🌊 Harvard Gets Rejected

We know you like the Roca app but chill…

A new study found that the average American checks their phone 144 times per day. Assuming 8 hours of sleep, that comes out to a phone glance every 6 minutes and 40 seconds — yes, I checked my phone to do the math. Now, this study might sound like a hell of an indictment, but our ancestors never had to resist the itch of Fruit Ninja in your pocket. Or, of course, the RocaNews app…

Happy (early) Easter to all who celebrate, and enjoy the first-ever “Rate This: Little Joys in Life” edition of 20 Questions.

–Max and Max

KEY STORY

Trump Takes on Harvard

The Trump Administration requested that the IRS revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, while Homeland Security threatened to prohibit foreign students from enrolling

• The move follows Harvard’s rejection of the administration’s demands to share hiring and admissions data, end diversity programs, and allow a federal review of bias in its departments

• The Administration subsequently froze $2.2B in grants, and on Wednesday, it requested that the IRS revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, which nearly all public and private universities have

• Also on Wednesday, Homeland Security said Harvard would be prohibited from enrolling foreign students if it did not meet the administration’s demands

Dig Deeper

• Harvard responded, saying, “There is no legal basis to rescind Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Such an unprecedented action…would result in diminished financial aid for students, abandonment of critical medical research programs, and lost opportunities for innovation”

• Any changes to tax-exempt statuses are contestable in court, potentially initiating a legal battle

KEY STORY

Lab-Grown Chicken Breakthrough

Scientists created the largest chunks of lab-grown chicken meat to date using a device that mimics the circulatory system

• Scientists have also faced difficulty replicating animal meat, largely because lab-grown meat requires it to be grown in thin layers to allow nutrients and oxygen to enter

• On Wednesday, researchers in Japan announced a potential breakthrough in lab-grown meat, using a device that replicates the circulatory system with hollow fibers acting like blood vessels

• The researchers say that it could lead to the growth of entire cuts of meats and potentially lab-grown organs

Dig Deeper 

• The researchers also argue that their technology has the potential to create functional organs in a lab, which would be a major breakthrough in regenerative medicine and help mitigate the organ donor shortage

• The lead scientist said, “The ability to supply nutrients and oxygen to thick tissues is a fundamental challenge in both fields”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

ROCA’S SPONSOR

Take Back Your Privacy with Incogni

Together With Incogni

If your phone’s constantly buzzing with unknown numbers, robocalls, and scam texts, we have the solution for you

• Spam calls start when your personal data – like your phone number – is sold by data brokers to telemarketers and scammers

• Incogni is here to stop that. It’s a data removal service that works on your behalf, sending out requests to data brokers to delete your info – and following up to make sure it stays gone

• Whether you’re getting hit with spam calls, shady texts, or targeted phishing attempts, Incogni helps cut it off at the source by cleaning up your digital footprint

• No more digging through complicated opt-out forms. Incogni does the heavy lifting while you stay protected

• The result? Fewer spam calls. Lower risk of scams. More peace and quiet

Dig Deeper

• We at Roca use Incogni, we love it, and we recommend it to anyone serious about privacy

• Roca readers get 50% off and a 30-day money-back guarantee 

• Try it today!

KEY STORY

California Sues Trump

California is suing the Trump Administration over the economic consequences of President Trump’s tariff policy, the first state to do so

• California is the world’s fifth-largest economy and the US’ largest. It is also the US’ top manufacturing and agricultural producer

• On Wednesday, California filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s invocation of the International Economic Powers Act, which is only invoked after a national emergency is declared

• California is arguing that the act was not warranted and that the power to levy tariffs is held by Congress, not the executive branch

Dig Deeper

• California is requesting a federal district court to declare the tariffs void, halt their implementation, and require congressional approval for “economically significant actions”

• If California is successful, a judge could limit the president’s power to make unilateral trade decisions, such as the 10% baseline tariffs and 145% tariffs on China. However, it would not affect industry-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars that were applied using other laws

KEY STORY

Google Antitrust Ruling

A judge ruled that Google created an illegal online advertising monopoly, its second major antitrust loss

• Last August, a federal judge ruled that Google had a monopoly in the online search market

• In a second lawsuit, the Justice Department and 17 states sued Google over its online advertising business

