🌊 Play Bal(ogun)!
Plus: Trump buys $1.4B in stocks, OpenAI offers 5% stake, & the Ayatollah's funeral
The walkout worked.
Last Friday, we wrote about the spectacular injustice of Flo Balogun’s red card in the Bosnia match and called for a school walkout to rectify it. Well, it turns out that the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence interceded for the boys in red, white, and blue and knocked some sense into FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has since (cue Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd) rescinded it.
We won’t address the fact that this is only the second time in World Cup history that a red card has been rescinded or that the intercession took the form of a Trump phone call. All we’ll say is welcome back, Flo. Time to make our Founders proud tonight. Indeed, we all know there’s nothing Elbridge Gerry loved more than soccer. Make him proud.
In all seriousness, we hope you all had an AMAZING fourth. We consider each of you among our favorite Americans — here’s to another 250.
FT: Trump bought $1.4B in stocks last year
FIFA reverses Balogun’s red card!
OpenAI offers the US a 5% stake?
-Max and Max
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Trump Gives July 4 Speech
President Trump marked the 250th anniversary of US independence on Saturday in Washington, DC, with a speech covering both patriotic themes and political topics
Severe weather forced a two-hour evacuation of the National Mall ahead of Trump’s remarks, which were delayed until after 11 PM
Trump addressed his SAVE America Act, an elections bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and criticized "communists" – referring to the democratic socialists who've won recent primaries in Colorado and New York
A record fireworks display followed, while record heat prompted fireworks cancellations elsewhere on the East Coast
Have Young Americans Forgotten How to Live?
Gen Z, the data show, date less, have less sex, and drink less than when past generations were our age. Simply put, we are, by and large, a boring generation.
Many factors might explain this: The pandemic, dating apps, social media, poor mental health, the rising costs of living, and an increasing awareness of the health risks of drugs and alcohol. But beyond the risky activities that are often associated with having a good time, there’s another strange trend among Gen Z: Many of us won’t dance.
Are today’s youth prisoners of the panopticon?
Khamenei’s Funeral Procession Begins
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral began last week, with his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, absent from the procession
Mojtaba has not appeared publicly since taking over as supreme leader in March. Sources told Reuters he suffered facial disfigurement and a leg injury in the US-Israeli strike that killed his father
Iranian authorities say 12–20M people are expected to attend the week’s ceremonies. Tens of thousands packed Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Sunday, chanting against the US and Israel
Khamenei’s remains will move through Iran before being buried on Thursday in his hometown, Mashhad
Trump Bought Over $1.4B in Stocks
Trump made up to $1.4B in stock purchases last year, per a Financial Times analysis of his newly released 2025 financial disclosure
He disclosed at least $2.2B in outside income and reported over 22,000 stock transactions – far more than the 517 he made during his first term
Most of Trump’s accounts tracked broad indices, but one showed more targeted picks, including Kura Sushi and Kratos Defense. He also bought tens of millions in Microsoft, Nvidia, and Apple
A CNBC analysis found that Trump made 327 stock purchases on April 8, 2025, right before the market bottomed out from his tariffs and then rebounded
Balogun to Play Against Belgium
FIFA lifted the red card suspension against US striker Folarin Balogun, the US’ top scorer this world cup, clearing him to face Belgium on Monday in the World Cup round of 16
Balogun was sent off for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic last Wednesday, triggering an automatic one-game ban that FIFA said couldn’t be appealed
The decision was especially controversial – the referee didn’t initially flag a foul on the play but reviewed the collision on the monitor before issuing the card. Last week, President Trump asked the FIFA president to reverse the ban. FIFA then reversed course on Sunday
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” to see his suspension lifted. Balogun has been the US’ top scorer this World Cup, netting three goals in three starts
Olympian Charged Over Reflecting Pool
A former Olympic canoe racer was indicted on a felony property destruction charge tied to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
OpenAI Floats Government Stake
OpenAI has discussed giving the US government a 5% equity stake as it works to ease political tensions with the Trump Administration.
June Job Growth Slows
Employers added just 57,000 jobs in June, far short of economists' 115,000 forecast, while April and May figures were revised down by a combined 74,000.
What Does Roca Nation Think?
🇺🇸 Today’s Question: Any reflections on the Monday after America’s 250th?
Reply to this email with your response!
Bison Boom
Seven years after 12 zoo-raised European bison were released onto Azerbaijan's Shahdagh mountain slopes, the herd has grown to include 25 wild-born calves.
Driveway Disappearance
A Florida homeowner returned to find her entire driveway had been ripped up and hauled away as part of an alleged scam originating in Nigeria, according to police.
Sky-High Yes
Russian "rooftopping" duo Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus scaled the Empire State Building's antenna without tethers and got engaged 1,454 feet above Manhattan last week. Police met the pair at a landing inside the spire, and the couple now faces burglary and reckless endangerment charges.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts
In our latest video, we visit Fayetteville, NC, to see what life is like in the home of America’s largest military base. We saw the city with one of the biggest social media stars in America, VicBlends. And if you’re someone whose skin crawls when you hear “influencer,” we don’t blame you — but Vic actually does uplifting content.
And we’re grateful he took the time to drive back home to do this with us. Hope you enjoy!
–Max and Max
I grew up in Fayetteville…it is now a black community…used to be mostly white and then black men took over the military base…and thus Fayetteville…can’t go back to visit…too dangerous