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Today we're covering Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, a $200 million dollar putter, and the science behind “the perfect nap.”

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Ghislaine Maxwell urged the Supreme Court Monday to overturn her sex trafficking conviction while her attorney simultaneously appealed to President Trump for intervention. Maxwell argues her conviction violates a nonprosecution agreement Jeffrey Epstein signed with federal prosecutors in 2007, according to court filings.

The appeal centers on whether Epstein's 2007 deal with Florida prosecutors applies nationwide. Lower courts ruled the agreement only covers that district, not New York prosecutors who sentenced Maxwell to 20 years for aiding Epstein's abuse of underage girls.

Trump said Monday he's "allowed to give her" a pardon but "nobody's approached me." Maxwell's attorney made his most direct suggestion yet of presidential intervention. The Justice Department opposes the Supreme Court appeal, calling it an "unsuitable vehicle" for review. Maxwell’s final plea here.

A police officer and two others were shot Monday evening at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan (NYT). The gunman was killed and the building housing Blackstone and other major firms was locked down around 6 p.m.

The building contains offices for the National Football League, KPMG, and Rudin Management real estate firm. NFL staff sheltered awaiting police clearance to leave. Police did not immediately provide details on the wounded officer's condition or circumstances of the shooting.

By 7 p.m., people began exiting the building in small groups with hands raised as police helicopters hovered overhead. "The scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralized," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on social media (More).

L Catterton, the private-equity firm backed by luxury giant LVMH, acquired a majority stake in L.A.B. Golf at a valuation exceeding $200 million (WSJ). The deal follows J.J. Spaun's U.S. Open victory using the company's distinctive putter last month.

L.A.B. Golf, based in Creswell, Oregon, manufactures putters designed to eliminate torque through patented technology. The company sold 130,000 units last year and expects to triple sales in 2025. Their putters start at $399, with customizations pushing prices over $1,000.

The acquisition represents remarkable growth for a startup that began in a trailer. About a dozen PGA Tour players currently use L.A.B. putters, while recreational golfers increasingly adopt the technology. CEO Sam Hahn will remain with the company following the transaction. Video of the “best putter ever” here.

Standard advice says "20 minutes maximum," but sleep scientists revealed timing isn't everything: your circadian rhythm determines when those 20 minutes actually work.

Dr. Sara Mednick's Protocol:

Traditional nappers ignore chronotypes. Advanced sleepers understand: your wake time determines your ideal nap window, not arbitrary clock rules.

Studies on circadian rhythms show dramatic differences between larks, owls, and third birds. The post-lunch slump isn't laziness—it's your body's cue for restoration.

The Results: Enhanced alertness, improved memory consolidation, sustained afternoon performance without disrupting bedtime sleep.

See her Ted Talk on sleep here.

"You can't plan to meet the people who will change your life." Steve Jobs' insight reveals luck's unpredictability, but writer Cate Hall shows you can engineer serendipity through deliberate action. The distinguishing feature of unusually successful people: they just try a lot of stuff. Rate of experimentation beats success percentage. Meet 1-2 strangers daily vs. weekly and you'll hit escape velocity. Operate from genuine curiosity, assume you're auditioning for bigger roles, give before you take. The principle: increase your surface area for luck by treating every interaction like it matters - because you never know which meeting will change everything (More).

> Ocasio-Cortez breaks with Squad on Israel funding, positioning for Senate run against Schumer (More).

> Trump allows federal workers to persuade colleagues their religion is "correct" in new memo (More).

> Berkshire sells one-third VeriSign stake worth $1.3B, reducing holdings below 10% regulatory threshold (More).

> Procter & Gamble replaces CEO Moeller with COO Jejurikar after four years in top role (More).

> Shaolin Temple abbot investigated for embezzlement and "improper relationships" with women, violating celibacy vows (More).

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