Fund Performance and Strategy - The 1789 Capital Growth Equity Fund has experienced significant growth, with assets increasing from $200 million to $2 billion by December 31, 2025, and is now closed to new investors [1] - The firm has launched a new 1789 Real Estate fund, which has raised $1 billion in a few months, targeting migration from high-tax states to Southern Florida [2] Investment Focus - The fund aims to capitalize on the demand for commercial space, housing, hospitals, and schools due to population shifts from states like New York to Florida [2] - Notable investments include Elon Musk's SpaceX, which may go public this year with a potential valuation of $1 trillion, and AI company Groq, which partnered with Nvidia in a deal valued at approximately $20 billion [3] Defense Technology Investments - The fund holds a position in Anduril, a defense tech company founded by Palmer Luckey, which is set to begin large-scale manufacturing of an autonomous fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force [5][6] - The YFQ-44 is described as an autonomous "loyal wingman" that operates alongside manned pilots, enhancing operational capabilities [6] Other Notable Investments - The fund has invested in GrabAGun, an online gun retailer, which has seen a significant stock price increase of 15.34% recently [8] - Trump Jr. has indicated that the investment in GrabAGun represents a "catalyst for change" amid a cultural shift regarding Second Amendment rights [9]

Core Insights - GameStop is continuing to close more stores, having closed 590 locations in fiscal 2024 and planning to close a significant number of additional stores in fiscal 2025, which ends in January 2026 [1][3] - The company has faced ongoing financial difficulties due to the rise of digital game downloads and increased competition from online retailers and big-box chains [6] - GameStop's revenue has declined, with a reported drop of $39.3 million year over year in its December earnings report [8] Store Closures - GameStop did not disclose the specific number of stores to be closed in fiscal 2025 or their locations, but recent social media posts have shown pictures of shuttered locations across various states [2] - The company has indicated that the closures are part of a broader strategy to adapt to changing market conditions and consumer behavior [1][3] Financial Strategy - In early 2025, GameStop revised its investment policy to allow for investments in Bitcoin, aiming to provide sufficient liquidity for day-to-day operations while optimizing investment returns [5] - The company has granted CEO Ryan Cohen a performance-based stock option award contingent on the market cap reaching $100 billion, while the current market cap stands at $9 billion [10] Market Context - GameStop has transitioned from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer to a well-known meme stock, particularly following retail investor interest in early 2021 [9][12] - The company has lost over 34% of its stock value in the past 12 months, reflecting ongoing challenges in the retail and gaming sectors [12]

Group 1 - President Trump is hosting top oil executives to discuss investment opportunities in Venezuela following the military's capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife [1][6] - The meeting includes major American oil companies such as Chevron, Exxon, and ConocoPhillips, among others, to restore Venezuelan oil infrastructure [2][12] - Trump announced that Venezuelan oil will be turned over to the U.S., with an estimated 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to be sold at market price, with funds controlled by the U.S. government [9][10] Group 2 - The U.S. plans to run Venezuela and extract oil from its reserves for years, with discussions focused on ramping up oil production in the country [12] - Currently, Chevron is the only U.S. oil company operating in Venezuela, while others like ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil had their assets nationalized [12]

Group 1 - The U.S. economy experienced modest job growth in December, with employers adding 50,000 jobs, which was below the expected 60,000 jobs [1] - The unemployment rate slightly declined to 4.4% in December, lower than the anticipated 4.5% [2] - Revisions to previous payroll numbers indicated that employment in October and November was 76,000 jobs lower than initially reported, with October's loss revised down by 68,000 jobs and November's gain revised down by 8,000 jobs [3] Group 2 - Private payrolls added 37,000 jobs in December, which was below the estimate of 64,000 jobs [3] - Government payrolls increased by 13,000 jobs in December, with local government adding 18,000 jobs and federal government adding 2,000 jobs, while state government employment declined by 7,000 jobs [4]

Group 1 - More than 13,000 Isla Rae-branded wireless chargers sold in the U.S. have been recalled due to explosion risks while in use, posing fire and burn hazards [1][5] - The chargers were sold at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls for $15 between June 2024 and November 2025, available in white, pink, and purple [2] - An additional 7,000 chargers were sold in Canada, compatible with magnetic charging systems and identified by model number RM5PBM [5] Group 2 - Customers are advised to stop using the chargers immediately and request a refund, with specific disposal instructions for the lithium-ion batteries [8][10] - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported no injuries related to the chargers thus far [10]

Core Viewpoint - President Trump is directing representatives to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower mortgage rates, attributing economic issues to the Biden administration and claiming to restore the "American Dream" [1][2]. Group 1: Housing Market Initiatives - Trump emphasizes the importance of the housing market, stating that he chose not to sell Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during his presidency, which he claims has resulted in significant financial benefits [2]. - The proposed purchase of $200 billion in mortgage bonds is intended to reduce mortgage rates and make homeownership more affordable for Americans [2][5]. - Trump argues that high inflation has made homeownership unattainable for many, particularly younger buyers, and that the housing market has strayed from its traditional role as a pathway to the American Dream [6]. Group 2: Policy Proposals - Trump plans to ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, which he believes will help restore affordability in the housing market [5][9]. - Details on the implementation of this ban are not provided, but Trump intends to discuss it further at the World Economic Forum in Davos [8]. Group 3: Critique of the Biden Administration - Trump criticizes the Biden administration for neglecting the housing market while focusing on issues like crime and inflation, claiming that the previous administration destroyed affordability [2][5]. - He asserts that his administration's actions have already begun to fix the economic issues left by Biden, particularly in the housing sector [2].

