Big Moves and Big Questions in Tech and Politics

SoftBank recently made a bold move, selling off its entire stake in Nvidia for a whopping $5.8 billion. This decision comes as Masa Son, SoftBank’s CEO, is putting a massive $30 billion into OpenAI. It’s got people wondering: does Son see more potential in OpenAI than in Nvidia? This shift in investment strategy is definitely something to keep an eye on.

Government Shutdown Ends After 42 Days

The government shutdown is finally coming to an end after 42 long days. The Senate voted 60-40 to reopen the government, but the House still needs to approve it. The shutdown has caused a lot of problems, especially for travelers and people who rely on Obamacare. Even though the government is reopening, the effects of the shutdown will linger for a while.

Healthcare Crisis Looms

One big issue is healthcare. The compromise that ended the shutdown didn’t include an extension of federal health insurance subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. This has left many Democrats upset, and it could have big implications for the midterm elections. Republicans are also focusing on alternatives like health savings accounts, but the bottom line is that millions of Americans are likely to see a big increase in their health insurance premiums in 2026.

Air Travel Chaos

Air travel is also going to be a mess for a while. The F. A. A. has mandated reduced traffic at 40 major airports, and it’s going to take some time to get back to normal. Airlines are dealing with a lot of bottlenecks, and it’s unclear when enough air traffic controllers will return to work to handle the resumption of pre-shutdown flight levels.

Meta's AI Chief Yann LeCun Plans to Leave

Meta’s chief A. I. scientist, Yann LeCun, is reportedly planning to leave the company to start his own venture. This is just the latest shake-up in Meta’s A. I. division, which has been spending millions to catch up with rivals like OpenAI and Google.

Visa and Mastercard Allow Merchants to Reject Reward-Point Cards

Visa and Mastercard have also made a big change, allowing merchants to reject reward-point cards. This move has infuriated some big banks, but retailers are under pressure to keep accepting popular cards or risk losing sales.

Crypto Investors Borrowing More to Speculate

Crypto investors have been borrowing more and more to speculate on the market. This has led to a surge in the popularity of “perp” contracts, a kind of futures instrument that never expires. These contracts give traders the leverage to amplify gains or losses by as much as 1,001-fold. However, these leveraged bets can unwind fast, setting off a “liquidation cascade.”

Digital Asset Treasury Companies Under Scrutiny

Analysts are also keeping an eye on Digital Asset Treasury companies, which buy and hold huge amounts of Bitcoin or other tokens on their financial balance sheets. These companies have fueled a crypto rally, but with Bitcoin and other tokens falling in value, their share prices are sinking too.

Warren Buffett Prepares to Step Back

Warren Buffett, the legendary CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is getting ready to step back from his role. The 95-year-old billionaire has written in his latest message to shareholders that he’s getting ready to stop writing his famous February letters and end his lengthy appearances at Berkshire investor meetings. Buffett has praised Greg Abel, his handpicked successor, and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the company.

Bill Gates on Climate Change Anxiety

Finally, Bill Gates has suggested that decades of dire warnings about climate change might have sapped enthusiasm for confronting the problem head-on. A new Harris Poll conducted for the Milken Institute found that 65 percent of those surveyed felt “anxious about climate solutions and unable to envision practical action.”