U.S. Buys 10% of Intel, Musk’s Grok 2.5 Goes Open Source, and Seven-Year Car Loans Surge
In today’s episode, the U.S. government stunned markets by acquiring a 10% stake in Intel for $8.9 billion, citing national security and domestic chipmaking independence. Keurig Dr Pepper announced an $18 billion takeover of JDE Peet’s and plans to split into two companies, while Trump’s tariff probe into imported furniture sent domestic manufacturers higher and import-heavy retailers lower. Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI released Grok 2.5 as open source and revealed plans to simulate enterprise software firms, signaling a new competitive push. Ether fell 4.5% from record highs, with Bitcoin and crypto-related stocks also sliding. Rural mortgage applications jumped 80% as off-grid living gained mainstream traction, while Apple TV+ raised its monthly price to $12.99 amid intensifying streaming competition. Finally, seven-year auto loans have become the new normal, now making up over 21% of new purchases as car prices approach $50,000—though experts warn the extended terms could trap buyers in debt.
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