Trump just launched... a gold MAGA phone

Author

Noel Moldvai
June 19, 2025

TL;DR. With the world on the edge of WW3, the only thing Trump is launching is a $499 gold MAGA phone. Meanwhile, Meta’s throwing $100M at OpenAI’s top minds and still getting shut down, and Coinbase is pushing for 24/7 blockchain stock trading on Wall Street.

Trump’s $499 gold MAGA phone is here and it’s already raising eyebrows

Trump Mobile is promising U.S.-made phones, unlimited data, and MAGA branding galore. But at $499, critics say there’s no way it’s actually made in America. It’s peak political merch, and available for preorder.

Even $100M isn’t enough for Meta to poach OpenAI’s best

Meta tried to stack its new AI dream team by luring OpenAI researchers with sky-high offers. Sam Altman says not a single one took the bait, calling Meta more money-driven than mission-focused. The AI talent war just got personal.

Coinbase pushes the SEC to greenlight 24/7 stock trading on the blockchain

Coinbase is pushing the SEC to let it trade tokenized stocks on the blockchain, around the clock. If it gets approved, the platform could blow past traditional trading hours and give retail investors nonstop access to public equities.

Why secondary markets matter more than ever in global investing

Public stocks may be soaring, but private markets are also gaining ground. As companies stay private longer, investors are turning to secondary markets for access to pre-IPO giants and alternative returns.

This article breaks down the rise of private secondaries, their role in global finance, and how platforms like Augment are making them more accessible and transparent.

Quick Takes

Cheerio! Until next week.
-Noel