by one of his sons. Traders flocked to Polymarket this month to bet on whether Trump really was going bomb Iran back to the Stone Age or just call a ceasefire. The value of the company, in which Donald Trump Jr. has a stake, has increased tenfold from the summer, according to research firm PitchBook, and is now nearly $10 billion. A spokesman for Trump Jr. dismissed any concerns about him profiting off the business as left wing propaganda.
Trump considers a taxpayer takeover of Spirit Airlines and would aim to resell carrier
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is weighing a taxpayer takeover of Spirit Airlines and would aim to resell the troubled carrier after oil prices drop. The president confirmed his continued interest in offering Spirit a financial lifeline after a lawyer told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court that the airline was in advanced talks with the U.S. government on a financing deal. Speaking at an unrelated Oval Office event, Trump said he had “a smart person” in mind who could potentially run Spirit and that he believed the could get back on solid financial footing and eventually be sold for a profit
Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount's $81 billion takeover of the Hollywood giant
NEW YORK (AP) — An $81 billion Warner-Paramount mega merger has received shareholders’ stamp of approval, propelling a deal that could vastly reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape closer to the finish line. On Thursday, Warner Bros. Discovery said the overwhelming majority of its shareholders voted in support of selling the entire business to Skydance-owned Paramount for $31 a share. That means HBO Max, cult-favorite titles like “Harry Potter” and even CNN could soon find themselves under the same roof with CBS, “Top Gun” and the Paramount+ streaming service. But it’s not a done deal quite yet. The acquisition still faces ongoing regulatory reviews.
Trump unveils deal with Regeneron to lower drug prices as part of most-favored-nation initiative
President Donald Trump has announced a deal with Regeneron to lower the cost of its pharmaceutical products. The agreement, announced Thursday, includes lowering the prices of current and future drugs on Medicaid and selling a cholesterol drug for $225 on the White House’s discounted drug website, TrumpRx. The deal first reported by NOTUS is part of the Trump administration's efforts to provide economic relief to Americans ahead of the midterm elections. It's one of many deals the White House has struck that aim to align U.S. pharmaceutical prices with other developed nations. Details of these agreements remain undisclosed, but Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says nonproprietary information will be shared with Congress.
