Good morning readers. Shaquille O'Neal, not just your average NBA legend, unveiled his slam-dunk strategy at TechCrunch Disrupt: investing in projects that are true game-changers. With Edsoma, an AI-powered app aiming to teach a million kids to read, he's not just shooting hoops; he's aiming to change lives. Inspired by a Jeff Bezos pep talk and armed with an MBA, O’Neal's play? Be genuinely nice and invest with purpose.

What a beauty.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Russell Brand’s past resurfaces

• Headline Hustle: FTX sues SBFs parents for funds, Mickey’s big bet, prisoned Americans return home

• The challenges with the shift to EV’s

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

WORLD

From laughter to controversy, Russell Brand faces the music

In a twist fit for the silver screen, YouTube has cut off the ad revenue faucet for British actor and comedian Russell Brand after a barrage of allegations painted a less-than-flattering portrait of the "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" star. The Metropolitan Police are dusting off an old casebook, now probing an alleged 2003 assault, and with several UK media outlets spotlighting accusations from four anonymous sources spanning 2006 to 2013, it's safe to say Brand is under the limelight—just not in the way he'd want.

Having amassed a YouTube audience of 6.6 million, Brand shot back at the claims, acknowledging his storied romantic history but underlining the consensual nature of his relationships. With unnamed witnesses in his corner and cries of a media witch hunt, it's Brand's word against the world's. But YouTube's not waiting for the curtain call—stating their commitment to community safety, they've made their move.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added fuel to the blazing headlines, labeling the allegations "serious and concerning." Meanwhile, the BBC hit the pause button on some Brand content, and Channel 4 is diving deep with their own investigation. Brand's history as a tabloid darling is hardly news, but this plot twist has led several companies to rewrite their scripts, cutting ties with the controversial comedian. Even as former Fox News figurehead Tucker Carlson rushes to Brand's defense, the spotlight on the actor's story is unlikely to dim anytime soon.

Headline Hustle

💰 FTX sues SBFs parents to recover funds. FTX is suing its founder Sam Bankman-Fried's parents, alleging they cozied up to the crypto fortune in some questionable ways. Both professors at Stanford Law, they apparently had a little too much inside access. FTX claims they got their hands on millions, from luxury Bahamian properties with to-die-for views to lavish gifts. And speaking of Stanford, it seems FTX's generosity extended there too, with the uni now promising to return the donations.

🐭 Mickey’s big bet. The House of Mouse is splurging a massive $60 billion to ramp up its parks and cruises in the next decade. Fantasizing about a "Frozen" wonderland or a "Black Panther" kingdom? Your dreams might just come true. With traditional TV taking a backseat, Disney's cruising full steam ahead with its theme parks. While Iger spilled some beans in Orlando, the full fairy tale is yet to unfold.

🇺🇸 Detained Americans return home. In a diplomatic move, five Americans held in Iran have returned to U.S. shores, following the Biden administration's decision to release billions ($6 billion to be exact) in previously sanctioned Iranian energy revenues. While the U.S. emphasizes these funds are earmarked strictly for humanitarian efforts, critics voice concerns over the potential implications of the deal. As both President Biden and Iran's Raisi attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York, expectations of high-level bilateral meetings remain low. With new sanctions against Iran and the future of its nuclear program still in question, U.S.-Iran relations continue to hang in a delicate balance.

AUTO

Dude, where’s my charging station?

In the hustle of the automotive industry's electric dance, major players are pumping big bucks into EVs. Ford's laying down a cool $50 billion by 2026, while GM's not far behind, with $35 billion earmarked till 2025. Volkswagen? Oh, just a casual near-$200 billion splash on EVs and tech by 2028. But here's the kicker—Americans might be stalling on the EV green light, all thanks to charger cold feet.

Multiple polls show a good chunk of would-be EV buyers have a charging-station phobia. They're either envisioning the dreaded "no charging stations in sight" scenario, doubting charger reliability, or just side-eyeing the convenience factor.

Wait…isn't Uncle Sam stepping in? President Joe Biden's certainly flashing some incentive cards to up the public charging game. Yet, it's Tesla—rocking 21,000 of America's 33,000 public fast chargers—that's cruising ahead. Tesla's slick Superchargers have other automakers drooling, and, sensing the mood, the likes of Ford, GM, and Volvo are hopping on the Tesla charging bandwagon.

Why the charging chaos? For one, non-Tesla chargers, especially those CCS ones, sometimes fumble on the reliability and user-friendly fronts. And, while Tesla played it smart early on with its expansive network, others are playing catch-up.

With the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law lighting the way for 500,000 new chargers by 2030 and companies like ChargePoint aiming to get their charger game on point, the future's looking... electrifying. Yet, as we anticipate more chargers, standardization, and public EV education, it's clear that the road to full electrification is a marathon, not a sprint. So here's to a charged future, one plug-in at a time.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

Instacart's shares surged 12% in their trading debut on the Nasdaq, closing at $33.70 on Tuesday (from an initial opening of $30).

Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service, Max, will offer live NBA and MLB games starting next month. Interested subscribers will need to pay an additional $9.99 a month for this feature.

Elon Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink, announced on Tuesday that it has gained approval to start recruiting for its first human trial of a brain implant designed for paralysis patients.

Grayscale Investments filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission Tuesday for a new exchange-traded fund tracking ether futures.

Amazon's Prime Video is introducing a virtual shopping experience linked to its series "Gen V," a spin-off of "The Boys." Amazon hints at potentially expanding such shopping experiences to more Prime Video series and films in the future.

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