Core Viewpoint - President Trump aims to revive the housing market by banning institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, claiming that the current market is suffering due to policies from the Biden administration [1][4][8]. Group 1: Policy Announcement - Trump announced plans to prohibit institutional investors from buying single-family homes, emphasizing the need for individual ownership [2][4]. - The initiative targets Wall Street landlords, with Trump urging Congress to formalize this anti-Wall Street housing policy [4][8]. Group 2: Market Impact - Bill Pulte, Director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency, stated that corporations are purchasing homes at 20% to 30% less than average Americans, which is pricing citizens out of the housing market [5][7]. - Pulte criticized the current situation where corporations are acquiring homes while individuals struggle to find affordable housing [7]. Group 3: Political Context - The move to block corporate home purchases aligns with long-standing Democratic priorities, although previous Democratic leaders failed to take action on the issue [8]. - Pulte noted that Trump is taking decisive action where Democrats have not, highlighting the contrast in approaches to the housing market [8]. Group 4: Real Estate Expertise - Pulte emphasized the advantage of having a president with real estate experience, stating that Trump understands the importance of maintaining high home prices while ensuring affordability for individuals [10].

Core Viewpoint - Hilton Hotels is distancing itself from the Hampton Inn in Lakeville, Minnesota, following allegations that the hotel refused service to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, highlighting the company's commitment to its brand values and inclusivity [1][5][6]. Group 1: Company Actions - Hilton is removing signs from the Hampton Inn property and has taken the hotel out of its system, indicating a severance of ties with the independently operated franchise [2][5]. - The company is investigating the incident, asserting that the actions of the hotel do not reflect Hilton's values of hospitality and inclusivity [5][6]. Group 2: Incident Details - The controversy arose after DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that the hotel denied accommodations to ICE agents, which was communicated through emails from the hotel staff [4][8]. - The incident has sparked significant backlash online, with some individuals praising the hotel's refusal to serve ICE agents, while others condemned the actions as undermining law enforcement [11][9]. Group 3: Brand Positioning - Hilton has a history of distancing itself from immigration detention activities, previously stating that hotels should be places of hospitality and should not be associated with the detainment of migrants [12][13].

Core Viewpoint - Paramount continues to assert that its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is superior to Netflix's deal, despite opposition from WBD's board of directors [1][4]. Group 1: Paramount's Offer - Paramount launched a hostile takeover bid for all of WBD, including cable assets that Netflix did not acquire, with an offer of $30.00 per share in cash [2][7]. - Paramount claims to have addressed all concerns raised by WBD, including providing an irrevocable personal guarantee by Larry Ellison for the equity portion of the financing [6][10]. - The company argues that its offer provides greater value and a more certain path to completion for WBD shareholders compared to Netflix's deal, which has decreased in total value since its announcement [7][10]. Group 2: WBD's Response - WBD's Board of Directors, led by Chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr., unanimously rejected Paramount's tender offer, stating that the Netflix deal remains superior across multiple key areas [3][13]. - Di Piazza emphasized that Paramount's offer presents insufficient value and involves significant debt financing risks, which could jeopardize the transaction's completion [14]. - WBD has not disclosed any analysis to help shareholders value their potential ongoing ownership of the linear stub, which Paramount claims illustrates the challenges ahead for Discovery's cable assets [9].

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government is looking to increase involvement in Venezuela's oil sector, with discussions planned between President Trump and major U.S. oil companies to explore opportunities for development and investment in the country’s oil resources [2][5]. Group 1: U.S. Oil Companies' Involvement - Chevron is currently the only major U.S. oil company operating in Venezuela, while ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil had operations there before nationalization under Hugo Chávez [3]. - U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright indicated that there is significant interest from American companies to assist in Venezuela's oil sector, with expectations of a quick increase in Chevron's activities and engagement from other firms like Conoco and Exxon [2][5]. Group 2: Venezuela's Oil Production - Venezuela's oil output has drastically declined from approximately 3.5 million barrels per day in the late 1990s to about 1.1 million barrels per day by the end of 2025, attributed to underinvestment, mismanagement, sanctions, and infrastructure decay [5]. - Wright predicts that with renewed investment and engagement from U.S. companies, Venezuela's oil production could rise from around 800,000 barrels per day to over 1 million barrels per day [7]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - The U.S. government plans to oversee Venezuelan oil sales as part of efforts to support the country's transition post-Maduro, aiming to align incentives for both nations and improve conditions in Venezuela [5][7]. - Wright emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that Venezuela could benefit from working with the U.S. to enhance oil revenue and address issues of criminality and displacement [6][7].