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Elon Musk thanked President Trump Wednesday as his 130-day stint as a special government employee concluded, marking the tech billionaire's retreat from Washington back to his business empire. The Tesla CEO led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with slashing federal spending, but expressed disappointment with Trump's $4 trillion tax package.

Musk's government role was always time-limited under federal employment rules, but his influence waned as Trump prioritized tax cuts over spending reduction. Tesla shares soared Tuesday following Musk's pivot announcement, with the entrepreneur declaring he must focus on critical technologies rolling out at Tesla, X, and SpaceX (everything Musk owns).

DOGE's mission continues under other leadership, though Musk suggested the cost-cutting initiative would become a way of life throughout the government. His departure caps a brief but high-profile Washington chapter for the world's richest person, who now faces platform outages at X and critical product launches across his companies. Read about DOGE’s first 100 days.

Reverend Jamal Bryant launched a digital boycott of Dollar General Wednesday, targeting the retailer's email systems and phone lines rather than organizing traditional store protests. The Atlanta pastor, who previously led the ongoing "Target Fast" boycott, accused Dollar General of abandoning diversity initiatives and failing to invest in the Black and low-income communities that form its customer base.

The electronic approach acknowledges Dollar General's role in food deserts (read more here) where many customers have limited shopping alternatives and financial constraints. Bryant called the company's DEI rollback a betrayal of communities they profit from, following what he sees as corporate capitulation to Trump administration pressure.

Dollar General operates 20,500 stores across 48 states with $40.6 billion in annual sales, ranking 111th on the Fortune 500. The company touts $250 million in donations and 50 million meals provided through food bank partnerships (positive impact in hometowns), but faces mounting pressure over its retreat from diversity commitments in communities where it maintains dominant market presence (learn more).

E.l.f. Beauty agreed to acquire Hailey Bieber's cosmetics brand Rhode for up to $1 billion, combining two Gen Z-focused beauty companies in one of the industry's largest recent deals. The acquisition includes $600 million cash and $200 million in e.l.f. stock at closing, with potential additional payments of $200 million.

Rhode generated $212 million in sales since launching in 2022, building a cult following with products like $24 pocket blushes and $18 lip tints that will enter Sephora stores later this year. The deal helps e.l.f. diversify its supply chain away from China, where 75 percent of its products face new 55 percent tariffs that forced the company to raise prices by $1 per item across its lineup (Bieber’s rise here).

Bieber will serve as Rhode's chief creative officer and strategic adviser to the combined entity, maintaining her brand's creative direction while accessing e.l.f.'s distribution network. The acquisition reflects the premium valuations Gen Z beauty brands can command, with Rhode achieving billion-dollar status in just three years through targeted social media marketing and limited product assortments. Who are the richest women in beauty?

What's the secret to maximizing sauna benefits? Most people assume wet and dry saunas deliver similar results. Biohacker Bryan Johnson, who spends millions optimizing his biology, discovered why dry Finnish saunas are dramatically superior for longevity and performance when compared to wet saunas.

The difference lies in temperature gradients. Dry sauna hits your skin at 40°C within minutes while your core creeps up only 1°C. That forces your heart to pump 70% more blood - mimicking zone 3 cardio without moving a muscle. Your body produces up to 1 kg of sweat per hour for detoxification while activating heat shock proteins that boost cellular resilience.

Dry saunas lead to: 1. Enhanced Blood Flow, 2. Increased Sweating / Detox, 3. Improved Heat Tolerance, 4. Activation of Heat-Shock Proteins, and 5. Longer Exposure at Higher Temperatures. Wet saunas can't match this intensity. Stop settling for steam rooms. Start optimizing with Finnish precision. Your cardiovascular system will thank you decades later.

Learn how to rewire your relationship with fear. Free solo legend Alex Honnold, who conquered El Capitan's 3,000-foot granite face without ropes (documentary here), reveals how he transformed paralyzing fear into calculated confidence, and how his preparation methods can help you tackle your goals. Full interview here.

> Court Blocks Most Trump Tariffs citing presidential overreach as Constitution grants Congress trade authority (More) | Markets and stocks rally (More).

> Netflix's Hastings Joins Anthropic Board as streaming giant chairman backs OpenAI rival amid AI safety focus, adding to Microsoft board role (More).

> Nvidia Surges 5% as revenue hits record $44 billion despite China export ban, proving unstoppable AI demand (More).

> Xiaomi Launches YU7 SUV in Beijing showrooms to challenge Tesla Model Y, following SU7 sedan's success outselling Model 3 monthly (More).

> Vance Urges Crypto Political Push after industry spent $200M+ in 2024, helping defeat banking skeptic Sherrod Brown with $40M Ohio investment (More).

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