Good Morning. A shepherd, a helicopter, and a dead Iraqi soldier nearly blew Israel's secret desert war base. Here’s what we now know.
We also include GameStop's carpet sale, rural Missouri's career fix, and a $6.6B OpenAI payday (forwarded this email? Join 523k readers).
TOP STORY TODAY
Israel's Iraq Base
Israel built a clandestine military outpost in Iraq's western desert just before its air war with Iran began, using it to house special forces and search-and-rescue teams. The US knew. Iraq did not. Satellite images show the makeshift airstrip.
The base nearly came undone in early March. A local shepherd reported strange helicopter activity. Iraqi troops drove out at dawn to investigate and came under Israeli airstrikes that killed one soldier and wounded two. Iraq later blamed the US at the UN.
The outpost let Israel close roughly 1,000 miles of distance to its targets. Its air force ran thousands of strikes across the five-week campaign. The outgoing air force chief hinted at the operation, calling the missions ones that "could ignite the imagination."
eBay Bans Cohen
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen got his eBay seller account suspended Wednesday night, less than 10 hours after posting that he was selling personal items to help fund GameStop's $56 billion bid to acquire eBay itself.
His listings included old GameStop store signs, a company mug, a square of GameStop carpet, and a pair of worn Adidas crew socks that meme stock fans bid up to roughly $14,188. Each buyer was promised a signed copy of the offer letter.
The bigger problem is the bid itself. GameStop's market cap sits near $11 billion. TD Bank committed $20 billion. The funding gap to reach $56 billion is unexplained. The eBay listings would have raised about $138,000. This fine print could kill the deal.
Small Town Jobs
Billionaire Byron Trott is placing career advisers in rural high schools across seven states through his rootEd Alliance, a 2018 initiative now funded with roughly $100 million from private and public sources, including the Walton and Taylor families.
The model is simple. One dedicated adviser per school, agnostic on college versus trade versus military. Schools with a rootEd adviser see students 54% less likely to land in low-skill jobs and 30% more likely to pursue college or training.
It partners with 280 schools and growing. Trott, a former Goldman banker who advised Warren Buffett, grew up in small-town Missouri himself. His high school counselor doubled as the football coach and driver's ed teacher. How RootED works here.
TOGETHER WITH HEYPOLO
Stop the "Where are you?" Distraction
Frequent check-in texts are the ultimate focus-killers.
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It’s the invisible safety net that lets you focus on your day, knowing your loved ones are where they need to be. No data selling, no 24/7 tracking, just smarter connection.
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TODAY’S LIFE ADVICE
George Clooney’s Secret Charisma Trick
George Clooney walks into every room like he's the mayor. Not loud. Not working it. Just assuming everyone there is already a friend.
The wild part: they become one.
The trick? "Imagine everyone you meet is an old friend.” This "unlocks a lightness in our nervous system," says vocal coach Caroline Goyder.
Try it this week:
Walk in deciding they already like you. Watch what your face does.
Hold eye contact one beat past comfortable.
Ask about their work before you mention yours.
It's not charm. It's a decision you make before you shake the hand.
Want the rest of Clooney's playbook? [Read this article.]
How To Face Tragedy With Joy
Martin Short was 12 when his brother died in a car accident. Both parents gone before he turned 20. His wife Nancy to ovarian cancer. His daughter Catherine, this past February. He still shows up.
His secret isn't avoiding the dark. It's what he calls heading to the light, the discipline of finding the "that's why" moment. For him, it was two grandsons screaming "Papa, let's play Giant" after his son's house burned down.
Grief, he says, is a muscle. Use it and it strengthens. Curious how Marty keeps "operating at the speed of joy"?
TRENDING
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▲ Poppi exit mints founder Allison Ellsworth a centimillionaire after $1.95 billion PepsiCo sale, fueling $180,000 Escalade splurges
▲ Bobby Cox dies at 84, the Braves manager who won the 1995 World Series and 14 straight division titles
▲ OpenAI payday lets 600+ employees cash out $6.6 billion collectively, with 75 staffers each pocketing the full $30 million
▲ Sean Duffy debuts YouTube reality show funded by Boeing, Shell, Toyota, and other companies his agency regulates.
▲ The View faces FCC probe over equal-airtime rules after Trump made 18 appearances on the show before their feud.
TOGETHER WITH SKECHERS
Seth Wilmoth Completes 13 Marathons in 13 Days Across California Wearing Skechers
Skechers proudly partnered with Seth Wilmoth as he successfully completed Project Gold Rush
13x13, an extraordinary challenge featuring 13 marathon-distance runs in 13 consecutive days, covering more than 340 miles across California. Equipped with Skechers performance apparel and pairs of Skechers AERO Burst and AERO Razor running shoes, Seth pushed the limits of both human endurance and performance innovation, conquering dramatic shifts in terrain, elevation, and climate without a single day of rest.
On May 2nd, Seth concluded the challenge with a special event in Los Angeles, bringing together the running community, supporters, and partners to celebrate this remarkable accomplishment.
As the exclusive footwear and apparel sponsor for the Project Gold Rush initiative, Skechers was present at the final run event with a dedicated activation where attendees had the opportunity to try on Skechers AERO running shoes and receive Skechers Performance branded t-shirts.
More than a test of physical limits, Project Gold Rush was a mission-driven initiative. Seth set out to raise $26,200 in support of California’s State Parks Foundation, helping preserve and protect the public lands that define California’s identity. To date, the campaign has raised over $9,000 (donate directly to the fund here).
Throughout his journey, Seth traversed all 13 California Level III ecoregions, offering a rare, ground level perspective of the state's natural diversity. His routes took him across deserts, coastal regions, mountain ranges, and valleys, showcasing the full spectrum of California’s landscapes.
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Fun Links
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New Anthony Bourdain movie looks great [Trailer]
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