Hello!

Welcome to OUT OF SCOPE, the C-Suite cheat sheet for the week ahead.

Folks, today’s been a day of market ups and downs as we evaluate the impact of last week’s historic tariffs decision on the US economy (more on that shortly). Keep up on the news, hold your friends close, tell your mom you love her, and don’t believe the hilarious joke of the weekend— that the banks are out of money.

**THE CHEAT SHEET

Three things to bring up in your meetings this week:

1. The lotto bets big on rebrand. Starting this week, tickets for the Mega Millions lottery game doubled in cost, but officials have promised improved odds and more frequent billion-dollar prizes. The logic? "People really want big jackpots," says Mega Millions chief Joshua Johnston, banking on jackpot fatigue fading when prizes regularly crack ten figures.

2. Zohran does Interview. From rapper Heems pressing him on his failed mixtape hustle to Jeremy O. Harris probing on policy— and even a Basement rejection humblebrag— the socialist candidate for NYC mayor delivers a wide-ranging interview that flexes his wide-reaching appeal and his downtown cred. Whether dissecting trash reform with Chloë Sevigny or roasting Andrew Cuomo’s platform plagiarism, Mamdani threads the needle between policy wonk and cool-kid candidate.

3. The invisible business of views. Reporting from The Verge reveals that platforms now count anything from a half-second scroll past a video to an autoplaying ad as a "view," inflating numbers to lure creators and advertisers. YouTube, Instagram, and X each define views differently, often counting engagement that never happened while hiding real watch-time data from the public. Turns out the Internet's favorite success metric is, at best, a manipulated fantasy.

**OUT OF OFFICE

one weekend news story in-depth: INTRADAY INSANITY

Today’s stock market swung wildly on unverified tariff rumors before reality set in. The S&P 500 surged 8.5% in just 34 minutes— adding $3.6 trillion in market value— after an unsourced post on X claimed the White House was considering a 90-day tariff pause. But the rally evaporated just as quickly when officials dismissed the report as "fake news," leaving traders to wonder how a single social media post could trigger such massive volatility.

The rumor appeared to stem from a misinterpreted Fox News interview. A financial account with a large following amplified an ambiguous comment from economic adviser Kevin Hassett, framing it as confirmation of a tariff delay. Within minutes, major networks like CNBC and Reuters repeated the claim, further fueling the frenzy— only to retract it shortly after. The episode highlights how fragile markets have become in an era of instant, unchecked information.

Investors were clearly desperate for any sign of relief. Stocks had already plunged into bear market territory at the open, reflecting heightened anxiety over escalating trade tensions. And the White House’s mixed messaging only added to the confusion. While officials denied the tariff pause, President Trump later suggested new 50% tariffs on China, reinforcing uncertainty about the administration’s trade strategy. By the close, markets had given up nearly all their gains, ending the day flat but no less unsettled.

Today’s $4 trillion swing was a stark reminder that markets now move as much on noise as news. The episode also raises questions about the impact of Musk’s still-new verification system on X, where paying for a checkmark can lend unverified claims an air of legitimacy. When rumors spread faster than facts, and when financial networks hastily amplify them, it erodes trust in the entire financial system.

**POWER LUNCH

five quick consumption recs for the time between meetings:

1. Less is more. The Post swears that White Lotus’ Walton Goggins is making receding hairlines hot.

2. Minecraft movie magic. There’s a non-CGI version of the Minecraft movie floating around.

3. The Rehearsal S2. ICYMI, Nathan Fielder’s insane pet project is coming back, bigger.

4. Million dollar baby(sitter). Meet the nannies and housekeepers making six figures in Florida.

5. For the love of fries. A great read in defense of the definitive best— steak fries.

We’ll see you online and on LinkedIn. Thanks for reading!

HL