Morning Brew Daily

They unpack April’s surge in CPI and how the Iran war pushed energy and core prices to a three-year high. They trace inflation through food costs, supply chains, and wages. A Japanese snack maker strips color from packaging due to ink shortages. Corporate drama unfolds as a high-profile tech trial heats up. Harvard debates capping A grades to fight grade inflation, and a takeover bid gets rebuffed.

A trial over alleged stock manipulation puts short selling back in the spotlight and sparks debate about market tactics. Young Americans show a sharp drop in optimism about job prospects and the causes behind it are unpacked. Venmo is reworking its app into a social financial platform with privacy changes. Wordle is being adapted into a primetime TV game show with casting news.

Chip companies are surging thanks to AI-driven demand and a memory crunch reshaping winners and losers. Retail traders are piling into leveraged chip ETFs and buzzing about a possible melt-up. A lawsuit claims a major bowling chain has turned alleys into upscale dining and squeezed local competition. University of Michigan’s early OpenAI stake could pay off handsomely as legal drama unfolds.

A hantavirus outbreak linked to an expedition cruise and efforts to trace contacts and contain a rare strain. A record surge in U.S. crude and refined fuel exports reshaping global energy flows and market winners. Whirlpool flags consumer weakness while mixed earnings paint a divided picture of household spending. Google debuts a $100 screenless Fitbit Air aiming at wearables and AI-driven health coaching.

Tributes and controversies around the life of a cable TV pioneer. Corporate earnings that reveal surprisingly strong consumer spending. Musicians canceling tours as soaring ticket prices empty venues. Underwhelming hotel bookings tied to a major sporting event. A class-action payout for iPhone buyers. A quirky study about stolen fries tasting better. A tech deal linking AI firm Anthropic with SpaceX computing.

A major crypto firm trims staff as it pivots toward AI-driven team structures. Analysts debate whether AI hype or crypto weakness drove the move. A global beer giant posts its first sales growth in years, citing regional strength and big-event demand. A Canadian separatist movement hits a milestone toward secession. The Roomba inventor unveils a cuddly emotional-support robot pot.

A study on school cellphone bans that curb phone use but barely move test scores. Debates over workplace phone restrictions and privacy trade-offs. Backlash after wealthy donors are named honorary chairs at a major cultural gala. Colorado tech firms push back on a tough AI bill and consider leaving. Legacy dot‑com companies see renewed demand thanks to AI-driven data center needs. Tensions rise near the Strait of Hormuz.

A budget airline collapses, stranding travelers and reshaping low-cost fares. A bold $56B takeover bid aims to marry collectibles and e-commerce. Berkshire Hathaway navigates a leadership transition with a focus on AI and continuity. A viral baseball team draws record crowds with an entertainment-first playbook. Plus, a look at the week ahead in jobs, earnings, and major events.

They dig into GDP growth fueled by heavy AI spending and the strain of a K-shaped economy on consumers. Apple’s strong quarter and a planned leadership handoff get scrutiny. The ripple effects of GLP-1 drugs on snacks and breath come up. A high-profile fund launch falters in public markets. A quirky AI behavior paints models as goblins, and odd wildlife and movie news round out the show.

A rundown of big tech earnings from Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet and Amazon and why AI spending mattered. Coverage of the Fed keeping rates steady and Jerome Powell’s new role on the board. A look at $50 premium movie tickets and how theaters are boosting revenue. Reports on prediction market losses, rising sleep aid use, Uber adding hotel bookings, and LIV Golf’s funding collapse.