• The DOJ argued Google’s 87% share of the online ad market allows it to charge higher prices for ads, take a bigger share of sales, and restrict competitors

• The judge found Google liable for “willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power” in both the ad server market and the ad exchange market, potentially forcing it to sell off its ad business

Dig Deeper

• The ruling sets up another hearing over what Google will have to do to restore competition in online advertising

• The DOJ has long sought to break up Google’s dominance in the search engine and online advertising markets. If the DOJ is successful, Google could potentially be forced to sell parts of its advertising business

• The ruling adds to the broader tech sector’s antitrust challenges. Meta is currently facing an antitrust case that accuses it of possessing an illegal monopoly in social media platforms

RUNDOWN
Some Quick Stories for the Office

🖥️ The online forum 4chan was hit by a cyberattack on Tuesday, with the hackers leaking sensitive internal data and the alleged identities of the forum’s moderators

🇺🇸 Following a probe into security leaks, three senior Pentagon officials have been put on leave, including Defense Secretary Hegseth’s top advisor and his deputy chief of staff

🇮🇳 Indian authorities charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s top political opponents, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, and several other members of the main opposition party with money laundering

🇮🇹 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with President Trump on Thursday to discuss trade matters

🔫 Two people were killed and five injured in a shooting at Florida State University

What does Roca Nation think?

🧠 Yesterday’s Question: Did you know that receipt paper has high levels of toxic chemicals? Thoughts?

20 Questions!

Ladies and gentlemen, the Weeknd.

There's been so much negativity in the news lately, so how about some positivity? Today we're doing a "Rate This: Little Joys in Life" edition of 20 Questions. We've never done this before, but we think you'll enjoy. You all better show some love to the smell of whiteout...

Have a great weekend, and happy early Easter to all who celebrate!

Link to 20 Questions!

Last Week’s Responses

Selected responses to last week’s spring-themed edition of 20 Questions.

Where would you rank spring among the four seasons?

• First! The glorious new life after winter is incredible!

• Honestly, it's probably in last place. I love seeing all of the flowers bloom and everything turn green again, but where I live (WI) that is almost a late spring/early summer occurrence. We have to go through a lot of slush and dirty snow before we get to "clean spring."

• 1. Early Spring, 2. Late Fall, 3. Winter, 4. Early Fall, 5. Summer, 6. Late Spring AKA Ludicrous Pollen Dump

Best spring song?

• Walking on Sunshine

• Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles

• Augusta (masters theme)

• Hooked on a Feeling

• only time of year I like country music

• SUPERBLOOM by MisterWives

What's the most interesting part of the country? Where in the US should Roca go to next?

• Start touring and reporting on the national and state parks! Some hidden gems for sure…

• Come to North Carolina for the BBQ festival in Lexington!

• Canada, the 51st State (jk). But honestly, Canada is pretty cool.

What's a topic you're tired of reading about in the news?

• I’m sick and tired of seeing Elon musks face

• Tariffs and the stock market. Day traders make it all too crazy and dramatic. Just sit back and let it unfold!

• Tariffs (by far the most common answer)

POPCORN
Some Quick Stories for Happy Hour

🦑 Squid Games: Researchers recorded a colossal squid on camera in its natural environment for the first time

🇹🇭 Off The Grid: A 26-year-old British man was found “perfectly fine” on a popular tourist island in Thailand after being reported missing for over a month

💰 Homeless To Millionaire: A homeless man in California became a millionaire overnight after winning $1M on a scratch-off lottery ticket

 🏃 Speed Walkers Rejoice: A new study found that a fast walking pace lowers the risk of heart rhythm problems by 35 to 43%

🏈 Hanging Up The Headgear: Legendary ESPN College Football Gameday host Lee Corso announced his retirement from broadcasting, ending a forty-year career. His last College Gameday appearance will be on August 30th

EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts

Max F is almost back home after two and a half weeks in Pakistan. The trip was a whirlwind. Stay tuned for his reporting. Max T would like to shoutout Lee Corso on an amazing career — I will never forget rushing to the TV at 11:50 AM on college football Saturdays to see which headgear he donned. What a champ but… not so fast… we aren’t done with him yet. One more Saturday this fall.

A solemn Good Friday to all who observe and a happy early Easter to all who celebrate! Have a great weekend.

–Max and Max